Contrary to what’s been discussed on local radio and repeated in e-mails to several of us at the Herald-Leader, we do not have a policy banning “Merry Christmas” from ads on our pages.
What we do have is an anti-discrimination policy, dictated by state and federal laws, that prevents us from accepting ads in the help wanted and real estate sections of the Classifieds section that specify that someone of only a particular religion, ethnic group, race or gender should respond to the ad. That’s why — out of an abundance of caution — we have not accepted ads for employment or real estate that say, “Merry Christmas.” A job applicant or apartment hunter might construe that as saying the job or apartment is for Christians only.
If you want to take out an ad in another part of the paper – not in help wanted or real estate – and wish someone “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Kwanzaa” or “Happy Hanukkah,” we’ll be happy to print it.
Linda Austin
Editor
i have never heard of such nonsense concerning your policy. if a store has the words merry christmas displayed do you think they are saying only christians are to shop here. it is time people got over it and your paper should do the same. there is no way that the words “merry christmas” in an ad could ever be considered discrimination. you are be very extreme. it is sad.
Considering the litigious society that we live in, I suppose I can understand that.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! The HL needs to quit being so wishy-washy and politically correct! You big sissies!
Mike Wilson- Did you actually read the posting, or are you simplying spewing what you heard on the radio? Stores can say “Merry Christmas.”
Ads for anything other than Job or Housing can say “Believe in Jesus or Rot” and it is FINE by HL policy.
And as one of the lone Jewish people in this ‘burgh, I’m fine with Merry Christmas, I say it to people and don’t correct others when they say it to me. So please, as a person who does not celebrate Christmas, grant me my frist ever Christmas wish that this holiday season comes and goes without the crazies claiming there is a Jewish/Gay/Liberal/Democrat assult on Christmas! Please.
Merry Christmas and God Bless You All