I found myself having a very visceral reaction when I visited the Atlas Park Mall recently. Teddy bears should not be green and wear giant red boots and earmuffs. And they are not symbolic of Christmas. What do you think?(Well, at least they didn't name him Muhammed.)
Here's an article about the trend: Traditional holiday icons play lesser role at some area malls
30 comments:
It's a weird way of symbolizing the Christmas holiday in a politically correct way. Enough of this inclusive Happy holidays approach. Christmas is a christian holiday and is not inclusive unless you are part of or enjoin Christian beliefs - too bad! Merry Christmas to all Christians!If you are a Jew - happy Chanahuh - a Muslim happy Ramadan to you as appropriate.
Shopping for Christmas - not Xmas - was popularized by merchants at the turn of the century by non-christians whom wished to generate increased buisness with the large wealthy population of Christians at the time. Today shopping and Christmas are inseperable unfortunately but it is now part of our fabric and huge part of the US economy. As our population increased over time, store owners and especially shopping mall operators wanted to increase traffic to attract a more diverse population during the Christmas shopping season to capture non-Christian shoppers. With political correctness thoughts run amok thoughout society the Mall owners have gone to extremes with Atlas Malls pushing the "Bemberlinx" what is that - a neutered beloved teddybear? Atlas is scared of offending a minority of it's shoppers at the expense of Christians - get some balls Atlas.. or give up your failed shopping experience and call it a day.
Even worse - this thing lights up at night!
Well, a Christmas tree is a pagan symbol. This takes paganism and commercialism to an extreme, though.
Green is a pretty horrid color for a teddy bear. Maybe he ate at Johnny Rockets.
In any case.....
you'd better not name him Mohamed !
Atlas Mall wants to avoid offending non-Christians?
So, to accomplish that, they must offend Christians?
Well, to avoid being offended, I'll stay away from this mall.
It's called a boycott? Anyone else?
Political Correctness is bullshit!
This is America, these are our traditions! You don't like you can go back to the 3rd world country you came from if it's so much better!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!!
How is this offensive to Christians?
Christmas is a big deal now in Japanese department stores. The NY Times once reported seeing the selling floors gaily festooned with Santa Clauses hanging on crosses.
It's a big free nice open area for families to hang out. What's the downside again?
For all those offended, a few yards away is a Christmas section complete with a live Santa available for photos and plenty of Christmas trees lining it.
looks like it's made of astroturf.
It's fugly.
"God rest ye merry merchantmen
who'll make the Yultide pay.....
Forgetting Christ our savior was
was born on Christmas day.....
Let's all curtail our buying power
and not let our credit go astray.....
Bad tidings of high interest rates
oh boy.....oh boy...."
Don't worry,
there will be enough $$$$$ left (you hope)
after a lien is placed on your house
to pay your Master Card bill !
Live large 'n fall hard !
We just moved to the southwest and let me tell you, Christmas is BIG here - and they celebrate it in all it's glory and they don't give a lick about who is offended.
The argument is a good one, just not at this mall. Mr. Bumbershoot (or whatever they call him)is the advertising symbol of the mall. What's the complaint - that they didn't Christmas him up enough? What more can they do with a teddy bear?
Bermberlinx? Atlas Mall is truly in a heap of trouble. How many of readers actually ventured into this place beyond going to the movies or Chilies resturant? I heard thing are so slow, Borders Books is shutting it's doors.
Now Berberlinx - surely this scarecrow in a shallow holiday guise will kill off the remaining interest here. Did you know this mall requested to rerouted an MTA bus line so that it can stop directly in front of the property at the expense of the nearby neighborhood? Desperate measures by desperate Mall operators.
I think a Christmas Tree would have been a better choice. I do think that Teddy Bear looks pretty scary.
I hope you do well Atlas. You certainly did a grand job at making the mall look great.
PS Next year put up a tree and have a lighting ceremony. That would be nice.
There is no way that a bus stopping in front of the mall is bad for the neighborhood. The Daily News reported the other day that Pasticcio was getting a tremendous amount of business from all the shoppers during the holiday season.
Yet anther example of how the vlaues of the middle class American are held in contempt by our elites, be it his community, his government, and his culture.
We have now a world culture. Mass market is more important than American values.
Since when did American middle class values require belief in Christianity? That is not how things work in a free country.
No, of course not ... BUT WHY DO THE VALUES OF THE VAST MAJORITY HAVE TO BE REPRESSED?
For a world wide junk culture?
"That is not how things work in a free country."
Free my ass!
"Next year put up a tree and have a lighting ceremony. That would be nice."
That would be GREAT! It could rival Rockefeller Center. A really humongus tree too! Piss on Manhattan.
According to the Association of Religious Data Archives, in Queens 29% of the people are Catholic, approximately 11% Jewish, 20% other religion (mostly Protestant) and 37% not affiliated with a religion. How is that a vast Christian majority?
georgetheatheist said...
"Next year put up a tree and have a lighting ceremony. That would be nice."
That would be GREAT! It could rival Rockefeller Center. A really humongus tree too! Piss on Manhattan.
WHAT!!!! CUT DOWN ANOTHER TREE!!!!
What are you insane?! Do you know how old those trees are?
I think your name is going to end up on a poster George!!
George said put up a tree, not a cut tree. There are artificial trees, and the mall could also plant one, as in Washington, D.C., which would be up all year and provide shade in the summertime.
"According to the Association of Religious Data Archives, in Queens 29% of the people are Catholic, approximately 11% Jewish, 20% other religion (mostly Protestant) and 37% not affiliated with a religion. How is that a vast Christian majority?"
How about in Glendale, where the mall is located? All of Queens isn't coming here.
"How is that a vast Christian majority?"
49% is much more than any other religion has.
Re the cutting of trees. For what it is worth. A few years ago, the NY Times ran an article on George Armstrong Custer's Cavalry encampment in the Black Hills. They published a photo showing the site in 1876. Alongside of it they ran a modern day photo of the site taken from the exact same vantage point. Guess what? The modern site has more trees! Maybe 50% more.
According to the Association of Religious Data Archives, in Queens 29% of the people are Catholic, approximately 11% Jewish, 20% other religion (mostly Protestant) and 37% not affiliated with a religion. How is that a vast Christian majority?
The last time I checked Christmas was celebrated by christian. I am not knocking other beliefs - just don't dilute Christmas itself be straight forward with what is beinging celebrated (exploited).
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