Target Fiasco
Posted by Joshua Claybourn on 19 November 2004 | 6 responses
Target has gotten itself into a bit of a controversy for banning the Salvation Army bell-ringers. I’m not going to wade into the particulars but I will point out a number of links on the subject. Here’s a Boston Globe story summarizing the basics. Intrigued, Hugh Hewitt ran with the story on his radio show, suggesting anti-Christian motivations on the part of Target. He soon followed it up with posts here, here, and here. The Target message boards are raging and scores of bloggers – typically Christian ones like Hugh Hewitt and World Magazine – are up in arms. Wesley Blog takes more of a middle road, as does James Lileks:
A bad move for Target in PR terms, but they are not The Devil. I am not willing to disbelieve their rationale out of hand; I don’t think this was based in an antipathy to Christianity, as some have suggested. I think it’s the usual corporate mentality that seeks to avoid conflict, which is why this was announced many months ago. They hoped it would be forgotten by now. Oops.
As with all things Lileks, though, you must read the whole thing.
[Edited for clarity.]
6 Responses to “Target Fiasco”
Actually I took a more “middle of the road” approach in my article on Target. I’m not sure about their exact motives but I suspect they’re being sensitive to people who are tired of being solicited everywhere they go.
Thanks for mentioning my blog. Great job on ITA by the way.
You’re right, Shane, I should make that clearer.
I remember when that was announced (via radio, thus I do not have a link), it was indeed a decision based that they were having more problems defending why The Salvation Army got a bye while no one else did. At least that was in their PR announcement.
Target Bans Salvation Army
The only place I have ever rung a bell was at a Target, go figure…
Don’t want to say it’s typical, but it’s not surprising for Hugh Hewitt. Target bans the Salvation Army because of the Army’s policy towards gays, and Mr. Hewitt’s reaction is that Target is therefore anti-Christian. So taking issue with a policy of a Christian organization automatically means you are anti-Christian?
Sounds a lot like Ann Coulter’s line of reasoning the other night on Hannity’s show. If you question Condoleeza Rice’s competency, you’re probably a racist.
Sigh.
In Defense of Tarjay
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