Posted on 12/21/2004 9:55:35 AM PST by St. Johann Tetzel
SHOP AT TARGET -- THEY SUPPORT LGBTQ FAMILIES
Rainbow Law is calling for the LGBTQ community to support and shop at Target stores this holiday season. After Target refused to allow the Salvation Army to place bell-ringers and kettles at their stores (because they discriminate against the LGBTQ community), the anti-gay equality crusaders began their usual lies and propaganda campaign.
There is no reason to let this attack go unchallenged. We have the power to counter the far right's relentless assault on our civil rights and liberties. And one of the most effective methods for defeating unfair practices is by using the power of our combined financial resources.
Why would you continue to support companies who donate millions of dollars to campaigns and politicians who are hell-bent on destroying your family?
Rainbow Law has compiled a detailed list of the companies that contributed money in support of campaigns and candidates who oppose equal marriage rights and we are calling for a general boycott of these companies. [FReepers take note: please support these companies to counteract any pressure the LGBT might bring!]
To win the election at any cost, political campaigns lied about Gay and Lesbian Families and they lied about what Equal Marriage really means. Because of those lies, eleven state constitutional amendments banning equal marriage rights passed.
And the opposition was successful in spreading the lies via the media. That is why Rainbow Law also suggests that we find an alternative to mainstream newspapers, television and radio stations. Especially Clear Channel Communications and Fox Television -- two media giants with a proven right-wing bias and agenda.
For an alternative perspective, turn the channel -- listen to and support your local public broadcasting stations. Watch your Public Broadcasting station for the news. Listen to National Public Radio and Air America Radio and read newspapers and magazines like Rainbow Law's Un-Censored E-Zine.
In addition to supporting Target Corporation for their courage to stand up to injustice, we hope you will think queer as you make any purchase.
Instead of spending money at straight-owned enterprises, purchase products from queer owned or queer friendly merchants. When you are in the market for a new home, car, insurance, etc, support people who support your family. If you need help at work or at home, hire queer people to do things.
In the past, boycotts have been used successfully to pressure corporate supporters of bigoted politicians into withdrawing their financial contributions.
Together we have the power to make a difference!
Therefore, I simply wanted to raise a flag for my fellow FReepers who might not have understood where Egon's persistent defense of Target originated.
Maybe he need not "recuse" himself, but for the majority of FReepers who, on any given thread, do not know that he and his spouse have a financial interest in spinning this Target story, full disclosure on each thread on which he is spinning seems appropriate.
I think you probably meant to say: "might have" a financial interest -- otherwise, you are AGAIN casting aspersions on another poster.
Egon did full disclosure on that bias. Perhaps you hadn't caught everything he wrote.
FYI, one obstacle to "free and open debate" is jumping on the wrong issue or the wrong aspect of an issue, or just reacting emotionally instead of logically. O.C. mentions Egon's homepage, also (though not using the information legitimately, IMHO); if you were following the whole discussion (it still needs to rise to the level of a true debate), then that would have given you a bit more "history" if you actually needed that much while ignoring his self-disclosure earlier within the discussion.
One thing I've learned to despise about the Left (whom I encountered in a free and open forum in an English composition class more than 40 years ago -- how I miss it!) is their propensity for knee-jerk emotionally-based reactions and character assassination -- while blithely ignoring the simple of rules of logic (of which most of them seem to be completely ignorant). The beauty of this forum is the Right's usual awareness of, acknowledgement of, and adherence to those rules.
And you won't. But you do have a point. Feel free to view my webpage for the "St. Johann Tetzel"-inspired disclaimer.
bump
The ill-informed leap of logic I'm referring to has to do with O.C.'s contention that Target is rife with "sodomites" attempting to align themselves with the pro-gay agenda. It's been his point throughout the entire thread. Please don't take my statements out of context.
Also, the article you're quoting is stating that they suspect that Target caved, and the source for the article certainly can't be accused of a lack of bias either.
That said, I think they're exactly right: I think Target caved. That's a far cry from conspiring with sodomites, though.
If you visit Target's website, you'll see they have a very long and honorable record of charitable giving and support.
a couple of examples-
--
In 1946, Target Corporation, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, became a founding member of the "Five Percent Club," a landmark movement encouraging U.S. corporations to commit five percent of federally taxable income to support community nonprofits. As a result of our commitment to sustained community giving, the Target Foundation was established.
In keeping with our strong tradition of giving, Target Corporation will give over $2 million every single week to the communities we serve.
--
Funded by Target Stores and its vendor and celebrity partner contributions, Target House is an innovative approach to long-term housing for families whose children are receiving life-saving treatment at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. This unique facility enhances the quality of life for its residents, who benefit from the privacy of family apartments, as well as common areas that foster interactions with other Target House families.
Target House opened in 1999 with 50 two-bedroom apartment suites and several common areas. In November 2002, Target House opened a major expansion, enabling St. Jude to meet 100 percent of its housing needs for patients requiring treatment of 90 days or more. The expansion made space for today's total of 96 apartment suites. Each apartment suite includes a kitchen, living room, bathroom and two bedrooms, all stocked with everything a family needs.
----
I'm not convinced that sales will be hurt that badly.
Again, no one I know, myself included, is happy with the stance that Target is taking. I'm just not convinced that they had any viable alternative.
By extension if, as a for-profit business, they didn't have a viable alternative, a boycott is not going to be very effective.
I'm also not sure what the alternative would be: Letters to Target management, letters to the paper on behalf of Salvation Army, letters to the pro-gay groups (yeah, right), letters to your representatives demanding tort reform... I don't know if any of these would be effective either.
Eewwwww! Great, now I have mental image blindness!
I wish (and hope) you are right. I fear you are not. I think conservatives are more interested in boycotting than supporting and, either way, I don't think it would make that much of a difference.
The aggragate pass of the most recent marriage protection amendments was in the high 70's (something like 76% I believe). GLBT causes are not good business.
True. And that's good news. That's not what we're talking about here, though-- or it wouldn't be if it went to court. It would be spun as allowing one charity to operate, in spite of a self-proclaimed rule. Pro-gay would not enter into it at all-- unless they were losing. I have no faith in our judicial system where this type of battle is concerned.
If Target were to get rid of the rule, there would be court battles as soon as Target tried to keep any group from their premises.
See, this is where it helps to know Egon's bias. It is NOT by any stretch of the imagination an "ill-informed leap of logic" to conclude, based upon known facts, that Target caved to the sodomites:
Homosexual Pressure May Have Forced Target's Salvation Army Eviction...
...See, you should have posted your supporting documentation BEFORE accusing someone else of bias; otherwise, you weaken the position you're supporting by muddying the waters with an unnecessary, unproductive (and likely inaccurate and unfair) accusation which isn't even central to the debate.
Just pretend the subject matter is critical and that you have a limited amount of time to hash it out -- both are true.
"But then again, I'm a troublemaker. "
You and I definitely have that in common!
"I'd wonder what kind of a person would want keep kids from celebrating Christmas. She must be very bitter. "
Good question--I'll tell you what kind of person, and I know because I was a part of those people once--l-e-f-t-i-s-t-s. Seriously, this woman was trying to make a subtle anti-war and pc point by using the traditional christmas concert. I went head to head with her and complained and she was nasty, arrogant and condescending. I complained to the principal, who was a wimp and practically begged me not to make a big deal out of it. There are maybe 40 muslims kids in a school of about 1,000. And if they don't like Christmas, they could have stayed home and not participated. I am not finished with this yet, by a LONG SHOT. Thanks for the support wbill.
Target here still has the two Clinton books as best sellers on an end cap. They are far leftists, hate Christians and need to be avoided.
Sen. Dayton ran away from DC saying there was a terrorist threat!!! DUH....we are ALL being threatened by terrorists.
"Sen. Dayton ran away from DC saying there was a terrorist threat!!! DUH....we are ALL being threatened by terrorists."
He's "special" though, you know.
At least in his own mind. (;
Troll.
One more reason to stay away from Target for another year! Actually -- forever. They will never see me in their stores.
Not a good debating tactic. What about the points she's raising?
I don't see anything about her posts that would indicate a troll. Is she a troll because you can't address her points directly, or simply because she disagrees with you on this isolated issue?
For those who need to know where that response derives, simply check out the "In Forum" posting history on O.C. - Old Cracker, compare to my own, and that will clarify your perspective.
Do you have actual data and invoices to back up your claim that Wal-mart sales more made in China goods than Target? It's obvious that they may sell more volume. But on a merchandise offered level I don't think that there's that much of a signifigance.
Besides all the goods in both stores are labeled clearly as to their country of origin, along with the price tag. I guess the consumer can decide from there what choice to make for themselves.
Thanks for the tip in your sig: a truely impressive resource!
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.