A year later, Gap continues to censor Christmas

From th American Family Association.

At Gap, the score is “holiday” 172 and “Christmas” 3 At Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic, Christmas hardly exists. For these three companies, all owned by Gap, the only items listed as having anything to do with Christmas were a pair of boxer shorts and a child’s sleepwear set.

Last year, when Gap also censored Christmas, we contacted the company. The company refused to change their policy of censoring Christmas. This year the company has continued their practice of censoring Christmas from their stores and promotions. The only conclusion one can reach is that Gap will continue to censor Christmas, a Christian holy day.

Last year an Old Navy store manager was asked if the word “Christmas” was used in his store, he answered: “We have a lot of Christmas gifts in our stores, but the word ‘Christmas’ is not used here. Everything is ‘holiday’.”

A search of Old Navy’s website shows only the two references to Christmas, the boxer shorts and a child’s sleepwear set. There were 25 results in a search for “holiday” for the San Francisco based company, including a “Holiday Gift Guide”.

A search of Banana Republic found no reference to “Christmas.” Everything is “holiday.” While Christmas scored a 0, holiday scored 41

At Gap there was a single reference to Christmas–the boxers. Gap offered 56 holiday items. However, Gap did offer video greetings called “Happy Chrismukkah” and “Merry Christmas Gaptidings.”

Take Action!

• Send your e-mail to Gap letting the company know that there are those who still recognize Christmas even if it doesn’t.
• After you have sent your e-mail, be sure to follow up with a phone call. Be polite. Ask Gap if they will reconsider their policy of censoring Christmas. The toll-free number is 1-800-427-7895. The company number is 650-952-4400.

Send your e-mail to Gap

Forward this to friends and family and urge them to send the e-mail to Gap.

If you are a parent or grandparent, you need to be aware of the movie The Golden Compass

From the American Family Association.

Movie to be released December 7 There is a new movie coming to theaters December 7. You should be forewarned about The Golden Compass. The target audience for the movie is children, and it is being promoted in some schools. The Golden Compass is based on a book trilogy that promotes atheistic views, likely to be reflected in the movie.

For more information on The Golden Compass, click here to read the column by AFA’s Rebecca Grace. You might also want to read an article from Chuck Colson’s Prison Fellowship. Click here for the article.

Forward this to friends and family. Encourage them to sign up for AFA’s Action Alerts to stay informed on this issue and other issues of importance. They can sign up by clicking here

Your Efforts Lead to Victories: Several campaigns successful because you cared enough to get involved

From the American Family Association.

Thanks to your efforts, we are making a difference in the culture war. Below are updates to our October campaigns:

Federal government bans flag-folding recitations following complaint

According to ONENEWSNOW.COM (read article) the Veterans Affairs Department has changed its directive banning the use of a religious recitation at flag-folding ceremonies. A VA spokeswoman now says volunteer honor guards may recite any text requested by next of kin.

Federal government strips “God” from the Washington Monument
ONENEWSNOW.COM In response (read article) to public protest, the National Park Service today told ONENEWSNOW.COM it is rebuilding the display of the replica of the cap on the Washington Monument so that all four sides will be visible to the public, including the “Laus Deo” Latin inscription meaning “Praise be to God.”

Mrs. Fields bans Christmas from their products
October 9, 2007 – Mrs. Fields’ customer service said it did not offer Christmas products because it “didn’t want to offend anyone.” A search of their website yielded zero Christmas products.

October 11, 2007 – AFA issues an Action Alert stating these facts.

October 12, 2007 – Mrs. Fields contacts AFA and explains they use a “third party company” to serve as their customer service. They issue a statement saying the customer service company they hired has been corrected regarding their false information. In addition, Mrs. Fields immediately placed “Christmas” items on their website to deflect our facts.

In addition, Mrs. Fields offered a statement to AFA. The statement used the word “holiday” instead of “Christmas.” When we voiced opposition to the generic term, they asked if we thought using the word “winter” instead of “holiday” or “Christmas” would be okay. (We have the email as proof!)

In the end, under pressure from AFA supporters, Mrs. Fields inserted “Christmas” in their correspondence to customers and on their website.

AFA stands by the facts: On October 9, Mrs. Fields’ customer service said it did not offer Christmas products because it “didn’t want to offend anyone.” A search of their website yielded zero Christmas products. Mrs. Fields may try to lead you to think otherwise, but these were the facts before they updated their policy and website.

Architect of the Capitol
According to U.S. Representative Marilyn Musgrave, our nation’s legislators are now prohibited from using references to God in certificates of authenticity accompanying flags flown over the Capitol and bought by constituents. Such references include: “under God” in the pledge, “God bless you,” or “in the year of our Lord, 2007.” Never before has this official prohibition been leveled.

Architect of the Capitol Steven Ayers said he has removed the words because reference to God and the Lord may offend some Americans. He now prohibits them from being placed on official documents such as flag certificates.

As a result of your good actions, the Architect has revised its policy to include references to “God.”
Click here for the Architect press release.

Congressman Pete Stark
Here are Congressman Stark’s comments made Thursday, Oct. 18, on the floor of the House of Representatives: “You don’t have money to fund the war or children. But you’re going to spend it to blow up innocent people if we can get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the President’s amusement.”

Congressman Stark has now apologized on the House floor after pressure from the American people.
Rep. Pete Stark Apologizes For Suggesting Bush Enjoys Troop Deaths in Iraq

Thanks for caring enough to get involved. 

Christians encouraged to take action on funeral flag recitation ban

From Allie Martin and One News Now.

“The founder of the American Family Association (AFA) says it’s outrageous that a complaint from one person can put a halt to a long-standing tradition at funerals throughout all 125 national cemeteries.

A complaint about religious content has led to a ban on flag-folding recitations by Veterans Administration employees and volunteers at all national cemeteries. At thousands of military burials, the American flag is folded 13 times and volunteers recite the significance of each fold to survivors. The 11th fold glorifies “the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,” while the 12th glorifies “God the Father, the Son and Holy Ghost.” (See earlier article)

Now the unpaid VA volunteers, along with employees, have been banned from conducting the recital at all national cemeteries. AFA founder Don Wildmon says a national federal agency has created law.

“They are getting rid of God from the burial of people who have fought and died for the freedom of religion,” he says, “and they are taking away that freedom of religion.”

To read more click here.

Senate could vote on the “hate crimes” bill as early as today

From the American Family Association.

Urgent: Your phone call to your senators needed today!

The Senate will be voting, as early as today, on S.1105, the so-called “hate crimes” bill. Under S.1105, acts of crime committed against members of certain protected classes – including those who identify themselves by their “actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity” – would warrant more intense prosecution and greater penalties than the very same acts committed against heterosexuals.

It would establish homosexuals as a special class of people and give them special rights.

It is no stretch to argue that S. 1105, if enacted, will embody a national policy that will likely lead to the criminalization and civil sanction of the biblical view of homosexuality.

Read these two stories – The tragic story of Jesse Dirkhising and Woman’s death at hands of ‘gay’ her fault, says lawyer – to see how homosexuals murdered heterosexuals but were not charged with a hate crime. Had the roles been reversed – the victims homosexual and the perpetrators heterosexual – they could have been charged. Under S.1105, homosexuals are a “protected class” while heterosexuals are not. 

It is vitally important for you to call your two senators today and tell them to vote against S.1105, the “hate crimes” bill.

Take Action

Click the link below to be shown the phone number for your Senator’s office and an appropriate suggested message (talking points) in opposition to S.1105, the “hate crimes” bill. This is urgent — please act today! Please forward this to your friends and family, and especially your pastor.

Click Here for Your Senator’s Phone Number Now!

‘Snopes gets it wrong on hate crimes’

From WorldNetDaily.

“The American Family Association is taking Snopes, the noted urban legend debunking resource, to task for its conclusion about the “hate crimes” legislation pending in the U.S. Senate.

The AFA, which stands for traditional family values, issued an “Action Alert” to its constituents recently, warning the pending legislation could lead to a censorship of biblical perspectives on homosexuality.

Snopes then labeled the alert “false,” denying any portion of the law could be applied to thought or speech. ”

To read more click here.