Chrismahanukwanzakah: The Ultimate Post-Modern Anti-Holiday
December 29, 2005 | By Charmaine Yoest
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!
Comments
Absolutely outrageous. I guess anything is fair game in the advertising world....or at least that is what they think.
Posted by: Jane | December 30, 2005 1:15 PM
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
Posted by: Sam Spade | January 2, 2006 12:36 PM