Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Here is an article posted yesterday about a local Mall here in Atlanta and one of their sister Mall's in Nevada eliminating the Easter Bunny as it may be offensive to non-christians. <<ARE YOU READY FOR THE SPRING BUNNY? Easter Spring Bunny & doggie Well, here we go again. A few months ago it was Holiday Trees and the attack on Christmas. Now it's Spring Bunnies and an assault on Easter. A friend of mine in the broadcast industry tells me that the Meadows Mall in Las Vegas has a set-up at center court where kids can have their picture taken with "The Spring Bunny." Not "The Easter Bunny" mind you, but "The Spring Bunny." The TV news report said they did this so as not to offend non-Christians who don't celebrate Easter. My friend assumes that the eggs given away by "The Spring Bunny" are called "Spring Eggs" and are placed in a "Spring Basket." Well ... Las Vegas isn't the only place this wonderful new "tradition" is being launched. It looks like a mall in my home town of Atlanta is pulling the same asinine stunt. I've been copied on an e-mail from an official at some suburban Atlanta mall. For now I've "XXX"ed out the name of the mall. I've sent an email to this mall official asking if the email was authentic. When I receive verification I'll let you know who these politically correct characters are. Hello, I'm sorry I missed your call yesterday regarding our Bunny photos, and I wanted to get back in touch with you after hearing your concerns. I appreciate you calling XXXXXXXX Mall and I value feedback from our shoppers on our marketing programs and the customer service we strive to deliver to encourage your patronage. Many backgrounds, cultures and religions do not celebrate the Easter holiday and XXXXXXXXX Mall wants our springtime children's character to be familiar and appealing to all shoppers. As a kick-off for the beginning of the spring season, XXXXXXXX Mall features a butterfly garden scene as the home for the Spring Bunny. .Families are invited to meet and greet the Bunny and children receive a special storybook as a gift when they visit. Photos with the Bunny are available April 1 - 15 in the Butterfly Garden located on the lower level, _________ wing. The Garden is open on Monday - Saturday from 10:00am - 8:00pm, and Sundays from 12:00pm - 6:00pm. Thank you for contacting XXXXXXXX Mall management and sending us your thoughts regarding this seasonal program. Your input is important to us as we try to create special experiences for the families in the community to enjoy. ____________ Marketing Director XXXXXXXXX Mall >>
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA I would think that if Christians thought about it for a few minutes, the term 'Easter Bunny' would be pretty offensive. The 'Easter Bunny' has exactly what to do with the actual day called Easter? The 'Easter Bunny' brings toys and candy to children on Easter Sunday, and has nothing to do with the actual holiday. 'Spring Bunny' is fine with me. We've already eliminated 'Easter Vacation' from our collective vocabulary.
Originally Posted By Beaumandy Just another attack on Christians from the hyper PC liberal crowd. That mall has already backed down after normal Americans told them how stupid it was to ban the word Easter.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Jim like it or not 85% of the population of the US identifies itself as "christian". Those Malls aren't worried about the so called christians out there. Those Malls are changing tradition because they don't want to OFFEND "non christians". In case you haven't noticed a sub group of "non christians" have been getting kinda violent around the world lately. What this boils down to is the US society falling to its knees to accomidate a particular "non christian" subculture.
Originally Posted By cmpaley Well, considering the rabbit and eggs are pagan fertility symbols that have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the Jewish Passover or the Solemnity of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (Easter), I don't see a problem with calling it the "Spring Bunny."
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA I agree with you cmpaley. It's funny to me, that even though the 'Easter Bunny' has nothing whatsoever to do with the Christian celebration of Easter, people are still getting their panties in a wad. Why? Because it's always been that way. Isn't America designed to be a place where you're welcomed with open arms, and where you can worship as you please? Kennesaw Tom, you're suggestion here is that the management of a mall is knuckling under to the terrorists? So, if we change the name of 'The Easter Bunny' the terrorists have won?
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Originally Posted By DlandDug This is a puzzler. My dad (a Christian minister) was adamantly opposed to even the word "Easter." (He always used the term "Resurrection Sunday.") The Easter Bunny, eggs, candies, etc. were not ever a part of our very Christian household. (As cmplaey pointed out above, these symbols are actually pagan in origin.) We did, however, have no problem with American society's embrace of Easter, the Easter Bunny, eggs, candies, etc. I guess we were more tolerant that way.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <That isn't the point here> So, the point is thatt someone dare change something? What is the point in the 'Easter Bunny becomes Spring Bunny' debate? Where were you when poor little 'Easter Vacation' became 'Spring Break'?
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I agree that the Easter bunny is a pagan reference. But come on guys. Giving in to "non christian" sub cultures because you are afraid of violence is not a good reason to change tradition.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <Giving in to "non christian" sub cultures because you are afraid of violence is not a good reason to change tradition.> Who said that the mall was afraid of violence? Who said that was the reason for the change? Maybe the person at the mall realized that the Easter Bunny is a bit archaic. Maybe the person at the mall is a person of another religious background -- not [brace yourself] -- Christian, and felt that the change would be a positive one? Who says that it's fear-based?
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA It's the Easter Bunny!!!! What's next? Your indignation about The Great Pumpkin not getting his due during Halloween? WTF!
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom This is what the Mall gave as a reason for the change. <<<Many backgrounds, cultures and religions do not celebrate the Easter holiday and XXXXXXXXX Mall wants our springtime children's character to be familiar and appealing to all shoppers.>>> They broke tradition to accomidate "non christians".
Originally Posted By Beaumandy Jim, do you think they changed the word Easter to Spring might have been because they didn't want to offend any non christians?? While your at.. did the holiday tree replace Christmas tree because people diodn't want to offend non Christains? Fianlly, who are these people who are offended??? I bet they have a volvo with a Kerry sticker on it.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom My guess is they are wearing turbins. Since two of the 911 highjackers lived in the metro Atlanta area. And as many as 6 visited here ( staying right accross the street from the CDC, thats Center For Disease Control ) in the 12 months prior to 911.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Why does a mall have to embrace The Easter Bunny? <<<Many backgrounds, cultures and religions do not celebrate the Easter holiday and XXXXXXXXX Mall wants our springtime children's character to be familiar and appealing to all shoppers.>>> I have no problem with this. Why not have something that appeals to more shoppers? Kennesaw Tom, what if they simply discarded the whole 'Easter Bunny' character and just came up with their own cast of characters. 'Springtime Susie and Friends' It would be a whole crew of fluffy pastel colored animals. Kids would have their pictures taken, mommies of all denominations would smile while they enjoyed the goings on. Who gives a crap? You guys see the change of The Easter Bunny as the infiltration of al-queada into the fabric of the country. I don't see it.
Originally Posted By DlandDug Actually, I have seen Malls that have a vague "Spring" theme around this time of year.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <My guess is they are wearing turbins.> So, now the mall management is buckling under to outside pressure from people 'wearing turbins.' What does it mean to you when you see people 'wearing turbins' Kennesaw Tom?
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <Actually, I have seen Malls that have a vague "Spring" theme around this time of year.> A mall is allowed to have any type of theme they want to have. Just because they want to make their theme-ing more generic and not 'The Easter Bunny' [who doesn't really represent Easter, but...] who cares?
