Chrismahanukwanzakah: The Ultimate Post-Modern Anti-Holiday

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abdul_branson_christmas.jpg
Paula Abdul and Richard Branson

Celebrating Chrismahanukwanzakah

. . . and Cheap Cell Phones

Before we say a final goodbye to the Holiday-Formerly-Known-as-“Christmas”– as it is known in some quarters — let’s just revisit for a moment how we arrived in this more Enlightened Age of Tolerance and Harmony.

How we arrived, as it were, in the Age of Chrismahanukwanzakah.

I have argued elsewhere that humor is a weapon. And in the culture wars it may be one of the most effective. This broadside on Christmas is one of the most jaw-dropping I’ve seen:

In some ways we’re all monkeys;

well maybe just a smidgeon.

I’m a scientologist;

that’s kind of a religion.

Whose faith is the right one?

It’s anybody’s guess.

What matters most is camera phones for $20 less.

It’s Richard Branson’s brilliant holiday sales campaign. Funny. Funny. Funny.

And completely subversive.

C’mon, get a grip! It’s just a joke! We’re only trying to sell cell phones here!

My kids wanted to see the video clip several times. Laughing uproariously.

None of the super-serious lawsuits waged by the ACLU to ban nativity scenes have the potency of this kind of subtle campaign.

* * *

The link above, and the text, comes from last year’s campaign. This year’s is here.

Thanks to Lanier Swann for this story!

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2 Responses

  1. Jane says:

    Absolutely outrageous. I guess anything is fair game in the advertising world….or at least that is what they think.

  2. Sam Spade says:

    I’m sorry this ad offended you. Perhaps you will feel better if you bear in mind the Abdul is ethnically Jewish. I don’t know her religious views, but perhaps she doesn’t believe Jesus is the son of God, and therefore doesn’t feel comfortable wishing people Merry Christmas.

    For my part, I say Happy Holidays because I often don’t know people’s religious views and I do wish non-Christians well during the holidays. Probably a lot of people feel like me. I know people that look down at faith, but I don’t know a single person who plots to undermine Christians and Christmas. In fact I find it odd when Christians talk of being persecuted, as they are a majority in this country. Perhaps they should try not being Christians for a time!

    Best,

    Sam