TARGET STORES AND POLICY TOWARDS VETRANS

Guest

I just received this from a friend of mine:
by Richard Forrey of the Vietnam Veterans Association
> > > > >
> > > > > Recently we asked the local TARGET store to be a proud sponsor
>of
> > > the
> > > > > Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall during our spring recognition
>event.
> > > > > We received the following reply from the local TARGET
>management:
> > > > > "Veterans do not meet our area of giving. We only donate to the
>arts,
> > > > > social action groups, @#$%&$@ & lesbian causes, and education."
> > > > > So I'm thinking, if the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and
> > veterans
> > > in
> > > > > general do not meet their donation criteria, then something is
>really
> > > > > wrong at this TARGET store. We were not asking for thousands of
> > > dollars,
> > > > > not even hundreds, just a small sponsorship for a memorial
> > remembrance.
> > > > > As a follow-up, I e-mailed the TARGET U.S. corporate
>headquarters
> > > and
> > > > > their response was the same. That's their national policy.
> > > > > Then I looked into the company further. They will not allow
>the
> > > > > Marines to collect for 'Toys for Tots' at any of their stores.
>And
> > > during
> > > > > the recent Iraq deployment, they would not allow families of
>employees
> > > who
> > > > > were called up for active duty to continue their insurance
>coverage
> > > while
> > > > > they were on military service. Then as I dig further, TARGET is a
> > > > > French-owned corporation.
> > > > > Now, I'm thinking again. If TARGET can not support American
> > > Veterans,
> > > > > then why should I and my family support their stores by spending
>our
> > > hard
> > > > > earned American dollars and to have their profits sent to France.
> > > Without
> > > > > the American Vets, where would France be today?
> > > > > Feel free to pass this along to whomever you want.
> > > > > Sincerely,
> > > > > Richard Forrey
> > > > > Veterans helping Veterans

Pretty sad commentary on a corporate policy! I for one have never shopped at Target and in light of this I NEVER will.
Bill

Guest

That sucks.

I don't do Target,the only use I have for them is that movie with Jennifer Connelly(sp?) in it.

Thanx for the info,tho,boycott the bastards.

Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2003 5:29 pm

Yet another reason to hate the French. frippin backstabbing bastards. We bailed their asses out of TWO WORLD WARS and this is how they repay us???? By having a store with that kinda policy?? By spitting in our faces when went into Iraq?? I for one say France and everyone there really oughta re-think thier "policy" toward us and see if we EVER help them again... Evil or Very Mad

Joined: 30 Nov 2003 Posts: 4406 Location: Hostile Territory

This went around last year - here is the real skinny on this story:

http://www.truthminers.com/truth/target.htm

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 403 Location: Cincinnati, OH

Screw you to the vets eh? Well now.... count me in for boycotting these S.O.B.'s...Permanantly. even if they DO change their policy I won;t go there now, because it's too little too late for those people who ahd to go without insurance or the kids who couldn;t get toys or waht not... so no, screw YOU target.

Joined: 30 Nov 2003 Posts: 52 Location: Delawhere

It's not true. If you don't like Mike's link, look it up for yourself at

www.snopes.com

Just type in Target in the search bar.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 303

I knew that couldn't be true.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 403 Location: Cincinnati, OH

checke dthos links... wow... that;s totoally kooky that anybody would go that extreme of a length to yank someone's chain, especially given they have nothing to really gain for it... wow... ok, so boycott off.

Guest

the funny thing is people are so quick to be angry about something they read on the freakin internet. some people are so angry in life that they read one thing and the whole world is coming to an end. they go off half cocked about something without looking for the truth. makes me laugh when people are left holding the ball. you guys are so gullable. hows it feel to look like an ass ?

Joined: 06 Dec 2003 Posts: 994 Location: The Office

Easier on the eyes:

Quote:

I just received this from a friend of mine:

by Richard Forrey of the Vietnam Veterans Association

Recently we asked the local TARGET store to be a proud sponsor of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall during our spring recognition event. We received the following reply from the local TARGET management:

"Veterans do not meet our area of giving. We only donate to the arts, social action groups, @#$%&$@ & lesbian causes, and education."

So I'm thinking, if the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and veterans in general do not meet their donation criteria, then something is really wrong at this TARGET store. We were not asking for thousands of dollars, not even hundreds, just a small sponsorship for a memorial remembrance. As a follow-up, I e-mailed the TARGET U.S. corporate headquarters and their response was the same. That's their national policy. Then I looked into the company further. They will not allow the Marines to collect for 'Toys for Tots' at any of their stores. And during the recent Iraq deployment, they would not allow families of employees who were called up for active duty to continue their insurance coverage while they were on military service. Then as I dig further, TARGET is a French-owned corporation. Now, I'm thinking again. If TARGET can not support American Veterans, then why should I and my family support their stores by spending our hard earned American dollars and to have their profits sent to France.
Without the American Vets, where would France be today?

Feel free to pass this along to whomever you want.

Sincerely,
Richard Forrey
Veterans helping Veterans

That's pretty @#$%&$@. Not that I go there anyway, but I'll take my business elsewhere.

Guest

god.....its not true , you turds. you are shown its not true and you still get mad about it.

Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2003 7:30 pm

True or not, in the mighty words of the Decendants, "French people suck, they can take the Eiffel Tower and stick it straight up their butts."

Joined: 06 Dec 2003 Posts: 994 Location: The Office

Did you read the article from Snopes? If the guy hadn't sent that letter out, nothing would have happend. They only responded after a public outcry and admitted that they were wrong.

Quote:

The initial response of the team member at the store and the reply from our corporate office are inconsistent with the respectful manner in which we want all of our guests to be treated. We are truly sorry for this oversight and the resulting confusion that has taken place.

Furthermore, what proof do you have of it not being true Mr/Mrs. "I don't believe anything I read on the freakin internet." Register a real user name, coward.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 1163

That isn't the original letter, this is:

"Subject: Vietnam Veterans

Vietnam Veterans Not Worthy Of Target's Help?
By Dick Forrey

We asked our local Target store to be a sponsor of the Wall during our spring event. We received back a reply that Veterans do not meet their area of giving. They only donate to area of arts, social actions and education's. If the Vietnam Veterans Memorial does not meet those areas something is wrong at Target stores.

I E-mailed the corporation and they said the same thing. I will not be buying anything at Target Stores again. If the Vietnam Veteran does not meet their area of giving then why should Vietnam Veterans spend their hard earned money there?

Please pass this only to as many people as you know Maybe Target and other business will get the message."

Note the changes that have been added to your version. The fact that an individual store isn't allowed to give out cash is a normal theft/loss prevention safeguard. The guy asking for money should have talked to someone at Target Corp HQ in Minneapolis, MN (they are not French owned). Personally, I wouldn't give money to anyone who asked if I thought the next thing they would do is start an internet boycott campaign against me. I do select who I choose to support and corporations should be able to as well.

rant
I don't support the Save the Manatee Club, does that mean I have something against manatees? Of course not. What bothers me is that a club that was started with good intentions gets money nationally from well intentioned people and then sues every government agency they can to tell people in Florida what to do. There are just as many Florida Black Bear as there are manatees and just as many bears die each year from vehicle collisions as manatees do, yet where are all the people trying to save the bears? Why aren't there any slow zones or idle zones on I-75 or I-95?

/rant

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 1163

OK, the guy's name is not wienerschintzel. It's the common shortened version of Richard. Damn autocensor!

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 1163

Go figure, I can say Damn, but can't refer to legendary surf guitarist, Dick Dale; our 37th President, Richard Milhouse Nixon AKA tricky Dick; or NASCAR driver, Dick Trickle.

Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2003 9:45 pm

We shouldn't help them.

Background: What have you got there?

Me: one pound of french chocolate truffles....

I am buying swiss chocolate truffles from now on

Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2003 9:46 pm

man...

Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2003 9:56 pm

Ok it was wrong...France still sucks!!!! They still spit in our face with Iraq issue and are still backstabbing after BOTH World Wars. France better hope nobody decides to invade em ever again cuz whoever does will prob succeed without us there to stop em......The French has always been $%%!@ when it came to War or anythign of that nature....

Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2003 10:10 pm

I for one call for a boycott of Target...that may be the answer.

Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2003 10:21 pm

its the frenchj!! "oh yes we have one, its a veeery niice.... no you can't see it! because you are english! you animal eaten out of dirty putrid animal trough water! your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries! i fart in your general direction! go now you lousy english kaaaaaaaaaa-niggits before i taunt you a second time!"

gotta love monty python

Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2003 10:22 pm

yes they were pretty acurate with that joke.

Guest

First off I am not gullable, Secondly I filled out an online application via Targets own website, and this was the response I received for the application submitted. I think that clearly states it all:

____________________________________________________

Thank you for your interest. We are unable to consider your request at this time for one of the following reasons:

• We can only fund nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) status, schools or units of government.
• We limit our funding to the communities in which we do business.
• We limit our funding to the areas of arts, education and family violence prevention.
_____________________________________________________

Furthermore why is it no one addressed the fact that they yank men and womens family insurance benefits, while they are serving in the Military.
They hide behind the guise of security issues for a Toys for Tots display.

What they PROBABLY do is make large Corporate contributions to offset their losses so they can take the tax deductions.

Don't believe it go to target.com and look at their "community" programs most are of their own making, which is the old proverbial shell game IMHO. Fill the online application out yourself and see what you get for a response.

In closing am I mad Damn right I am I served as many on board members here did and we put our lives on the line just as men and women are doing today, and their Corporate policy SUXS.

Gullable-NO, Angry at everything-NO, Sick of people and corporations that can't give back to people who gave their lives for this country...DAMN STRAIGHT I AM.

Bill

Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2003 6:51 am

WOO HOO!!!! RIGHT ON!! bill.... the spirit of your speech (esp. tat little part at the end) makes me wanna go out and burn something! WOO HOO!!!

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 1163

Justnoldbluzman wrote:

First off I am not gullable, Secondly I filled out an online application via Targets own website, and this was the response I received for the application submitted. I think that clearly states it all:

____________________________________________________

Thank you for your interest. We are unable to consider your request at this time for one of the following reasons:

• We can only fund nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) status, schools or units of government.
• We limit our funding to the communities in which we do business.
• We limit our funding to the areas of arts, education and family violence prevention.
_____________________________________________________

Furthermore why is it no one addressed the fact that they yank men and womens family insurance benefits, while they are serving in the Military.
They hide behind the guise of security issues for a Toys for Tots display.

What they PROBABLY do is make large Corporate contributions to offset their losses so they can take the tax deductions.

Don't believe it go to target.com and look at their "community" programs most are of their own making, which is the old proverbial shell game IMHO. Fill the online application out yourself and see what you get for a response.

In closing am I mad Damn right I am I served as many on board members here did and we put our lives on the line just as men and women are doing today, and their Corporate policy SUXS.

Gullable-NO, Angry at everything-NO, Sick of people and corporations that can't give back to people who gave their lives for this country...DAMN STRAIGHT I AM.

Bill

Well Bill, what do you have to show that Target Corp. cancelled insurance benefits for military personnel, other than a doctored internet email? Half of that email is false, I posted a copy of the original and it says nothing about insurance benefits, gays and lesbians, French ownership, or Toys for Tots.

What about their giving policy suxs? That they support arts, eductation, and family violence prevention? That they limit their giving to the communities in which they do business? That they are a sponsor of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund's Wall That Heals traveling exhibit that helps to teach childeren about the sacrifices that so many people have made for them?

Also, corporations make tax deductible charitable contributions to offset profits, not losses.

I'd like to point out that I am not anti-veterans anymore than Bill is anti-education, anti-arts, or anti-family violence prevention. Thank you to all the board members that are serving and have served.

Chris

Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 699 Location: Cairns, Australia

Those French b@stards!!

Say, would anyone care to tell me the history of one of America's most famous icons? You know, that tall chick with the torch. Razz

This post has nothing much to do with the original thread about Target. I don't shop there anyway. It's a tongue-in-cheek dig at those who are cr@pping on the French for not supporting US war veterans. It has nothing to do with France, it's a corporate policy. I imagine big companies have endless streams of people asking them to support their causes. At some point they make a policy and that's what they stick to (Ce la Vie!). Perhaps they should simply move on and try another one. FWIW, I support and respect all those who serve/d.

ps - Bill : the letter will be in the mail tomorrow. Sorry for the delays. Work has been crazy these last few weeks.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 5324

blah, blah, blah... ignorant static..

it's amazing the rampant nationalistic attitudes..

the amazing speed to dispense with all that have an opposing opinion..

you "patriots" better look up "kristallnacht"... these individuals thought that they were doing their "patriotic duty" in a simple boycott, too..

http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/Holocaust/kristallnacht.html

http://en2.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristallnacht

there's not much difference in the attitude that is presented in this thread, and the one that was used then.. do everyone a favor, pull your head out, and get some education.. you are the reason that the world, in general, hates americans..

ignorance breeds hatred..

Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Posts: 2705 Location: Dallas, TX

Quote:

there's not much difference in the attitude that is presented in this thread, and the one that was used then.. do everyone a favor, pull your head out, and get some education.. you are the reason that the world, in general, hates americans..

ignorance breeds hatred..

Thank you thank you thank you.

I am so pleased that somebody else here gets that. The US as of late has become a breeding ground for unfounded hatred. What's even more concerning is that normally intelligent people seem to be all too quick to toss reason out the window and go off the deep end on completely fictional crap they read on the internet.

I also am a US veteran, but I cannot condone this "the world should cowtow to us ex veterans and kiss our asses" mentality. That's a load of crap. It's one thing to ask to not be trashed on as an ex vet. It's another to expect the world to suck up to you.

We went in. We did our stuff. We survived. Personally I'm just tickled pink I'm not dead, since I probably should be. My personal opinion is to expect the world to continously say "geez I'm sorry about the crap you went through" is a victim role, and there's no honor in that at all.

I guess I picked this up from my uncle, who was one of the very few survivors of the Bataan death march. When he got back to the states, his first question was "anybody know where I can find a job?". He hated the "war hero" monikor. "Doesn't take much of a hero to sit in a bamboo box for 3 years".

I never once heard a single complaint from him, either about the tour of duty, or the treatment he recieved here afterwards.

My Dad once asked him about it, and his reply was that "honor and duty are an attitude, and it doesn't stop when the battle's over".

To encourage the masses to boycott a company that employs a whole lot of American people just because they don't cater to your pet charity is just plain asinine and short sighted.

Sorry, but I won't be jumping off the lemming cliff on this one.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 2990

Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2003 7:17 pm

Doc Ozz wrote:

its the frenchj!! you animal eaten out of dirty putrid animal trough water!

actually it's "you empty-headed animal food trough wiper".

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 303

Maybe you angry guys should just shop at Wal-Mark from now on!

Joined: 30 Nov 2003 Posts: 583 Location: St Joseph Missouri

Wal-Mark. That kills me. My grandparents used to call it that.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 403 Location: Cincinnati, OH

To be fair, I had posted my reply before I read the link on teh snopes sight and the truth miners thing. It ceertainly is odd someone would make this stuff up. any ideas why they would do that?

Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Posts: 2705 Location: Dallas, TX

Quote:

. It ceertainly is odd someone would make this stuff up. any ideas why they would do that?

Not odd at all. In fact, these day's it's remarkably common practice.

The shrink's term of the day for it is called "mind phishing". New term, but the same practice that's been going on for eons. It's just more effective these days because we have instant media in the form of TV, and more recently, the internet.

It's the business of taking advantage of the fact that most people are extremely gullable, and quick to agree out of an innate desire to "belong".

As a result, you don't have to even be close to factual in what you tell people to get them to buy it, hook, line and sinker (hence the term phishing).

This technique is not limited to the lowest common denominator internet crap as in this example, but is in daily practice though news media.

A great example is the business of constantly referring to the "liberal media" by the media itself. That one slays me. If you listen to any am radio talk show down here you here that constantly. In fact, you'd be pretty hard pressed to actually find a decent representative "liberal" viewpoint on the airwaves down here. Fox is spectacularly good at this. They even bring on a "cohost" to supposedly represent the "liberal" viewpoint on one of thier talk segments, yet the individual in reality is far from it in his personal life. He's playing a role, mainly to act as the on screen punching bag to further the goals of the network as a whole. Rupert Murdock is slime of the highest caliber. For those that think he's an upstanding American citizen, you may wish to check some of the crap he's pulling in China these days, where he also happens to own the majority of the airspace. The garbage he pumps into the ozone over there is almost diametrically opposed to most views held sacred by "proud Americans". His "news" stations near China air exactly what the Chinese government wants him to air, just like it does here. Net result? People see the "news" and just suck it in as though it was hard facts, when the reality is that it isn't even close.

It's not only the media who uses this technique to great effect. As it's now becoming obvious, there aren't any WMD's in Iraq. Yet, for months prior to the invasion, you couldn't get through anything coming out of the white house in any capacity without at least 10 references to WMD's, and what a hugely imminent threat it was to our very existance. The truth be known, there wasn't a threat. Granted there was a horrible dictator screwing and toturing his own people, but a valid threat to the US? Hardly.

Another great example: Al-Queda and Hussien. There never were any proven factual ties between the two. There still aren't. However, the WHPC managed to very cleverly use the phrases "Al-Queda", "Terrorists", "Saddam" and "Iraq" within seconds of each other as often as possible. Even today, 70% of Americans actually believe Saddam was directly associated with Al-Queda, when in fact, he wasn't. A SSHOLE definately, Al-Quadan Terrorist, hardly.

When a group with an agenda does this, and does it well, it picks up steam, and after a while, they don't have to do anything for it to work. You hit critical mass with it, and all of a sudden anything counter to the "Public Truth" becomes instantly associated with being unpatriotic, and against the norm. In short, the truth doesn't stand a rat's chance in hell of getting heard.

If you get enough steam behind it, you can go so far as to blatently do things that under normal circumstances would be scrutinized and called into question, and completely get away with it. Take a look at some of those "reconstruction" contracts over there. Look at who's getting them, then dig back a few years and look at how much they contributed to a certain official's campagn funds.

Another great example is how our current prez stands up and talks (during the SOTU address) about these great things we're doing for the environment, while simultaneously dismantling the vast majority of the EPA guidelines that took 20 years to get into place in a matter of weeks. Dunno if you've been keeping up with current reality, but our man just decided it was completely kosher for large oil companies to start dumping mercury into the rivers again after a 35 year ban. The bill went into effect last week.

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to read through the lines here. You just need a bit of healthy skepticism, a willingness to find real facts, vs. just absorbing the fodder fed to you, and an clear cut understanding of your own conscience. The best way to find the real facts is to actually READ the legislation being passed. At least for now, they're still required to make it available to the general public, and it's the one thing that if you do read it, is pretty clear.

Or, you can go along with the masses. That way's easier, requires less work, less thought, and less long term concern for the well being of your country. No one will call you a traitor, or question your patriotism. It's what the current administration certainly want you to do. They're counting on it for 2004.

After all, it worked remarkably well for Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, and a number of others throughout history.

Before you decide I'm not a patriot, you'd best be clear in your mind as to what the real definition is.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 1163

I may be wrong, but isn't Rupert Murdock Australian? The other option, which is my prefered choice, is to ignore as much as possible what's going on, go sailing, race motorcycles and play the guitar. I figure my lifetime isn't even a blip in the 4 billion years the universe has been around, so I might as well have some fun while I'm here.

Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Posts: 2705 Location: Dallas, TX

trapper189 wrote:

I may be wrong, but isn't Rupert Murdock Australian?

Yup.

And what a great American he is, no?

=-0

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 1163

LewnWorx wrote:

trapper189 wrote:

I may be wrong, but isn't Rupert Murdock Australian?

Yup.

And what a great American he is, no?

=-0

Ding! That sound you just heard was the light bulb over my head turning on. Laughing