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‘Politically Correct’ Christmas Display Offends Mall Customers To The Point It Is Removed Completely

By Tara West
Published on: 11:14 PST, Nov 8, 2015

A New York mall attempted to design a holiday Santa display that would not “offend” anyone. Therefore, they removed any sign of the holiday and left shoppers with a stark white seating area that was supposed to represent a glacier. However, it appears the overly-bland display was so plain that it actually did offend shoppers to the point of a boycott. The “politically correct” Christmas display has since been removed and shoppers are delighted to see the plastic glacier go.

The Daily Mail reports that Roosevelt Field Mall, in New York, typically hosts a holiday village for the Christmas season. The cheery display draws crowds as children flock to the area to visit with Santa Claus. However, things were much different this year with mall patrons so upset by a poorly designed Santa seating area that they threatened the mall with a boycott.

Ironically, the mall claims they opted for the “futuristic” plastic glacier design in a bid not to offend anyone this holiday season. When guests questioned the new design, some say they were told that the mall was “simplifying” the design so that it would “not offend anyone.” The mall was scared that any unneeded Christmas cheer may cause mall-goers to feel uncomfortable so downsized the display to a white plastic “grotto” of sorts for Santa and white plastic seating. The mall claimed the appearance was meant to represent a glacier, but parents weren’t buying it. In fact, they told the mall they wouldn’t buy anything until the offensively bland display was removed.

Parents said the display had nothing to do with Christmas and looked like something from Star Trek, not a children’s Christmas display. One shopper said the set looked like “‘George Jetson’s pad” not a place for Santa. It appears that the masses agreed and the mall has reportedly removed all signs of the “offensive” white display. Instead, the mall says they are going to add back in some of the Christmas elements such a Christmas tree and a red throne for Santa. Though all remnants of the “Glacial experience,” as the mall was calling the dull display, has been removed, it seems that initially the mall had hoped to keep the futuristic design by simply adding additional Christmas elements.

“Key elements are still being added to the Glacier experience at Roosevelt Field over the coming week — and after hearing early customer feedback, one of those elements will be a traditional Christmas tree alongside the Glacier experience.”

The New York Post spoke with shoppers and their responses were pretty hilarious. One lady noted that the set made it appear as though Santa was from a completely different planet.

“Santa comes along with a decorated tree; he doesn’t come with a spaceship.”

Another shopper said the display left her confused along with her spouse. The pair say the display was so odd they had to ask the staff what it was supposed to be. They were allegedly told that the Christmas village from years past had offended some mall-goers so the design was re-imagined.

“Me and my husband looked at each other and said, ‘What is that?’?They said it was because people were offended by the traditional Christmas display, that they had gotten comments in prior years.”

Though the mall may have received some complaints in the past, it seems that the new design was even more offensive than the past to most mall shoppers.

What do you think about the Long Island mall’s attempt at a politically correct Christmas display? Is it possible for a holiday display not to offend anyone?

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