Where Would Jesus Shop?
If you seek a five forces analysis of Wal-Mart, please try this page.
Where would Jesus shop? Well, that's not exactly the question that is asked in the latest WakeUpWalMart ad targeting Wal-Mart. It is, however, the one that is clearly implied. Here's how the Marcus Kabel of the AP describes the ad:
Where would Jesus shop? According to union-backed critics of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., not at the world's largest retailer. WakeUpWalMart.com on Thursday unveiled a religious-themed campaign Thursday asking shoppers whether God wants them to buy things from the Bentonville, Ark.-based company.
The group, funded by the United Food and Commercial Workers union, launched a TV ad and released a letter signed by 65 clergy members and religious figures. The group says Wal-Mart's policy over wages, health benefits and other issues harm families and communities.
Wal-Mart accused the group of using union dues to exploit religion and said it would give nearly $200 million in cash contributions to charities this year.
The 30-second TV spot, starting Friday in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Texas, is part of the latest seasonal-themed campaign against Wal-Mart. The TV ad starts with a picture of a Bible-like tome and an off-screen narrator who says, "Our faith teaches us 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.'
Below I have provided a transcript of the ad. Off-screen narrators remarks in bold text.
[Image: A Bible, presumably opened to Luke 6:31. The words "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Our faith teaches us: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you".
If these are our values then ask yourself "Should people of faith shop at Wal-Mart this holiday season...
[Image: scrolling banner with title "Knowing Wal-Mart]
...when Wal-Mart repeatedly broke child labor laws...
[Image: scrolling banner: "Broke child labor Laws", New York Times 11/01/05]
...is being sued by 1.5 million women for discrimination...
Banner: "1.5 Million women suing Wal-Mart for discrimination", Los Angeles Times 8/9/05
...and over 600,000 Wal-Mart workers and their families have no company health care?
Banner: "Over 600,000 Wal-Mart workers have no company health care", Washington Post 6/23/05
If these are Wal-mart's values, should people of faith shop at Wal-Mart? Should you?
As the reader can no doubt tell, the premises and the conclusions of the ad's core argument are not clearly stated. Rather, they are suggested through the use of hypothetical, rhetorical questions, e.g. If these are our values then ask yourself "Should people of faith shop at Wal-Mart this holiday season when...? " and If these are Wal-Mart's values, should people of faith shop there? Should you?
This is clever. The ad's viewer is left to "do the math" on his or her own and WakeUpWalMart is given a patina of plausible deniability against the claim that they are "exploiting religion." They can and will likely say they are just raising a question that people of faith in six red states might consider or already are. Such a ploy would be transparent, however. Few, can seriously doubt that what the ad means to say is that these are Wal-Mart's values and that as a person of faith, you should not shop there. Few people of faith will fail to recognize what these hypothetical, rhetorical questions are veiling- a hypothetical syllogism that goes a little something like this:
If you shop at Wal-Mart, then you're supporting a company that breaks the Golden Rule.
If you support a company that breaks the Golden Rule, then you are guilty of (facilitating) that same (immoral) act.
Therefore, (unless and until we say that the company has stopped its evil ways, that it has sincerely repented, and that it has atoned for its sins, e.g. by allowing us to unionize its workforce) if you shop at Wal-Mart, then you are guilty of breaking the "Golden Rule" (and by extension, are not true to your faith).
Now, since WakeUpWalMart is so fond of rhetorical questions, I'll end this post with one for them to contemplate: Need I bother to predict that this ad's chances of success with red-state people of faith are the same as those of "a one-armed blind man in a dark room trying to shove a pound of melted butter into a wild cat's left ear with a red-hot needle"?
See also: Hank Osborne's very thoughtful reconsideration of his position on Wal-mart over at The Land of Ozz and Would Jesus Shop at Wal-Mart and Where Would Jesus Shop: God vs. Wal-Mart, Part II and Would Jesus Have Us Shop at Wal-Mart and
Paul Krugman: Jesus Hates Wal-Mart! and Would Jesus Shop at Wal-Mart?
Linked to 10 ft, 2 ft. and Adam's Blog and Basil's Blog and bRight & Early and Cao's Blog and Choose Life and Conservative Cat and Is It Just Me? and It's A Pundit and Jo's Cafe and NIF and Oblogatory Anecdotes and Otismaster and Point Five and Right Nation and Right Wing Nation and Robinek and Stop the ACLU and TMH Bacon Bits and Uncooperative Blogger and The Land of Ozz.
Comments
As someone who preached on Luke 6:31 just three days ago, it's interesting to see someone take the verse out of context to make a point.
The Golden Rule is about us treating other people, not about getting them to do the same. The question would be whether or not our shopping at Wal-Mart is equal to discrimination against women, not providing health care to all, etc.
Also interesting that unions are sponsoring ads against the non-union Wal-Mart. No conflict of interest there, huh?
All this from a guy who really doesn't like Wal-Mart -- I just get tired of the misinformed attacks.
Posted by: rev-ed | December 14, 2005 10:29 PM
I wonder if the folks at wake-up wear any sorts of clothing that have been made in sweat-shops... or if they drive cars that run on gasoline that was made from oil that was drilled in middle eastern countries that don't have the same religious values... SHEESH!
Posted by: Stacey | December 12, 2005 10:22 PM
LOL
I'll link ya later. I was thinking the same thing: You worship at church; you shop at stores
Posted by: Don Surber | December 12, 2005 8:15 PM