[madprof98]

This is the first word I've seen in the mainstream press about the impact of Target's decision to cut out the Salvation Army this year, and I don't think it's been posted here before. Makes me glad because my wife and I have avoided Target this Christmas season, and we let them know why.

[Moral Hazard]

"Makes me glad because my wife and I have avoided Target this Christmas season, and we let them know why."

Supposedly Target gives big money to St. Jude's. Is your boycott going to hurt them too?

[John Thornton]

Target donates about 5 percent of its pretax profits --- more than $100 million a year --- to charities, including the Salvation Army.

More likely, $10,000 to the Salvation Army---$75 million to the Tides Foundation. $20 million to Gay Pride.

[Steely Tom]

I went to a Wal-Mart here in Syracuse last night.

They had an actual Wal-Mart Employee standing next to the Salvation Army kettle, ringing the bell, and saying "Merry Christmas, Thank You For Giving To The Salvation Army, and Thank You For Shopping At Wal-Mart!"

I wonder, which is run by liberals and which by conservatives: Target, or Wal-Mart?

(steely)

[Oatka]

". . . but they completely underestimated the significance of the Salvation Army. It's not just another charity. It reminds people of Christmas."

I think therein lies the truth - people are just getting FED UP with this anti-Christian Jihad and are starting to show their resentment wherever they can.

Our City Hall has a "Happy Holidays" sign and is getting heat from the locals. Correctly, IMHO. Corporate America and our elected officials have gone overboard in catering to all the Perpetually Offended People.

[Walkingfeather]

It is about time that the Christian community let the business community know we have an economic power we are willing to weild. Actually I think Gibsons Passion for Christ showed that we have a sword, and this action against Target is the first way. The message is that if you listen to the Homosexual community ( 1.7%) of the population you will Loose the other 70% of the Christian Community. Its thier choice. It is now loud and clear.

[DoughtyOne]

Well, they lost a couple of hundred dollars from us too.

For the record, I am very tired of people with their hand out.

However, the Salvation Army helps a lot of people. It's a Christmas drive they've run for a long long time. It's essentially a Christmas tradition that I strongly support.

It's an example of giving, that reminds people that giving is good for the soul. Other charities most likely benefit from the Salvation Army reminding folks that it's time to think about the charities you support.

[thathamiltonwoman]

I'm delighted. Besides there's nothing at Target that you can't get somewhere else.

[upchuck]

Target has become a target :) They're getting $0 from me this year.

And I've donated extra at Wally World to help push towards that $1M :)

[Piranha]

The retailer emphasizes its charitable record. Target donates about 5 percent of its pretax profits --- more than $100 million a year --- to charities, including the Salvation Army.

Target is not the only high-profile chain that forbids sidewalk solicitations. The Salvation Army is verboten at Home Depot, Toys "R" Us and Kroger, though Hoosier said some of those retailers provide aid or assistance directly. Even Wal-Mart limits the organization's bell-ringing to 14 days.

Until I read the above I was sympathetic to those who decided to stay away. Now, I think it is a witch-hunt, that Target is the victim of unfair PR, and that the Salvation Army itself is being very heavy-handed in laying the blame solely at the doorstep of Target.

[American Vet Repairman]

Don't back up now! Hold to the guns! We can sink her!

200,000 shoppers stop shopping at Target

$1000 annual guestimation per person in purchases

$200,000,000 in lost revenue. IT CAN BE DONE!

OOOOORRRRRAAAAAHHH!!!

[McGavin999]

The answer to those who object to the Salvation Army being permitted to ring their bells outside the door should have been "the ban doesn't include the Salvation Army because they were Grandfathered, we can't exclude them." They have been there so long they should never have been excluded. Besides, most people go into Target to purchase their gifts for the Adopt A Family program run by the Salvation Army.

I'll not only stay away from Target during the Christmas season, I plan on just staying away from them every day of the year.

[SouthTexas]

Walmart is also matching kettle donations for the Salvation Army.

I have a choice where I shop and it will be where there is a kettle at the door. In my opinion, they are part of the Christmas tradition.

[ops33]

In trying to be politically correct and "fair" to everybody, all they did was create a public relations disaster.

[bray]

This is a huge mistake by Target. Many will never shop this store again for their anti-Christian stand.

Merry Christmas to Our Troops

[SERE_DOC]

I would respectfully look at the whole picture before making a judgment on this, there was a representative from target on the radio here in central New Jersey, and the reason why they did this is because they were being sued for the possibility of thing sued by a "nonreligious" group that wanted equal access to soliciting donations, and I guess they just reach their point where they were just saying no to everybody, not saying it was the smartest way to handle the situation but it's what they did.

[Walkin Man]

Target, which wouldn't comment for this story, has said it opted for blanket enforcement of its non-solicitation policy at its 1,300 stores...

Because of Targets decision, I have enforced my non-shopping policy at all of its 1300 antichristian/anti-charity stores.

[Guyin4Os]

Looks like Target picked the wrong week to give up bell-ringers.

[OKIEDOC]

Target claims that they and their team members gave 15.4 million to the politically correct United Way (or as we say down here) The United Our Way or the Highway Boy Scouts.

My friend is an executive for a major petroleum company. Each year they take donations for the United Way.

Each employee is given a letter stating how much of their yearly salary is appropriate to donate. Each employee is expected to donate so participation is 100%. Those employees who do not donate to the United Way are remembered especially during ratings and raise time.

Those managers who do not receive a 100% donation participation also have a black mark on their record. He feels like the employees are coerced into giving. Even though employees give at their churches or designated organizations they are still expected to donate to United Way as this will enhance the company in the eyes of the community.

In some respects I believe that United Way feels it should replace your charitable giving to the church.

So when Target brags about charitable giving of 15.4 million to United Way, what it is really saying is that employees out of their personal salaries after taxes gave that amount.

[JakeWyld]

The parking lots in front of Target stores are quieter this Christmas season.

Huh? I go into work almost everyday and the quietest place in the store is the Pharmacy where the guests complain that they had to drive the Lot for 10 minutes to park.

Add that to the fact that we sold out of Christmas trees faster this year than we did last year.

[fish hawk]

We don't have a Target store here on Maui but I've been giving more to Salvation Army than usual because of this Target boycott. I hope others will too and offset the void of Target. Salvation Army, here, have a kettle at the U.S. Post Office. I'm surprised that no one has objected to that so far. Maybe because Maui is an "Aloha Spirit" place.