The Gap's 'war' on Christmas
A Christian group is boycotting Gap Inc. for failing to respect Christmas in a TV ad. But is the spot really irreverent?
Is the GAP anti-Christmas?
(Gap)
Provoked by a peppy Gap ad which features an all-inclusive cheer about winter holidays ("Go, Christmas! Go Hannukah! Go Kwanza!"), the American Family Association is calling for a boycott. The retailer, says the AFA, is taking a "cavalier approach" to the Christian holiday by equating it with "pagan" holidays. Has the Gap fallen into an overly PC gap? (Watch the Gap ad)
Protesting reindeer-sweater salesmanship is petty: Look, I'm a Christian, and I "couldn’t agree more" with the AFA’s "stand for good old-fashioned moral values," says Steven Hutson in The North Star National. But true evangelists use "gentle persuasion, not hostile confrontation" or "foolish posturing." The Gap boycott makes Christians look "petty and intolerant."
"It’s the most wonderful hassle of the year"
It’s the Gap that’s petty: The Gap’s commercial gives Christmas “a cultural kick in the shin," says Victor Medina in Examiner.com, by equating it with Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and "Whateveryouwannakah.” This “PC garbage” is part 'Glee,’ part ‘Bring It On,’ "and 100% fail.” Christians should shun any store that mocks Christ's birth for "corporate gain.”
“When Liberals Attack! How the Gap Killed Christmas, Part 2”
The AFA did the Gap a favor: The Gap should probably thank the AFA for its "fatwa," says Dan Neil in the Los Angeles Times. It turns out that "condemnation by the AFA" is apparently "kind of a lucky charm for big business." Disney doubled its revenue during the 10 years it was boycotted by the AFA, and Ford didn’t do badly either.
"Gap’s Christmas cheer makes a boycott backfire"
I’m with the AFA on this: The Gap should “just stop it with the multi-culturalism already,” says Oliver Miller in The Faster Times. Speaking as a Jew, I love Christmas, mostly because I end up with more gifts than I do with Hannakah. So “come on, advertisers, stop throwing us these bones. Reminding people of lesser crappy holidays” is just condescending. (Watch additional Gap holiday cheers, including "Big Ole Piece of Peace" and "Veggie Rsvp" at Cheerfactory.com)
“F*ck the Gap Christmas ad”
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21 Comments
Posted by Aaron, Friday, November 20, 2009, 2:55 pm Wow they actually paid for that crap? I mean, many, many, many people must have gotten together and looked at this from all angles, and yet they all agreed This Was Good? I don't care about the message per se. The delivery is offensive enough to be ignored. How can they remain in business? God indeed.
Posted by Bill A., Friday, November 20, 2009, 4:54 pm When I saw AFA, I thought why is the American Freestyle Asociation boycoting the Gap? then I rememberd that AFA died in 1992. oh well.
Posted by Nan B., Friday, November 20, 2009, 5:52 pm Oh my, I am continually surprised at the vehemence that springs up around anything that relates to anything Christian. Somehow I thought it said somewhere... something ... about turning the other cheek and something else about loving thy neighbor. The goodness that was Christian has gotten totally lost of late. I hope that goodness isn't gone forever. How petty this boycott is.
Posted by Nan B., Friday, November 20, 2009, 5:55 pm One more thought ... I'm 70 and a Methodist I can no longer use the term Christian as there are too many bad connotations that go along with the term now. I thought those kids were incredible. What fantastic coordination.
Posted by Moob, Friday, November 20, 2009, 7:07 pm It seems as though they were just trying to convey the message that GAP is the place to go, no matter what holiday you're celebrating or how you're celebrating it.But no, people find the need to boycott them for disregarding Christmas. No harm done by the ad, in my opinion.
Posted by Tex, Friday, November 20, 2009, 7:16 pm Why isn't the AFA addressing the more important issue, that their savior's birthday has become a materialistic orgy in contrast to everything Jesus spoke of and practiced. This just makes them, and other Christians by association, look like a petty and overly sensitive group.
Posted by DJ, Friday, November 20, 2009, 8:15 pm Hold on zealots. You're claiming that Hannukah is not as good as Christmas? Are you therefore claiming that Jews aren't as good as Christians? I'm sure these are the same people who call everyone Hitler when they disagree with them. The AFA is a bunch of mad AntiSemites!
Posted by Alex, Friday, November 20, 2009, 8:55 pm Wow. I'm a Christian, and I thought the commercial was better than a lot of winter holiday commercials because it actually mentioned most, if not all, of the winter holidays that come up this time of year. I guess some people just have to be offended because it's fun, or something.
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