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| Chaldean Justice Leagues Releases Their “Chaldean Christmas Scrooge List” |
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 Michigan, USA - The Chaldean Justice League has released their “Chaldean Christmas Scrooge List” informing Chaldeans to steer away from businesses that refuse to recognize Christmas. Rather they suggest Chaldeans invest in the “Santa” group that recognizes the gift giving season has a reason. The community justice group continues to build on their impressive momentum after leading the Chaldean Miller Boycott that helped bring the beer company to its senses.
“Retailers which seek to profit from Christmas while pretending it does not exist should realize they have offended the vast majority of Americans who enjoy Christmas,” says Hadeer Allos, the Chaldean Justice League’s Christmas watchdog. “This Christmas season, whether a store greets you with ‘Happy Holidays’ or ‘Merry Christmas’ makes all the difference where you should do your shopping.”
The Chaldean Justice League is urging Christians to fight back to save Christmas from being erased from the public sphere by shopping at stores that honor instead of disregard Christmas.
Home Depot was among the stores that made the “Scrooge” list. Phrases such as “Holiday Gift Center” and “Holiday Decorations” adorn the store’s website without any mention of Christmas. Even Christmas trees are simply described as “Artificial Trees.” Other business on the “Scrooge” list included K-Mart, Nordstorm, Best Buy, Gap, Sprint, and Office Max, among others.
“Chaldean customers have a choice,” said Allos, “we will not patronize corporate Scrooges.”
Some feel a boycott does little to change corporate behavior while others feel the economic embargo is quite effective. Allos says, “Boycotts are a risky tool of the justice trade. If it fails you dull your weapon and are not taken seriously the next time you call for a boycott. Thankfully, our community has proven how passionate we are about injustice. You have to respect a community that sticks together for the cause of justice. Much of the credit goes to our churches who have long kept our community strong, safe, and supporting justice.”
Boycotts are effective, especially among Christians that have shown an indomitable force in matters of faith. Allos says, “you don’t want to mess with faithful Christians. American culture has gone far in hacking at Christians and now the once silent majority is getting loud. Look what they did to that faithless movie.”
Allos is referring to the recent boycott against “The Golden Compass” fantasy which delivered a painful blow to the entertainment industry. The investment in nearly $200 million dollars in the movie fell flat and costly sending a message that Christians are no longer accepting the title of “culture whipping boy”.
Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, pointed out that the $180 million budget movie took in much less than the $65.5 million grossed by “The Chronicles of Narnia” in its opening weekend and also failed to beat the $33.3 million box office debut of “Enchanted,” a recently released Disney movie. He insisted Monday that “the inescapable conclusion is that our boycott worked.”
Some in the entertainment business are trying to save face by alleging that reviews on the movie may have hurt the film’s performance. Rolf Mittweg of New Line Cinema, which released "Compass," concedes that the religion controversy had an effect,” reported USA Today.
Meanwhile, the Catholic community has taken the boycott seriously with some Catholic schools sending out fliers or e-mails, urging parents not to let their children see the film, according to USA Today. University of Tennessee student Tom Holcomb, a Catholic, said he joined more than 11,000 people in a Facebook group boycotting the movie.
Mother of God Chaldean Catholic Church released a community wide e-mail outlining issues of contention in the movie and offering parents and parishioners alternative entertainment options.
Jimmy Shaya joined the boycott, “because as a Christian, I take a stand on things against the goodness that God inspires. As a Chaldean, I am a living witness to the good my Catholic faith has done in my life and the lives of others. Attacking something that is good is the same as approving something bad.”
That seems to be the guiding philosophy among the Chaldean Justice League members. Their “Chaldean Christmas Scrooge List” hopes that every Chaldean consumer stops patronizing retailers which refuse to respect the Christmas holiday.
SCROOGE BUSINESSES TO AVOID
Old Navy, Gap and Banana Republic - All three are owned by the same company. And all three boycott Christmas. Old Navy doesn't want to offend non-Christians for welcoming Christians. They will take your money, but they will not recognize Christmas.
Old Navy doesn't sell Christmas gifts. They sell "holiday" gifts. They don't close their stores on Christmas. They close on "holiday." They don't observe "Christmas morning," they observe "holiday morning." They don't wish customers a "Merry Christmas." They wish them a "happy holiday." Old Navy boycotts Christmas. To the point of blocking incoming e-mails requesting they reconsider.
Call Old Navy and tell them in a kind and polite way that as long as they boycott Christmas, you will boycott Old Navy. The toll free number is 1-800-427-7895. The company number is 650-952-4400. When requested, push the order number when prompted so you will be able to speak with a live person.
Best Buy – Web site says “Unique gifts for the season,” “Holiday gift ideas.” Spokesperson said they consider the use of “Merry Christmas” to be disrespectful.
Dollar Tree - Customer reports they are avoiding the “C” word. Everything is “holiday”, though “it’s pretty obvious which ‘holiday’ they will not discuss.”
Eddie Bauer – Customer service would not recognize Christmas, they “don’t want to offend Jews, those who celebrate Kwanzaa and those who have no religious preference.”
J. Crew Outfitters – A warehouse associate reported the retailer refuses to recognize Christmas. Has a “holiday edition” catalog, will hold a “holiday meal”, and a sign says there are X days until the “holiday.”
Lane Bryant – “Holiday Sale 2007” Customer service informed a customer that “It is politically incorrect to mention Christmas, because we don’t want to offend our customers who are not Christians.” Their Web site is designed in red and green.
Lowe’s – Customer care told us that employees cannot say Merry Christmas to shoppers except in response to the same greeting. After a public outcry in 2006, Lowe’s stated they would modify their ads and no longer say things such as “Holiday trees”. Christmas trees are sometimes mentioned on their Web site, but are categorized as “artificial trees.” Web site has “Holiday” gift cards and a “Holiday Living” section (that only contains Christmas-related items.) They continue to run ads of Holiday greetings.
Petsmart – Has a Holiday Shop, and Luv-a-pet ornaments, photos with Santa, but no Christmas. Entering “Christmas” in their Web site search tool yields over 100 items relating to Christmas, but they are all named “Holiday” except one.
Rite Aid – Advertises “holiday savings” with all Christmas products, employees told to say “Happy Holidays.” One employee says, “These retailers are profiting from the traditions of giving that have developed out of Christianity but refuse to acknowledge the faith that feeds them.”
Staples – Web site advertises “Department of Unexpected Gifts.” Sell “Hanukkah” cards and “religious” cards. Never says Christmas.
U.S. Cellular – Corporate office sent a person to get local stores to remove all Christmas decorations. Web site says “holiday” only.
SUPER SANTA BUSINESSES - Shop Here Instead
Ace Hardware ~ Sells Christmas trees and wreaths, Salvation Army bell ringers outside.
Cabela’s ~ A customer reported he was greeting with “Merry Christmas” by an associate. The store has a “Christmas Shoppe.”
Dillard’s ~ Advertises a Christmas Catalog.
Harry & David ~ Sells baskets of Christmas goodies.
Hobby Lobby ~ Plays Christmas music and has Christmas throughout the store.
JC Penney ~ Web site has a Christmas shipping countdown.
Joann Fabrics ~ Offers Christmas and Holiday fabrics. “Christmas Celebration!” signs in stores.
K-Mart ~ Was selling “holiday trees”, now sells “Christmas trees”. Web site: “Where Christmas comes together.”
Land’s End ~ Christmas Gift Guide.
L.L. Bean ~ Christmas Catalog.
Linens ‘N Things ~ Christmas Shop and Christmas Checklist.
Macy’s ~ “Merry Christmas!” on Web site and in stores.
Marshalls ~ Has Christmas “all over the stores and TV ads.” Web site offers gifts arriving through Christmas Eve.
Menards ~ Employees have Merry Christmas on their aprons, stores have Christmas displays.
Michaels ~ Web site has a Christmas section.
M&M-Mars Candies ~ Will have red and green candies with pictures of Christmas trees and angels among other images.
www.Nation-Gifts.com ~ Retailer devoted to keeping Christ in Christmas. Catalogs available.
Sears ~ Stores have signs that say “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holidays” although Web site just says “holidays”.
Toys ‘R’ Us ~ The store moved from our “naughty” list after the company said it celebrates Christmas and disagreed with the actions of a Pennsylvania store guest relations coordinator who had written customer that the store aims to be neutral about Christmas out of respect for all their customers.
Walgreens ~ “Holiday shop” Has Christmas and holiday gift ideas,” and “Christmas collectibles.”
Wal-Mart ~ Has a Christmas Shop, plays Christmas carols, and, unlike last year, employees can say “Merry Christmas.”
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Filed in Community & Culture, Business & Finance, Chaldean Justice League :: By Rita Abro on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 :: 1938 Views
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| Media Propaganda, coruption, and conspiracy
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Chaldean Justice League has noticed an ongoing and orchestrated bias in media. Presenting information in an unfair and unjust way seeds a mindset that bears the fruit of injustice. The propaganda used by the media has been recorded and captured by the Media Research Center.
We share their findings with the Chaldean community as a demonstration of media propaganda and the injustice born of such fraudulent journalism. The covert attempt to change the will of the people through propaganda is in itself corrupt.
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Couric Patronizingly Challenges and Lectures Palin; Coddled Biden
In her day-on-the-campaign-trail stories about the VP candidates, Katie Couric didn't even try to deliver equal treatment. Last week, after her piece on her day with Joe Biden, CyberAlert outlined what she must do to be consistent with Palin this week. She failed. Unlike with Biden, in the "Sarah Palin: Behind the Scenes" story on Tuesday's CBS Evening News, Couric declared a McCain-Palin policy position "misleading," deliberately highlighted a policy disagreement between the two (drilling in ANWR), condescendingly demanded that Palin list the names of newspapers she read in Alaska and then treated Palin's conservative views as alien and thus in need of explanation -- pressing her on whether she agrees global warming is "man-made," hitting her repeatedly on whether it should be illegal for a 15-year-old rape or incest victim to get an abortion or the "morning-after" pill and requiring she offer her position on teaching evolution. Couric asserted that "it will take about ten years for domestic drilling to have an impact on consumers," before accusing Palin: "So isn't the notion of 'drill, baby, drill' a little misleading to people who think this will automatically lower their gas prices?" On how Palin is an ill-informed dolt: "What newspapers and magazines did you regularly read before you were tapped for this to stay informed and to understand the world?"
Matthews: Granholm a 'Genius,' So How Can She Play Palin?
On Tuesday night's Hardball, Chris Matthews wondered if Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, "an Ivy League grad" and "genius," was really a good choice to play the role of Sarah Palin in Joe Biden's debate prep. During a segment with Democratic consultant Nancy Skinner, who is prepping Granholm, the Hardball host implied the "Harvard Law" graduate may not be the best "fit" to play the Republican vice presidential nominee: "She's a genius. You think she is, in, in her manner, in her background and she's born in Canada. How does she sort of fit the role of Sarah Palin? Why is she a good sparring partner to play that role?"
Jack Cafferty's Palin Derangement Syndrome Reaches New Heights
CNN commentator Jack Cafferty, true to his form over the past several weeks, launched another attack on Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin on Tuesday's The Situation Room. During his regular "Cafferty File" segment during the 4 pm Eastern hour of the CNN program, he played a clip from the latest interview the Alaska Governor did with Katie Couric, in which she partially answered her critics' questioning of her readiness by repeating the list of offices that she has held over the years. After she concluded with her past position of Alaska oil and gas commissioner, the CNN veteran condescended: "A regulator of oil and gas. How can -- how can anybody, including John McCain, take this woman seriously?...When this is over they all write books. Hers will be titled, 'How I Committed Political Suicide on the CBS Evening News.'" When he returned at the end of the hour to read some of the viewer responses to the question, Cafferty read nothing but negative responses to the question, with one exception, and he continued his condescension after reading it. A woman named Trudy wrote: "Within three minutes, you remind me why I don't watch the opinionated news on CNN....Your condescending attitude towards Sarah Palin is another example of the lock-step Left trying to portray a Republican as less intelligent." Caffery then replied, "Trudy, when it comes to Sarah Palin, that's not much of a reach."
CNN's Fareed Zakaria Mind-Reads Palin, Rips Her Qualifications
CNN world affairs analyst Fareed Zakaria, in a column published in the October 6 issue of Newsweek where is he the top editor of the international edition, condescended towards Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, labeled her "utterly unqualified to be Vice President," and complimented Katie Couric for her "smart question" to the Alaska Governor in a recent interview. He later asserted clairvoyantly that "she has never spent a day thinking about any important national or international issue, and this is a hell of a time to start." As a result of this slam, CNN host Wolf Blitzer interviewed Zakaria on Monday's The Situation Room, in which the analyst referenced Tina Fey's nearly word-for-word quotation of Palin from the Couric interview on last Saturday's SNL program, which was played earlier in the program: "The scary answer was on the economy -- the one you displayed switching back and forth between Saturday Night Live, because it was absolutely clear, that she simply did not understand any of the issues involved. She did not understand the question."
CBS's Smith Asks Palin's Parents About Criticism of Daughter
On Tuesday's CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith aired the second half of his interview with the parents of Sarah Palin, Chuck and Sally Heath, and described: "From mayor of Wasilla to governor of Alaska, and now a vice presidential nominee, Sarah Palin's sudden appearance on the national scene has been celebrated, and increasingly criticized." Palin's father responded: "They're digging and digging for the bad side, yeah. And there is no real bad side. They're fabricating a lot of things, which I don't want to go into, yeah." Smith then followed up: "Is that hurtful to you as parents?" Palin's mother replied: "Very. Very. Mostly because you know how it affects the kids."
Congresswoman to ABC's Cuomo Panicking on Bailout: Calm Down!
A Republican and a Democratic member of Congress attempted to calm Good Morning America news anchor Chris Cuomo during an interview on Tuesday. Cuomo interrogated GOP Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave and her Democratic colleague, Mary Kaptur, about just what they would do now that the Wall Street bailout package had been rejected. After noticing the high pitched tenor in Cuomo's voice, Kaptur observed, "...You're very anxious." In a soothing voice, she instructed: "I can hear your voice there. For the sake of the country, and even for the sake of the markets, I think you should operate prudently and with a little bit of calm in your voice today." This was after a barely restrained Cuomo thrust responsibility onto those politicians who opposed the bailout: "Your vote and the failure of this bill- are you ready to accept the potential responsibility for bringing down this economy as a result of your vote?" Continuing to point fingers, he accused, "You saw yesterday, 50 percent of Americans hold stocks. You lost $1.2 trillion in value."
Bozell's News Column: Obama, Taxes, and "Facts"
Ever since liberal media types felt robbed by the Bush-Quayle campaign’s “lies” about Michael Dukakis in 1988, we’ve been suffering through the media elite’s attempts to “police” the facts in advertisements. “Correction” squads are insisting that John McCain can’t say Barack Obama will raise taxes, no matter how much that announcing Democrats will raise taxes is like announcing the sun will rise.
Couric Badgers Palin on Pakistan; Had Cued Up Biden on Economy
On Monday night's CBS Evening News, anchor Katie Couric announced her day "on the campaign trail with Governor Palin" won't air until Tuesday, but CBS still made room for an excerpt of her time Monday in Ohio with Sarah Palin and John McCain in which Couric repeatedly pressed the two about an overheard comment Palin made Saturday about Pakistan, badgering them with five follow-ups before moving on to Palin's "reaction" to criticism of her answers during her previous Couric session. But a week-and-half-ago, when Couric's day on the campaign trail story with Joe Biden was delayed by news on the financial front, CBS ran video of Couric cuing up Biden on what he and Obama would do to resolve the crisis followed by one challenging question with no follow-up. At a Philadelphia restaurant on Saturday a man demanded: "So we do cross-border, like from Afghanistan to Pakistan, you think?" Palin answered: "If that's what we have to do stop the terrorists from coming any further in, absolutely, we should." Couric pounded away: "Is that something you shouldn't say out loud?" and "Are you sorry you said it Governor?" When McCain called it a "gotcha soundbite," Couric retorted: "It wasn't a 'gotcha.'" Couric turned to Palin: "What did you learn from that experience?" Palin: "That this is all about 'gotcha' journalism."
ABC's GMA Highlights 'Palin Problem;' Has Ignored Biden Gaffes
Good Morning America reporter David Wright on Monday highlighted the specter of the "Palin Problem" for John McCain and asserted that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's advisors "are trying to lower expectations. But even among some conservatives, expectations couldn't be any lower." Yet, while the ABC morning show mentioned the supposed struggles of the Republican vice presidential candidate, the program has ignored embarrassing gaffes from Senator Joe Biden. Wright played clips of Saturday Night Live mocking Palin for discussing the proximity of Alaska and Russia. Placing great weight in comics, he intoned: "... The comedians have their doubts" about Palin. However, GMA has failed to report on Joe Biden's doubly inaccurate assertion last week that "when the stock market crashed, Franklin D. Roosevelt got on the television" to calm people down. The morning program has also ignored video of the Delaware Senator telling a disabled man in a wheelchair to "stand up."
On Today Show, Andrea Mitchell Uses Tina Fey to Pick on Palin
On Monday's Today show, NBC's Andrea Mitchell loved Tina Fey's parodying of Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live so much that she played a clip the 30 Rock star mocking Palin's inexperience while simultaneously airing an actual clip of Palin being interviewed by Katie Couric, as Mitchell charged: "The reviews have been withering for her interview with Katie Couric, only her third since nominated." However Mitchell didn't bother to air clips from SNL that mocked the Democratic side, most notably one that made fun of Barack Obama's relationship with Tony Rezko. And proving the old adage that the best way for a Republican or conservative to get air-time in the liberal media is to criticize a fellow Republican, Mitchell underscored so-called conservative critiques of Palin: "Palin's critics now include some conservatives commentators. On the National Review Web site, Kathleen Parker called on Palin to drop out."
CBS's Chen on Palin SNL Skit: 'So Much Material To Work With'
On Monday's CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith played a clip of the latest Saturday Night Live skit mocking Sarah Palin and following the clip, co-host Julie Chen remarked: "Tina Fey has just so much material to work with, this is like, probably a dream come true for her." In May, Chen placed Hawaii in the Atlantic Ocean and it was not part of a comedy skit. Co-host Maggie Rodriguez chimed in: "Well that's why Lorne Michaels was able to lure her back after she left, and I have a feeling she's going to be coming back a lot." During the recent Emmy awards, Tina Fey remarked: "I want to be done playing this lady Nov. 5...So if anybody can help me be done playing this lady Nov. 5, that would be good for me."
MSNBC Re-Plays Palin SNL Skit Seven Times Monday Morning
With the vice presidential debate only a few days away, MSNBC gave a lot of attention on Monday to what Senator Joe Biden and Governor Sarah Palin are doing to prepare for their one and only debate. Along with this, MSNBC also gave a lot of airtime to Tina Fey's Saturday Night Live parody of Palin's interview with CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric, showing clips of the skit seven times between 6:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. However, only Morning Joe featured Saturday Night Live's parody of Senator Barack Obama, and even then the focus was on the portion of the skit which parodied Senator John McCain's "gimmicks." Of the seven times that MSNBC showed clips from Tina Fey's Palin impersonation, many of them lead into discussion about Palin's lack of foreign policy expertise and comments about how Fey's impersonation could lead to negative effects for McCain's campaign.
Worst of the Week: MSNBC Debate Night: “Genial” Obama vs. “Troll-like” McCain
MSNBC may have dropped Chris Matthews as “news anchor” of major political news events, but he was a major presence during coverage of Friday’s debate between John McCain and Barack Obama. Immediately following the debate and in a special Hardball that aired at midnight EDT, Matthews insulted John McCain as “troll-like” and insisted the Republican nominee showed “contempt” for Obama by looking at moderator Jim Lehrer instead.
Media Reality Check: Jim Lehrer: Not a “Bias-Free” Moderator
PBS anchor Jim Lehrer, the first host of the 2008 fall presidential debates, is dead serious about his utter lack of bias. Appearing November 27, 2006 on Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report, Lehrer insisted with a very straight face that “I am bias-free....Bias is what people who hear or read the news bring to the story, not what the journalist brings to the reporting.” When Colbert insisted Lehrer must add some flavor, straight-faced Lehrer declared his contribution was “the flavor of neutrality.”
Notable Quotables: Distorting Palin's "Holy War"
ABC's Charles Gibson challenges Sarah Palin about something the Republican vice presidential candidate never said about the war in Iraq, even as reporters urge Barack Obama to fight back against the GOP's "down and dirty" campaign "lies." Also, MSNBC's Chris Matthews claims the phrase "community organizer" is a racist code word; the New York Times admits "there was a lot of sniggering in media rooms" at Palin's selection; and The View's Joy Behar objects to Palin because she is a hunter: "She's very mean to animals, this woman....I think that's an important point."
Special Report: Obama's Margin of Victory: The Media
The Democratic contest between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton was the closest nomination in a generation. But Obama had a crucial advantage over his rivals this year: the support of the national media, especially the three broadcast networks. A new study by the Media Research Center documents how at every step of his national political career, network reporters showered the Illinois Senator with glowing media coverage, building him up as a political celebrity and exhibiting little interest in investigating his past associations or exploring the controversies that could have threatened his campaign.
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The Chaldean Justice League (CJL) is a group of concerned Chaldean community leaders working to address issues of injustice. The CJL invites any Chaldean to join the league and assist in challenging unfair policies and practices.
CJL Efforts:
- Miller Boycott (Program Ended): Organize efforts to boycott Miller brewing company for their support of anti-Christian hate groups.
- Chaldean Business Discrimination (Program Ongoing): Organize businesses to address unfair municipal or vendor practices relating to permits and product purchasing.
- Christmas Scrooge List (Program Ongoing): A program to provide information on businesses that refuse to acknowledge Christmas while using the holy day as a means to entice shoppers. CLICK HERE
- Voter Registration (Program Ongoing): Working with the Chaldean Caucus to register Chaldeans.
- HDTV Converter Coupon Application (Program Ongoing): Working to assist the Chaldean community in receiiving the U.S. Govt. $80 coupons for digital television converters.
If you have a cause or concern you feel the Chaldean Justice League should consider please e-mail ChaldeanJustice@yahoo.com.
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