I found this interesting to read.  It's extremely curious as to "how" this controversy is being dealt with in the business world, and not surprising that the debate itself is not resulting in more "Christ-like-ness" in our society.  When we're (American business executives) deciding among terminology such as Christmas vs. Holiday based on a telephone survey (Gap story, see below), is it any wonder that we're in the state of paradox that we are? 

Reference:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_controversy#Present-day

Retailer controversies

Since approximately 2004, many Christian or secular non-profit organizations in the United States have petitioned for boycotts of various large secular organizations, particularly retail giants, demanding that they use the term "Christmas" rather than "holiday" in their print, TV, online, and in-store marketing. Although a great many retailers were criticized for adhering to such policies, there have been quite a few notable instances in which many retailers were feature prominently in the mainstream media for their "no `Christmas`" policy.

2005

• After threats of boycotting, the Sears Holdings Corporation (which owns Sears and Kmart) altered their marketing policies from using the term "holiday" to using the term "Christmas." The change of policy included the distribution of "Merry Christmas" signs to stores nationwide, and the changing of all instances of the term "holiday" to "Christmas" on their website and in stores. Sears also included a "very Merry Christmas" greeting at their website from December 8 through December 26, 2005. Kmart opened the 2006 Christmas season with their slogan "Where Christmas comes together", and several commercials acknowledging Christmas, including one with the tune to "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing". As of 2007, Sears uses the terms "holiday" and "Christmas" interchangeably, while Kmart seems to have dropped the word "Christmas" altogether.

• In 2005, Wal-Mart was criticized by the Catholic League for avoiding the word "Christmas" in any of their marketing efforts."^[15] The company had downplayed the term "Christmas" in much of its advertising for several years.^[16] This caused some backlash among the public, prompting some groups to pass around petitions and threaten boycotts against the company, as well as several other prominent retailers that practiced similar downgrading of the holiday.^[15] In 2006, in response to the public outcry, Wal-Mart announced that they were amending their policy and would be using "Christmas" rather than "holiday". Among the changes, they noted that the former "Holiday Shop" would become the "Christmas Shop", and that there would be a "countin' down the days to Christmas" feature.^[15]

• In 2005, Target Corporation was criticized by the American Family Association for their decision not to use the term "Christmas" in any of their in-store, online, or print advertising.^[17] The AFA initiated a nation-wide boycott of the Target Corporation,^[18] resulting in over 700,000 petition signatures, all of which were individually sent to Target customer service. Within a week of initiating the boycott, the AFA received an official letter from Target which indicated that they would begin incorporating the term "Christmas" in their advertising: "Over the course of the next few weeks, our advertising, marketing and merchandising will become more specific to the holiday that is approaching – referring directly to holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah. For example, you will see reference to Christmas in select television commercials, circulars and in-store signage.".^[19] In a 2007 interview with Chief Executive Magazine, the CEO of Target, Bob Ulrich, stated that Target's usage of "holiday" instead of "Christmas" was a mistake. "Frankly, we screwed up", he said.^[20]

2006

• When it was revealed in November 2006 that Wal-Mart would be using the term "Christmas" in their advertising campaign, an article about the issue initiated by USA Today pointed out that Best Buy Corporation would be among the retailers that would not be using "Christmas" at all in their advertising that year. Dawn Bryant, a Best Buy spokeswoman, stated: "We are going to continue to use the term holiday because there are several holidays throughout that time period, and we certainly need to be respectful of all of them."^[21] The American Family Association launched a campaign against Best Buy's policy.^[22] In reaction to the same policy, the Catholic League placed Best Buy on its 2006 Christmas Watch List.^[23] As of November 2007, it has been determined that Best Buy will be using "Christmas" in their advertising.

• Around the same time that Best Buy Corporation was noted for having avoided using "Christmas" in their 2006 advertising, Gap, Incorporated (which owns Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic) was also criticized for avoiding use of the term.^[24] An unnamed Old Navy manager was quoted as saying: "We have a lot of Christmas gifts in our stores, but the word Christmas is not used here. Everything is holiday."^[24] After mounting criticism about the issue, Gap, Inc. set up an option within their corporate telephone answering line that was specific to "holiday advertising questions". As of 2007, it has been determined that Gap will continue to avoid use of the term "Christmas".

2007

• In November 2007, the pet product retailer PetSmart was criticized by the AFA for not using the term "Christmas" in any of their promotions.^[25] PetSmart quickly altered their website to include mentions of the term "Christmas",^[26] rather than solely "holiday".