It's hysteria like this that gives both Christians and Conservatives a bad name.
Posted on 11/23/2006 9:23:52 AM PST by glory2
Wal-Mart blacklisted for Black Friday Shoppers urged to boycott No. 1 retailer due to pro-homosexual commitments
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: November 21, 2006 1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Bob Unruh © 2006 WorldNetDaily.com
Group wants to save Wal-Mart from pro-homosexual activists
The Friday after Thanksgiving typically is the biggest single shopping day of the year, and has been known to make or break a holiday season for many a retailer. This year, for Wal-Mart Friday will be even bigger than that.
The American Family Association, as WND reported earlier, already asked its several million supporters to boycott the stores that day.
And now another organization is launching an "information explosion" that is intended to tell the tens of millions at Wal-Mart Friday that some of their dollars will be going to support a group that works to discriminate against Christians with "hate crimes" legislation and wants marriage expanded to involve same-sex couples.
"We're out to help an old friend. Wal-Mart has been a friend of ours for a long, long time," said Flip Benham, the director of Operation Save America who is working to help coordinate the new efforts by the www.SaveWalMart.com outreach.
The AFA effort to trying to wake Wal-Mart up.
"Wal-Mart should remember that the majority of people in this country do not support things like same-sex marriage, and don't want the company giving money to groups that do support it," American Family Association Chairman Donald E. Wildmon said. "Shopping at retailers other than Wal-Mart might remind the company of that fact."
The SaveWalMart.com plan is different. It wants to approach customers directly, to let them know about the company's moral agenda, and to bring people together in a series of events that will convince the company to return to the values of founder Sam Walton.
Those were described in a recent WND column by Pat Boone, who knew Walton personally.
In his commentary, Boone told how he met with Walton, and at Walton's request offered ideas on how to feature gospel music in his stores.
"Already at more than 4,000 stores, his music department offered most everything, and he was personally concerned that some of it was anything but family friendly. Increasingly, he would be informed by customers that a number of albums contained profanity, strong and explicit sexual material, angry and violent imagery, all kinds of stuff he didn't want to sell anybody – but he didn't know what to do about it, since neither he nor his employees had time to listen to all the records the national distributors would place in his racks," Boone wrote.
He than told Walton about the Parents Music Resource Committee, which checked lyric contents and lobbied to have recording companies print the lyrics on the outside of the records or put advisories on the packaging.
Walton loved it, Boone reported. "It was responsible; it was family friendly. It was right – simply the right thing to do."
"We are not protesting. We are proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ," says the SaveWalMart organization website about Friday's plans.
The plans are to have people choose the Wal-Mart nearest either their home or church on Friday, and be there all day to hand out information about the developments involving the company.
"If you have a portable sound system, let the preacher boys proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ on it! We are a Gospel people! As always, we are going out because we love Wal-Mart and want to see the corporation turn back to the Christian ethic of its founder, Sam Walton," the website instructs
Benham said so far there are plans to demonstrate against the "satan-inspired" agenda at "hundreds" of the stores across the nation. He said it is "foolish" for a company even such as Wal-Mart to drive away an entire classification of customers.
However, he said it's a situation almost like blackmail or extortion. He called it "demonic" for its reach well beyond what logic could allow.
In one city, for example, Benham's workers offered a regional newspaper nearly $17,000 for an ad about its campaign, nearly double the routine $8,500 for such an ad, he said. The newspaper turned down the ad, which included statements such as, "God blessed Wal-Mart because founder Sam Walton chose to honor Jesus Christ and run his business according to biblical principles!"
The ad, which also has been prepared as a handout for people to give away on Friday, also said customers should "ask your local Wal-Mart Store Manager" about the changing moral values, and either call Wal-Mart or e-mail the company about the concerns.
"Wal-Mart is changing! It is departing from the rock from which it was hewn. The faith and love for Jesus Christ and His Word by Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart, is being trashed before our very eyes," the ad says.
The facts it cites are basic. Wal-Mart recently joined the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, contributing at least $25,000 to the cause with promises to sponsor various homosexual events.
"It's a beginning," Benham told WND about the information plans. "Most of the people that we talk to, they have no idea (of the company's moral changes).
"Our hope is that thousands and thousands and thousands of people will be put on notice as to what is happening in Wal-Mart," he said.
Boone noted that he was shocked when the company agreed to donate a percentage of its online sales directly to a Washington, D.C., community for homosexuals.
"The man I knew was a conscientious deacon at the Methodist church, and his own family are wonderful people, still honoring their mom, Helen," Boone wrote. "He was a rock ribbed 'traditional values' guy…"
The AFA also is asking people to sign an online petition promising they will participate in a boycott, and the goal is a million families.
"The devil is forcing our schools, businesses, government, and churches to honor those things which are an abomination to God. Christians must take a stand! It’s time for our theology to become biography in the streets! It’s time for us to come out of the closet!" the information campaign website says.
"We are not a protest. We are a proclamation that Jesus Christ is Lord! Wal-Mart can be saved and so can America. It begins with God’s Church!" the website said.
Wal-Mart, after confirming to WND that it did establish a relationship with the homosexual business group, has been focusing on "diversity" in responses to people concerned about the company's moral drift.
To Pastor Rick Barnard's note that he couldn't support such a company, Wal-Mart said, "Working with the NGLCC, as we do with other minority enterprise leaders, is our way to help educate corporate America and the public as to the economic benefits of a diverse workplace and the power of creating mutually beneficial relationships with the LGBT and the LGBT-friendly business community."
Florida customer Lawrence Reves said he supported Wal-Mart "when the Democrats targeted you, but THIS is something I can not consciously continue to do."
"Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.'s commitment to nondiscrimination underscores our understanding of and appreciation for diversity, as well as the growth and influence of emerging consumer markets in the United States, including the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community,"' the company responded.
"American businesses … are being blackmailed by the devil himself. They are being forced by the 'politically correct' dogma (abortion, homosexuality, etc) of our day to accept his terms. If one chooses to defy this dogma, he will be forever branded as a right-wing, bigoted fascist, bent on forcing his own religion (Christianity) down everyone else’s throat. If the Church or any business will not accept these terms, or truly honors God, there will be hell to pay!" said the SaveWalMart site. "Now Satan has Wal-Mart in his line of fire!"
"After being lambasted for years by the anti-family, pro-abortion, pro-homosexual, radical environmental left, Wal-Mart has finally succumbed to this constant harassment and blackmail. She has now chosen a policy of appeasement to assuage all of the false accusations leveled against her in hopes that the devil will somehow stop being so mean," according to information campaign organizers.
"And I suspect Mr. Sam is not smiling about the sudden flak, or the actions that caused it," Boone wrote. "There's a distinct line between allowing people to live their own lives as they choose, and underwriting and endorsing, even promoting, choices and actions with which you fundamentally disagree. Mr. Sam was determined that his stores would always be 'family friendly'; and suddenly, the millions of families he always catered to are seriously pondering the mixed messages coming out of Bentonville. I think he would have remained benignly neutral and non-condemning toward homosexual groups – but would never have donated to their causes."
The company also recently offered for sale online a book promoting lesbian sex to girls still young enough to be playing with Barbies, and as WND reported, pulled it when the offering was publicized.
The company also has had several workers quit their jobs and plan protests because of the support for the "gay causes."
Tony Perkins, of the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C., said the problem is that the homosexual business group isn't just that. While the NGLCC "professes to promote the 'interests of the LGBT business community,' this is not all they have done," he said.
He said the group recently described efforts to defend traditional marriage as an attempt to "write discrimination into the Constitution …" and it has advocated attaching a pro-homosexual "hate crimes" amendment to legislation intended to protect children from violent sex offenders.
AFA boycotts in the past have proven effective, even though the organization doesn't take credit for all of the impacts. An example is the Ford Motor Company which more than a year ago embraced the "gay" community in its advertising and programs.
The AFA and dozens of other Christian groups joined in a boycott, and since then Ford has lost hundreds of millions of dollars, laid off tens of thousands of workers and is trying to regroup and stabilize.
***AFA HAS CANCELLED THE BOYCOTT***
This story is out of date already. Wal-Mart issued a statement that it will no longer donate money to controversial causes; AFA has cancelled the boycott.
Wal-Mart Says It Will Not Make Corporate Contributions To Support Or Oppose Controversial Issues
Send Wal-Mart a "Thank you" for its statement.
Dear Friend,
You have made a difference! Wal-Mart has announced they "will no longer make corporate contributions to support or oppose controversial issues unless they directly relate to their ability to serve their customers." AFA is pleased with this announcement.
Wal-Mart made the announcement Tuesday afternoon.
In response to Wal-Mart's statement, AFA has decided to cancel its efforts of encouraging people to not shop at Wal-Mart or Sam's Club this Friday and Saturday.
We believe that Wal-Mart will remain neutral in cultural battles.
Copy of a thank-you email I just sent:
Out of date story that WND can't let go of.
Respect for the Individual and Corporate Contributions
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Respect for the individual is one of the core values that have made us into the company we are today. We take pride in the fact that we treat every customer, every supplier and every member of our individual communities fairly and equally.
We are working hard to make our corporate contributions reflect the values of our customers, communities, and associates. As Sam Walton said, “Each Wal-Mart store should reflect the values of its customers and support the vision they hold for their community.
Wal-Mart will not make corporate contributions to support or oppose highly controversial issues unless they directly relate to our ability to serve our customers.
Wal-Mart does not have a position on same sex marriage and we do not give preference to gay or lesbian suppliers. Wal-Mart does have a strong commitment to diversity among our associates and against discrimination everywhere.
http://www.walmartfacts.com/articles/4617.aspx
BTW, Walmart NEVER, EVER applauded "gay" marriage. Not EVER!
AGAIN!
Just as our stores try to find new ways to serve the 127 million customers who shop with us each week, Walmart.com is working to attract online customers with a variety of programs and promotions.
Our affiliate program is designed to drive web traffic to our site and is a common marketing practice that is used by many other major online retailers, including amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and disneystore.com.
More than 43,000 organizations participate in walmart.com’s affiliates program and over 100 Christian organizations also participate in the program.
Affiliates ask to be included in the program and receive a small percentage of the sales that result from the customers they refer.
Wal-Mart does not evaluate the viewpoints or political agenda of potential affiliates, and acceptance as an affiliate does not convey or imply an endorsement of a particular agenda or viewpoint.
We are committed to serving our customers, and our affiliate program is one of the many ways that we do so. The group identified by the American Family Association has been an affiliate of Walmart.com since 2002 and has referred exactly one sale for $41.73 to our site since joining our affiliate program. As a result, it would have collected $4.17.
http://www.walmartfacts.com/articles/4602.aspx
Respect for the Individual and Corporate Contributions Last Updated: Tuesday, November 21, 2006
We are working hard to make our corporate contributions reflect the values of our customers, communities, and associates. As Sam Walton said, “Each Wal-Mart store should reflect the values of its customers and support the vision they hold for their community.
Wal-Mart will not make corporate contributions to support or oppose highly controversial issues unless they directly relate to our ability to serve our customers.
Wal-Mart does not have a position on same sex marriage and we do not give preference to gay or lesbian suppliers. Wal-Mart does have a strong commitment to diversity among our associates and against discrimination everywhere.
Yeah they deserve Kudos for being led kicking and screaming like like so many in the corporate world to understand that supporting the gay agenda is not profitable. IBM, Ford and others are even worse about this with Gay, Bisexual and Transgender weeks. The creeping influence of homosexuals is moving forward in the corporate world and consumers can only vote with their wallets to stop it. Also there are other ways, when you see homosexuals behaving in ways that would get heterosexuals fired report them and complain about them. The only reason this movement has gotten as far as it has is because heterosexuals have been intimidated into not standing up against what they know is not natural.
I've been on vacation and out of touch. I'm glad to see this post and the clarifications that followed. A new Wal-mart is being built in Juneau, Alaska and I was pretty bummed that I would not be able to shop there based on some prior news releases I had seen regarding their politics. I'm very glad to be able to support them with a clear conscience. I was always a supporter of Wal-Mart due to Mr. Walton's convictions and it was sad to see it go the way of Disney. Kudos to those who stood up and did something.
Or you could just track down the clown responsible and fire him.
It's hysteria like this that gives both Christians and Conservatives a bad name.
Hillary Clinton was on their Board of Directors.
I totally agree with you.
I was humming to Christmas Music in Walmart the other day.
"Political Correctness" definition:-
A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t*rd by the clean end.
That doesn't surprise me!!!
I haven't been there in a couple of weeks, but I do have to go next week, so I'm sure I will hear it as well.
I would imagine she has since the time her husband was gov of arkansas seeing that wal mart is a arkansas company.
I sent the letter to Wal Mart, as our dear people in AFA recomended, thanking them for their decision. I also send a small contribution to AFA for their wonderful work.
I will enjoy thanksgiving so much more now...Oh yes, and I WILL buy something at WM this weekend :)
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.