Once again, it would appear that I work for the Anti-Christ:
August 23, 2007
Ford ups gay support with more cash donationsJust announced by Human Rights Campaign, Ford Motor Company donates $25,000 to aid group in its fight to defeat a Federal Marriage Amendment.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest homosexual activist organization, is acclaiming Ford Motor Company as its top-tier sponsor of an upcoming October 6 “Gala Dinner” in Washington, DC.
HRC uses event sponsorships to fund their agenda, and is largely recognized as the frontline political lobbying group for homosexual marriage in America.
In addition, the Seattle, Washington branch of HRC announced a separate $5,000 sponsorship donation from Ford Motor Company.
Here’s a partial list of Ford’s 2007 track record in support of homosexuality:
January - Sponsored graphic homosexual scene on FX network’s “Dirt.”
March - Diversity Inc. lists Ford as fifth highest corporate supporter of homosexuality.
April - Gives $10,000 donation to PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).
May - Gave $10,000 to become a sponsor of the 2007 Out and Equal Workplace Summit to be held in Washington, DC.
June - A 12-week study showed Ford as the top sponsor of homosexual television network shows.
Ford helped sponsor Cleveland Lesbian-Gay-Bi-Trans Pride Parade and Festival. Ford also had a festival booth and banner to market its support for homosexual celebrations!
Ford sponsored the 2007 Seattle Gay Pride Parade.
July - Ford places its fifth full-page ad in homosexual magazines OUT and Advocate for 2007.
August - Ford announces eighth straight monthly sales loss for year.Take Action
If you haven’t already done so, please sign the Boycott Ford Pledge.
Forward this e-mail to your local Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mazda or Ford dealer (all Ford branded products). Find their e-mail address here. (click on the auto icon) Ask the dealer to forward it to CEO Alan Mulally.
Print the Boycott Ford Petition and distribute it at Sunday school and church.
Extremely important! Help us get the word out about Ford by forwarding this to friends and family! For more information on Ford’s support for the homosexual agenda, click here.
Ok, first of all, lets clear up some incorrect information on the part of the AFA:
The January television show “Dirt” was not sponsored by Ford. In fact, Ford has never sponsored an episode of Dirt. GM was actually the lead sponsor on that episode, but why would we want to confuse fact with fiction?
Of the two parades that were mentioned, neither of them were directly sponsored by Ford.
As to the advertising comments, Volvo is an advertiser in these publications but Ford Motor Company, the Ford brand and Lincoln Mercury currently do not. Toyota, Lexus, Scion, Cadillac, Saab and many other automotive brands have advertised in these publications and other media targeting gay and lesbian audiences.
Below is an email that I sent to the American Family Association… What do you think the chances are of me getting a response?
To Whom It May Concearn:
I am writing to you today with a broken heart.
Having recently read over your latest action alert against Ford Motor Credit, and having recieved one of your form-letter emails, I am left shaking my head at your recent rallying cry against the company for which I work. I sell Ford vehicles for a living. I also love Jesus with all my heart, mind, and strength. According to what you write, and to what you ask your supporters to do, it would seem that those two statements are mutually exclusive.
I spent eight years in professional ministry before taking time off in a “working sabbatical”. This sabbatical has found me selling Ford automobiles, and has been a season of intense spiritual growth and refreshment for me. This time has seen me develop relationships with my coworkers that have created opportunities to speak into thier lives in amazing ways, and seeing them become more open to faith in Jesus has been humbling, to say the least. I have also been able to create relationships within the community that will allow me to develop a resource pool from which to draw from when I re-enter ministry through a church plant that will be happening in the relatively near future.
I bring this up so that you will understand my frustration when a colleague approaches me with the latest action alert from AFA, or with one of your form-letter emails. The questions that I am asked span from wondering why Christians do not want us to be able to support our family to why the church hates homosexuals. Regardless of the question my credibility and ability to speak into thier lives is lessened, and the hard work that I have put in to develop authentic relationships with people who do not share my faith goes to waste.
Having said this, I would like to ask some favors of you, my brothers in Christ. First, please check your research:
The AFA reports that in January 2007 Ford “sponsored a graphic homosexual scene” on the FX television network show “Dirt.” Ford Motor Company has never advertised on this program and will not as a matter of advertising policy. In fact, a GM brand was the lead advertiser.
In June, the AFA published the results of a study they say proves that Ford is the “top sponsor of homosexual network television shows.” Their analysis simply counted ads placed by Ford and other large companies on television shows that have at one time or another featured sympathetic portrayals of gay or lesbian characters or issues. The shows include highly-rated programs such as ER, Grey’s Anatomy, The Simpsons, The Office and Desperate Housewives. Toyota and DaimlerChrysler, along with Revlon, AT&T, Verizon and Quaker Foods were also singled out.
The AFA has stated that Ford Motor Company sponsored the 2007 Seattle Gay Pride Parade and the 2007 Cleveland Lesbian-Gay-Bi-Trans Pride Parade. Neither event was directly sponsored by Ford Motor Company.
The AFA reports that Ford continues to advertise in The Advocate and Out magazines. Volvo is an advertiser in these publications but Ford Motor Company, the Ford brand and Lincoln Mercury currently do not. Toyota, Lexus, Scion, Cadillac, Saab and many other automotive brands have advertised in these publications and other media targeting gay and lesbian audiences.
The AFA has identified Ford Motor Company as a “top tier” sponsor of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). Volvo is a silver-level sponsor of HRC, which is the third tier of corporate sponsorship. Other sponsors include American Airlines, Citigroup, Fidelity Investments, Marriott, Hilton, Kodak, Microsoft, Chase, Dell, Merrill Lynch, Nike and others. Ford Motor Company and the Ford and Lincoln Mercury brands are not currently sponsors.
The AFA fails to note the Ford was honored by the Parents Television Council as one of the “Top Ten Best Advertisers” in 2006 and 2007. This annual report ranks advertisers according to how frequently they sponsor “wholesome, family-oriented television shows or those containing sexually graphic, violent or profane material on broadcast television.” Toyota, Volkswagen and GM all ranked among the ten worst.
Second, I would ask that you please stop expecting people who do not share our faith in Christ to share our beliefs. Expecting Ford to stop all marketing and sales to the homosexual community would be like asking them to stop marketing and selling to the African American community. You are asking a company that is struggling to stay afloat to neglect a major car buying market. How can that be good for the families of those of us that depend on Ford to support them.
I would also ask that you please back down your rhetoric when it comes to the “homosexual agenda”. It is hard to express the love of Christ to people with a different background when the assumption is that we hate them. The reason that so many people are afraid to be honest about thier situation is a direct result of such words, and as I am sure that you be realizing (seeing that you are/were supporters of Larry Craig and Ted Haggard) some of your own friends and supporters may be keeping secrets in order to remain in your good graces.
While I realize that I am one man, I would ask that you take the time to pray, reflect, and soak on the person of Jesus Christ as you read over this letter. I would also ask that you take the time to respond as well, as I and the readers of my blog are looking forward to your response.
With the love of Christ,
If there is a response, I will post it here, but I really do not expect one.
Very nice response.
I got to say that my wife somehow got on the spam list for AFA and it is pretty amazing some of the stuff that they put out there.
I hope they respond - I don’t think they will be sympathetic or change their alarmi$t way$ a$ - tho$e sensible tactics don’t rai$e fund$ to $upport there lobbying life$tyle….
peace.
Gee, Doug, are you insinuating that the good folks at the AFA are in this for something like *gasp* money? Heaven forbid! They can’t possibly be doing that, this is all about doing the work of Geeeeeeeeeeeezus.
I just came across this blog by accident and was very touched by you heartfelt words. While I am an atheist, I was raised in Catholic household and was taught, what I thought, was a basic Christian principal “love the sinner, hate the sin”. Whatever happened to that practice in the church?
Tnanks for writing that letter.
Peace.
Kat!
Thanks for stopping by!
I think that this is an extension of the “love the sinner, hate the sin” teaching that happens in the church. I tend to look at it a little differently… I love the sinner. So often in this day and age our sin can define us, and to many there is no way to love the sinner while hating something that is integral to thier lives… So, I try to love the sinner (which includes me), and allow God to take control of the refining process in the life of the one I am loving…
Stop by more often!
Beautiful response, Matt. It’s an uphill battle for many of us.
Nice post. You have a very loving voice.
I’m listing you in my 5 blogs of Blog Day 2007: http://www.blogday.org
Thanks for all of the thoughtful writing.
It’s truly an inspiring thing that there are still many Christians who live like the phrase “being a good Christian” does indeed mean loving your fellow man and adhering to Christ as the example to follow.
Organizations like the AFA have served to make “Christian” a dirty word in some instances, which is extremely unfortunate.
I’m agnostic, but even if the Bible is (hypothetically) just a book and Christ just a man, there is no better person from whom to learn how to be a good human being.
Maybe Don Wildmon should reexamine his motivations.
Erik!
Thanks for stopping by, and taking the time to comment. It is unfortunate that the vocal few make the rest of us look like fools… it is my hope that we might somehow begin to turn the tide and move out of the political agenda game and return to our first love…
thanks again…
[...] with the AFA Posted on December 11, 2007 by Snoop A while back I posted about the American Family Association’s boycott of Ford Automobiles. Well, the AFA, rather than admitting that they are wrong about their facts, is taking credit for [...]
I am with you. I am a minister that is trying to bring my people down this path that you are on. I appreciate your letter and your tone. So what if Christians “succeed” in getting corporations to become moral if hearts don’t change. If people don’t fall in love Jesus and give their lives away in pursuit of him we have not succeeded. Nothing else matters.