Monday, September 15, 2008

Why Republicans Hate Wal-Mart

Ok, so it's not Republicans who hate Wal-Mart, it is Evangelical Republicans but since these are synonymous terms I've simply conflated them. [Now that Bible-believing Democrats are irritated that I've excluded them from the 'camp' and Republicans are irritated that I've potentially opened the door to Democrats through a back-handed cynical comment we can all proceed a bit miffed yet paradoxically fully engaged.] Republicans hate Wal-Mart because of its 'liberal' stance of being pro-gay, as if the labor laws (or general human decency) could allow anything else [the same goes for the godless execs at Disney, McDonalds, Starbucks and a host of other worldly, pagan organizations]. In fact, any organization that supports Gay-rights, abortion, evolution, Obama, or anything that smacks of removing prayer, Bibles, Palin, or the American flag from public schools deserves not only our ire, but a good smack-down through a boycott by the 'moral majority' on the right. In fact, these petitions, boycotts, and public excoriation float freely through our churches right alongside other ethical mandates of moral living, corporate worship, global evangelism, and loving our enemies (no wait; scratch that last one…it interferes with our agenda).

Why is it that a Republican platform has been conflated with Christian principles? Well, partially because they overlap substantially. But most of the overlap deals with personal morality: Sexual ethics, faith in the creator God, love of the unborn. Yet much of the corporate Christian morality has been co-opted by the 'left'—Feeding the hungry, public health care, social justice of minorities. We need to take more serious stock of our stances. In Jesus' inaugural speech in Nazareth (Luke 4) he claimed God's anointing on his ministry to preach good news to the poor. Hence, one could conclude that any Christian message that is not good news to the poor is not the good news of Jesus Christ. If you want to hate Wal-Mart, hate them for this: they continue to seduce our society, including Evangelicals of all stripes, into a rampant materialism that is so grossly at odds with compassion, generosity, and global welfare, that it can only be contrary the core message of Jesus Christ. Wal-Mart, Disney, Starbucks, McDonalds, etc. promote a consumerism, individualism, gluttonous self-absorption that has destroyed the faith for far more people than homosexuality, abortion, evolution, communism, Victoria Secrets (just seeing if you're still paying attention) ever dreamed of. If you must be a hater, at least hate for the right reasons.

Truth be told, Democrats hate Wal-Mart too, but for different reasons; mostly their parasitical and imperialistic economic exploitation. So apparently both Democrats AND Republicans hate Wal-Mart, which explains why, as each lives so consistently with their own agenda, we have seen a decimating decline in Wal-Mart stock.

P.S. At least the Green Party is pleased with go-green bags.

7 Comments:

Blogger Michael's Education Blog said...

Really cool to think about...Glad you wrote this!

September 22, 2008 at 12:33 AM  
Blogger Thom Stark said...

You're getting better at this, Mark.

October 8, 2008 at 1:46 PM  
Blogger Amy Storms said...

Did I just read in The Compass that Megan Moore is MARRIED? Surely that little Whirlybird isn't old enough for marriage...what were you thinking letting that happen? :)

Congratulations--pass along our love to all.

October 22, 2008 at 12:05 AM  
Blogger mike elrod said...

for a short time I was a subscriber to American Family Ass. e-mail and even choose a few protest to be a part of. Sent my e-mails thinking I have done my part and yet, my efforts didn't seem to digest well with The Spirit. Now I think I understand. I would like to send a copy of this to AFA; Dobson's affiliates and even pass it out to all my sisters at church who are such advocates. Yet, I'm sure it wouldn't settle well with The Spirit either. I do appreciate the good word.

October 22, 2008 at 8:35 AM  
Blogger Natalie Witcher said...

shew, well, I prefer Target anyway.

(hee hee)

Well said.

November 24, 2008 at 2:41 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I don't necessarily agree that republicans hate Walmart because of their progay position. I think they dislike any organization that plays group polotics. That is to say that group A should be favored above group B merely because they are different. Different than who? What is normal.
I had a discussion once with a brother who said that the KJV was the most "accurate" translation. I challenged that thought, and he releneted that just because it is the oldest of translations, does not mean it is the most accurate.
So I say again. What is normal? Different than who?
Republicans basically say we want a level playing field. No favoritism, period. We all have the same opportunity to either succeed, or fail. Thanks Mark.

April 25, 2009 at 7:25 PM  
Blogger jondrms said...

Yeah I wrote about this once, but you did a much better job for sure. Good stuff.

January 27, 2010 at 8:07 AM  

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