Hi, all, and happy Friday! This will be a slightly abbreviated newsletter as we move into a holiday weekend. I hope you’re hanging in there; I know things are wild right now. But, as Lao Tzu warned us (according to my husband; I have no idea if it’s true, and it’s definitely paraphrased): some things are made harder by expecting them to be easy.
Thanks for the Target email, Jessica! Here's what I just wrote. I hope other Chop Wood readers will speak up, too.
"I’ve been a Target shopper for years, even when I’ve had to drive 100 miles to get to one of your stores. You undoubtedly have millions of other loyal customers. So I’m surprised your decision-makers would betray the loyalty of your customers and staff by caving to the hysteria, hate, and fear promoted by right-wing extremists against Pride. The anti-LGBT+ people choose to purposely target a minority of people with bigotry, rage, and contempt. I’m appalled that Target is OK with that.
"Acclaimed historian Timothy Snyder writes about people who seek to diminish, disrespect, or even destroy targeted groups. In ON TYRANNY, TWENTY LESSONS FROM THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, he says, “Do not obey in advance.” By caving to bigotry, you confirm that threats to harm others work. A powerful company like Target is teaching hate groups how much they can get away with.
"I am discouraged by the choice Target management has made - and angry as well. Millions of us expect better from you.
"I’m eager to hear your public apology for caving to hate - and to see you restore your Pride products to your stores. Tell the haters your company's bottom line depends on loyalty to staff, customers, and human decency."
Just posted this to Target's Corporate Responsibility site:
I’m writing as a decent middle-aged American consumer to ask you to return Pride merchandise to the shelves in stores from which you’ve removed it. I can’t tell you the devastation it causes in young queer people to hear that businesses aren’t willing to stand with them during this fraught and frankly scary moment in American history. While a smaller business, furthermore, might have real reason to fear a boycott, you’re Target. You can take a small financial hit—if it comes—to stand up for a vulnerable community. And from a business standpoint it’s the smart move. These are your future customers, and they will remember forever if you abandon them now. So will millions of us who are not queer or LGBTQ+ but just upright people with a sense of moral responsibility. If you don’t need ethics, we don’t need Target. Thanks.
(thank you, Jess, for the template, the contact info & the gentle nudge!)
Robert Reich missed the most important one: "Blame the Democrats."
Thanks, Jessica, for your encouragement and suggested actions. But it's not enough to just do stuff. We need to tell everyone what we're doing and why. We need to anticipate the misinformation and disinformation from the other side, and head it off. We need to be shouting from the rooftops.
I wrote a "speech" I'd like to see President Biden deliver, telling the country that he's taking unilateral action on the debt ceiling because of the Republican-led House's failure to do its job. I have posted it as comments on Robert Hubbell's Today's Edition and Dan Rather's Steady, where it was well-received. I've also posted it on my own Substack site, Random Thoughts (title: "My Solemn Duty"). I was encouraged by readers to send it to the President, which I did a couple of days ago, and you reminded me to send it to my Senators, which I just did. I won't bother sending it to my "Representative," because he's not...
Have a wonderful holiday weekend, y'all! Has anyone heard if there is a national march or something being organized in DC to demand that Congress raise the debt ceiling? Thanks for any info!
Great advice! We shouldn't expect anything we have to do to be easy. We just have to do it!
Have a lovely weekend.
Thanks for the Target email, Jessica! Here's what I just wrote. I hope other Chop Wood readers will speak up, too.
"I’ve been a Target shopper for years, even when I’ve had to drive 100 miles to get to one of your stores. You undoubtedly have millions of other loyal customers. So I’m surprised your decision-makers would betray the loyalty of your customers and staff by caving to the hysteria, hate, and fear promoted by right-wing extremists against Pride. The anti-LGBT+ people choose to purposely target a minority of people with bigotry, rage, and contempt. I’m appalled that Target is OK with that.
"Acclaimed historian Timothy Snyder writes about people who seek to diminish, disrespect, or even destroy targeted groups. In ON TYRANNY, TWENTY LESSONS FROM THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, he says, “Do not obey in advance.” By caving to bigotry, you confirm that threats to harm others work. A powerful company like Target is teaching hate groups how much they can get away with.
"I am discouraged by the choice Target management has made - and angry as well. Millions of us expect better from you.
"I’m eager to hear your public apology for caving to hate - and to see you restore your Pride products to your stores. Tell the haters your company's bottom line depends on loyalty to staff, customers, and human decency."
I love your words of wisdom at the beginning of each newsletter. Thank you and have a great weekend
Just posted this to Target's Corporate Responsibility site:
I’m writing as a decent middle-aged American consumer to ask you to return Pride merchandise to the shelves in stores from which you’ve removed it. I can’t tell you the devastation it causes in young queer people to hear that businesses aren’t willing to stand with them during this fraught and frankly scary moment in American history. While a smaller business, furthermore, might have real reason to fear a boycott, you’re Target. You can take a small financial hit—if it comes—to stand up for a vulnerable community. And from a business standpoint it’s the smart move. These are your future customers, and they will remember forever if you abandon them now. So will millions of us who are not queer or LGBTQ+ but just upright people with a sense of moral responsibility. If you don’t need ethics, we don’t need Target. Thanks.
(thank you, Jess, for the template, the contact info & the gentle nudge!)
Robert Reich missed the most important one: "Blame the Democrats."
Thanks, Jessica, for your encouragement and suggested actions. But it's not enough to just do stuff. We need to tell everyone what we're doing and why. We need to anticipate the misinformation and disinformation from the other side, and head it off. We need to be shouting from the rooftops.
I wrote a "speech" I'd like to see President Biden deliver, telling the country that he's taking unilateral action on the debt ceiling because of the Republican-led House's failure to do its job. I have posted it as comments on Robert Hubbell's Today's Edition and Dan Rather's Steady, where it was well-received. I've also posted it on my own Substack site, Random Thoughts (title: "My Solemn Duty"). I was encouraged by readers to send it to the President, which I did a couple of days ago, and you reminded me to send it to my Senators, which I just did. I won't bother sending it to my "Representative," because he's not...
Great help. I am taking all your comments to heart. I needed that!!!👏🏻🤗🥰🤗
Have a wonderful holiday weekend, y'all! Has anyone heard if there is a national march or something being organized in DC to demand that Congress raise the debt ceiling? Thanks for any info!