Target store chain void of common decency (ACTION ALERT)

AFA.net ^ | 9/25/03 | Don Wildmon

[truthandlife]

Would you believe Target has approved its Marshall Field's stores to sell a product called FCUK? Target must consider parents really naive to not know exactly what type of message they are "targeting" to our kids.

Here's how one mother put it:

I didn't see this on television but it was an advertisement insert in last Sunday's newspaper for Marshall Field's dept. store for a cologne and a clothing line aimed at teenagers called "Fcuk" and their advertising slogan to go with it is "scent to bed". I was really appalled at this and then a friend of mine saw huge posters promoting this IN the Marshall Field's store in my area. When she complained to a clerk about it she was referred to a manager who told her the corporate office makes all the decisions about what they advertise. Another mother put it this way:

Not only does the name make an obvious grab at the mind to be misspelled as one of the vilest slang words ever used, it also goes further to make its point. A young, attractive, half dressed couple are snuggling on a bed with the words "scent to bed" superimposed over their picture. On the inside where you can pull the flyer apart to see what the product smells like you read "open here to try fcuk her" and "open here to try fcuk him". On the back page is an offer to "get your scent to bed t-shirt". For a major retailer to promote and sell this type of product is reprehensible to me. I hope it is to you too! I think we need to pull out all the stops to let Target know they have crossed the line with our families.

ACTION NEEDED Will you join me by making an extra effort in contacting the Target corporation by taking action? We already know the Target will block emails sent through the AFA Action Alert system, so your extra effort is greatly appreciated!

Call Target's toll-free number and let them know how disgusted you are with their decision to sell FCUK products through their Marshall Field's stores. Their toll free number is 1-800-440-0680, extension 1.

Here's a note: You will be told that you are calling Target, not Marshall Field's. Don't be fooled by their attempt to discourage you. Target is responsible for Marshall Field's decision to sell their nasty product!

In addition, they may ask for your mailing address. We recommend not giving that information. By doing so, your home might become a target for receiving a promotional mail out for the product.

Additional contact information:

Headquarters Address Target Stores 1000 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 304-6073 Fax: 612-696-3731 Online comment form: Click Here

[Travis McGee]

Thank you. Pat put that phrase into common use, but I think it's gove far past that today. The very calm philosopher-writer-talk host Dennis Prager now begins each show with martial music, because he also says that our nation is in the middle of a culture war as dangerous to us as communism was, or terrorism is. I agree with him.

[teeman8r]

keep their minds closed, apparently that is the best in your situation

[reg45]

Isn't Target owned by popular Sen. Mark Dayton, D-MN?

Not any more. I think he sold he shares.

[Maria S]

“I drilled him with "killer eyes" for ten minutes, he was oblivious. Long story, lots of twists, but in the end I loudly called him a degenerate jerk (who "flash" children with obscenities) in front of half of the IHOP and he took it off, and I narrowly avoided going to jail for assault. Then what do you do? Tell your daughter a lie when she is trying to pronounce it and asking you what it means, and if it's "that bad word?”

I respect what you have said. If I had been in your position, I would have moved my inquisitive daughter to the other side of the table, quietly told her that the guy was just trying to get attention by wearing a silly cap, and asked her what she had planned for the rest of her day. He may HAVE been a jerk, but if he was “flashing children with obscenities”, he would have been arrested. As it was, he was just a run-of-the mill jerk, obviously trying to draw attention to himself by wearing a cap that had the same four letters as one of the bad words on your daughter’s no-say list. You filled his call for attention immeasurably, I’d say, and in the process gave your kids the impression that if another person is NOT living up to your value system, you have the right to disrupt everyone within earshot (“half of the IHOP”) and straighten the misguided soul out.

Yes, he did have very bad taste and used bad judgment; but you stooped to his level…and lost your skirmish in the culture war. It’s a sad fact, but these days, trashy talk and trashy behavior permeate this society, and it’s too bad civility and manners are in short supply, IMHO.

[TaxRelief]

You should have stopped shopping at Target long before this stunt, unless you approve of their annual huge donations to the abortion clinics and anti-heterosexual organizations.

[TaxRelief]

I was under the belief that the "halt" on funding for Planned Parenthood was but a temporary respite...

[E Rocc]

Then what do you do? Tell your daughter a lie when she is trying to pronounce it and asking you what it means, and if it's "that bad word?"

My neice is eight. She knows the "s-word", knows she's not supposed to say it, and never does even though she quite mirthfully uses the various euphemisms. I believe the same is the case with the "f-word", I know she's heard it but I've never heard her use it.

I don't see a big difference between Hillary's "it takes a village" approach to the nanny state and the Bill O'Reilly "the state must take the parental role because some parents are bad parents" version.

I particularly dislike Wildmon because he's a confirmed cultural statist who has no compunctions about using the force of law to compel adults to at least act like good Pentecostalists. Knowing this, when he is only proposing boycotts I know what he is up to. To compare it to an issue I know you and I agree on, it's much like confirmed gun grabbers attempting to boycott a store for selling ammunition. We all know what's next.

-Eric

[E Rocc]

I actually got angry myself on Newberry Street in Boston when I saw where French Connection stores were doing this...two years ago.

My wife has not bought from them since and she used to.

That is way over the top.

Naw....just an effort to aggravate the high strung. That's a recurring theme in fashion and culture. Remember the song "Shaving Cream"? Same basic principle.

-Eric

[E Rocc]

A boycott is a form of free speech. If you are in favor of free speech, then whether you agree on the issue or not, you should be supporting the right of people to organize and boycott.

I'm not saying that boycotts should be banned by law. But when its clearly economic warfare, and an opening shot to eventual political warfare, the time to oppose it is right now.

Again, the comparison to gun grabbers boycotting stores that sell ammunition holds. We know their eventual goal is to ban all ammunition sales by law. If they can force major retailers to stop selling it, they eliminate a potential opponent of the legal ban, and perhaps gain an ally.

-Eric

[CanisRex]

Your beloved libertarian values Uber Alles will come to a screeching halt when your hat shouts F*CK or FCUK at my 7 year old daughter from ten feet away in a family restaruant

ahhhh, I see. German... Disrespect for the Bill of Rights... It's becoming clearer to me now... Dude, DU is that way -------------> You seem to be lost...

[MEGoody]

"Again, the comparison to gun grabbers boycotting stores that sell ammunition holds. We know their eventual goal is to ban all ammunition sales by law. If they can force major retailers to stop selling it, they eliminate a potential opponent of the legal ban, and perhaps gain an ally."

They may have a 'goal' of banning ammunition sales by law, but I doubt that will happen. Nevertheless, they have the right to boycott and try to recruit others to that action. When such things occur, those who oppose the goals of those boycotting are free to organize an 'anti-boycott'. Economic pressure can work both ways.

[E Rocc]

They may have a 'goal' of banning ammunition sales by law, but I doubt that will happen.

There are places where it is a very real possibility.

Nevertheless, they have the right to boycott and try to recruit others to that action. When such things occur, those who oppose the goals of those boycotting are free to organize an 'anti-boycott'.

Or mock and criticize the motivations of the proposed boycotters.

-Eric

[Sloth]

Actually, there is a fairly large contingent of libertarian leaning freepers (me only slightly) around.

I consider myself very much a libertarian, but I side with Travis on this. Someone mentioned Spencer's stores -- I'd expect to see something like this there, and wouldn't worry about it. But thrusting it into the public square -- and especially aiming at children -- is something else entirely. Some on this thread say 'if you don't like it, ignore it / don't buy it'... I suppose they'd say the same if hardcore porn videos were being played on the display model TVs at Target? There seems to be support for the FCUKheads' liberties but strangely no libertarian support for Travis' right to express his displeasure. There's a difference between using government force and trying to instill shame. If a guy knows that wearing that ball cap may get him publicly reamed out, maybe he won't wear it around kids anymore. No laws broken, no government involvement.

[CanisRex]

I suppose they'd say the same if hardcore porn videos were being played on the display model TVs at Target?

Uhmm, big difference. Porn is porn is porn (hard to define, but you know it when you see it. FCUK is nothing; not a word, an acronym at best, but nothing really. It's the same as CNUT. "See-nut" is nothing but it could be Canadian Nationalist Umbrella Twirlers. Perhaps the reason there isn't a lot of support for somebody losing it over a nonexistent word/acronym is because when the mob starts doing this, it's a slippery slope. Getting your panties in a wad over a nonsensical word and throwing up "culture war" arguments is pretty lame.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Is the president of French Connection U.K. commonly known as the FCUK Head?

[CanisRex]

One more point:

There seems to be support for the FCUKheads' liberties but strangely no libertarian support for Travis' right to express his displeasure.

That's because of his self described actions which most libertarians (you obviously excepted) find anathemic. The kid did nothing wrong except make a tasteless clothing decision that day. "Hmmmm, what goes with the Black Flag T-shirt, Doc Martens and camo pants... Lemme see... How about the FCUK hat!"

[Pahuanui]

The hat will go off of your head, or you will go out the door, and my kids will get to learn (again) that their dad is not a jelly-spined perv worm who thinks flashing obscene words at children in family restaurants is Okie Dokie.

And you children will get the joy of seeing their father, the man who can't control his violent urges, arrested in front of them, in a public place, and hauled off for at least one day/night in jail.

That's worth it to you?

[Ronaldus Magnus]

I received an error message from your link. I think it should be:

Planned Parenthood Will Not Get Funds from Target Corporation.

[MEGoody]

"Or mock and criticize the motivations of the proposed boycotters."

True. And one would hope that the one mocking/criticizing the boycotters is prepared to be mocked and criticized himself. :)