Wow! People forced a company to change behavior without legislation. Go Figger.

[Accountable]

US DIY chain defends boycott of Muslim TV show - Telegraph

US DIY chain Lowe's has defended its decision to pull advertising from reality show "All-American Muslim" amid charges the company had given in to bigotry.

"All-American Muslim," which airs on The Learning Channel and ends its first season Jan. 8, follows several Muslim families in and around the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan, which is home to one of the largest Muslim populations in the United States and its largest mosque.

It has been accused by one Florida group to be propaganda. But the decision by Lowe's sparked an outcry by defenders of the show.

North Carolina-based Lowe's employed its Facebook page to defend itself and called "All-American Muslim," a "lighting rod" for "strong political and societal views."

Lowe's spokeswoman Karen Cobb said the company was one of "dozens" of companies to pull their advertising since late last month. Names of other companies were not immediately available.

Laurie Goldberg, a TLC spokeswoman, declined to say how many companies have pulled their advertising from the show, which attracts about a million viewers per week.
​

Legislation is not necessary to force businesses to practice racial discrimination. Legislation is likewise not necessary to force businesses to stop practicing racial discrimination. Just as this outcry from kneejerk bigots forced Lowe's (and other companies, if I heard right) to pull their advertising from this TV show depicting Muslims in a positive light, a similar public outcry can stop a store owner from practicing racial discrimination without the aid of a federal law violating his private property rights.

What say you?

I can't wait to
see where this goes.
​

 

[NoDak]

Since Lowes is spending their own money to buy the advertising, they're entitled to spend, or not spend it any damn place they choose for any damn reason they choose. Simple as that.

 

[BleedingBull]

LOL thats one boring reality show there

 

[Panacea]

It seems to depend on the business and its customer base. What offends the customer? What public association could threaten sales? Problem is, I suspect some types of discrimination may, in some cases, still be too popular with some groups/regions/businesses to not need intervention.

 

[Accountable]

Since Lowes is spending their own money to buy the advertising, they're entitled to spend, or not spend it any damn place they choose for any damn reason they choose. Simple as that.

I agree. Too bad people like to pick and choose when to express this attitude and when to call for legislation to force a business to bend to their will. Would the public be so docile if the reality show were about, say, upper middle-class black families moved out of the ghetto and sponsors were being pressured to pull their money out?

 

[Guyzerr]

Prejudice at it's finest in the good ol' USA. If it isn't one group it's another. Muslims unfortunately are the latest target because of 9/11 but rest assured something else will come along and take their place. Until then they will just have to get used to it.

Considering the USA was built by immagrants the now generations really are clueless and it's quite sickening to say the least. It's unfortunate they have that much clout.

 

[Accountable]

Prejudice at it's finest in the good ol' USA. If it isn't one group it's another. Muslims unfortunately are the latest target because of 9/11 but rest assured something else will come along and take their place. Until then they will just have to get used to it.

Considering the USA was built by immagrants the now generations really are clueless and it's quite sickening to say the least. It's unfortunate they have that much clout.

So, should the sponsor be forced to stop discriminating against the Muslims and resume advertising on their show?

 

[Guyzerr]

So, should the sponsor be forced to stop discriminating against the Muslims and resume advertising on their show?

I really don't see it as discrimination. I see it as a prejudiced population threatening a corporation forcing them to stop their advertising and failure to do so will only bring the wrath of an angry buyer.

Now to answer your question... It's their money to spend as they see fit.

On a personal note. Lowes is only located in Ontario as far as being in Canada but if they were in my neck of the woods I would not stop shopping there if they continued to have commercials during that show. I find the attitude south of the 49th quite disgusting actually.

 

[Tim]

So, should the sponsor be forced to stop discriminating against the Muslims and resume advertising on their show?

I understand where you are going with this thread, but you are not comparing apples to apples here.

A corporation can choose to associate themselves any way they want with their advertising dollars and face the consequences of their customers.
What you are suggesting is that if the law stayed out of private business (even though Lowes is a publicly held company) that they would be held in check by their customers to do the "right thing" when it comes to discrimination.
And in a way you are correct when you are dealing with corporations and large chains. But this wouldn't have any effect what so ever when it comes to small town USA. And there are tens of thousands of small businesses that this would apply to.
Like I pointed out before, there will be very small towns where 2 grocery stores could never survive, yet if the population was 90% of one race and 10% of the other, the minority may very well find themselves without a place to shop. The few people that find themselves disenfranchised would have absolutely no recourse but to move to a "friendlier" town.

Explain to me how the "free market" would remedy this type of problem. And this can be applied to every type of business or service. I mean will you see listings in the phone book saying, "no blacks", "No gays", "No whites", etc?

 

[PoopaSwoof]

Since Lowes is spending their own money to buy the advertising, they're entitled to spend, or not spend it any damn place they choose for any damn reason they choose. Simple as that.

And I as a potential customer of Lowes can drive down the street to spend my and/or my companies money at Home Depot if I disagree with Lowes reaction to this bullshit.
That's exactly what I did today.

 

[Guyzerr]

And I as a potential customer of Lowes can drive down the street to spend my and/or my companies money at Home Depot if I disagree with Lowes reaction to this bullshit.
That's exactly what I did today.

:clap:clap:clap

 

[Francis]

On a personal note. Lowes is only located in Ontario as far as being in Canada but if they were in my neck of the woods I would not stop shopping there if they continued to have commercials during that show. I find the attitude south of the 49th quite disgusting actually.

Got one here now... :tooth

Lowe's New Westminster - NOW OPEN! 1085 Tanaka Crt., New Westminster, BC V3M 0G2.

http://www.lowes.ca/Locator/Default.aspx

 

[Accountable]

I really don't see it as discrimination. I see it as a prejudiced population threatening a corporation forcing them to stop their advertising and failure to do so will only bring the wrath of an angry buyer.

If this same prejudiced population picketed a local Lowe's and pressured them not to serve Muslims, would you say the same thing? Still not discrimination?

 

[Accountable]

I understand where you are going with this thread, but you are not comparing apples to apples here.

Of course I am. This is just another side of the apple. Should a company be legally banned from discriminating by race, ethnicity, or religion when deciding where to put their advertising dollar?

 

[JuggsBunny]

Quite frankly, I'm utterly disgusted that a Christian group is behind the whole thing. Not very fucking Christ-like, though - is it???

Lowe's can advertise when and how they want to. I can opt to exercise my right to not shop there.

It makes me sick to know that there are certain groups that think it's just peachy keen to be so outright bigoted and nasty to people that simply practice a different religion than theirs. Fuck.

 

[CityGirl]

So, Lowes is targeted for support of the American Muslim community and Home Depot is targeted for it's support of gay rights. http://action.afa.net/item.aspx?id=2147496231 Ace Hardware must be seeing an increase in sales.

 

[Guyzerr]

If this same prejudiced population picketed a local Lowe's and pressured them not to serve Muslims, would you say the same thing? Still not discrimination?

That's an entirely different matter isn't it?

 

[Panacea]

So, Lowes is targeted for support of the American Muslim community and Home Depot is targeted for it's support of gay rights. http://action.afa.net/item.aspx?id=2147496231 Ace Hardware must be seeing an increase in sales.

Lowe's pulled their support from the show, right?
I know Target and Chik-fil-a are known to be pretty socially conservative, being in bed with NOM and whatnot...

 

[Guyzerr]

Quite frankly, I'm utterly disgusted that a Christian group is behind the whole thing. Not very fucking Christ-like, though - is it???

Nobody beats a Christian when it comes to being judgmental.

 

[Tim]

Nobody beats a Christian when it comes to being judgmental.

:clap