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The shoeboxes are given without discrimination and unconditionally to children regardless of their nationality, political background or religious beliefs.

At least one local Operation Christmas Child organizer, Bob Evans of Tameside, Manchester, is fighting back more directly against the accusations. Here's what he told the Tameside Advertiser:

We're not a fundamentalist organization, and I am insulted by the claims that our annual appeal is racist. Every shoebox is given unconditionally to children no matter what their ethnic background.

Our Christian partners in some countries do offer a small booklet with each shoebox but the youngsters are under no obligation to take it.

By spreading these rumors, people like Mr. Marshall are trying to deprive these underprivileged children of the only Christmas gift they're likely to receive this year.

I'm not a bitter person but this kind of whispering campaign does upset me. Our volunteers work hard to put a smile on the face of children who have suffered a great deal of pain and loss in their lives so far. There is no ulterior motive.

Samaritan's Purse's explanation is true, but that doesn't mean the lies about the organization will stop. There are still 41 more criticizing days until Christmas.

Mixing root beer and religion
One of the joys of Colorado ski country—apart from, you know, the great snow and runs—is the constant witness of an A&W stand along I-70 in Fresco. For the last several years, the restaurant has posted Bible verses on its 30-foot sign. A few weeks ago, however, the sign went blank.

"We were going to post the message, "Why was this sign blank last week?' but we chose not to get into that," said Donna Drebenstedt, who owns and runs the A&W franchise with her husband, Reuben.

But they are getting into it, and told the Summit Daily News that the reason it went blank (and now simply says "open") is that the A&W headquarters told the couple to stop quoting Scripture.

"We're in the restaurant business. We sell hamburgers and hot dogs and don't want to offend any of our customers, and we expect the same from our franchisees," A&W spokeswoman Virginia Ferguson told the paper.

The Drubenstedts are complying—for now. They say the verses will soon return, saying there is nothing in the franchise agreement barring such messages, nor prohibiting the Messianic Jewish evangelistic literature inside.

"We're not going to give up our Constitutional and religious freedoms," said Reuben, who is also pastor of Congregation HaShem, the local Messianic Jewish community. "I don't make my living selling hamburgers, that's just an aside to why I am here. It's not just about the money. This is God's restaurant."

They take that concept seriously: Profits go to missions, and employees are encouraged to engage in evangelism (and are given time off for Bible study, worship services, and other Christian activities).

The paper suggests that the corporate office was responding to complaints from local Jewish residents, and the local Anti-Defamation League says it has raised the issue over whether "the business fall[s] under the laws regarding public accommodation" and is "concerned for the rights of the employees who work there." (It could be worse: At least one pundit is suggesting that Messianic Jews be sued for "fraud.")

Synagogue of the Summit president Heidi Dickstein, however, says some of her parishioners are overly sensitive. "We've certainly noticed the Bible quotes, but most of the people I know have mostly just giggled over them," she said. "They have the freedom of speech and freedom of religion, just like everyone else in this country. We as Jews see evangelism as a sin, but we will support to the ends of the Earth the Messianic Jewish people's rights guaranteeing their freedom of religion and their freedom of speech."

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November (Web-only) 2003, Vol. 47