Re: Roosevelt Field Mall and Santa

Really tired of seeing Jews and Muslims being blamed on social media (mostly facebook) for decisions that may have been made for all kinds of reasons---or even by Christians.

Also, a question. have Christmas trees generaly been renamed at the school we are discussing? Because that would be weird.

But IF a class's ACTUAL tree is called a friendship tree to avoid Establishment Clause problems and so the class or (public) school can "have" a tree...well... we have to understand what's really going on then.

Another question. If Starbucks had several holiday cups to commemorate different religious holidays, including Christmas, would people still be upset?

Genuinely asking.

Re: Roosevelt Field Mall and Santa

Message edited 11/9/2015 11:27:28 AM.

Re: Roosevelt Field Mall and Santa

I'm Christian and I don't know why people are getting So angry. IMO the red Starbucks cups are Christmas-y enough. If they wanted to ignore the holiday they could keep the regular cups. I would have liked to see how the glacier Santa picture came out. I think there was a lot more to the display than we could see on facebook.

Roosevelt Field Mall and Santa

I've never seen such stupidity in the world is all I can say...

Roosevelt Field Mall and Santa

I can't believe people care enough about all this.There are plenty of traditional santas out there at malls closer to most of our houses.

Caring about a santa display that I would never go to even before the "scandal" is so low on my list of what I need to worry about.

I will celebrate the holidays as I always do and what malls, stores etc do have zero baring on how I live my life.

I think society today just wants a scandal and wants to get offended by every little thing.

Re: Roosevelt Field Mall and Santa

Posted by BriBri2u

Posted by Hofstra26

Posted by BriBri2u

Posted by gina409

I am so sick of he argument of worry about something else

So because people wanted this changed tbt don't care about other issues. Give me a break

It's totally ok to use social media for change to other hints but bc this is minor to some and obviously not a serious issue it makes people crazy for doing it

And for the record I shared it on fb bc I thought it was ridiculous. It looked awful and not Christmas like

I never declared a war on Christmas etc

But what do I know. I'm a idiot and only care about mall Santa's and nothing else

Keep spreading that Christmas Cheer

I agree with this...all those people who say they have better things to worry about are the exact reason why things like this display are happening.

If it does not bother you than pin a rose on your nose, but DO NOT dismiss that what Simon corporation and other groups who cater to these whiney people, did was a big slap in the face to one of the biggest religious groups in this country. We let this slide, than what?

We already don't allow GOD in public schools and have to worry about saying Merry Christmas to people who don't celebrate and getting offended, and calling the Rockefeller Christmas tree the Holiday tree...I mean seriously???

They call it the "Holiday Tree" now?? Stop. They do not!!! If that's true, that's about the dumbest thing I've ever heard. SMH. A Xmas tree is now called a holiday tree???? I just can't, that's just insane.

I don't think officially, but I have DEFINITELY heard it said by a good amount of people.

Message edited 11/9/2015 12:01:48 PM.

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It's still called the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center.
Per their website which I just pulled up because I was curious.
In fact they have a whole section titled
"CHRISTMAS in New York City at Rockefeller Center"

Rockefeller Center Website

And it's still the Radio City CHRISTMAS Spectacular.

Message edited 11/9/2015 12:17:31 PM.

Re: Roosevelt Field Mall and Santa

Not sure if this was posted yet or not but I just saw this update on Newsday:

Oh and I should mention that I needed to run to SmithHaven over the weekend and saw that they have a beautiful display with Santa Claus -- similar to ones that they have done in the past. It was kind of like a "Santa's Workshop" at the North Pole-looking type of set up. Tall, beautiful Christmas trees. Lots of lights. Very classic, elegant, pretty. Anyway...

---------------------------------------------------
Simon malls president says Roosevelt Field glacier display was a mistake

Updated November 9, 2015 9:05 AM
By GARY DYMSKI [email protected]

The Glacier Santa set at Roosevelt Field Mall is to be replaced with a more traditional Christmas setting after a social media protest. Even adding the tree didn't mollify the critics.

Customer backlash, much of it on social media, has melted away a faux glacier holiday display at several Simon malls nationwide, including the one at Roosevelt Field.

David Contis, president of Simon Property Group, told News 12 Long Island Sunday it was a "pretty easy decision" to defrost the glacier in favor of a more "traditional Christmas set."

Contis said "we heard" our customers' complaints. "We listened. We reacted. We made a mistake and we changed it."

Mall sprucing up its 'cutting edge' Santa display
Roosevelt Field unveiled the new photo backdrop last week, featuring a sparkling faux glacier that projects glittering lights.

But the absence of a traditional Christmas tree upset some shoppers at the Garden City mall, who complained. Some objections went viral, with posts on Twitter and Facebook.

An online petition started by West Babylon resident Jessica Juzwa-Rudin calling for the mall to "bring back Christmas" garnered 1,000 signatures in about six hours Saturday.

Juzwa-Rudin, 25, said she read about a similar controversy at a Simon mall in Charlotte, North Carolina, and decided to take action.

The Huffington Post reported that the interactive glacier displays, where photographs with Santa were to be taken, were set up at seven Simon malls. Simon had previously said in a statement that it hoped the new display would "refresh and modernize our holiday experience," the Huffington Post story said.

But customers were cool to the glacier, citing on social media the absence of more traditional Christmas decorations, especially a tree.

The agitation online reached a fever pitch by early Saturday afternoon. Some protesters accused the company of being "anti-Christmas" or "too politically correct." Others threatened to shop elsewhere.

Simon then responded by placing a tree in the glacier setting and then, finally, by dismantling the icy exhibit in favor of a traditional Christmas display.

With Laura Blasey and Laura Figueroa

Message edited 11/9/2015 12:18:58 PM.

Roosevelt Field Mall and Santa

Someone posted yesterday on Facebook that Starbucks hates Jesus. Doesn't Starbucks know that Jesus drank his white chocolate Mocha out of a cup depicting christmas symbols? Get your shit together Starbucks.

In all seriousness though, I am not telling people not to care or to focus on bigger things in life. It's fine to be upset with things that may bother you, however trivial they may seem to others. However, I don't agree that the world is trying to erase Christmas. I mean, the holiday starts November 1st for crying out loud. But if certain people and companies want to make some things more inclusive, what on earth is the matter with that?? Hanukkah is completely overlooked the entire holiday season, it's basically an after thought. How do you think that makes those who celebrate that holiday feel? Just because christmas is celebrated by the majority doesn't mean it should be considered more important. Christmas is very important to me and my family but that doesn't mean it should be so for everyone.

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Message edited 11/9/2015 1:05:20 PM.

Re: Roosevelt Field Mall and Santa

http://www.factcheck.org/2009/10/holiday-tree-hooey/

I copied the link above because this controversy seems to have initially raised as a smear campaign against the Obamas, but so many people here are still talking about it.

Does anyone have a specific example of a school or pubic place that has renamed its Christmas tree to be a "Holiday Tree?" And, no, my grandmother's cat's dogwalker isn't a reliable source. LOL.

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Message edited 11/9/2015 2:00:30 PM.

Re: Roosevelt Field Mall and Santa

I think people are looking into minimalist brand design and seeing more than what's really there.

The first thing I thought of when I saw the glacier pic at Roosevelt Field is the new food court. The food court has a distinctly midcentury modern feel -- minimalist, geometric, with elements of nature (like visible wood grain, etc). The Santa glacier looked like it should have had a '60s Pan Am stewardess sitting in it.

Starbucks' red cup is clearly minimalist too. Google's new logo is flat, has no shadows.

Check out the logo design changes many major brands have made recently on this blog: http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/column/reviewed/

The bottom line is that corporations will do whatever they need to do to bring people and their money to them, there tends to be very little agenda beyond that. We as consumers tend to like our cell phones and tablets sleek, we dress ourselves in neutrals, and we often like minimalist design in public spaces (but I guess not in these instances).

Re: Roosevelt Field Mall and Santa

I feel like those who did not like the setup are being branded as standing outside the mall with signs screaming you killed Christmas

When in reality majority shared a pic in fb and said man this looks awful. Bring back the old set

And now we have no knowledge of any current events bc all
We care about is Santa gate and are very stupid and people wish they could only worry about that

Bc I didn't take are of my. Twins today. My only worry was making sure Santa was in full tact

And like I said before IMO it's not he actual cup. It's not he actual Santa. It's the pussification of this country

It was totally ok when fb when nuts over that colored dress or when kim k wears a ugly dress or the oscars are on

But say hey I hate this mall
Set up and you are doomed

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Roosevelt Field Mall and Santa

Did anyone ask kids what they thought?

Honestly, all these adults at each other's throats for something geared primarily toward children.

I think Santa could be on a park bench and kids wouldn't care about lack of decorations or WHAT they called the tree. They would either be overjoyed that Santa was there, or scream in terror like my kid.

Re: Roosevelt Field Mall and Santa

Posted by Kitten1929

Posted by Otherme

Posted by MrsMick

The people that are upset over this are most likely usually not offended. It is a small minority of people who ARE offended by Christmas. Therefore the display changed.

Give me a break.

I was pissed about the display. I am Christian and I celebrate Christmas. I say Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa and respect all holidays. People should respect mine. If they don't like it and they are not American, then get out. Most likely, it is politically correct, liberal America that has a problem with it. I will probably get flamed for this but I really don't care. I can see SOME change regarding certain things. But don't change Christmas for us people that celebrate it.

But see, this is where you're missing the point and perpetuating false rumors. Nowhere did it say that the icy display was done in response to anyone complaining about more traditional decorations. Nowhere.

People have just made that part of it up to intensify the outrage on social media. This was not an attack on Christmas, it was a poor decision by Simon malls marketing dept.

They heard the people, they changed the display. End of story.

And blaming liberal America is ridiculous - it's the false sanctimony of conservatives who care about keeping Christ in Christmas while literally never doing ANYTHING Christian in their lives.

Re: Roosevelt Field Mall and Santa

Message edited 11/9/2015 2:45:09 PM.