Were in this thing together
There was an interesting letter to the editor in the newspaper today. It was written by a conservative who was making the point that if liberals are banning together to boycott services advertised on the Rush Limbaugh program, then conservatives can do the same and boycott businesses that promote or support liberal causes. What the F...!!!??? If there are liberals that are doing this, they are missing the point, as is anybody who would boycott a business because of their political beliefs or affiliations.
I am a liberal who advertises my business on KPAY radio as well as in the Enterprise Record, both of which are conservative leaning news outlets. I even have Lars Larson, a national conservative radio personality, doing a commercial for my business. If liberals boycott me because of that and conservatives boycott me because I am a liberal, I'm out of business! I realize that I may have lost some potential business because of my expressed liberal views in this blog and in letters to the editor over the years, and that's too bad. On the other hand, I believe that it is our responsibility to speak our truth, regardless of the cost. Is that not one of the core beliefs that help to build and define this country?
First let me say that I have never been too interested in reading "Tell it to the E-R" in the Enterprise Record because these are call in's from people who do not have to leave a name. It's easy to make bold statements when you are anonymous. On the other hand, I have the utmost respect for those who are bold enough to take a stand on issues, knowing that many will disagree with them, and sign their names to their writings. And I do not give a hoot if I agree with them or not. I repect that they are putting themselves out there for the world to see and make judgements and this takes some balls.
So the point I want to make about boycotting businesses over political beliefs is simply that this is America and we are all in this thing together. If we all had the same beliefs, we would be a fundamentalist country. Our diversity strengthens us and makes us who we are as a country. I want to hear why Hillary would be a bad president as well as why we should or should not be in Iraq. I want Anthony Watts to prove that global warming is not man made but a natural cycle or even a hoax. I enjoyed engaging the Jehovah Witness that came to my door this morning even though I did not agree with a word she said. I love it when a conservative can change my mind on an issue, and it has happened a lot! What I do not respect is spin and lies, regardless of where it comes from.
I remember when the Japanese cars started getting popular in America and there were many who were boycotting them and only buying American. Then we found out that some of the parts for American cars were manufactured in Japan and other countries and we got a little confused over what to boycott. It's not a black and white world any longer. Everything is meshed, as are political, philosophical, and religious beliefs.
The writer of the letter to the editor I was talking about went on to say that he goes out of his way to shop at Wal-Mart because liberals don't like the store, or something to that effect. Well, what if he found out that the family that owns Wal-Mart donated large sums of their profits to institutions or causes that he did not believe in? What if the writer is Christian and found out the owners of Wal-Mart were atheist's? What if the head of Wal-Mart had 3 DUI's? Would he still shop there? My point is, there are bound to be some things about this company, or the owner's personal lives, that the writer profoundly disagrees with. And if this is true with every company on earth, as it surley is, what are ya gonna do?
Personally, I support any business that I have need of. I advertise thru Deer Creek Broadcasting because they target an audience that is more likely to use my services than say a radio station that targets teenagers. And I don't give a hoot if my adds are played on Rush Limbaugh or Shaun Hannity because, although I may differ politically with these guys, I respect that they are out there speaking their truth (with a few lies and a lot of spin), as more Americans should be doing.
We Americans are a strangely diverse mixture of cultures and beliefs. We come in all shapes and colors as well as different religious and political beliefs. I know in election times we start defining our differences more. But shouldn't we always remember that in the end, we agree on more things than we disagree on? Most of us are for freedom, family, the right to succeed, apple pie....etc. We share many core values, that's why our ancestors came here in the first place. It's good to differ, debate, even argue, but we should do it with respect. We should respect as well as support each other, regardless of our differences. Like I said, were all in this together.