Been a while since I've heard about the sinister "gay agenda." Luckily, the American Family Association is on the case:
Wal-Mart has turned aside a massive letter-writing campaign by the American Family Association urging the retailer to refuse to stock Brokeback Mountain, being distributed by Universal Home Entertainment. The group, which has successfully campaigned against what it considers to be broadcast indecency launched the campaign last week after ads for the film began being displayed prominently in the retailer's 3,900 stores. In an interview with today's (Tuesday) Los Angeles Times, the AFA's Randy Sharp, accused Wal-Mart of helping to push the "gay agenda" by "trying to help normalize homosexuality in society." He added, "But how many copies are they going to have to sell to [recoup] the losses of customers who they've offended and will no longer shop at Wal-Mart?" But a Wal-Mart spokeswoman replied, "The fact that we are offering the movie is not an endorsement of the content of the movie or any specific belief. ...We simply offer the latest titles that consumers want."
"No longer shop at Wal-Mart?" See, this is where the AFA strategy backfires. By supporting the retail giant in its quest to drive every other store that sells stuff out of business, they've allowed Wal-Mart to become the only source of clothing, auto parts, groceries, small appliances, and sporting goods for millions of rural Americans. They no longer have a choice.
And Wal-Mart knows it. Don't be surprised if they're increasingly unresponsive to your silly crusades in the future, Randy. Especially when, as in this case, they decide there's money to be made from a film that's already grossed over $100 million worldwide.
Prayerful types needn't worry too much though, Wal-Mart still doesn't stock George Carlin's When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?, America: The Book by the Daily Show gang, that Sheryl Crow album with the handgun lyrics, or any versions of Nirvana's In Utero with the song "Rape Me" listed under its real title (it was changed to "Waif Me" for the retailer).
It isn't like people are still buying In Utero anymore. Or the Carlin book, for that matter.
Is there anything more satisfying than watching a group get devoured by the very monster they helped to create? Just keep repeating to yourselves that 'WalMart is good for America' as it brazenly tells you to shove your petty religeous concerns right up yer corn tunnel.