The choice to boycott is basically exercising your first amendment rights. I’m not here to say that boycotts shouldn’t be conducted, but I’m wondering where the logic is in deciding the targers. I’ve been watching really close to the boycotts, due to proposition 8, that have surfaced since the Nov. 4th election. I’m amazed me how quickly people can unite! But is this unity serving any purpose if the target is poorly chosen?
I recently became aware of a boycott on the totally amazing band The Killers. I was at first shocked at the idea because I didn’t understand why people would boycott them. After a little research and poking around on blogs and forums I found the reason behind this action. These boycotters simply want to shun them due to the fact that Brandon Flowers is Mormon. I am stunned by this because he has never discussed his religion except for saying that he is apart of the LDS church, and only talks about it when asked. Yes, he goes to church, but he also smokes, drinks, and has given his views on homosexuality, which are not negative. Is that really a reason to boycott such an amazing artist?
On the flip side, Stephanie Meyer, the author of the Twilight series, has made it very public that she is a devout Mormon. She is a graduate of Brigham Young University in Provo, met her husband there, and was married at 21. She goes to church with her family in Arizona, and they lead a happy little life. She is such a devout mormon that she does not drink alcohol, caffeine, and has never even seen a rated “R” movie in her life. So why are we not boycotting the Twilight movie or the books? Is it simply because people already have advance tickets for the weekend? Maybe it’s because people want to be choosy about what they boycott because it’s something they really like and are willing to make an exception.
In either case, if boycotting is the game, then you have to play by the rules. It is not okay to boycott one person and then ignore another. People are boycotting Cinemark theatres because the owner gave money to support Yes on Prop 8. Some people want to boycott Brandon Flowers simply because he’s Mormon. But Stephanie Meyer has no talks about boycotts and her movie is safe as long as it isn’t seen in Cinemark theatres. If we we were to be fair then everyone should be boycotting the Twilight movies using the boycotter logic.
Stephanie Meyer has been named the US version of J.K. Rowling. The difference is that as a devout Mormon she pays her tithes. A tithe to the church is 10% of what you make. If Stephanie Meyer reaches the success of J.K. Rowling’s the church is destined to make a lot of money. According to Forbes Magazine, Ms. Rowling made over $300 million last year. If Ms. Meyer makes $300 million, that will be $30 million that will go to the LDS church.
Many boycotters launched their protests in the attempt to hurt the LDS church. There is talk about boycotting the Sundance Film Festival because there is a fear it will help the church make money. Yet, it’s obvious the LDS church will benefit from a successful Twilight series. Are the boycotters being fair, or just lacking direction?
Filed under: Events, Lightning Topics | Tagged: Boycott, Politics
You make a perfectly valid point – People only pick and choose what they want to boycott, simply because it gives them reason to publicly hate a certain person/group. They may never admit to hating it until something they feel strongly about comes up and then they use that as their fuel to the fire.
Most people, and forgive me for saying this, are ignorant. They vote for a certain party simply because that’s how they were raised – regardless of who the candidate is. I was always raised to vote for the candidate, not the party. I have my views which align with a certain political party but i will never let that lead me one way simply because of ignorance.
If people simply are committed to a cause, then they must see it throughout.
Just like those who are pro-ban on gay marriage – If they’re so bent up on the institution of marriage, then they should also want to ban divorce; that, my friend, is more of a threat to the “sanctity” of marriage than anything else.
Yet again, Ignorance.
Our entire community is full of hypocrites. FYI. Good blog.
I see this as laziness on behalf of the author. If you are fearful of the energy which people bring to the No on 8 movement, then sit tight and don’t criticize. Sometimes actions are misdirected and I dont agree with the Killers lead singer being boycotted, but then again I’ve never heard of Stephanie Meyer. The point of boycotts is to capture the attention of the public, to make it known that something is not right and the Killers lead singer is probably more visible than Meyers. If she writes as “well” as Rowling, it’s no wonder why she isn’t a prime target. I mean, how could she, if she’s never experienced anything more substantive and graphic than the average 13 year old?
The bottom line is, don’t idly sit and criticize boycotts because they aren’t hitting all the targets equally. They’re doing more than you are. If this was about equality, gays could get married in California… then maybe we could talk
i’m from mexico and i’m boycotting her books, i start reading de first one and i like the story but then looking in internet i discover that she was a devodet mormon and the point of view about homosexuality, and i decided to not see the movie and to not read the other books, but it is strange that a person who writes about a love who is forbidden can think about the same love but in real life it is not ok.
Ha, lmao!
So let me get this straight a “Devout” Mormon is writing books about vampires. Lol, please tell me I’m not the only one who finds this a hilarious.
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The only comment I have is that I’d like a way to vet suggested boycotts more thoroughly. “Because they’re Mormon” shouldn’t be the answer. “Because they directly gave to Yes on 8″ is enough, although if it’s just a random employee it becomes more questionable. CEO etc make it fair game. They know they represent the company, and they know contributions are public, they know exactly what they’re getting into. If the company takes enough heat, the next time the board of directors meet they’ll ask themselves whether they want that kind of controversy again.
However, to the author of this blog, I have to say — You boycott whom you wish, and I’ll boycott whom I wish, and let’s not spend too much time flinging mud at one another. We have bigger, badder enemies to fight – if you want to be mad at someone in “the community” be mad at “Bash Back” — they’re terrorists, claiming to represent my, your, our priorities. They don’t represent me. Spend your energy telling them how you feel about that.
we need to boycott people based on their anti-gay sentiments and contributions, not on their religion, etc
Uh…..F-boycotts. Except when it comes to the IRS. For they are part of a government that has NO PROBLEM taking our tax dollars, yet has a HUGE problem giving us a MODICUM of rights that they dole out like candy to heterosexuals.
Some of us will be responding to this discrimination with a NON-Violent Solution:
The NATIONAL EQUALITY TAX PROTEST will be on Wednesday, April 15th, 2009.
Individuals are FINALLY gathering to TAKE A STAND against persecution from the Mormons & the Christian “Right”. No vote will be needed on this one, folks.
THE U.S. Government needs to realize that EQUALITY is SIMPLE when you simply include EVERYONE.
Kade-
I am so glad that I stumbled on your post– I wasn’t aware of either the Killers or Twilight being a potential target of marriage equality activists.
I’ve been trying to work out some of the nitty-gritty issues about what makes an organization “Mormon”, and thus an (ostensibly) appropriate boycott target … and your post plus the contributions of the commenters have really added some insights. Maybe you’d come by and visit, and add your thoughts to http://www.AuthenticOrganizations.com.
As a Mormon yourself, how do you feel about the LDS and/or Mormon organizations being boycotted over same-sex marriage rights?
cvh
I am boycotting the entire state of Utah and Marriott hotels.
The Sundance Channel has been blocked on my cable. I refuse to unblock it until the festival has been moved out of the Hate State.
[...] a week it has been!! I’ve been getting A LOT of traffic to my blog because of my Twilight boycott post. I wasn’t literally meaning to boycott Twilight, but just wanted to point out that all [...]
I agree with Queerunity – we need to boycott those who contributed to Prop 8 (and 102 and 2), not just decide we’re going to boycott all Mormons.
Case in point is Marriott. Bill Marriott has stated that he did NOT contribute to Prop 8, and Marriott has scored 100 on the HRC Corporate Equality Index the past two years, which means they offer DP benefits, prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, have a GLBT employee group, etc.
We should NOT be boycotting Marriott. This is misguided.
I think your article is flawed. I’ve heard of a Twilight boycott, but I’ve never heard of a “Killer boycott”. Broaden your research a little before you start calling people hypocrites.