Target Denies salvation Army, Again

Last year, Target refused to allow the Salvation Army's traditional bell ringers access to the front of their stores. They claimed if they allowed the Salvation Army they would have to allow everyone else.

This caused a big back lash in the blogesphere and talk radio. The major media outlets, the "drive by media", had little to say on the matter as they hate Christians to begin with, so to say nothing, they gave Target a pass.

This year, as the following article indicates, Target is trying to placate the Christians by giving money up-front and thereby have a legitimate reason to deny the Salvation Army access to their stores.

You be the judge -

Target bans Salvation Army again

by James Estrada

Once again this year, Target Stores has banned the Salvation Army bell-ringers from their stores. Instead the company is donating one million dollars to the charity, and other changes on offer by the company promise to make up much of the none million dollars the charity used to raise each year in front of its stores, according to Salvation Army spokeswoman Melissa Temme.

Local supermarkets, Wal-Mart and other retailers don’t seem to have a problem with the Christian organization founded by William Booth to help the downtrodden, so why does Target? Does the Salvation Army seem too downscale for Tar-zhay? Only the company knows. But at least it is making up some or most of the funds the bell ringers won’t be collecting.A little history:

William Booth found himself one day at the edge of the River. The world is a better place for Booth taking the plunge into that River.At the age of seventeen, Booth made a commitment to Christ and to humanity. While he served for some time as a Methodist minister, he made the greatest impact on the poor of his native England by forming a movement in 1865 he called “The Christian Mission.” He preached on the streets and in old warehouses.

Sometimes he faced ridicule, name-calling and stone-throwing; at other times, his hardships were rewarded with converts to the faith. In 1878, he changed the name of The Christian Mission to The Salvation Army.Between

Thanksgiving and Christmas, a trip to most stores will provide an opportunity to help families and individuals in need by dropping a few coins into a red kettle.

The bell ringing signals to our hearts that there is more to this season than buying the latest electronic gadget and gathering the most charming tree ornaments. It is a time to aid in the salvation of lost and helpless souls, to help feed and cloth the needy among us. A working man between jobs may benefit by having his family’s electric bill paid, or, a mother needing food for her children will find a box of canned goods, pasta and cereal waiting for her.