McDonald's Should Honor Christmas Day

MCDONALD’S SHOULD HONOR CHRISTMAS DAY

This week, I entered a local McDonald’s restaurant here in Sarasota, Florida for breakfast and was met by a sign at the door: McDonald Will Be Open Christmas Day.  My immediate reaction was, “This is just perfect – the forces of political correctness has now conquered my McDonald’s, is anything sacred anymore?

I spoke to the manager on duty and she said it’s not her call, the decision was from Corporate.  She proceeded to hand me a soda cup and said call the number on the cup for Corporate.

I did so one day later and spoke to a very pleasant woman who assured me the decision was done locally.  I explained to the corporate spokeswoman that this decision to open on Christmas day was foolish for four reasons: 1. The solemnity of the day – to Christians it is the birthday of the savior of the world. 2. The cultural significance of the day – from the lighting of the Christmas Tree at the White House to the institution of Santa Claus who shows favor to all good little boys and girls, to the lights on Main Street across the country, Christmas is a steadfast American tradition born of English and German traditions. 3. What about the employees of McDonald’s?  Is it right to require them to come in on this solemn day especially when the majority of them are Christian or it is okay to show sensitivity to every group but Christians?  And finally number 4. A public relations brain freeze.  My political blog is a local affair presently, but if this story is picked up by the New York Times or Bill O’Reilly, Yikes!  This type of misstep reminds me of the biggest blunder in advertising history when the venerable Coca Cola Company, the makers of the coke that followed our GI’s across war-torn Europe during WWII, changed their formula on April 23, 1985.  The collective cry was you blundering idiots, you mad men muskrats, leave our American icon alone – you don’t own it, we do! 

The same is true of Christmas only more so.  We may allow members of the American Civil Liberties Union to speak freely but we certainly don’t have to listen to them nor follow their advice.  According to the most recent poll of the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, more than 78% of the adults in the United States identify themselves as Christian – indeed, it is safe to say that when nearly 80% of a population is Christian then that religious designation makes this a very tolerant Christian nation.  The next major religious group in America is the Jewish faith: 1.7%, with Muslims coming in at 0.6%.  Perhaps most significant is atheists (believers in no God) come in at only 1.6% of the population.  To put this more simply the Judeo-Christian block is more than 80% of our population – that to any fair minded person would represent the religious ethos of a nation. 

Even the world of children’s programming contributes to our Christmas ethos.  Today it may boggle the mind to think that Charles Schultz insisted that Linus (van Pelt), that perennial blanket lover, quote from the King James Bible (Luke 2:8-14) on the true meaning of Christmas or that the ultra liberal new dealer Lutheran Theodor Seuss Geisel (BKA Dr. Seuss) should write an entire book chastising the idea of someone stealing Christmas – a book worthy of our times. 

The big picture for McDonald’s is not to listen to your pointy headed media people who are trying to please the Politically Correct (PC) Monster.  Rather stand for something wholesome, traditional, and quintessentially American: Honor Christmas by giving your employees the day off: "And so, as Tiny Tim said, ‘A Merry Christmas to us all; God bless us, every one!’"  Then we can all say: “I’m Lovin’ It”

Word Total: 635

Geoffrey G. Fisher is a highly-qualified state-certified history teacher working in southwest Florida as a guest teacher.  He holds a BA in History from the University of Connecticut and a MA in Public Policy from Trinity College in Hartford, CT.  In addition to teaching he is a former elected official and speechwriter.  Mr. Fisher now writes the political blog: THE THINKING CAP at   

www.theamericanthinkingcap.blogspot.com.