A Minute for Parents

Summary

Taking a Pro-Family Stand

Article

By JoAnn Hibbert Hamilton

As we watch the world swing more and more liberal in advertisements, commercials, billboards, television language, etc., many people shake their heads and say in a helpless tone of voice, “There’s nothing we can do. It’s just a sign of the times.”

Well, there is a lot we can and should do if we want to preserve our God-fearing, family oriented nation. Doing nothing is a choice, but in my opinion, not a good one. Let me recommend an issue that you could address if you choose to.

At McDonald’s at the Illinois headquarters on July 16, 2008 conservative groups led by the American family Association announced a boycott of the hamburger giant. The reason for this is because McDonalds contributed $20,000 and therefore became a corporate member in the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. “The National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) is a political machine with a mission of radically changing America by redefining marriage and family,” according to Buddy Smith, AFA spokesman (“Golden Arches go anti-family,” American Family Association Journal, September 2008, p.1. Also see Citizens’ Courier, Citizens for Community Values (CCV), August 2008, page 10).

Donald Wildman, Founder of AFA, pleaded for McDonalds to remain neutral in the culture war we are all involved in, i.e., disassociating from NGLCC’s Web site where McDonald’s is cited as a partner (Ibid.). He also asked that Richard Ellis, McDonald’s vice president of communications, withdraw McDonald’s name from the gay Web site. Both requests were refused.

So what can you do? You can join the nation-wide AFA led boycott and not purchase food at McDonalds. You can sign, print and distribute a Boycott McDonald’s petition at www.boycotmcdonalds.com, you can call the local McDonald’s to politely tell the manager you are boycotting the chain. You can write Andrew J. McKenna, President, McDonald’s Plaza, Oak Brook, IL 60523 or call 1-800-244-6227.

The AFA web site, www.boycottmcdonalds.com explains that the boycott is not about hiring homosexual persons, not about homosexual persons eating at McDonald’s and not about how homosexual employees are treated. It is, as stated above, that McDonald’s is not staying neutral in the cultural war but is giving the full weight of their corporation on promoting the homosexual agenda including homosexual marriage (Citizens’ Courier, op. cit.).

CCV’s vice president of public policy, David Miller pointed out in Citizens’ Courier that “the NGLCC’s activities go way beyond promoting the economic interests of their members. They also actively lobby for legislation in support of same-sex marriage, in support of adding sexual orientation and transgendered status to the categories protected under our civil rights laws, and in support of hate laws what would criminalize expression of any objection to homosexual behavior.”

He went on to say, “HIV is increasing among young males today at an alarming rate of 12% per year. To imply that objecting to an agenda so injurious to the physical, emotional and spiritual health of our nation is equivalent to hatred , is particularly troublesome. As a compassionate people concerned about the welfare of the family and the well being of our children, we must make a statement to our culture. Passing up McDonald’s—in favor of another fast-food eatery, or perhaps a healthier alternative—is one easy way to make such a statement (Citizens’ Courier, op. cit.).

I think it was a Ford Motor boycott that AFA got involved in some time ago for the same reason. It took awhile, but as sales declined Ford Motor finally withdrew its support from this same organization. Congratulations go to Ford Motor for returning to neutral on this social issue.

Past copies of articles can be found in www.clippertoday.com or www.strengthenthefamily.net under “A Minute for Parents.”