Morons.
Yesterday Target sent out a mass internal email (above) continuing the woke pandering that has already cost the company billions in stock losses. The posturing and now the doubling down makes no sense from a business perspective or an ethical perspective. The chain had to close over a hundred outlets last year: this is just management incompetence that endangers the jobs and livelihood of the same people the email is “thanking.”
Here’s the text, in case you have as bad reading vision as I do:
“Yesterday was a very hard day for Target, and as CEO Brian Cornell said, thank you for the care you’ve shown each other, our frontline teams, and the LGBTQIA+ community. Today brings more reflection, pain and the need for continued care as our team, hometown and world remember the murder of George Floyd. As you make space to take care of yourself and each other, know that you can always tap into these tools from Team Member LIfe Resources, and as Mental Health Awareness Month continues, turn to Take Five to Take Care hub for more wellbeing support.”
I wouldn’t personally boycott Target because it is promoting gonad-tucking bathing suits for mentally-ill men, but I might stop frequenting a store that wants to celebrate the George Floyd disaster as if it were the Alamo or The Maine. There was literally nothing good that came out of the Summer of Floyd. People died, communities set themselves up for more crime and violence by rejecting the police; rioting spread across the nation, the justice system was compromised by a jury allowed to deliberate despite prejudicial influences during the trial, and then apparently ignored the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard to convict Derek Chauvin.
In my view, the official internal email is far more offensive than any “Pride Month” displays. Target is courting divisiveness and snuggling up to race-hucksters (yesterday brought more news of Black Lives Matter’s illegal use of its tax-deductable donations and real domestic terrorists, which is what the Floyd demonstrators were. I get it: if you don’t continue to shop at Target, you must be racist and hateful.
I repeat: organized boycotts are unethical and an abuse of power. But after my scouting trip to Target this afternoon, I may eschew the pleasure in the future even though my dog is frequently compared to the Target bull terrier…
Ethics Alarms 
I know I mentioned this but it’s worth saying again: with all due respect you are wrong. When one side/group controls (effectively) all means of airing and discussing disagreement and differing views, and is intent on shoving its views and beliefs on everyone, and silencing any and everyone who disagrees with them, and are polluting what should be apolitical venues (businesses like Target and bud), use organized boycotts, which then become the only viable option remaining, is ethical and the failure to use it is dereliction of duty
One side/group DOESN’T control all means of airing and discussing disagreement and differing views. One educates the public,and explains what and why you have chosen as you have. Otherwise, you are endorsing blind boycotts: wreck this business because X says so. Like the democratic mayors and governors telling “Chic-Fil-A” to get oout of the state.
With all due respect, the left DOES control (effectively) control all means of airing and discussing disagreement and differing views. Almost all legacy news media and outlets are effectively propaganda arm of the left at this. Yes, there are some outlets and sources that can still avail different views, but essentially only those already informed seek them out. Vast majority of people still rely on ABC, NBC and CBS (via their local affiliates), NPR, newspapers, etc. for news; they still trust public schools, etc.
Ron, how do you think the majority of Americans came to distrust the so-called “legacy media”? If the Left did exercise such control, reality wouldn’t be reaching the public. It is. Outrageously monopolize the news and education establishments, sure. But it isn’t working to the point of control.
Jack
I would be careful about assuming the distrust of the media means that it distrusts CNN, MSNBC, ABC, etc. the Left distrusts Fox, Newsmax, the NY Post and other right leaning media while the right distrusts The NY Times and the other left leaning media.
Questions regarding trust in the media need to be defined as to what media to which they are referring.
I don’t trust polls that do not define what or who are the items being referred to.
Valid point, but we have also seen surveys in which the majority of large demographic groups say that they get their news from social media, the web, and even Comedy Central. We also know that the viewership of all broadcast news is a fraction of what it was 50 years ago, and newspapers are dwindling away. News magazines are dinosaurs. They had “control” in the Sixties. Certainly not now.
And the lack of self-awareness that many of the store closures were due to the lawlessness encouraged by the Great Stupid that began with the Floyd death is glaring. Or are they hoping that pandering to that crowd will protect their stores from roving gangs of thieves?
Is eschewing the pleasure in the future different from joining the boycott?
I still don’t get the distinction between a collection of individuals not patronizing for whatever personal reasons and a “boycott”.
And I’m surprised you didn’t comment: but isn’t mutilating a dog by painting a bullseye over his eye unethical? I say yes.
I have it on good authority that “Bulleye” has not been “mutilates,” and the make-up, which he isn’t aware of, washes right off.
Surely you understand the distinction between independent action and conspiracy, although your comment doesn’t show it.
Not a lawyer, but I think I have some understanding of conspiracy. As I commented yesterday, boycotts are usually quite ineffective because of the weakness of the “conspiracy”.
I suppose that posting “eschewing the pleasure in the future” to your millions of readers does not approach the level of conspiracy that you decry.
The dog isn’t unaware that the makeup is being put on him, only that it washes off and is safe (or not). That was a tongue in cheek comment, but I’ll bet you don’t makeup Spuds or put him in funny Halloween costumes. Just guessing.
Target’s five-year high was $261 in July of 2021. Its most recent close was $140. Over the last five years, it’s up from $72.80 to $140, a 91 percent increase.
I saw today bull terriers are rated the friendliest breed.
Considering that two major Target locations in the Twin Cities were looted in the riots (one was about a block from the 3rd precinct that was destroyed), maybe Target is worried about new riots on the anniversary. Or maybe they are trying to placate would-be rioters with a show of solidarity.
-Jut
Economics is at play. People have rightly decided to exercise their dollars individually as to what company special interests they will support. Nike, Disney, Chipotle, Starbucks, Bud Light and Victoria’s Secret have all made decisions that have cost them dollars. In the real world, normal, everyday people are fed up with being preached to. It’s slower, but possibly the best indicator of the silent majority. Some of these companies will take a small hit, some large, some might be permanent. Their business still has to move product and when people choose to not support them, eventually it’s a problem because they exist to move products. Reality is fixed like that, even when people believe otherwise, or tell you it’s not true, or cite the stock market values and how good they still are. The markets are less rational than you think, but companies will fail eventually without the consumer.
I think most of the US citizenry just wants to be left alone to pursue life’s pleasures. They are concerned primarily about putting food on the table and their children’s future. Regarding transgender issues, I think they are confused as to why society needs to reorder itself and make accommodations for 0.5% of the population. I think they struggle to understand why after fighting so hard for women to have parity with male sports programs these same programs are being sacrificed on the woke alter. They most likely find it difficult to understand why their daughters need to share bathrooms with biological males.
Given that most people in the US are heterosexual and white. This group is probably offended that they are the only group that is not allowed to be offended by the actions of others. They likely are offended about being blamed for all of society’s ills. For the past 15 to 20 years the white heterosexual, Christian members of the community have been under constant and increasing attack primarily by progressives, race hustlers, and academics.
I believe what we are seeing with Bud Lite, Target, etc. is what happens when you poke the bear too many times. After years of cowering as individuals afraid to speak up for fear of reprisal, they are realizing that they can exercise their power anonymously by individually boycotting corporations who have decided to champion all things woke. It is probable that the more the media publicizes these boycotts the more widespread they will become. They won’t need to be organized they will become organic.