Away in a Meatcase

  Away in a Meatcase 
  Originally uploaded by chaostheory.

When we think of the story of Christmas-- the couple who can't find room at the inn, who are relegated to the manger where the animals lay, the baby born under the star that leads the three wise men to him bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh...

Do we think about a sale on Rump Roast? 

The Stop & Shop on the McGrath Highway in Somerville has a baby Jesus, and all the manger scene players, set up on the shelf above the meat case, just in front of the butcher area. OK, so points for the true meaning of Christmas according to Linus Van Pelt. (Linus quotes from Luke in "A Charlie Brown Christmas".)

But-- and I say this as somebody who does not at all consider himself a devout Christian-- the Meat case? If PETA is right, does that mean that Stop & Shop gets smited when the Second Coming occurs? Is it an offering-- should I be placing beef jerky in front of creches that I pass?