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"Veterans do not meet our area of giving. We only donate to the arts, social action groups, gay & lesbian causes, and education"
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That's the lawyers talking. Supporting arts and education is a no-brainer. Everybody loves arts and education so it's no financial risk to the corporation to support them. Just as every fund-raiser nowadays is "for kids." Easy, no $$$ risk. Social action groups and gay and lesbian groups can cause all sorts of problems for the corporation. If Target were to refuse to support one of these groups there'd be an uproar over Target's "intolerance."* Being labeled "intolerant"* would cost the corporation millions, so corporate lawyers whisper, "It's cheaper to support social activists and gay/lesbian causes" into the ears of the board of directors. Veterans groups don't cause the same kind of uproar that the more vocal groups do so it's easier for Target to refuse support to vets. Think of the "squeaky wheel" analogy. Vets don't represent a vocal and potentially expensive problem the way certain other social groups do.** If Target's legal department (and every other corporation for that matter) sees no financial liability/loss of business then they'll okay their support. If they see a huge financial liability for not offereing support then they quietly allow Target to support a certain group. Veterans groups (apparently) don't fall into the "We'd better support them or it'll cost us big dollars" category.
*Tolerance: You have to tolerate me but I don't have to tolerate you. (Now you know all you need to know about "tolerance.")
**Veterans have seen all the war and conflict they can stand. Thus, they are often too proud and civil to cause costly demonstrations against a corporation such as Target. The vets just fold the flag and move on and Target's legal department knows that. Another thing to keep in mind is that average Americans don't want to be reminded of the sacrifices made by American military veterans. Americans want their wars won cleanly and in an exciting, celebratory fashion and NO BLOOD and GUTS please. So when the Vietnam Memorial Wall comes to town it's a big downer for most people, many of whom have no idea what Vietnam is or what happened there. The real vets and the educated people who know damn-well what that wall really means will come out and support the vets and the sacrifice of our fallen heores. Everyone else just wants to go into Target and buy stuff and not be reminded of messy wars and tragic loss. Oh, and cheap gas too please. American society has become extremely comfortable since 1945 and we've given in to a consumpton and comfort-based standard of living. American soldiers die in Iraq almost daily and no one says a word. BP announces a pipline shutdown in Alaska and there's sudden nervous concern over rising gas prices. But, I digress. Until veterans groups make more noise than certain social groups and gay/lesbian groups, the corporate lawyers and the American public will continue to ignore them. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. (The money and the attention, that is.)
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Can you say..........
Reverend Jesse Jackson
.....He has learned and played his "Lesson's" well......These groups see what works and adjust accordingly....
Ken
