Why Boycott?

I've been thinking about Jennie C.'s post this morning. What is the point and significance of boycotting Walmart (or any institution), especially if the offense for which they are being boycotted has affected little profits or gains for the offending party? Why start boycotting now if they have been offending for quite a few years now?

Boycotting is an action taken by the consumer. It is a statement on behalf of the consumer against an institution. Whether or not it will hurt Walmart is besides the point. As a Christian I have many tools at my disposal to voice my opinion, satisfaction, approval, etc. of people and places of business. If I don't like who's running for office, I don't vote for them but against them (whether they have a chance of winning or not). If I feel a business or product is supporting causes against my faith, AND I'm a BIG supporter of them, then I stop.

And I enter this conversation when I can. I never used to be a big fan of boycotting (especially when Craig was a graduate student) because ...well, we weren't spending any money anywhere!! But as our consumer power has grown, I have become more aware of where I shop and what I buy. Specifically with Walmart, we have finally decided that as much as we like shopping there for everything, it is worth the inconvenience to shop elsewhere. It doesn't matter if they have been supporting "morally questionable" institutions for a while that I am just now boycotting them. I've just now become fed up with them and honestly, more aware of their affiliations and practices. And they ARE affiliated with groups not just by website programs only. They CONSCIOUSLY CHOSE to join the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and have vowed to support them. This boycott isn't just about a few cents to a local group in Washington D.C. Walmart IS making a statement and so I'm responding to their action with one of my own.

I can't say that I'm loyal to any brand or store, except for Walmart. I would boycott Nestle (giving formula in 3rd world counties to undermine nursing) IF I used them. I would boycott GAP (child labor) IF I bought clothes from them. I would boycott Johnson and Johnson (birth control products) IF I liked their products. But I don't. I buy off brand chocolate mix and shampoos and LOVE second hand stores!! I don't buy that many things from Amazon.com and I don't frequent Barnes and Noble like I used to. There are so many products and places to boycott that it could be overwhelming. But I don't feel I give anyone enough support that I could call myself a boycotter if I stopped using their products.

Except for Walmart!!

It has become a way of life for us to shop there. Everything is there! Craft supplies, rubber maid bins, Dutch Boy paint, gardening mulch, diapers, cheap but yummy pizza from Sam's, etc. It is so convenient and they are everywhere (like 1 mile from our current and future home). So, to boycott Walmart (and Sam's) is more a statement of my belief than it is a blow to their pockets. Will they know or miss me? Probably not. I'm sure lots of people will shop there and make up for my absence. But I will have to restructure my life. I'll have to let my Sam's membership expire. I'll have to drive farther and drive to several places now. All because I no longer will support them. Boycotting is a personal decision. Just like some people vote on single issues. Whether they have been offending for a while without my boycotting them is besides the point. I'm boycotting them now because I CAN. And because how and where we spend our money is a statement of what we believe and a show of support.

So I put out a call to everyone everywhere because Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving are traditionally the MOST important day of the year for sales. Its when most people (not me!!) go shopping. Its when stores hope to gain and make up for losses. With Craig being in sales, he's always saying that money really does talk and the way to hurt any business is buy not giving them yours and telling others why. So I'm boycotting and telling you why (and hoping you'll join me).

Although we decided to stop shopping there altogether, I'm merely suggesting to boycott Walmart and Sam's for two important days. If you must still shop at Walmart, do so. But I really feel that shopping on those two days (Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving) is supporting both Walmart as well as other "morally questionable" organizations.