posted on April 9, 2003 04:25:19 PM new
From: Dick Forrey, Vietnam Veterans Association
We asked our local Target store to be a sponsor of the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Wall during our spring recognition event. We received back a reply from Target management that "veterans do not meet our area of giving." We only donate to the areas of the arts, social actions, gay and lesbian causes, and education."
"My thought: If the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and veterans in general, do not meet their donation criteria, something is wrong at Target. We were not asking for thousands of dollars, not even hundreds, but simply sponsorship of an endorsement for a "memorial remembrance."
As follow-up, I E-mailed the corporate headquarters and their response was the same. Personally, I will NOT be purchasing anything at Target Stores again. If the Vietnam Veteran or Veterans in general do not meet their area of giving, then why should I, as a Vietnam veteran, spend my hard earned money in their stores?
Please pass this on to as many people as you know.
Sincerely, Veterans Helping Veterans
PS: Target will also not allow the Marines to collect for Toys For Tots during the holidays.
posted on April 9, 2003 04:32:06 PM new
Although there has been a resurgence of patriotism and support for our nation’s veterans, there have been various messages posted on the Internet that would lead people to believe that corporate America, specifically retail department stores, are falling short in supporting our nation's veterans.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars would like to remind all that the Internet culture weaves rumors and misinformation. Simply put, don't believe everything you read. For example, an e-mail message urging veterans to boycott Target has been circulating on the Internet because a solicitation request to support "The Moving Wall" was denied.
Target has a long-held corporate policy regarding donations. And in all fairness, Target contributes more than $2 million weekly to charitable causes and is one of the corporate sponsors for the 2003 tour of the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Fund's "The Wall That Heals." "The Wall That Heals" is a traveling Vietnam Veterans memorial and museum that has a strong educational component for schools and serves to honor all our veterans.
Bear please look at www.snopes.com before posting some of these....
posted on April 9, 2003 07:23:53 PM new
No not acutally tom, just that it was a major miscommunication between both parties... the letter is real, but Target does contribute to Veterans... Coporate Target, not the local stores.
posted on April 9, 2003 08:00:51 PM new
Target's policy directs requests for cash from local stores goes through corporate offices -- local stores are allowed to give out gift cards & nothing else.
If the VFW was satisfied with Target's stance & policies, than so is I
posted on April 10, 2003 06:13:21 AM new
But professor...
It is serving his pupose so he won't throw it away. It denigrates others he wants to believe are "un-american" He has probably forwarded it to all his pro-war Nazi buds.
You don't throw away false, unsubstaniated statements if they serve your purpose, you distribute...
Was it from "Brave New World"
.....Any statement repeated 4067 times becomes truth....
"Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both boldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader and gladly so. How do I know? For this is what I have done. And I am Caesar."
- Julius Caesar
posted on April 10, 2003 06:38:41 AM new
I received the email 3 days ago and ask the sender to let the other recipients know this was a hoax. Because they mentioned the Marine's Toys For Tots I let the Marines know the email was being circulated, along with the Veteran's Administration. The VA was appalled this was circulating again. I am going to print some of the websites because many don't click on the links.
First Published November, 2002
Updated December, 2002
There is a chain letter calling for a boycott of Target stores based on their perception that Target is anti-veteran.
This conclusion was reached by the author of this chain letter based on the rejection by Target for money to be used for a local Vietnam Memorial Wall. This is not the same as the “The Wall That Heals” which is a traveling version of the Vietnam memorial in Washington, D.C. For the local project it seems no formal grant was applied for by this organization initially, but that isn't the point. Companies, including Walmart, Kmart, and others set guidelines for what organizations they will give to at the local level. They have every right to do this, or if they want they don't have to have to give anything to local charities. They could just refer people to the corporate headquarters for donations. There are countless organizations who might apply for this money so guidelines make it easier to decide how to allocate this money.
Most companies won't give money to any organization which does not hold a 501(c)(3) status. This IRS code means all money donated to this organization can be deducted from your federal taxes. Checking with the IRS, I found that Howard County Vietnam Veterans Organization is not even coded. They are still showing in the IRS database as the Howard County Veterans Memorial Corporation and listed as a public charity with 50% tax exempt status. This means if Target gave money to them then they could only deduct 50% of it from their taxes.
Further, under Target's guidelines local Blind, Multiple Sclerosis, or Humane Society charities would not be granted monies. Does that mean Target favors inhumane treatment to animals, or could care less about blind kids? They have selected some very important and worthy local charities (arts and family violence prevention) to support. The company gives 2 million dollars a week to help these groups. Instead of being grateful that a company was willing to give this much money (more than a great many other companies) to these important nonprofit charities, it is being attacked for all the causes to whom it is not giving money.
Remember, these guidelines are just for LOCAL grants. Nationally, they give money to a variety of charities such as United Ways, and Red Cross (including extra money for disaster relief after 9/11), and many others. The VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) wrote to Target about the incident and published the Target response on their web site. Further, the VFW says that Target is indeed sponsoring their "Wall That Heals" traveling memorial. They have also, sponsored or contributed to a number of patriotic events in Minneapolis where they are headquartered. Follow this link to see some of the other charities they sponsor .
It might be me, but it seems like a small over-reaction by the writer of this chain letter to imply it's time for a national boycott because one its Veteran's organization in Indiana failed to get a $100 from a local Target store for their cause.
=============================
http://www.vfw.org/news/targetlettertovets.htm
From VFW Website after they contacted Target.
Target's Letter to Vets
We want to apologize for any misunderstanding regarding Target's support of the Vietnam Wall and our corporate giving program. Giving back to the communities where our stores are located is something we're proud to do. In fact, nationwide, Target Corporation gives back more than $2 million a week to the communities where we operate stores.
In March of 2002, a Howard County veteran approached one of our stores in his home state of Indiana seeking a $100 cash donation to support a display of the "moving wall." However, stores are not able to give cash contributions to any organization. Contributions from stores are limited and are made in the form of a gift card.
Our corporate giving program that does incorporate cash donations is handled through a process called grants. Unfortunately, the veteran and his organization were not provided the proper information to facilitate consideration of a grant from either the store or our corporate office. We are truly sorry for the manner in which this was handled and the resulting confusion that has taken place.
We accept all applications for grants from February 1 to July 31. Any guest can request a grants application brochure, called "Grant Guidelines," at their local store, or access a grant application at: http://target.com/target_group/community_giving/grant_guidelines.jhtml.
Target appreciates the dedication and service of all our veterans and has previously funded projects benefiting veterans. Target Corporation will be one of the sponsors of the 2003 tour of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund's outreach initiative, The Wall That Heals.
posted on April 10, 2003 04:23:41 PM new
Yes, but some seem to do it more than others.
Has it ever occured to you to check this stuff out .... (or do you remember anyone ever suggesting that to you on any other previous occasion? Because I kinda think someone might've.)
(I find it notable that just for an extra bit of added hate, someone (I'm not suggesting it was you) added the words "gay and lesbian" to the list of organizations Target does support. Last year, the email only said "arts, social actions and education..."
[ edited by msincognito on Apr 10, 2003 04:33 PM ]
posted on April 10, 2003 04:38:43 PM new
That's ok Bear, at least your heart is in the right place... not like some who post here... eh comrade mlecher?
posted on April 10, 2003 04:57:31 PM new
Forwarded emails are a loathesome waste of bandwidth, whether they happen to espouse something you believe in or not. They replicate themselves exponentially, like weeds, every time they are sent out by people who have nothing better to do. I have no tolerance for any of them. Those I communicate with by email know better than to forward me their sappy, sentimental crap and worn out, often offensive jokes. If they don't get the hint I have a nice little 500K reply that goes back to them.A picture of my horse's backside with the polite request to learn how to forward stuff to individuals, rather than an entire address book.
posted on April 10, 2003 05:19:20 PM new
it's okay, bear - I have posted something like that here also
twelve - your comment about bear's heart being in the right place (which it is, btw )...I had to laugh, because it reminded me of a scene in the movie "Christmas Vacation" - at end when the SWAT team has trashed Chevy Chase's house, looking for Randy Quaid...and Chevy says to please overlook him, that his heart's bigger than his brain...and Randy says "Thank you, Clark" and puts his hat over his heart LOLOL
(okay, maybe I just haven't had enough sleep LOL)
"Be kind. Remember everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." - Harry Thompson
"I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it." - A Few Good Men
posted on April 11, 2003 08:43:02 AM newwgm how is having "your heart in the right place" evidenced by spreading lies specifically crafted to cause dissension, especially when said lies are refuted by every single individual involved in the original case and the truth is so manifestly easy to discern? Where I come from, that's prima facie evidence of having one's heart in the wrong place.
bear1949, The only logical interpretation that anyone can put on that stunning rebuttal of yours (oh, my) is that you believe IQ can be "improved" by being lowered. I can see where you might think that ....
[ edited by msincognito on Apr 11, 2003 02:02 PM ]
posted on April 11, 2003 01:27:48 PM new
Let me see if I got this right 12-pole...
I am a firm believer in the Constitution, Bill of rights and liberty and freedom, equality, tolerance and pursuit of happiness...
That makes me a "comrade"
You, on the other hand, must be against all of that and want to bring back slavery and reduce women back to the status of chattel and property and send all thaose damned foreigner back where they came from, especially the "Injun"...
That's what makes you an "American"
One more question.....
What color is the sky in YOUR little world.....?
"Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both boldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader and gladly so. How do I know? For this is what I have done. And I am Caesar."
- Julius Caesar
posted on April 11, 2003 03:51:57 PM new
Don't give up hope, Bear! With proper medication & intense psychiatric intervention, your anal fixation CAN be alleviated!
Ralphie loves Mr Blonde:
"Are you gonna bark all day little doggie, or are you gonna bite?" http://tinyurl.com/5duz
