Would Jesus shop at Wal-Mart?
Wake Up Wal-Mart brings its "faith-based" campaign to improve Wal-Mart practices to LR and dozens of other cities today. Here, there will be a candelight prayer vigil at the Wal-Mart on Base Line Road at 6 p.m.
The campaign includes a TV ad by a Kentucky Baptist pastor who says in an op-ed on the website, in part:
Everyone wants lower prices, but not at the expense of neighbors who work for Wal-Mart, or people around the world who make their products. Our purchasing choices are the crucial link in granting companies like Wal-Mart our tacit permission and our financial support to continue practices that exploit the young, the vulnerable, and the working poor.
There are two sides to the Wal-Mart debate, of course. Google "Wal-Mart defense" and you'll find plenty of opinions about how Wal-Mart is good for workers and for our country. Wal-Mart has a major marketing initiative, backed by millions of dollars and a staff of 70, to convince consumers that it is a benevolent corporation. Their arguments remind me of the lawyer reacting to Jesus' instruction to love your neighbor, "But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, `And who is my neighbor?'"
On the other side is a vast collection of data from workers, consumer watch organizations, and investigations that reveals a pattern of exploiting workers in order to cut costs and hike profits.





Comments
Operation Save America to Confront Wal-Mart Headquarters
Contact:
www.Savewalmart.com
BENTONVILLE, Arkansas, Dec. 14 // -- Operation Save America will be storming the gates of hell at Wal-Mart Headquarters this Friday, December 15, 2006, in Bentonville, Arkansas. "The Church of Jesus Christ is coming out of the closet in an attempt to save an old friend. Wal-Mart, the largest retailer in the world and the favorite store of the American Christian family, has become an enemy of God," states Rev. Flip Benham, Director of Operation Save America.
Rev. Benham continues:
"Wal-Mart took a huge hit in November as hundreds of Christian families took to the streets of their local Wal-Mart stores, but not to purchase any items. They came to expose an ugly truth about this once 'God fearing' corporation. Wal-Mart has been blackmailed by the radical homosexual agenda and the abortion industry. Rather than honoring God, Wal-Mart is now promoting homosexual sodomy and the killing of His children.
"Every executive at Wal-Mart Corporate that has allowed this hostile take-over needs a good old fashioned tongue lashing in Jesus' Name and a spanking! What Wal-Mart has done is sin! It is a betrayal of our Lord Jesus. It is a betrayal of Sam Walton (the founder of Wal-Mart) and his powerful Christian legacy. It is a betrayal of Christian families everywhere. Wal-Mart must bear the fruit of repentance."
"Sam Walton is dead. He can't fix the sorry estate Wal-Mart finds itself in. He faithfully ran his lap of the race and served his Lord well. It is our turn now! Though Mr. Sam is dead, yet he still speaks!
"We are not a protest. We are a proclamation that Jesus Christ is Lord! We are calling an 'old friend' back to its Godly roots. Wal-Mart can be saved and so can America. It begins with God's Church!"
Rev. Benham and Operation Save America plans to hold an "Operation Save Wal-Mart" press conference on Friday.
Where: Wal-Mart Headquarters, Bentonville, corner 8th St. and Bus 71.
When: Friday, December 15, 2006, 11:30 A.M.
Posted by: RLR
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December 15, 2006 11:47 AM
"Every executive at Wal-Mart Corporate that has allowed this hostile take-over needs a good old fashioned tongue lashing in Jesus' Name and a spanking!"
Will that be with some METH and a Blow-JoB?
"By NEELA BANERJEE
Published: December 12, 2006
The senior pastor of a suburban Denver evangelical church resigned Sunday after admitting to having had sexual relations with men. The Denver Post reported.
The resignation of the pastor, the Rev. Paul Barnes, from the pulpit of the 2,100-member Grace Chapel megachurch in Englewood came by way of a tearful, 32-minute videotaped address to his congregation."
NY Times Dec 12, 06
Posted by: Lwood
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December 15, 2006 12:10 PM
Perhaps the good Reverend prefers using Exxon as a corporate model. Then ask the question would Jesus shop at Exxon.......Heck, let's not be pikers. Let's not chase a pip squeak like WM when we have the No. 1 corporation piling it up......
Posted by: Cato
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December 15, 2006 04:18 PM
I can see their argument about the "radical homosexual agenda* ", but how exactly has WalMart been blackmailed by "the abortion industry"? Is WalMart running low cost health clinics that give women information on ALL their pregnancy options?
*Best I can tell, the radical agenda is for all homosexuals to be treated fairly and with respect. Doesn't seem that radical to me, but then, I personally believe that "love your neighbor" applies to all races, beliefs, lifestyle choices.
Posted by: EY
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December 15, 2006 04:36 PM
Okay, but Wake Up Wal-Mart isn't about W-M's "blackmail by the homosexual agenda and the abortion industry". It's about W-M's exploitation of production labor, low wages and lack of benefits for its employees. THAT'S the reason I don't like shopping there.
Posted by: widj
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December 15, 2006 05:05 PM
Jesus absolutely would shop at Walmart. Walmart does more to help the poor than any government program.
The union funded whiners who fund all of these anti-Walmart groups are greedy scum bags out only to line their pockets with greater union dues.
Unions have done wonders for making the US automotive industry competetive. The best thing we could do is to export are unions to China and other low wage countries to make them less competetive on the world market.
Posted by: Severus
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December 15, 2006 05:46 PM
Save your hometown. Boycott Wals-Mart.
Posted by: Louie
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December 15, 2006 06:45 PM
"...Walmart does more to help the poor than any government program"
Oh Lord...what a bunch of hooey.
...you can't honestly believe that crap.
Posted by: zelda
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December 15, 2006 07:45 PM
Jesus would not shop anywhere you materialistic whores.
Posted by: AB
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December 15, 2006 08:56 PM
I'm pretty sure Jesus does, in fact, shop at the Wal-Mart in Springdale. I know this because on several occasions, I have seen His car parked there. It's a lime green '92 Chevy Celebrity, and it has a vanity plate right on the front that says "JESUS".
Posted by: RickBaber
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December 15, 2006 09:04 PM
Severus, you have a strange way of looking at things.
Posted by: BlueRidge
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December 15, 2006 11:50 PM