In Our Thoughts . . . Words . . . and Deeds

I have had a prayer in my heart lately about honoring God in my thoughts, words, and deeds.
Thoughts ... words ... and deeds.
The images connect, intersect.
Thoughts preceed words. Words proceed deeds.

And then I remember when the Salvation Army first popped into my awareness.

November, 2001 -- The Salvation Army announces it will grant domestic partner benefits to their gay employees, in order to be eligible to receive government funding. Frankly, it smacked of selling out to me, and I was greatly relieved to hear they reversed their decision shortly after it was announced. I cut them a (what for me was a rather generous) check, made a mental note to contribute annually, then let it go.

Fast forward to November, 2004 -- Target Stores will no longer allow the Salvation Army bell ringers to collect for their annual kettle drive ...
I was shocked, angry, disappointed. Target Stores. My Target Store?? I love(d) Target, and eagerly drove past a K-Mart and a Wal-Mart to get to my Target. Well, no more! And anyhow, who doesn't like the Salvation Army?

Then I remembered ... wasn't there some controversial issue about the Salvation Army a year or two back? Thoughts ... words ... deeds. It was coming back to me. Not a year or two, but three. A decision I welcomed. Others did not.

Thoughts . . . words . . .
The accusations flew: The Salvation Army is anti-gay! Discrimination! Hate! Bigots! Some of us tune out the tired tirade, the repetitious rant of the gay-rights cadre. Some of us do not tune it out.

words . . . and more words . . . and deeds
A call to action in the gay community! Rallies! Fake-cash for the red kettles of hate! Boycott of the Salvation Army! We'll show them!

deeds . . . and more dastardly deeds. Less effectual deeds gave way to the dirtiest deed: Target gives the Salvation Army the boot. Lost donations nearly $9 million.

Is there a connection between the accusatory words and deeds gay-rights groups so ardently launched at the Salvation Army and the deeds of Target Corporation? Was the tirade justified? Anti-gay? A group that operates AIDS hospices at home and abroad? The group that both hires and gives to those in need irrespective of sexual preference?

And now I'm left feeling like I'm in an episode of "The Twilight Zone" -- the only one who remembers the gay-rights groups' response. Maybe that's how it is for gay conspiracy theorists. But it wasn't a dream. The attack of the gay-rights groups did preceed Target's attack. Is there a connection? I'll leave you the trail to follow for yourself.
thoughts . . . words . . . and deeds. And may I honor God with mine.
Here's that trail. Follow to your own conclusion:

"It establishes the organization as anti-gay... this was an extremely
divisive move that I don't think will be looked on kindly." -- David
Smith, a spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign, said here.

A Chicago gay-rights group stated, "LGBT activists and our allies are not taking this sitting down. As the Salvation Army gets approximately half its funds from holiday kettle donations, we want to hit them in the wallet: 1) We urge everyone to CEASE donating to the Salvation Army."

Here's a P-FLAG anti-Salvation Army rally, including photos.

GLAAD's efforts to thwart the Salvation Army.

Illinois Green Party's call for boycott of Salvation Army.

Anti Racist Action of Cleveland announces the "Queer Dollars Campaign."

The West Virginia Gay & Lesbian Coalition printed fake currency to put in
Salvation Army's kettles in protest.

SoulForce also supports the Salvation Army boycott & offers fake vouchers
off their home page, just updated in November of 2004.

Target Gives Salvation Army the Boot for Christmas

Target's decision to kick the Salvation Army to the curb is raising the ire of some, but will it be enough to cause a reversal?

Is Target banking that busy holiday shoppers won't notice ... or care? Are they hoping that "red-staters" are still resting up from their fevered victory dance? Are they trusting Christian conservatives to turn the other cheek ... yet again?

Whatever Target's hopes, they just might come true. Each day the Salvation Army is kept from Target is a quarter-million dollars in lost donations. The $ 9 million dollar projected shortfall is not just this year, but every year. And if Target's decision holds, other retailers could drop like dominoes in the future.

It didn't cost Target one penny to allow the Salvation Army access. Assuming the average kettle donation to be a buck or two, Target had 5 million customers last year who were happy to see the bell ringers there, and probably a couple million more who at least didn't mind.

Does Target have the right to keep the Salvation Army out? Yes, they do. But having a right doesn't make it right. Target can bully America's oldest Christian charity, but they can't bully America's oldest Christian charity and keep me as a customer.

Who's with me? It's now or never.