One of the
magazines I follow posted a link on their Facebook page this week about some
awesome beauty products you can purchase at Target. I made a comment on the
post that said: “Are these products
available anywhere else? I won’t be shopping at Target until they put the
safety of children above being ‘politically correct.”
Within
minutes of posting the comment I had people bashing me for being “hateful” and
a “bigot”.
I’d like to
clear a few things up.
I prefer not
to shop in a store that allows men to enter the women’s restroom. That does not
make me hateful. It does not make me a “bigot”. It makes me a concerned mother
who will put the safety of her children first.
I do not
hate people in the LGBT community. I have friends who are gay, and friends who
are transgender. I do not agree with, or support that lifestyle, but that does
not mean I hate those people. On the contrary, I love those people as much as
any of my other friends. I have close friends who party and get drunk on the
weekends. I do not support that, but I love those friends. I have friends who
sleep around with anyone they can. I do not agree with that, but I still love
those friends. I have friends who do not like the way I live my life and raise
my children, but they still love ME. We do not all have to agree on everything
to be friends, or at least be civil to one another.
My boycott of
Target is not because they want to allow men who think they are women to use
the women’s restroom/fitting room. My problem is that they just made it
incredibly easy for perverts and pedophiles to gain access to my daughters in
their most vulnerable and private moments.
We live in a
world where women and children are being kidnapped and sold into prostitution on a daily basis. We live in a world where people are being spied upon, video-taped,
or raped at every turn. And, unfortunately, we live in a world where anyone who
stands against that for any reason is called a hateful bigot.
For me, this
is no different than the Syrian refugees who are trying to enter our country. My
problem is not with the refugees who are looking for a better life. My problem
is the countless number of terrorists who are taking advantage of the situation
by sneaking in with the refugees, with the sole purpose of destroying my country,
family and friends. I’m not willing to take that gamble with the life of my
children.
I’m posting
this for two reasons:
First, I
want to share my reasons for boycotting Target (and other stores who take on
this policy) to help spread the word to anyone who may be struggling to make a
decision in this matter. I don’t expect you all to agree with me (in fact, I’m
fully prepared for a great number of you to disagree with me, either politely
or otherwise. Bring it on.)
This is
about the well-being and safety of my children as well as millions of other children in our country. Target could have taken MANY different approaches to
this. There are many other (better) options.
Secondly, I
want my friends and family members who are gay to understand that I am not
attacking YOU. I do NOT hate you in any way. I’m just standing up for my
children the best way I know how. I pray that you will not be offended by my
actions and will know that you are loved. I know that many of you are just as
concerned as I am, and I want to thank those of you who understand for thinking
of my children.
I sincerely
hope this Target boycott will make a difference. But, even if they don’t back
down, I want them to know, neither will I. Call me names, trash me out, I don’t
care. Every time you do it just strengthens my resolve to stand firm in my
decision and protect my children.
You don't hate your gay friends, you just disapprove of their lifestyle. You don't hate your drunk friends, your 'easy' friends, just their lifestyles. Claiming to like someone despite the fact that you don't 'approve' of their lifestyle doesn't make you open minded, it makes you a hypocrite. Why? Because you can not truly 'like' a friend who you define BY their lifestyle. That isn't being a friend, that's being one of those pseudo-Christians, pretending to like someone to their face and 'praying' for them to change to your standards behind their backs.
ReplyDeleteAs for your arguments against bathroom equality for transgendered individuals, you gave away your real opinion on this subject when you stated, in part,: 'men who think they're women'. By this statement alone, you have proven that you have absolutely NO IDEA what a true transgendered person is or the horrible lives they are forced to live by a culture that only recognizes and respects 'normal' behavior.
So, I will say to you, if you are truly concerned for the safety of your daughters, don't let them attend Sunday school or Bible retreats, join a Scout group, go to school-sponsored sporting events that include overnight trips, don't date ANYONE (if you are single) until your daughters are out of the home and whatever you do, don't let them go to college. All of the activities I have listed above have a proven record of being dangerous places for children and young women. Hundreds, if not thousands, of children have been molested in church, in school, at retreats, at camp, in college dorms and even at home and yet, people are up-in-arms over an issue that really has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with hate.
If you really, really want to protect your daughters, demand that states create a justice system that actually PUNISHES pedophiles instead of giving them a slap on the wrist and sending them out into the world to victimize others. Boycott a Judge!
If you were to ask me to describe one of my friends who is gay, I would tell you that she is a wonderful person. Always helping others, always striving to better herself and help those around her. She is one of the most savy businesswomen I know. She is an amazing mother and an incredible friend. Also, she is gay. Being gay is not WHO she is. It is a PART of who she is. I would never “define” someone simply by their orientation.
DeleteI believe marriage should be between a man and a woman. That does not mean I hate gay people or even hate their lifestyle. It means I have different beliefs. I still love them. I don’t see how that makes me a hypocrite.
Again, my stand on the bathroom issue is not against trans-gendered people (I also have friends who are trans-gendered…whom I do still love). My issue is the way Target handled it. Look it up. People (pedophiles…not transgender people) have ALREADY been abusing this new policy to take advantage of others. Target just made it so much easier for them to do so!
As far as your “suggestion” that I basically keep my daughters locked up…I won’t even dignify that one with a response.
You also said “If you really, really want to protect your daughters, demand that states create a justice system that actually PUNISHES pedophiles instead of giving them a slap on the wrist and sending them out into the world to victimize others.” Friend, you are DEAD RIGHT. I’m doing just that, and I hope more people do the same!