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Christmas Wars Begin: UK Postal Service Bans Christ Stamps; Wal-Mart OKs "Merry Christmas"

By John-Henry Westen

LONDON, November 10, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The UK Royal Mail unveiled its new Christmas stamps this week to a chorus of disapproval from the Church of England and several Christian leaders.  Not one of the six new stamps carried any religious symbolism identifying 'the reason for the season'.

A Church of England spokesman told the UK Daily Express: "Last year they came up with some very innovative designs which reminded people of the true meaning of Christmas, so we welcomed it.

"We regret that they haven't carried on. I am sure lots of Christians will regret that they haven't carried on in the same way as well."

Tory MP David Burrowes told the Express: "It is a great shame that they are treating it as just another secular festival, because we have enough of those throughout the year.  "Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Christ and it makes sense that the Royal Mail does likewise."

Meanwhile in the United States, retail giant Wal-Mart has finally admitted that censoring Christmas is not a good idea. After experiencing a backlash last Christmas season from unhappy customers and facing frustrated employees, some of whom turned to Liberty Counsel, a public interest law firm, for help, Wal-Mart retreated from its use of "Happy Holidays" and will let employees greet shoppers with "Merry Christmas."

"We, quite frankly, have learned a lesson from last year," said spokeswoman Linda Blakely of Wal-Mart in an interview with USA Today news. Blakely claims Wal-Mart will say "Merry Christmas" early and often. Wal-Mart will be playing Christmas carols now through the end of the year.

The world's largest retailer told its associates at a recent conference that it will bring back the Christmas pitch in an attempt to be the leader in this year's sales. Wal-Mart's advertising will announce "Christmas" and its decorations department will change from "The Holiday Shop" to "The Christmas Shop."

Liberty Counsel, a nationwide, public interest civil liberties law firm, launched its fourth annual "Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign" this year and is already receiving many consumer complaints about stores refusing to recognize the Christmas holiday. On its web site, http://www.LC.org, Liberty Counsel offers a Help Save Christmas™ action pack, which includes educational legal memoranda to educate government officials, teachers, parents, students, private businesses, employees and others that it is legal to celebrate Christmas. The action pack also includes a very popular "I LOVE CHRISTmas™" button.

For more information on the Help Save Christmas resources visit:
http://www.lc.org/helpsavechristmas/index.htm

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