Do people really think there is a “war on Christmas” going on out there? I personally believe it is a faddish (just like last year) and that most sensible people got and are sick of the issue. Reasonable, levelheaded people have figured out a long time ago that there is no war, the vast majority of north America celebrates and enjoys the holiday, and that the radical warriors probably just need to pick up a new hobby.
But the radical warriors can’t drop it. Not because there is a devilish scheme to undermine Christianity and not because there aren’t other noble things for them to attack, but because the religious right has figured out that this silly little “War on Christmas” is a cash cow.
For Conservative Christian groups, this year’s hot gift is a weapon for fighting back in the “War on Christmas.” Make sure you pick up your stock of buttons, bumper stickers or a memo with some advice to the troops from either country.
The Mississippi-based American Family Association says it has sold more than 500,000 buttons and 125,000 bumper stickers bearing the slogan “Merry Christmas: It’s Worth Saying.”
The Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal aid group that boasts a network of some 900 lawyers standing ready to “defend Christmas,” says it has moved about 20,000 “Christmas packs.” The packs, available for a suggested $29 donation, include a three-page legal memo and two lapel pins.
And Liberty Counsel, a conservative law firm affiliated with the Rev. Jerry Falwell, says it has sold 12,500 legal memos on celebrating Christmas and 8,000 of its own buttons and bumper stickers.
This adds up to some very serious do-ray-me.
The Alliance Defense Fund shipped 20,000″Christmas packs” this year. The American Family Association sold more than 500,000 buttons and 100,000 magnets. The AFA’s Don Wildmon refused to get into specifics, but acknowledged that the project turned a profit — so much so that he plans to sell buttons in the spring about Easter.
So let me pull out my trusty computer based calculator.
Basic math says the Liberty Counsel has pulled in an estimated $300,000+, the Alliance Defense Fund an estimated $500,000+, and the American Family Association an estimated $600,000+ from selling their “War on Christmas” action items.
As I see it, we can draw two conclusions from this. One, even these religious right groups probably realize Christmas is not “under attack,” but cynically exploit the fears of their members in order to make some serious coin.
And two, Fear sells and what better fear do we have other than to “fear God?”
Merry Christmas.