Phil Cooke

Why just McDonald's?

Does it make a better headline?

What about Wells Fargo, IBM, Aetna, American Family Insturance and American Airlines? They all supported the NGLCC's 2008 Business & Leadership Conference more than McDonald's, UPS, AT&T, OfficeMax, Intel, Coninental Airlines, Comcast, Hilton, Hyatt, Southwest and Citi … just to name a few.

see here> http://www.nglcc.org/news/leadership/sponsors

I concur with the previous commenter, "… what do we expect from a corporation run by people who likely do not have a relationship with God?"

Love the Lord thy God, and boycott your neighbor as yourself … or something like that.

Most of Wildmon's diatribes and AFA's attempts to challenge the culture are designed with two things in mind:  first, keeping Don Wildmon's and AFA's names in the news, and second, reassuring the 'true believers' that they're not afraid of taking on anyone, even a major corporation.  Whether a boycott produces any tangible results is clearly secondary.  I don't have a problem with boycotting per se, but by attempting to reinforce his attack-oriented, polarizing mindset, Wildmon reduces the opportunity for any meaningful dialogue.  But then again, I don't think that's what people of his mindset are interested in.  There is no middle ground with them; it's all or nothing.  And I doubt they seriously believe they'll ever 'win' their war; they're simply interested in propagating their tunnel-vision viewpoint and keeping donations coming in.  Not unlike Focus on the Family these days when they venture away from what has always been their strength, family and child-rearing issues, and delve into politics.  (By the way, does anyone know whether Dr. Dobson has decided to actually vote or not?  For McCain?  It's been keeping me up at night…)

In a diverse environment most major corporations, correctly, advance and affirm the rights of employee groups.  As an employer, McDonald's or any other large or small company, has an obligation to serve its employees fairly and equitably.  I don't think it has anything to do with whether the top management or board of directors is comprised of people who, as one poster surmised, 'don't have a relationship with God.'  Perhaps some of them do and they feel that whatever policies are in place are appropriate, even if those policies clash on some level with their Christian values. 

Engaging the culture is about conversation, dialogue, listening, respecting and honoring those with whom you disagree.  As at least one other commenter mentioned, I too have Christian friends who own several McDonald's franchises and we've talked about this very issue.  Their viewpoint is, how can we reach out to employees and encourage them by our witness if so-called Christians don't believe we should even employ them?  Where is Christ in that?

What's ironic to me is the statement from AFA's own website:  "It is about McDonald's, as a corporation, refusing to remain neutral in the culture wars."  What would be a neutral position?  Don't ask, don't tell?  How loving and encompassing is AFA's philosophy in reaching people for Christ if they're only going to go on the attack when a company gives "the full weight of the corporation to promoting the homosexual agenda"?  Wildmon will hold back the dogs if a company maintains neutrality?  Don't people in Switzerland need Jesus too?

To me, with people like Wildmon or organizations like AFA, it's not about the 'issue'.  It's about them shouting at the rain; not because they don't get it but because they can't sell it.

McDonald's does not care about culture.  They care about selling gross hamburgers.  So they blew with the wind of culture.  There are more of "them" than "us" …they just did the math.

To shape our culture we have to change people.  We have to show the love of God in amazing ways that causes people to embrace Him.  We have the greatest tools for evangelism that the world has ever known.  Let's use our talent and time on that for now.  A boycott — in this situation–does more harm than good (except for our hips.)

When choosing a strategy, we have to ask ourselves

1.  Is it ethical?

and

2.  Will it achieve the desired results? 

A boycott of McD's is probably ethical.  People have a right to decide to eat there or not.  Besides, if someone brown bags it instead of eating greasy junk, they save money and protect their health.  There aren't any ethical problems inherent in the tactic of boycotting a purveyor of over priced junk food.

Will it achieve the desired results?  Now this is where things get goofy.  What are the desired results?  The promoters of the boycott state that the boycott is about McD's giving the "…weight of their corporation to promoting the homosexual agenda…"

So…  what's the point kiddies?  Do you have one? 

Is the point of the boycott to punish McD's for supporting Gay and Lesbians?  If that's the intention, then prepare to fail.  The boycott will generate more supporters for McD's than boycotters.  Is the intent of the boycott to dissuade McD's from supporting the NGLCC?  If that's the hope, then it's doomed to failure for the very same reason.

If the point is to draw supporters to their organization and re-energize their current membership by identifying an "enemy from without", then they've hit pay-dirt.  It will work just fine.   Donations should be up already.  Nothing unites like hatred, fear and a common enemy.

It's a shame we can't get people excited about building bridges of understanding between people and God.   If a ministry sponsors NGLCC, will their sponsorship offer them an opportunity to work within the gay and lesbian community for the salvation of souls?  Insights, anyone?

Whew!  The only thing I have had from McBarf's in the past 10 year or so is their Orange Vanilla Milk Shake (2 days ago).  I have to watch what I eat so they are out of the question.  (I had just finished a 24 mile bike ride so I indulged). but this is not about their "food" is it?  I remember reading about AFA's boycott of Ford over the same thing.  Did it work?  They will take credit that Ford has almost tanked. But the topper was when they issued a letter saying, "You are now free to buy from Ford."  I am not free to buy from Ford?  Give me a break!  I think the same result will arise here.  No one will know and probably no one will care what AFA says to do. I won't eat at Mickey D's because I don't like the food not because I have been told to boycott.  Will they call me and ask me what I think?  I doubt it so their research will be skewed.  Count me out of the boycott.  And for the record: I am not for the homosexual agenda at all. 

I wonder why it’s always issues like homosexuality we’re asked to demonstrate about. Do we boycott companies who fail to uphold God’s standards (if even they don’t claim to follow him) in other areas? Are we asked to boycott companies who don’t help feed and clothe the poor or who are seeking and serving justice for the ‘least of these’? Why are some people so keen to dictate the morality of others instead of living out the morality of Jesus as a much more effective witness?

Don Wildmon can boycott McDonald's, but he better leave his hands off my favorite (albeit INCREDIBLY liberal) company, Apple.

- lovingly typed on my 2.6 MacBook Pro.