Target Stores and the Salvation Army

It appears now that those that have religion are now calling for a boycott of the Target chain.

According to a story in World Net Daily, Target Corporation made the announcement that the bell ringers would no longer be allowed at the company stores nationwide. However the religionists did not care about this until they saw that there were no bell ringers to be found. Now the National Clergy Council which has religious leaders from Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant churches are now calling out Target CEO Bob Ulrich

It appears that if Ulrich does not back down, these religious leaders will call for a boycott of the Target chain.

Rev. Bob Schenck who heads the NCC says the decision made by Target "sends an unmistakable message of hostility toward people and organizations of Christian faith."

For more than 100 years, the Salvation Army has demonstrated itself to be a trustworthy charitable organization, " Schenck said. "Yet now the retail giant, Target Corporation, has publicly questioned the Salvation Army's place in our nation's Christmas traditions."

The Salvation Army will not defend its self but the NCC plans on defending the Salvation Army and will try to convince Target to allow the bell ringers to return.

Other groups that are linked with Christian and social conservative causes are warning that Target would lose money if they did not allow the Salvation Army's bell ringers in front of the story. In fact the America Family Association encouraged its followers to shop at stores like Wal-Mart which do allow the bell ringers in front of the stores.

Robert Knight who works with Concerned Women for American says "For Target to say that the Salvation Army is no longer welcome at the inn should send a message to Christians that perhaps they'd like to do their shopping elsewhere." That statement is a bunch of garbage in my opinion. It is time for a quick lesson on private property.

Target is a private company and as a private company they can allow or disallow certain people from hanging around the stores including bell ringers. Call them Scrooges all you want but they are within their rights to have certain people not being allowed to "trespass" on their property. Sure their is some hatred for people of faith but in this case regarding Target's policy towards the Salvation Army,the religionists are in the wrong. Its not about bashing people of faith. It is about keep people who want to sell and/or promote certain things (including religion) off their property, and saddly that includes the Salvation Army bell ringers.

The Salvation Army will just look for other places in which other stores will allow them to ring their bells. They should continue to do well. The Target chain is just a minor setback.