(Please read the following, it is all true. But, let me get the plain facts out to whomever cares about life. When you or your friends shop at the well know, pretend upper-class store, Target, you may be helping their friends find ways to execute your sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, either of your parents, best friends, whomever they feel may be gay. As you read on you will see that this is not made up. It is just Target doing business, taking your money, willing to have a few people executed along the way.)
Hello, all. People say that I worry too much, lately. You know, how the country seems to have forgotten it roots. How it has forgotten that its founders left countries, their homes, due to the very real mistreatment for being different in some way which, for some reason, bothered someone. And, those someones came to this land also. And, the settlers and then the great country of the United States of America, fell into a dark spell. The country formed and broke treaties with the indigenous peoples of this land. If one can really own land, then it was theirs. The treaties made people feel good, until they needed more land, oil, cheap labor, whatever.
Since that time, but, mostly - and, this is just how I see it from my limited life on this planet - in the near past and the very present, the idea is not to think about things, not to critically think and examine ideas. Rather, it is to write something, usually misspelled, on a piece of cardboard. What is being written? Signs of hate. Someone has to be blamed for the tough times - and I know how tough they are, for as I fight cancer and am not working, I struggle to keep my home. I can't wait to get back to work, but, no smart company is about to hire someone who needs a number of surgeries to make them even partially useful, including my brain work. I love that work, but, still, I have to be healthy. So, the hate goes on. I hear, "no, it isn't about a black President, it is his policies." I hear that our FBI, CIA, NSA, and the recently 1600 various groups to make sure we stay safe, that we do things correctly, were left in such bad condition by the last administration, that they let through a person who had a fake birth certificate, gave him some of the highest clearances possible, and let him become President of these wonderful United States. For me, as bad as the last administration was, I don't think they were so bad that a phony birth certificate got by them. Friends of mine, friends who really wanted our current President to win at the beginning of the campaign, began to feel that it would be better if he lost, for the mess he and his administration would inherit would limit him to one term. I felt the opposite. I want him in there if things are that bad. I believe that he can help lead us out of this mess. Though, anyone who gives it real thought, would know that it will take at least two terms to move things along. After all, it took only two terms to make one of the greatest messes of our country, from all parts, in all of its history. But, people want to focus on hate, they don't think, they just point fingers. So, today, I open this email and I am stunned. How is this possible? Can people really put money toward people who would have me executed for loving someone they don't love, for following my spiritual life into an extremely spiritual relationship. But, they don't approve and want me dead. And, Target, the store people feel special about, is just fine doing business with them. It bothers my family a bit, when I tell them that I am actually getting nervous for my life and that I do see moving to a home I am lucky to have in Costa Rica, where this Catholic country is decades ahead of our country in civil rights and in loving all. For now, I will fight with my words, my time, speaking to one person at a time, helping them to see how to think in a critical manner and not just go by what some comedian on a radio talk show says. I feel sorry for them that they don't realize how many millions of people laugh at them for even listening to these nobodies who have no special education in what they yell on about. Anyway, this made me sad. It is not the United States of America that my father fought for and so many others who did and are doing the same. Here it is, as I said. Damn, scary and sad.__________________________________________________________________
Dear Stephen,
|
Target won't take any steps to repair the damage from their right-wing donation. The next time news breaks, be the first to know: |
Over 100,000 of you signed our open letter calling on Target to make it right after they donated $150,000 to support a Minnesota candidate with ties to a group that condoned the execution of gays.
If that initial donation was a slap in the face, Target has now delivered a punch in the gut.
With your signatures in hand, HRC has been talking directly with Target for two weeks. In a shocking development, Target just told us that they won't be taking ANY corrective action to repair the harm they've caused.
The stakes are too high in Minnesota to just sit back. The next governor will likely have the opportunity to either sign or veto marriage equality legislation – so HRC will devote $150,000 of our own resources to elect a pro-equality governor and lawmakers in this critical state.
All eyes are now on Best Buy – another Minnesota-based company that also made a political contribution to support the same extremist candidate. Best Buy has yet to respond.
We expected more from these companies. Target and Best Buy have – and no doubt will continue to have – model employment policies for LGBT people, and we will continue to support those efforts.
But our sights are now set on the election.
With full marriage equality hanging in the balance in Minnesota, it's important that we send a strong message: we will work tirelessly to elect pro-equality candidates.
Competing against unlimited amounts of corporate cash, we'll advance marriage equality legislation and boost its supporters – and we'll keep you informed of ways you can help.
One more thing: our 500,000 Facebook and Twitter followers were the first to know about this update. We'll always keep you up to date no matter how you stay in contact, but our Facebook and Twitter pages are a great way to stay on top of breaking news and show your friends you care about equality.
You'll not only get news as soon as we do – you'll join the conversation of a growing community of HRC supporters.
We all feel the sting of disappointment deeply, but our passion for change and equality runs even deeper. Help us fight back harder in the months to come.
Forward,
Joe Solmonese
