PERSONAL BOYCOTT OF WAL-MART

Good Morning I wanted you to know that we ( my husband and myself) will no longer be shopping at Wal-mart stores. We have written Wal-mart to let them know how we feel and now we are writing you. Why you may ask are we boycotting Wal-mart considering that is one store we love to shop at? Well lately we have found some things they are doing just doesn't strike us as right.

We have decided that we will not support them, because we feel that by doing so we would be supporting their policies. I know that some of you will disagree with our decision and figure that we have gone off the deep end. I also know that our personal boycott will not affect their bottom line, but it will affect ours. Our bottom line is this - if you stand by quietly and support businesses that you believe are doing wrong -even if it doesn't seem TOO wrong, then by your actions you are agreeing with their policies.

The policies that we have trouble with are these: they are carrying 'Plan B' medication, they are supporting the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and they are forcing suppliers to place RFID tags on all products shipped to their stores .

Plan B medication is a pill that you can take within 3 days after having sex to assure that no pregnancy occurs. Abortion rights groups claim that this is not an abortion it just prevents the need for one. They argue that many women who are date raped may not report it - thus they won't get the medical attention they need. So with Plan B - they could insure that they won't have an unwanted pregnancy.

Granted - I know most stores will now carry this 'medication' because it has now been made available to women 18 years old and older over the counter, no prescription needed. My husband and I do consider this an abortion medicine. It means that a viable pregnancy will not take place. We also feel it gives people a reason to be sexually active before they should. With this and condoms, they will feel they have no worries.

Wal-mart had said they will not carry the medication, but because of outside pressure they have begun carrying it. Legislators are now working to make it available over the counter to minors also. The question that you need to ask yourself is do you want your 15 or 16 year old daughter getting this medication without your knowledge because she either had sex and the condom broke, she had unprotected sex or she was raped and doesn't want you to know ?

Also we are concerned with their partnering with the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Wal-mart said they want to support diversity. In 2003 they re-wrote their nondiscrimination policy to include sexual orientation. Right now they are working to give 'domestic partnerships' health benefits. Wal-mart will now be sponsoring two of the NGLCC's annual conventions. It is expected that Wal-mart will 'encourage' their core suppliers Proctor & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, and Gillette to support Gay & Lesbian businesses.

We truly believe that this is openly promoting biblical sin. God said in His word that homosexuality is a sin . He didn't say we could reconsider this if homosexuality becomes politically correct. We have nothing against Gays & Lesbians - in fact I believe we are commanded to pray for them, love them, and show them God's grace. But it does not say anywhere that we are to condone their actions - LOVE THE SINNER AND HATE THE SIN.

I know that this has become an accepted practice in the corporate world, but I believe part of the reason it has is because Christians have remained silent on the issue. We didn't want to seem harsh or mean - speaking the truth in love is sometimes harsh, and often times seen as mean, but it doesn't change the truth - the world needs to hear it - even if it makes us feel uncomfortable.

Now for RFID tags - Wal-mart states that the reason they are requiring RFID tags on their products is because it will help them track shipments and make sure that their shelves are always stocked. This sounds very good and very reasonable I am sure. But something that you may not have known, one reason we have UPC codes on everything now is because Wal-mart wanted it on their products to help with inventory. Now they want Radio Frequency ID tags on everything. How long do you think it will be before everything will have to have this kind of tag. Many companies are quickly following suit including the one I am currently working for.

Also this technology is the same technology currently being used in the new smart chips that they want to put into people. Each of these tags has GPS capability so that you can be tracked. I know it sounds like something out of 1984 (a book about big brother for those who don't know). These chips are currently being used in a variety of ways. A business man had it implanted so that in case he got kidnapped he could easily be found. Pets get chipped when they are young in case they run away or get lost they can be located. People that frequent Club Med had them put in so they don't have to carry a wallet, they just have their hand or arm scanned and everything is paid for.

Hospitals are now wanting to chip EVERYONE that comes through the ER so that they can keep better track of the people, to cut down on errors. In fact Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NJ is running a trial program using the chips and wants my husband to participate - he has said NO. A family volunteered to have the chip because they could keep their medical records on these chips and if their kids were ever taken - with the GPS capability they could be found in a matter of hours. I know parents are thinking that is a great thing especially with the child predators we have now. But don't forget for every good intentioned purpose - this technology has a great capability to be used for evil.

This idea is sweeping the country so quickly that one state actually passed legislation making it illegal to implant a chip in a person without their consent. Right now there is a smart card alliance that is pushing for the use of RFID technology in most areas of life. In a few months credit cards and ATM cards will be using RFID technology - they will have a chip will all your information put on it.

A couple of college students figured out a way to hack into this information. If they sit within about 15 feet of an ATM where an RFID chip is used they can collect the information that is encrypted and within 45 minutes they broke the encryption and had all the information stored on the card.

That is why we feel it is so necessary to take a stand now - while there is still time. We can no longer be the silent majority and continue to see God's blessing on this country. Thanks for taking the time to read this, have a blessed weekend.