Okay, many of you already know this about me, but we've been boycotting McDonalds for a few months now. You can look at the link below to see why.
http://www.boycottmcdonalds.com/
Please understand that by participating in this boycott, I am in NO WAY saying that McDonalds should not hire or serve certain people for ANY reason! However, it has upset me how many Christians don't seem to be bothered by the fact that when they eat their, a portion of their money is being used in this way. So maybe you all can help me understand why... Any opinions?
8 comments:
I couldn't tell from that site what specifically it is that McDonald's does to warrant a boycott. It looks like they sponsor some organizations and events that are meaningful to an important constituency of theirs. McDonald's, I'm sure, has evaluated the consequences of that choice and made a business decision that it makes sense for them.
There are many reasons not to eat at McDonalds - the lousy food and your health chief among them. But this is not a reason. I honestly often find people's attitudes toward homosexuals very un-Christian as I understand the term. Homosexuals are sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and cousins - like each of us.
Besides, if you choose to boycott all businesses that support the civil rights of homosexuals, I'd be willing to bet you'll have a hard time spending money.
I hope you all (especially Eric) don't mind me sharing my opinion. Thanks for the thought-provoking post.
I’ve been carefully thinking through this comment throughout the morning and think there are two tracks to take. This morning I read a statement on another blog that said “one of the biggest dangers that [people] face is believing lies from the enemy.” Unfortunately too often the response to homosexuality that non-Christians see isn’t one of love as Drake said. I think there is a terrible sadness in any sin that a person has sacrificed God’s plan and His best to believe a lie from the enemy (Satan). However, that doesn’t take away that the sin is wrong. I think it is possible to love the sinner and hate the sin.
From a business side I have struggled with boycotting certain businesses over others. Since McDonald’s is mentioned here, do we know for sure that Burger King, Wendy’s, (put in whatever fast food business you want) isn’t a member of the homosexual chamber of commerce or that they support other homosexual events? Then from fast food do we branch out to grocery stores, department stores, furniture companies, auto companies, pest control companies, newspapers, etc. to determine how their money is spent? I think it becomes an impossible task and eventually we would be very, very limited as to where we could spend money.
I think boycotting is a personal issue and appreciate that Eric isn’t dogmatic that everyone should be participating in the choice he has made.
All comments are appreciated. I believe their is value in all opinions as long as we share them in love.
We too believe that you can love the sinner and hate the sin as Rhoda shared. The fact is that we are ALL sinners in need of forgiveness.
I too have thought through the other businesses issue, and is one of the reasons for posting the question.
Here is the heart of my concern. I don't want to see anyones civil rights denied, including ours. So where is the balance? WWJD? How have we lost many of our civil rights? Our right to pray in schools or Doctors to refuse certain procedures for moral reasons.
When do we take a stand and how? I don't want my grandchildren to look at me one day and wonder "why didn't you do anything to protect my rights?"
Thank you to Drake and Rhoda for being brave enough to lovingly post a response. This is a hard issue and that is what family is for right?
To close, in Eric's defense, he didn't post this question. Though we agree on the issues, he didn't pose the question, I did. RK
The issue is complicated. I see the point of the boycott because McDonalds says they are pleased to support gay/lesbian organizations. This is the kind of spirit that leads to gay marriages being allowed, such as those are now occurring in California. I firmly believe that loosening of the marriage laws to include definitions other than one man/one woman will open doors to all kinds of perversions in the future.
I also think that homosexuals should be treated with kindness and should have the same civil rights as all of us. Taunts, death threats, and other abuses have no place.
But. . .then I go to our farmers' market, and there are two restaurants offering their locally grown and prepared choices for patrons. One is run by two well-known lesbians in the community. I believe that they have every right to be in business. But, it is difficult for me to patronize their business because I find their life choices to be repugnant. I believe that that is not because of meaningless prejudice, but because of the deep conscience in all of us that knows what is right and wrong.
Let me say also that I really appreciate that we can discuss difficult subjects in a spirit of kindness and family commitment!
Well, I guess it's my turn to jump in here. This is Eric BTW! When Retta first started her boycott, I was a skeptic. I begrudgingly participated with her, but didn't really see the need, have the desire or even think that our little family would have any impact on the BIG GIANT food seller.
I did however, decide to go along as I am a firm believer that if it is a sin for my spouse, it's a sin for me. This applies to Big Mac's, wandering eyes at the TV or the beach, PG-13 movies, or whatever else. Even if I didn't think is was wrong, but my wife did, and my partcipation hurt her, then it should be a sin to me. (paraphrased from "Every Man's Battle" by Steve Arterburn). I still doubt that our boycott means a hill of beans for McDonald's, but it does show our kids we are willing to stand behind what we teach them. Drake was right, McDonald's has evaluated the consequences of that choice and made a business decision that it makes sence to them. We have evaluated the consequences of McDonald's choice and chosen not to do business with them.
There are other companies out there that I just will not do business with for similiar or not similiar reasons. It comes down to personnel choice and conviction. At my last plant, I had a great employee who was involved in a same sex relationship. He was a wonderful engineer and we get along great and I so much want to see him succeed in business and life. However, his lifestyle choice breaks my heart because I believe it is outside the will of God and I see the issues, health and relationship, that is brings into his life. He knows how I feel, not because we have discussed it, but because he knows what I am about in my life. The same goes for the coworker who has cheated on his wife, the one who is living with his girlfriend, etc. They know where I stand, I know where they stand and yet we are friends. I do not condone their life choices, but I will share my life with them, without condoning their choices, and a life without McDonald's.
Thanks for reading and sharing. EDK
PS: I deleted the comment above because I left out a word that changed the meaning of what I meant, and I couldn't figure out how to edit it.
Without getting too deep into this controversial subject, I will make a few random comments:
The right to pray in school still exists. In some cases, it is organized. In all cases, a student who choses to pray in school, may.
Interestingly, I just heard on the radio this weekend that Hallmark released wedding cards for same sex couples.
I'm glad we continue to enjoy the basic civil right to make our own individual choices, based on what we believe. Should we ever allow this to become untrue, then we will have to explain to future generations why they HAVE to do something they are completely against.
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