Posted on 11/23/2004 11:16:59 AM PST by FairfaxVA
I have to agree with you on that. I can understand why some are upset. But some parents struggle enough to buy for their own children. And I also don't trust anyone even standing on business property. If I donate, I do it directly. Just because I'm doing holiday shopping for my son doesn't mean I have the money to donate to every organization and them standing outside every business makes you feel obligated to do so.
BTW, our family has cut out buying for the adults and we're opting for each member to buy a calling card for the soldiers. Just an idea for everyone.
My husband renamed Christmas The Festival of Greed.
I have always found something for someone at Target, but this year I won't even look at the ads so I'm not even tempted to enter the store.
I need a tree stand, I guess I will have to find it at the Santa friendly hardware store.
Merry Effen Christmas Target
No, it's not silly. Target donates millions of dollars worth of merchandise to the salvation army every year. But to some that's not good enough. Target MUST allow bell ringers on THEIR property in order to stave off a boycott.
But for people here, just tossing a few bucks in a kettle every year gives them the saintly position of being able to pass judgement on Target. They're beyond going out and ringing a bell for free.
It's just hypocrisy.
"Hey, boycott fans - how many of you are going to be out there ringing the bell for the salvation army????"
At one time the bell ringers were volunters. Nowadays they appear to be skid row types that have been hired.
great.
So now it's the fault of the target that the salvation army can't hire the poor to ring bells outside of target.
This is just as pathetic as the left blaming everything on Bush.
Me either. My sister-in-law's sister and husband work for the Salvation Army. They are a great organization and take care of their people.
All the bell-ringers have to do is stand there smile and say, "Merry Christmas". You know what they are there for. You smile, drop some money in the pot and keep going. People like that.
These other charities, however, chase you down, go into some big, long monologue about whatever and guilt you into giving up cash. That runs people off and makes stores like Target have rules against it.
Well, I haven't gone to target in a while, but generally have hit them at holiday season rather than go to wal mart (sorry wal mart fans, Target is a much more pleasant shopping experience).... Targets done more than its share of stupid things, but this one is it for me...
Sorry Target, You're off the list for me from now on.. I guess Sears and Kaufmann's (regional local chain) will get my business this season.
Do you work at Target or something what's with the anger?
You can try to call me on it, but you'd be wrong.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1284111/posts
Post #23
EXPRESS YOUR COMPLAINTS TO TARGET HERE
TOLL-FREE TARGET PHONE NUMBER
1-800-440-0680
OR EMAIL:
www.target.com
No, I don't work at target, and I only shop there about once a year, if that.
I just get ticked off at the hypocrisy of people who expect a company to do whatever they think it should do, but when it comes to put up some effort of their own, they shuffle their feet with their head hung low and mumble that they throw a few coins in the bucket now and then.
It's pathetic, because people just love to call 'boycott' reflexively and never take into consideration the facts of the issue - that target donates millions to charity, including the salvation army - and that they have granted the salvation army an exemption to their 'no solication' policy, opening target up to lawsuits. But they still don't care. They want to threaten boycotts because it makes them feel good about themselves.
And they ignore the fact that target told the salvation army about this in JANUARY so they had a whole year to prepare alternate locations - but they dragged their feet and are now trying to bring public pressure against target.
The SA may do good work, but they keep losing more and more of my respect. Combine this target fiasco with their refusal to accept millions of dollars because the donor won it in a lottery, and it makes me wonder if their ultimate goal is to help the poor or just look pious.
Oh get off your high horse. My family volunteers time to the boy and girl scouts (and we don't even have a daughter), the food bank and my local church and school... that doesn't even get into the money and time I donate to other causes and charities.
Target and other retailers banning bell ringers is just rediculous. Salvation Army doesn't accost customers or in any way interfere with their doing business.
The arguments they are giving for banning the ringers are rediculous and insulting. Sure they have a right to do it, but at least stand up and be honest about it instead of lies like "if we let one on, we have to let everyone"... or "they accost our customers"... its crap. It shows that the priorities of these corporations is out of whack in terms of their place in their communities.
Sorry a company that sells sexualized clothing for 6 year olds with things like "scent to bed" printed on them has no moral authority when it claims it can't allow bell ringers... They, and others like them, should be called to the carpet for this sort of behavior.
I work hard for my $$$, and I am not going to support a company or corporation that is going to ban the Kettle. No more than I would support a corporation or company that is working to ban the Boy Scouts. My choice, and I intend to make it, and I intend to speak to others about it as well.
You don't have to like the fact the Salvation Army is a christian organization, and frankly does more and better work than just about any other charity out there.. with over 90 cents of every dollar getting to those in need. But to attempt to condemn them for standing on their Christian princples regarding gambling is flat out ignorant.
Would you condemn them for not takign a donation if it turned out it had come from a Kidnapping Ransom? You either have moral convictions or you don't... whether someone else agrees with them is not relevant.
"The arguments they are giving for banning the ringers are rediculous and insulting. Sure they have a right to do it, but at least stand up and be honest about it instead of lies like "if we let one on, we have to let everyone"... or "they accost our customers"... its crap. It shows that the priorities of these corporations is out of whack in terms of their place in their communities. "
Please - get the facts before you pontificiate.
Target has been granting an exemption to their no solicitation policy for only the salvation army for years. They told them in JANUARY that their exemption would end. The SA had nearly a full year to find other locations - but they failed. That's not target's fault.
Know why target has a no solicitation policy? Because of bad court rulings by activist judges that ruled places like malls 'public spaces', and that if a business allowed one solicitor (like the SA), they must allow all solicitors (like moveon.org, ANSWER, freemumia, etc).
For years target held themselves at risk of expensive litigation to let only the SA solicit at their stores. This year they decided not to do it anymore. They gave them a FULL YEAR to prepare alternate locations. What heartless bastards they are at target, right?
The fact is that this a great way to discourage any business from getting involved with a charity - you can can help them out for years, with space, money, and merchandise - but when you need to make the decision to end just ONE of the ways you help out, people crawl out of the woodwork to cry 'BOYCOTT!!!!' because it makes them feel good.
It's just pathetic, and the boycott crowd are the ones tyring to get on the high horse and look down at people who try to interject some common sense and facts into the discussion.
But go ahead, bluster away, if it makes you feel better.
Hey, genius -
kidnapping is illegal.
State lotteries are legal.
Your attempt to compare the two are nonsensical at best.
How many thousands of people could have been helped by that money?
Either way, that's just a side issue. The real issue is people here posing for holy pictures because they refuse to see the facts of the issue and want to be ruled by their emotions.
rationalize what??? You seem to have quite the chip on your shoulder. I should feel bad because I donate to them, as well as many others, most concerning our soldiers??? NOT
seems to me, YOU are the one here passing judgement,
"But for people here, just tossing a few bucks in a kettle every year gives them the saintly position of being able to pass judgement on Target. They're beyond going out and ringing a bell for free."
I said nothing about your donations being bad. Try reading it again.
The point is, in case you didn't get it before, is that target donates both merchandise and money to the salvation army.
They get no credit for that.
But tossing a few bucks into the kettles of the SA a year gives you enough gravitas to let you criticize target as harming the salvation army. Even though they gave them a full year to find alternate locations...and they have been giving the SA the sole exemption to their 'no solicitation' policy for years.
The only thing the calls for boycott will accomplish is to discourage companies from getting involved with charities like the salvation army in the first place. Because they will see that no matter how much they contribute or how many years they help out, the minute they don't do exactly what some people want, they will cry for a boycott.
Way to shoot yourself in the foot.
UM.... I NEVER criticized Target. Please go have a drink, and calm down.
No, I'm just calling out rank hypocrisy.
Target likely does more than all freepers combined to help out the salvation army, via cash and merchandise donations.
But that's not good enough.
They want the SA to allow bell ringers - but the vast majority of them won't be volunteering their time to ring a bell.
In other words, they expect stores to do more than they are willing to do, otherwise they will call for a boycott.
You guys are sending a message alright- you can help out a charity for years, but if you change your mind, we'll ignore everything you've done and everything you continue to do and boycott you!
Way to make conservatives look rational. Sheesh.
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