'I'm Sorry': School Employee Apologizes For Ethnic Slur in Christmas Rant

He made a mistake and he’s apologized for it profusely.

The mistake, though, was in the term he used, not the message he was trying to convey.

So says Frank Atkins, of Parsippany, who took to social media Monday to lambast the Rockaway Townsquare Mall for its lack of holiday-related decorations. The mall, part of the Simon Property Group, is where Atkins has shopped for four decades, both as a child and now as a parent.

“I was angry and I said something I shouldn’t,” Atkins, a Parsippany school bus driver told Patch Tuesday. “I wasn’t mad at any particular person or group, but mad at the mall and what they were doing. What I said was wrong, and I apologize for that.”

Atkins used a derogatory term to describe citizens of Middle Eastern descent in his Facebook post on the mall’s public page, which was quickly removed.

While Atkins’ use of the slur was looked down upon, comments on Patch and Facebook backed up the angry shopper’s claims that there wasn’t enough Christmas spirit at the mall.

“The lack of Christmas themes made me really upset,” Atkins said. “I was there the other day with my 8-year-old daughter and when she saw Santa she said she didn’t want to take a picture with him. It was very uninviting.”

See related: School Employee Targets ‘Towel Heads’ in Facebook Christmas Rant

In previous years, Atkins said, Christmas trees, reindeer, Mrs. Claus and other holiday staples have all been part of the scenery. This year, Simon Property Group set up Santa either inside a glacier or igloo theme across its malls.

“Such a shame … Christmas used to be such a warm and wonderful time of year.. and now we are all so afraid of offending someone with decorations no less.. sad..ruins it for the kids.. imo” commented LA from NJ

“Can’t agree with the language, but sure do agree with the attack on Simon’s Policy. Appears they are backing down, but what a STUPID idea!” commented Eric

“Frank, I agreed with every thing you said, by taking it down you fell right into their trap. This is a country of laws where majority rules. We are in the majority, so we rule. Don’t ever back down from that…..” commented Jerry.

Rather than what the mall offers in 2015, Atkins said he’d like to see the winter holiday traditions of multiple religions celebrated inside Rockaway Townsquare.

“I’d rather see all religions celebrated than none at all,” Atkins said. “I don’t think this politically correct stuff makes any sense.”

Do you agree with Atkins? Has the holiday season looked less bright?