Best Buy stands by ‘Happy Eid’ ad, will include ‘Christmas’ in new ads

As a Christian I am NOT offended by the Happy Eid al-Adha in the most current ad. Howevery I will be watching for appropriat holiday wishes for the other major religions for example Jewish holidays and Christmas. Best Buy is my favorite electronics store especially for computer items.

Merry Christmas from Augusta, GA

Imad Hamad’s comments do more to hurt our image as Muslims than they help.

He could have simply welcomed the gesture from Best Buy, and expressed his wishes that all other religions enjoy their celebrations this year as well.

Instead, he decided to inject a complaint about the “anti-Islamic virus” in American society.

After years of terrorist attacks and angry shouting Muslims dominating the airwaves here in the US, I’m not surprised that Americans are wary of what they see as a creeping Islamization of the country.
As a Bangladeshi myself, I can guarantee that if Aarong started running Happy Haunukah ads, all of Dhaka would be in an uproar.

It’s time for Muslims in the West to stop being angry and upset at every slight, and to realize that we won’t be met with friendship until we try harder to show ourselves as friends.

I think it is great that Best Buy had the eid greeting. I was very pleased. These are the small things that help me reinforce with young people the reality that Muslims and America are fully compatible with one another. The greeting is a symbol to young Muslims that their faith is welcomed in America. The comment by Gail Amstutz from Georgia is also very helpful in this regard – in a time when there is so much negativity towards Islam and Muslims, Ms. Amstutz’s comment (which I believe is far more representative of the broader American perspective) re-affirms the fact that we can coexist and even thrive together as a multi-religious society. Happy Thanksgiving to all! Assalaamu Alaikum.

Best-Buy, for at least the last 8-9 Christmas seasons, has always said “Happy Holidays.” I have never liked this, but I still continued to go there. Now they quote this Muslim holiday greeting in the name of diversity!? All the while saying they will now wish people Merry Christmas and all the rest of the religious holidays? Sorry- but I will never walk into a Best-Buy again. Being PC has hit a new low.

Mary, your comment makes no sense to me. You didn’t like Happy Holidays, but now you’re not satisfied with Merry Christmas because they’ve also decided to include other religions? Why? Freedom of Religon carries with an obligation to respect others regligous beliefs and that’s what they’re doing. They should be applauded.

Thank you Best Buy for the kind gesture and Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all. Also, to Junaid M. Afeef: Thanks for the comment, remember.. sometimes American and Muslim actually are more than just compatible. They are the same thing. Some Americans are Muslim, and that doesn’t make them any less American, or any less Muslim.

Thank you Best Buy for the kind gesture and Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all. Also, to Junaid M. Afeef: Thanks for the comment, remember.. sometimes American and Muslim actually are more than just compatible. They are the same thing. Some Americans are Muslim, and that doesn’t make them any less American, or any less Muslim.
Also, I don’t see how wishing someone a happy holiday of some kind is being too PC.

Best Buy doesn’t know the hard-headedness of the Christian community. When they state they are not going to purchase BBY products, that is exactly what will happen. What was BB thinking? Thanksgiving is an American holiday with no religious connotation. Why pro-actively include Eid?

I know Best Buy understands the hard-headedness of the Christian community and since they are now a global company the impact will not be but a blip on the radar. They now have stores in Turkey, China, Mexico, Canada, UK, etc. The Happy Eid ads are recognizing that not only do people of many faiths and cultures work here in the United States at Best Buy corporate and in their stores but all over the world. Why should only one faith’s holiday be recognized? Every faith should be recognized not just the Christian faith.

The reason Best Buy is wishing Muslims a Happy Eid along with Thanksgiving, is because they both happen to be on the same day. Although Christmas may still be the most popular religious holiday in America, it’s not the only holiday.
Being from Canada myself, I’m used to seeing holiday wishes from retailers for many religious holidays including Diwali and Chinese New Year.
There is no harm in aknowledging the diversity that is America.

This is ad wasn’t printed in “the name of diversity”, it was printed in the name of reality. Muslims have been in this country all along, we are not going anywhere. I was born here, and have served in the US military. We have been ignored, and our purchasing power taken for granted for decades. Black Friday falls on the day of Eid this year. To not acknowledge Muslim shoppers on this day would simply be insulting. Moreover, unless my watch has stopped, Thanksgiving was YESTERDAY!

As long as they specifically mention other holidays by name I really have no problem with this…

But it is a bit eyebrow raising in the light of their “No Christmas” policy they put out a few years back when they decided they wouldn’t use Christmas by name in any advertising.

I applaud BB for including a holiday celebrated by a LARGE number of Americans. To those commenting on the “PC” factor- would it not be more PC to ignore the Muslim community or only demonize it as we have been doing since 9/11? BB is taking a logical step & reaching out to an underutilized market. I am Christian but certainly not offended by the celbration of holidays associated with other faiths. And to the Christian zealouts throwing barbs out there– are sales & shopping what Christmas is all about? Let’s bring Christianity back into the light as a religion of TOLERANCE not BIGOTRY.

I used to think it was just Christmas that has been overly commercialized. Are there no religious Holidays free from being commercialization anymore?
Happy Winter Solstice!

I am very disappointed in the American people for this reaction. We have ALL, no question about it seen many, many advertisers noting major holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanza. We have also seen minor holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc. getting their share of attention. Muslims have two holidays a year Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha, is it too much to handle that one advertiser acknowledged a Muslim holiday? No governmental based schools or agencies close or recognize these two holidays, so really I ask you, is it too much to have someone wish us a happy Eid Al-Adha on their circular?

Best buy did the right thing, that is a gesture to say America is all inclusive and so is best buy.

They should also have atleast one ad for Christmas. I am a muslim and i think Christmas should be the most important and most talked about holiday in this country where a vast majority celebrates christmas. If they acknowledge Christmas then there is no problem in recognizing other holidays.

The fact that for years other holidays have always been “Happy Holidays” unless its a Muslim religion, named specifically, seems odd. For BB to NOW state that they’ll name all religious holidays due to the uproar seems odd.
Why wouldn’t BB simply say – ‘yes, we’ve always just said “Happy Holidays” so for this Muslism holiday we’ll simply say that too!’? No, they try to upgrade – UPGRADE – the other holidays. Why were the other holidays downgraded to begin with?