Some folks have never liked Wal-Mart, saying that a lot of mom-and-pop businesses are no longer around because of Wally-World's cheaper prices in most localities across the country. And there are probably other reasons, too. But...
I, on the other hand, am the Wal-Mart Queen. I love to buy groceries where I know I'm getting the cheapest price. I love to wander the aisles of Wal-Mart picking up little stocking stuffers or perusing their scrapbook supply area. If I'm not at home, more than likely you can find me at Wal-Mart.
No longer...and I am sad. When I received the forwarded email from the American Family Association stating that Wal-Mart had asked for and received permission to join a national homose*ual marriage group, I wanted it to be untrue--one of those rumors you find listed on the Snopes site that they tell you has just been floating around on emails but is totally false.
Well, I checked out the Snopes site this morning, and it seems to be true. Read about it here.
What can we do? Here's what the American Family Association suggests:
TAKE ACTION
1. Send your email to Wal-Mart.
2. Wal-Mart often blocks the AFA emails. To make sure your voice is heard, please call Wal-Mart's home office headquarters and ask for President Lee Scott or Chairman Rob Walton at 479-273-4000. Also, call your local Wal-Mart manager and express your concerns. Please, be polite when you call!
3. Print out and distribute our specially produced Pass Along Sheet.
4. Send your letter now!
I'll add my own #5.
5. Bloggers - spread the word on your blogs to inform others about Wal-Mart's actions.
We are going to send a letter to the two different Wal-Marts where we shop and let them know our family opposes Wal-Mart giving their donations and support to this type of organization. I think I'll check the total amount we've spent at Wal-Mart this past year or maybe even the past five years. I wonder what they'll think when they realize that money will be spent at another grocery and/or retail store.
And I know that we can't boycott everything wrong out there in the world today. But Wal-Mart is such a biggie that I think it's going to take a lot of people and a lot of outcries to make a difference. I'm willing to be one of the ones crying because I would love to hear that Wal-Mart has withdrawn their partnership and promotion of this lifestyle.
~Deb
Wow, Deb, I received that email as well and have been thinking about what to do as we are at Wal-Mart several times a week. It has made me realize just how dependent we are on that huge, mega-store and the luxury of going to just one place for almost everything! Thanks for the post and the encouragement to stand for what is right and honors God.
Posted by: Dorothy | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 10:20 AM
It is so good to know that now I can have a REASON not to shop there! Of course, I need to write a letter and let them know this. I think that I was spending about 600-800 dollars per month there (we bought all groceries, toiletries and basics there) so hopefully they will start to feel a sting if enough people make a fuss about this!
Posted by: Randi | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 11:14 AM
You know, Deb, I saw this on someone else's blog. I don't do much shopping at Wal-mart anymore, because they are further away than Meijer. Also, Meijer has groceries, whereas the Wal-mart near us does not. However, Wal-mart's prices seem to be a little lower, but since it's out of my way, I don't typically go there for my errands.
What about Sam's Club? Does the same thing apply for Sam's Club, or are the businesses seperated?
Posted by: Tammy S. | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 11:33 AM
I just came back from there-OUCH!
I wonder how long I can last without going there??
In the early 90's AFA urged people to boyucott K-Mart and eventually they stopped the agenda they were pushing (forgot what it was),so maybe this will work again.
Posted by: Tammy | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 11:59 AM
We too have heard the info regarding Walmart. They are supporters of Planned Parenthood as well. All in all we decided to stay away and to let our concerns be known. I hope they make some major changes. I honestly do not think Sam Walton would be pleased with the current situation.
Posted by: Pam in Colorado | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 01:02 PM
I have read about this on several blogs and still don't know how to go about this. If you boycott Walmart, than you had better boycott Target as well. They have been openly supporting that movement for quite a few years now. I think every major organization supports it. I am not saying that it is right or wrong (personally it's wrong) but, if you start boycotting places because of it, you won't have anywhere left to shop.
Posted by: Denial | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 01:11 PM
I talked with my husband and we decided to boycott Wal-Mart. We've done a fair bit of shopping there over the years, and like one of your other commenters said, I'm sure Sam Walton wouldn't have approved.
Posted by: Tammy S. | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 02:50 PM
I am back with another thought about boycotting.Unfortunatly in the profit world we live in the big guys never loose their jobs due to a boycott.It is the little cashier who may work at Walmart who really needs that money but profits drop due to boycotts ,the store has layoffs and there goes the cashier.My husband has lost many of a job because the different places he was working at wern't making budget for the month.So there went his job.I think I will have to start practicing what our pastor taught from James this past Sunday and take a baby step of buying fair trade coffeee from the coffee shop down the street.
Tom -any good provoking thoughts about this??
Posted by: Tammy | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 08:12 PM
Thank you to everyone who chimed in on this issue, especially the first-time commenters. I appreciate your input.
Tammy S. - I'm assuming that Sam's would be considered part of Wal-Mart, but I don't know for sure. Glad that you stopped back by to say that you and your husband are putting your $ someplace else.
Denial - I agree it would be impossible to boycott everything; I made reference to that towards the end of the post. I'm thinking suppose everyone took their business elsewhere for even just a month, would Wal-Mart sit up and take notice when sales really plummeted? Would they realize the customer means business? Just a thought. (I didn't know that about Target; thank you for the info.)
Tammy - I hear what you're saying about the workers possibly losing their jobs when profits decrease. Sometimes standing up for what's right will be hard; it's never easy to go against the tide. And sometimes that makes innocent people suffer.
In the case we're talking about, what if all the Wal-Mart cashiers/workers decided they didn't like the new partnership Wal-Mart has formed and decided they'd all give up their jobs. I'm sure Wal-Mart would re-think their position.
(I'll pass on your question to Tom; yesterday was an early morning and early to bed, so no good provoking thoughts! :) )
Posted by: Deb | Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 09:41 AM