A Christmas Carol for Target

Weekly Standard ^ | 11/24/04 | Hugh Hewitt

[kattracks]

The retail giant has given the Salvation Army the cold shoulder this holiday season. Perhaps they should read Dickens.
by Hugh Hewitt
11/24/2004 12:00:00 AM

ON THE CUSP of the season of Thanksgiving, Hanukah, and Christmas--the days of generosity--there are two great passages from Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol which deserve rereading, especially by the executives of Target Corporation:

"Scrooge and Marley's, I believe," said one of the gentlemen, referring to his list. "Have I the pleasure of addressing Mr. Scrooge, or Mr. Marley?"

"Mr. Marley has been dead these seven years," Scrooge replied. "He died seven years ago, this very night."

"We have no doubt his liberality is well represented by his surviving partner," said one gentleman, presenting his credentials.

It certainly was; for they had been two kindred spirits. At the ominous word, "liberality," Scrooge frowned, and shook his head, and handed the credentials back.

"At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge," said the gentleman, taking up a pen, "it is more than usually desirable that we should suffer some slight provision for the poor and the destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir."

"Are there no prisons?" asked Scrooge.

"Plenty of prisons," said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.

"And the union workhouses?" demanded Scrooge. "Are they still in operation?"

"They are, still," returned the gentleman, "I wish I could say they were not."

"The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour then?" said Scrooge.

"Both very busy, sir."

"Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course," said Scrooge. "I am very glad to hear it."

"Under the impression that they scarcely furnish Christmas cheer of mind or body to the multitude," returned the poor gentleman, "a few of us are endeavoring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink, and means of warmth. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. What shall I put you down for?"

"Nothing!" Scrooge replied.

"You wish to be anonymous?"

"I wish to be left alone," said Scrooge. "Since you ask me what I wish gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make merry myself at Christmas, and I can't afford to make idle people merry. I help support the establishments I have mentioned--they cost enough: and those who are badly off can go there."

"Many can't go there; and many would rather die."

"If they would rather die," said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. Besides--excuse me--I don't know that."

"But you might know it," observed the gentlemen.

"It's not my business," Scrooge returned. "It's enough for a man to understand his own business, and not to interfere with other people's. Mine occupies me constantly. Good-afternoon, gentlemen!"

Seeing clearly that it would be useless to pursue their point, the gentlemen withdrew. Scrooge resumed his labors with an improved opinion of himself, and in a more facetious temper than was usual with him.

Much later in the tale--after the spirits of Christmas past, present, and future had visited him as well as Marley in chains--Scrooge had a second chance:

He had not gone far, when coming on towards him he beheld the portly gentleman, who had walked into his counting-house the day before, and said "Scrooge and Marley's, I believe?" It sent a pang across his heart to think how this old gentleman would look upon him when they met; but he knew what path lay straight before him, and he took it.

"My dear sir," said Scrooge, quickening his pace, and taking the old gentleman by both hands. "How do you do? I hope you succeeded yesterday. It was very kind of you. A merry Christmas to you, sir!"

:Mr. Scrooge?"

"Yes," said Scrooge. "That is my name, and I fear it may not be pleasant to you. Allow me to ask your pardon. And will you have the goodness___" here Scrooge whispered in his ear.

"Lord bless me!" cried the gentleman, as if his breath were taken away. "My dear Scrooge, are you serious?"

"If you please," said Scrooge. "Not a farthing less. A great many back-payments are included in it, I assure you. Will you do me that favour?"

"My dear sir," said the other, shaking hands with him. "I don't know what to say to such munifi--"

"Don't say anything, please," retorted Scrooge. "Come and see me. Will you come and see me?"

"I!" cried the old gentleman. And it was clear that he meant to do it.

"Thank'ee," said Scrooge. "I am much obliged to you. I thank you fifty times: Bless you!"

THE TARGET CORPORATION has exiled the Salvation Army from its doors this year, and the Army will lose approximately $9 million in donations as a result. Many emails of protest have flowed into the Target headquarters, all of which have received the reply "Are there no prisons?" Well, not really. Instead they have received a vanilla response about the difficulty in maintaining an exception to the Target policy of non-solicitation.

Wal-Mart has no problem maintaining the Salvation Army as an exception to its general rule of non-solicitation, perhaps because the Salvation Army's mission is so closely tied to the root of the celebration about to begin: The offering of kindness by strangers to a family in need. Perhaps as well the tradition of gift giving on which America's retail sector has grown large and prosperous having its origins in the celebration of Christ's birthday may also have something to do with Wal-Mart's decision, and with the angry reaction of former Target shoppers.

There is still time for target to reverse its decision which, but for stubbornness of executives, would have been reversed last week as the backlash began and grew. Emails encouraging that change of heart may play the ghost of Christmas future in this update of Dickens's story. They should be directed to guest.relations@target.com.

"I thank you fifty times: Bless you!"

Hugh Hewitt is the host of a nationally syndicated radio show, and author most recently of If It's Not Close, They Can't Cheat: Crushing the Democrats in Every Election and Why Your Life Depends Upon It. His daily blog can be found at HughHewitt.com.

[freepatriot32]

big lots stil l allows the salvation army in front of thier stores and they have roughly the same items as target maybe freepers should go there if there are any near wher e you shop and avoid target forever

[glock rocks]

Albertsons and WalMart will have the bell ringers out front again this year... I intend to thank them with my business and let them know why.

[hedgie]

After you buy your kid his own $300,000 flight simulator at the reopened FAO Schwarz store; you can drop some change into the pot of the Salvation Army bellringer outside at 58th and Madison...

[peyton randolph]

I donated to Salvation Army today at local Wal-Mart. However, The Corner at National Review Online raised an interesting issue. It appears that the retailers banning the Salvation Army may be doing so to prevent the union organizing thugs from using it as a means to force their way into the stores. Apparently the National Labor Relations Board makes little distinction between charitable solicitations and union picketing. Permitting one is an invitation for the other. Go figure. Wish Bush would rein this bureaucracy in too.

[peyton randolph]

See post #5. This looks like a union issue.

[The Red Zone]

It appears that the retailers banning the Salvation Army may be doing so to prevent the union organizing thugs from using it as a means to force their way into the stores.

Walmart, for all of its scorched earth policy towards unions, has no such fear.

[Recon Dad]

I wrote Target two weeks ago and expressed my disappointment and went on to say that we would no longer shop at Target. They responded with a letter with very little substance.
Their punishment will be the bottom line, that's how you vote in the world of retail. You can get everything they sell close by at the Walmart store. Tell 10 people what you think.

[Diva]

and the Army will lose approximately $9 million

The figure I heard on the news was much less than $9 Million, perhaps 900,000 thousand? Also, I think the Salvation Army will be making it up in other places. Every person I know who has been talking about this is really pissed at Target. For the past week a Salvation Army ringer has been stationed outside my grocery store here in Michigan. I like the sound of the bell, it reminds of what Christmas is supposed to be about.

[dawn53]

Yesterday the Salvation Army kettles were in front of my grocery store (Publix).

I've written Target, I prefer to shop there rather than WalMart, but I won't support Target with my $$$ and have let them know that I'll have to use Walmart instead.

I don't buy the union line...it's just an excuse.

I think it has more to do with the issue of the company's CEO (Dayton Hudson retail chain) who sued a religious organization (Bible Speaks) because his daughter gave lots of money to them. I have no idea if the organization was a "cult" as was claimed, but he was not happy that his daughter gave big bucks to them.

Here's a link:

http://www.carlstevens.org/gpage11.html

[Mr Ramsbotham]

I think it's disingenuous for Target to say that if they allow solicitation for one, they'll be obliged to allow solicitation for all. That's like me saying that because I shop at K-Mart and Acme I'm obliged also to shop at Sears and Safeway.

[peyton randolph]

Walmart, for all of its scorched earth policy towards unions, has no such fear.

When you consider Wal-Mart's size, they could close every store where a union effort looked like it would be successful and it wouldn't put a dent in the company's bottom line. The same cannot be said for their smaller competitors. Target is particularly vulnerable to the union issue given its Michigan operations, a state that never met a union it didn't love.

[peyton randolph]

I think it's disingenuous for Target to say that if they allow solicitation for one, they'll be obliged to allow solicitation for all.

See post #5. Apparently it is the National Labor Relations Board making such an absurd interpretation in order to advance union organization efforts. Go figure.

[newsgatherer]

bump for second story for todays update

[Burf]

And by the way, our distinguished senator from Minnesota happens to belong to Dayton family of the Dayton Hudson Corp.

[50sDad]

And they could fix this tomorrow by writing a big check to the Salvation Army...but you know they won't, because it isn't about bellringing "distressing the customers". It's the agenda.

[trebb]

My email to Target:

This is just a short missive to express my utter disgust at your decision to ban the Salvation Army from you stores. There seems to be something seedy and dirty about a business that cannot find it in its heart to allow a charity that does so much good to present itself during this season. They say that money is dirty and germ-infested, but I consider my money to be too clean and wholesome to spend at your stores. WalMart is my new choice.

[Manic_Episode]

My email to Target:

K-Mart and Wal-Wart have bellringers, so I will be doing my shopping there and not at Target.
Bellringers are a Christmas tradition, now gone due to political correctness.
You stink.

[sevry]

You can get everything they sell close by at the Walmart store.

In Northern CA, there's a case of a Wal-mart as an anchor in a large open mall in Mountain View. And just across the street, by itself, is Target. You could literally put in the kettle while staring off ahead at Target in the distance.

[nina0113]

There was a bellringer outside Michael's Crafts yesterday. Most of my craft buying is already done or I'd throw them more business. Target's not getting any of mine this year.