Merry Christmas one and All!

And a Happy New Year

Hey Lowes .. EFF YOU

From Stop the ACLU:

In a further erosion of our American traditions and holidays, Lowe’s Hardware stores has decided that they aren’t in the business of selling Christmas trees anymore. They have decided, instead, that the big seller for 2007 will be the erstwhile “Family Tree” — that Christmas thingie being so gauche and offensive and all, you see. In fact, in their 2007 holiday catalog, Lowes uses the word Christmas a grand total of two times. And on their website, the tree listings all avoid the word in their descriptions.
*snip*

It is time to stop this, America.

Christmas has been under assault for the better part of a decade, now, and obviously with this Lowe’s decision to avoid the word Christmas altogether, as well as renaming their Christmas trees, “Family Trees” we can see that the holiday season for 2007 will serve us no respite from that assault on our American traditions.

For its part, Lowe’s is claiming that the original printing of the “Family tree” catalog was a mistake. They told the American Family Association the following:

Randy, Thanks for taking my call this morning. Let me reiterate my apology that we had an advertising error that created a stir. Here’s a statement that we’d appreciate your posting on your web site, if possible:

Lowe’s has contacted the AFA and assures us that it is proudly committed to selling Christmas trees this year, as it has done for more than 60 years. The company apologized for the confusion created in its 2007 holiday catalog when it headlined the page of Christmas trees “family trees.” The error was not caught before the publication was distributed, and Lowe’s says it is disappointed in the breakdown in its proofing process.

Lowe’s assures us that they refer to trees as Christmas trees in this season’s television and magazine ads and in its advertising flyers. The company says it is redoubling its efforts to proof its catalogs in the future to prevent this issue from recurring.

We appreciate Lowe’s for listening to its customers and responding appropriately to our concerns.

*snip*

Ok...this is OUT FLIPPING RAGEOUS and straight up BULL PUCKEY, Lowes is doing a 2 step which quite frankly has landed them on my NOT TO SHOP AT list. I ask that everyone join me, and boycott Lowes until they put Christmas back into their stores, website and print media.

Meanwhile, send them an email of your displeasure to their customer service.

Merry Christmas everyone.

***************************************************************************

Update 5:59 PM AZ time 11/15/07

I received the following email in response to my complaint to Lowes customer service:

Dear Lowe's Customer:

Thank you for contacting Lowe's.

You may already be aware that Lowe's has apologized for the advertising
error in our holiday catalog. We understand the confusion created
when we headlined the page of Christmas trees "family trees." The error
was not caught before the publication was distributed and we are
disappointed in the breakdown in our own creative process.

Lowe's is committed to selling Christmas trees, as we have done for
more than 60 years. And, we refer to the trees as Christmas trees in all
television and magazine ads and in Lowe's advertising flyers.

We will redouble our efforts to proof our catalogs in the future to
prevent this issue from recurring. We appreciate your understanding.

Thank you,

Lowe's Customer Care
--------------

Sounds like lip service to me, there are 2 ways this story is being explained, and if you ask me, they are back pedaling, and that makes me mad.

If they truly were the victims of bad proofing, they would have recalled the advertisements and sent new ones out. Further, if it was not on purpose that this happened, they would be announcing that those responsible would have appropriate action taken against them.

Something stinks, and I am not so convinced at this point that this will never happen again, nor am I convinced that it truly was an honest mistake. So for now, my call for a boycott stands.

Merry Christmas Lowes

Merry Christmas one and all

As we head into the midnight hour here in Arizona, I remember the lessons of my youth regarding Christmas, always taken from the New Testament of the bible:

Luke 2
The Birth of Jesus
1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels 8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

As we wind down and spend the day with family and friends, enjoying that fellowship which Jesus readily engaged him, let us remember that this day is to in fact celebrate his birth. Let today be a new beginning for the salvation of man. Speak the word, and speak it strongly. Spread the Good News to those who have not heard it, and pray always for people who do not walk in the faith

Have a blessed and very MERRY Christmas

Sometimes...you just have to be careful what you wish for

Merry Christmas