Posted on 10/30/2005 9:10:08 PM PST by Between the Lines
CLEWISTON — Hurricane victims who wanted water had some difficulty finding it at a relief station in Clewiston Friday. The volunteer group running a supply center doesn't like the company that donated the water, so they decided not to give it to those in line for help.
Twenty-two pallets of the canned water, distributed free by beer company Anheuser-Busch, bears the company's label – and members of the Southern Baptist Convention refused to hand it out to those in need.
Resident lined up for miles to receive food and water at the distribution point. But the water was left on the sidelines by the Alabama-based group.
"The pastor didn't want to hand out the Budweiser cans to people and that's his prerogative and I back him 100-percent," said SBC volunteer John Cook.
The SBC felt it was inappropriate to give the donation out, and they weren't happy when NBC2 wanted to know why.
"Why do you want to make that the issue? That's not the issue. The issue is that we're here trying to help people," Cook said.
No one disagrees with that, but the Red Cross says Anheuser-Busch is also trying to help.
The water has been available all along, but the SBC volunteers set it aside and few people knew it was available.
While the SBC is standing its ground, the Red Cross says water is water and they're now handing out the supplies.
The vice-president of operations for Anheuser-Busch, Mike Harding, released a statement on the donation Friday reading:
“As we have seen numerous times in recent years, safe drinking water is a critical need following natural disasters such as Hurricane Wilma. At the request of various relief agencies, Anheuser-Busch and its wholesalers have donated more than 9 million cans of drinking water since Hurricane Katrina hit in August, and when called on, we’ll continue to provide water to all victims of Wilma as long as it’s needed.”
"I don't think it makes a difference who gives it out. It's going to a good cause. It's going to help everyone," said storm victim Lisa Simmons.
And many victims are grateful Anheuser-Busch is stepping in to help.
If that medicine can fit into an existing production line, more power to them.
This has already been posted today:
I'm sure it's just an accident that you failed to include the "UPDATE" that appears at the end of the article in bright red letters.
Hey, if those folks have other water they can use in place of the beer company's water, more power to them. Or they could rip off the labels I suppose.
First of all, they're cans, not bottles, so you can't just 'peel off the label. But to do so, would be truly disrespectful of the charity provided by Anheuser-Busch.
"Notice us and our charity, but we have torn off the name from the donor who actually gave this water because we don't like them and we'll just take the credit for the gift."
I don't think they'd be that tacky and selfish, do you?
It certainly IS an issue. The issue is a bizarre and phobic fetish about the word "beer" printed on a can of water that people need.
How incredibly stupid.
Water is water to people that are thirsty.
My initial thought was that this was a rather silly on this pastor's part. But I was reminded, by my good friend, on the other thread posted today, that these are just people, volunteering their own time and money to go help out down there and they don't deserve the grief. I think it's a shame that the SBC is getting this bad press because a reporter would rather report the 'scandal' than the good work.
"First of all, they're cans, not bottles, so you can't just 'peel off the label."
My mistake. Anyways, wasn't it a little tacky of the beer company to give these cans to SBC, a group known for its anti-alcohol stance? I don't know if they accepted them (wouldn't make much sense if they did) or if they were just dropped off at their doorstep, but either way the media is making too much of a big deal over something minor.
They weren't giving the water to the SBC, they were giving water to the hurricane victims.... and some ended up in the hands of the SBC
I don't see how donating water to a "supply center" can be considered tacky.
As far as I'm concerned, what you find in a regular Budweiser can is pretty much water, anyway.
Water in beer cans?
So they're handing out coors?
"They weren't giving the water to the SBC, they were giving water to the hurricane victims.... and some ended up in the hands of the SBC
I don't see how donating water to a "supply center" can be considered tacky."
Well that's fine then (I don't know how all that logistics stuff operates). They're within their full right to not choose that particular water because of moral objections.
The SBC "setting it aside" is very crass. Anheiser-Busch is more than just beer.
The article never states that the people were not receiving water, they were just not getting this particular water. Believe me if they were doing without water, the press would be screaming it from the mountain tops.
The Red Cross is also handing out condoms in the relief effort. Do you think that the SB should pass them out also?
The SBC is the third largest privately funded relief organization in the world. They do a lot of good for a lot of people. If they want to do it their way, it is their money and it is their business. They should not be criticized for not wanting to advertise for anyone they do not wish to advertise for or be associated with a product that is contrary to their beliefs.
How are the children to tell the differance?
Pompous Ass Award of the year!
No.
But your analogy is incorrect.
If the analog to the condom is beer, please be aware that no beer was provided and no one was expected to hand out beer.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.