Is store a fair Target for boycott?

Boycott Wal-Mart, not Target!

The group calling for the boycott (the National Clergy Council) is

composed of 5,000 conservative Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant

leaders whose spokesperson, Rev. Bob Schenck is also on the board of

the national Evangelical Church Alliance. He considers the Salvation

Army’s kettles to be “a powerful part of the true meaning of

Christmas.”

Target has had a long-standing policy of refusing to grant access

for solicitation to all other groups and individuals. In the past

they had made an exception in favor of the Salvation Army. Other

groups whose requests to solicit for worthy causes were denied had

good reason to question the favoritism shown to the Salvation Army.

What are the beliefs and policies of the Salvation Army? What is

behind the kettles and bell ringers? Target decided to apply its

policy fairly and consistently. It is noteworthy that Target has its

own program of giving to neighborhood charitable organizations.

Circuit City, Best Buy and Home Depot have the same policy as Target,

prohibiting all solicitation including the Salvation Army.

The retailer that deserves boycotting is Wal-Mart for its

exploitation of workers in the United States and all over the world.

The Rev. Dr. Deborah Barrett

Zen Center of Orange County

Costa Mesa

“I give at the office!” is true, and I say so gladly and regularly

to solicitors outside commercial businesses. The Episcopal Church has

international connections, which assure that funds go exactly where

the donor designates them to go. Our infrastructure is so well

recognized as substantial that, for example, the Bush administration

has chosen to use it to direct funds combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic

in Africa.

I give my most generous gifts through the Church. Although I

wonder if solicitors in public are always legitimate, occasionally I

do give to those asking for funds to help feed the hungry or house

the homeless outside local stores, and I certainly have done likewise

with the Salvation Army’s bell-ringers.

The International Home Page of the Salvation Army says: “The

Salvation Army is a truly international movement, sharing in the

mission of Christ for the salvation and transformation of the world.

It’s members are at worship and at work in over a hundred countries.”

Clearly they have done many good works here and abroad, and I have

only positive thoughts about their ministries, and I expect that they

are very similar to ones I serve and support.

I don’t shop much in general or at Target in particular; however I

have shared this question with friends who shop there often, and they

have told me: “Solicitors of all kinds bugged me at least five times

the last time I shopped at Target.” “A man ... or a woman ... in some

uniform blocked my entrance (or exit) from the store while they

forcefully encouraged me to give.” “I am glad they are gone from

Target.”

Giving to ministries like those supported by the Salvation Army,

and the Episcopal Church, should come from one’s heart, not because

it is coerced or solicited obnoxiously. I trust my friends and

suspect that Target has prohibited solicitors because their customers

have complained. After all, Target is a business that exists to serve

its own customers, while ministries exist to serve others in need who

are not necessarily its own members.

I encourage you to serve by giving generously to those in need

through your place of worship.

The Very Rev. Canon

Peter D. Haynes

St. Michael & All Angels

Episcopal Church

Corona del Mar

Recently, intra-Jewish discussions took place concerning a

possible boycott of Amazon.com in protest of their selling Hitler’s

“Mein Kampf,” which is filled with anti-Semitic rantings, and the

“Protocols of the Elders of Zion,” a notorious forgery purporting to

reveal a Jewish conspiracy to take over world governments.

The idea was rapidly discarded since such a move would only hurt

innocent employees. Also factored in was the fact that Amazon.com did

not endorse the contents of the books and sold other works critical

of their teachings. The issue of free speech was also central to the

debate.

Jewish people are especially sensitive to the tactic of boycotts.

At the beginning of the Nazi regime, a nationwide economic boycott of

Jewish-owned businesses was initiated. In 1933 Jewish faculty members

of universities were boycotted by their non-Jewish colleagues. Lists

were published of Jewish physicians who were to be boycotted. For

decades, Arab nations have employed the strategy of boycott against

Israeli products and against businesses engaged in commerce with

Israel. Currently, a campaign is under way to extend the economic war

against Israel, witnessed in the divestment campaign led by

universities and religious denominations, to the professorial boycott

of Israeli scientists and scholars.

Focusing on the matter of Target stores, the Salvation Army

solicitations, and the redress of an offending policy, I would argue

against the decision to boycott as a means of applying pressure and

in registering opposition to Target’s leadership. Theirs is not a

“bah humbug” stance. It seems to have become exceptionally difficult

for Target to maintain its exceptional policy on behalf of the

Salvation Army.

Target has trumpeted the fact that it gives millions of dollars to

charities. A boycott, as a tool of consumer complaint, ought to be

reserved for the most egregious offenses. It is too extreme an act to

employ in this situation, and those who oppose Target’s position can

and should make their views known in other ways. Target is not

practicing evil here, nor is its stance anti-Christian.

The Salvation Army is posted in many venues. I would suggest that

those so inclined to contribute to their cause put extra into the

Army’s kettles to compensate for not being able to do so in front of

Target. I suppose that now I will have to practice what I preach and

rethink my boycott of Chambord Preserves, Evian Water, Maille

Mustard, Danon Yogurt, and Chanel gifts for my wife, because of

France’s active hostility toward the United States. I had thought

that boycott was right on target.

Rabbi Mark S. Miller

Temple Bat Yahm

Newport Beach

Let me first say I was remiss in not saying “Happy Hanukkah” to

our Jewish friends and “Happy Bodhi Day” to our Zen and Buddhist

friends as they recently celebrated holidays. The writers of this

column had lunch the other day and were surprised at the

disappearance of the word “Christmas” from advertising and greetings.

We all agreed that none of us felt threatened by the mention of

another’s holiday, so “Merry Christ-season, Happy Hanukkah and Happy

Bodhi Day,” though I’m late on the last two.

Target is absolutely within its rights to deny fundraisers by any

group on its doorsteps. It hasn’t stopped anyone from the Target near

my house, so not seeing the Salvation Army will be an odd twist.

At least with the Salvation Army I know where the money goes.

Their reputation for helping children and the poor and needy has been

impeccable for more than 100 years. That reputation even earned the

trust of other corporations. Last year, McDonald’s heiress Joan Kroc

donated $1.5 billion dollars to the Salvation Army to help them build

community centers across the nation.

I do believe they were “targeted” because of their Christian

foundations. It has become increasingly unpopular to hold specific

beliefs these days. It is OK to believe in God, but not in Jesus. It

is OK to say “Happy Holidays,” but not “Merry Christmas.” Has anyone

noticed that the pillar organizations of our past have become the

lepers of today?

The American Boy Scout was as proud a symbol of the U.S. as you

could find. Now, because they won’t compromise their beliefs, they

are being marginalized. The same thing is happening to the Salvation

Army and many similar organizations. It should not surprise us.

For dozens of years now, wars have been fought against the

inclusion of religion in our culture. It will be interesting when

those wars finally reach our nations capital and we are confronted

with the hundreds of pictures and engravings of Biblical images and

quotes that fill the monuments of that city.

One day we will be forced to reckon with our past. Europe is

living in denial these days. They have voted to exclude the Christian

history of the continent from its founding documents. Their hypocrisy

is highlighted however, in their reluctance to include Turkey in the

European Union because it is a Muslim state.

It is ironic that in a day when the White House is releasing

federal funds to religious organizations those corporations are

removing themselves from sponsorship of those same organizations.

A sadder part about the Target case is that Target doesn’t even

have to give any money, only provide a place for a bell ringer. To

steal a phrase from Tiny Tim, Merry Christmas Ebenezer Target! God

bless us, everyone!”

Pastor Ric Olsen

Harbor Trinity Baptist Church

Costa Mesa