I've had it with this SA and Target thing...

[mediaman007]

I'm calling the United Way and tell them that I don't want any of my contribution to go to the Salvation Army. If the christian right wants to do battle in the media for the Salvation Army, I will act accordingly.

I notice that the Salvation Army is really quiet in this conflict, but make no mistake about it, they are using surogates to keep the issue alive. The media is certainly helping. So I'm not watching the news anymore either.

[seabeyond]

1. i walked up to my first salvation army guy yesterday

put my arm around his shoulder, with two little boys standing there, and people al around, and told him for the first time, i wont be able to donate to salvation army because of the republicans and christian right. and we are sad about this because my littlest always got money to put into the pot and his one chore to to have a huge smile and give a very loud merry christmas to you.

but this year, because of what is happening in our country i could no longer give my money to a party of hate, especially in the season of christ, and christ conscious.

the man was so sweet and chatted that he understood and thank you for the smiles ect........

and a group of older people stood there in surprise to hear my protest

every stand i will go to the person and explain why i am not donating after years of this being a part of our christmas, for it to be no more

[OneTwentyoNine]

2. Ha ha.....great! nt

[Phentex]

8. How do I explain this to my children?

They want to put change in the bucket when they see it, but I won't let them if it's the Salvation Army. I've told them that I prefer to support other groups, but it's hard for them to understand. They are 7 and 9. Any tips?

[seabeyond]

11. so easy

how much have you shared the last couple years with your kids. mine are 7 and 9 also. boys. my oldest so political, going to sites, moveon.org without me knowing. he was in fundie school and lives in the panhandle of texas with a out of this world mom that loves them so and sits in lite, and they challenge the teacher at thisfundie scool to say if i am a good christian or not, cause i am a spiritualist, and they see it as evil, and i share with all in this school my lite and love for 6 years. it is so hard for them to say i am not a christian. they cant, my 9 year old knows they cant, he knows me, and he gets christ conscious,......democrat, government, abuse.

these children are so powerful in justice, balance of scale. they are good, they havent been as conditioned.

so we have always talked adult stuff, enviroment, corporation, repug/dem, man/woman................they have looked at issue always and how to resolve in grace

so me addressing this with children, (we walked out of fundie school monday)...........they are smack in middle of it. when i saw salvation pulling into parking lot, 7 year old immediately, i need money. this is the united on the corner. our store. they know us. it is OUR store, territory. we love this place, buy yummy things

jonas wants money and i say, we cant. not this year. so sad, but is. this is where we found kerry stickers, and found the car owner just to chat democrat. this is same parking lot i would take grociers to car and say you want to see the prettiest bumper sticker in the world. at first boys afraid of neg, always i was in song and embracng and the beauty of. would have customers walk by, big ole texas dudes in pick up trucks and would include them. kids had a blast

so me walking to man, and they seeing me in love of this toothless man, arm around, close and in love, sharing why, he too, saying hear ya.

so easy for the boys. they embrace. a couple really old dudes, old old, we were chatting thru parking lot, just cause i like embracing all around. went from fun gal to huh...........made boys and i giggle

[fujiyama]

3. Can someone explain this conflict?

I haven't heard what's goin on. Thanks.

[lectrobyte]

4. I remember reading something a while back about not operating

in NYC since doing so would require them to offer health benefits to partners of gay employees.

[Mike Daniels]

5. Nutshell: Target generally didn't allow groups to solicit outside stores

but made an exception for the Salvation Army at Christmas time.

In January (I think), Target decided that this sole exception wasn't really fair and notified the Salvation Army that they were no longer allowed to solicit in front as well. Notice was given well in advance so that SA could find alternate locations and so forth.

Christian and other right wing groups have now jumped on the scenario and have acted as if this was an agressive shot across the bow and are screaming about hostility to Christianity and other such nonsense while totally ignoring the reality of the general ban Target had on solicitation to begin with.

[seabeyond]

13. further, i oppose the way religion is demanding

so anything that has to do with support of religion, i am rejecting. for the time being. until they start behaving, wink

[goddess40]

6. Don't give to United Way either

send your money directly to those you want to get it. United Way keeps too much of it for adminstrative costs, why not let every cent go to the charity of your choice.

[motely36]

7. I always indicate on my UW form

that none of my money is to go to the Salvation Army or the Boy Scouts.

[RedEarth]

9. I always thought the Salvation Army was a worthwhile charity....

what's wrong with them....It's my understanding their admin costs are lower than many charities and they certainly seem to help a lot of people in need.

[BiggJawn]

10. They jumped in bed early on with the BFEE on the "Faith-Based" issue.

Also "got outted" about their hiring practices as regards to whom employees may choose to love...

[Hamlette]

12. The SA discriminates against gays, aggressivly, in my opinion

They closed down their operations in San Francisco, and perhaps in NYC according to an earlier post here, because SF had an anti-discrimination ordinance and the SA doesn't want to hire gays.

A bigger sin, in my opinion, is that the SA gave a ton of money to support Bush's faith based initiatives.

Here's the thing you need to know about faith based initiatives. Before Bush the law was a religious organization could get federal funding if it established a separate organization which did not try to convert and did not discriminate. The SA supported Bush in taking the anti-discrimination part out of the federal funding requirement for religious organizations. Catholic Charities has received federal funding for as long as I can remember (I'm old) to run refugee programs in my state.

So it wasn't just "we want to do it our way" it was "we want to do it our way and we want tax money to do it."