McDonald's Gives In to Pressure

In July, I posted a blog entitled "McDonald's Loves Teh Ghey" where I learned of a story that made me momentarily revise my view of McDonald's as something aside from the over-reaching, fixed American 'landmark' that it is, to me having a blip of respect for them despite their pariah status.  They took a stand in equality for all people; regardless of sexual preference, and went public with it.  The American Family Association was not happy about this - and they demanded that McDonald's pull out of the "culture war" or they would organize a boycott against them.  McDonald's refused to budge.

That was in July.  Yesterday--they budged.

The AFA released a statement (or 'Action Alert' as they call it) with an obviously smug satisfaction that McDonald's finally saw it their way and rescinded their voice, choosing to remain 'neutral'.

"We appreciate the decision by McDonald’s to no longer support political activity by homosexual activist organizations. You might want to thank your local McDonald’s manager."

[Insert awkward record-scratch sound followed by piercing silence]

Erm.  Say what?

"You might want to thank your local McDonald’s manager"?


 I don't see that going over too well.

"Yes, I'll have a #4, up-sized.  So, kid.  Hey, mind if I can talk to your manager for a sec?  Grrreat.  Thanks."

"Yes, sir, what seems to be the problem?"

"Oh, nothing at all!  As a matter of fact, everything seems just right in here.  I just wanted to THANK YOU for not supporting the gays."

"Excuse ---"

"Ah, ah, ah - Don't feel bad about accepting credit for this, Mr...your nametag?  Mister Green.  Thank you, Mr. Green from McDonald's #463 in whatever city I'm in.  I'm just making my rounds across the country thanking all of you for your selfless contributions to this cause."

 "I'm gay."


"Oh.  Right.  I'm just gonna..."


"Yeah."

 

See:

• my post, "McDonald's Loves Teh Ghey" written in July
  
• American Family Association's Action Alert, dated 10/9/2008.
  

McDonald's Loves Teh Ghey

I just read this post from a blog by biologist PZ Myers (which is a favorite blog of mine, might I add) whereupon the reading of that post, coupled with the content of my previous post, is quickly making me lose faith in humanity. Interestingly enough, he doesn't talk much about biology, other than when it pertains to evolution, etc - but it seems that his main fascination is coverings issues of social importance of which the subject matter has me usually banging my head against oncoming traffic.

So now here's another story that is just about as ridiculous as the one from yesterday; there is an organized boycott taking place against McDonald's by the American "Family" Association. (Sorry, I have to stress the word 'family', which means 'anti-gay.') The AMA, upon hearing that McDonald's had placed an executive on the board of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, they asked for McDonald's to remove themselves. After McDonald's declined, they pushed for an all out boycott on the burger franchise.

The 'Boycott McDonald's' site goes out of their way to clarify their stance:

What the boycott of McDonald's IS NOT about

• This boycott is not about hiring homosexuals.
• It is not about homosexuals eating at McDonald's.
• It is not about how homosexual employees are treated.

What the boycott of McDonald's IS about

It is about McDonald's, as a corporation, refusing to remain neutral in the culture wars. McDonald's has chosen not to remain neutral but to give the full weight of their corporation to promoting the homosexual agenda, including homosexual marriage.

So yes, there's apparently a fucking war that has been waged against "culture" that Mickey D'z has apparently hijacked from the AFA. Tim Wildmon from the AFA defended their view with this clarification: "[...]we're saying that there are people who support AFA who don't appreciate their dollars from the hamburgers they bought being put into an organization that's going to fight against the values they believe in[...]"


McDonald's spokeman, Bill Whitman, responded with this statement:

Hatred has no place in our culture. That includes McDonald's, and we stand by and support our people to live and work in a society free of discrimination and harassment."

As far as people being concerned about a portion of their dollar that they used to purchase a hamburger going to support people that 'do gay things', then that's just pretty backwards. Can you really account for everything people do with their money after you give it to them? Hell, I can give my money to the church as a tithe offering, and the preacher man will go and get hopped up on the coke with it.


As PZ stated:

Oh. They don't object to homosexuals being served food in the restaurant, they just object to promoting civil rights for gay people in the whole dang culture at large. Homosexuals can have the right to consume greasy fast food and work at low wages, but that's it, we're drawing the line at allowing them to be treated as full human beings.

Right on. As for McDonald's and their ubiquitous presence in North America all over the world? Well, that's another topic for another day.


Story via Washington Post

Serving Size

Ash: i ate 1/2 a cup of ice cream. be proud. that is the recommended serving
size.

Me: According to whom?

Ash: hmm...i never thought about that. WHOOOOOOOOOO comes up with serving sizes and who decides whats healthy? big brother.

thats who.


Me: Okay - if you'll read the side of your carton where it says the serving
size, it's specified only so that the caloric content/sugar/etc is accurate
according to the size. "Serving size" does not equal "this is good for
you."

Ash: how could mint chocolate chip and brownie chunk ice cream possibly be bad
for you!?

Me: You, my friend, are a hot mess.