(I wrote this blog early in 2008, but thought the content was worth reposting)
Early this morning while turning the opposite route of my typical Starbucks run before work (as I am boycotting them due to their large financial support to Planned Parenthood), I started to think of the specific reasons that I so passionately do not support Planned Parenthood. I thought it might be worth sharing a little bit of the big picture from my perspective. My reasoning might suprise you, as it is more than just the obvious (the obvious being that as a pro-life woman, I wouldn't support an organization that is a provider of abortion).
This being said, one of the most significant reasons that I, personally, do not support PP is the ideology of the organization's founder herself. Many people do not know much about Margaret Sanger (1883 - 1966), a nurse and member of the Socialist Party (also commonly known as the Nazi party) who founded Planned Parenthood. She was also a writer for the Socialist Party's paper, The Call.
I don't have time to go into great detail on Ms. Sanger's life (there are many biographies out there for anyone who is interested), so I think the best way to demonstrate the many reasons I do not support her movement or ideology is by using her own words. Ms. Sanger, by her own accord, demonstrates a lack of respect for human life and dignity, not just of the unborn children, but also of minorities, including racial minorities and the handicapped. Being the child of a handicapped mother (my mom had severe polio and almost died when she was 3 years old, and has had no use of one of her legs since that time), you can imagine how some of these words strike on a personal level. Many of my close friends are also part of minority groups, and anyone who would speak of them as seperate than myself and in a negative light immediately loses my respect. I pity the close-minded philosophies of Ms. Sanger. She seems to have missed out on most of the beauty of humanity by her shallow views towards our diverse and unique population.
I believe that an organization shares the moral philosophy of it's founder. Planned Parenthood is an organization that is founded on the following. Feel free to draw your own conclusions:
In her own words - famous quotes from Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood:
On family:
"The most merciful thing that a large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it."
- Margaret Sanger (1883 - 1966) Women and the New Race
On African Americans, immigrants and indigents:
"...human weeds,' 'reckless breeders,' 'spawning... human beings who never should have been born."
- Margaret Sanger, Pivot of Civilization, referring to immigrants, racial minorities and poor people
On sterilization & racial purification:
"Sanger believed that, for the purpose of racial "purification," couples should be rewarded who chose sterilization."
- Birth Control in America, The Career of Margaret Sanger, by David Kennedy, p. 117, quoting a 1923 Sanger speech.
On the right of married couples to bear children:
"Couples should be required to submit applications to have a child, she wrote in her "Plan for Peace."
- Birth Control Review, April 1932
On the purpose of birth control:
"The purpose in promoting birth control was "to create a race of thoroughbreds," she wrote in the Birth Control Review, Nov. 1921 (p. 2)
On the rights of the handicapped and mentally ill, and racial minorities:
"More children from the fit, less from the unfit -- that is the chief aim of birth control." Birth Control Review, May 1919, p. 12
On respecting the rights of the mentally ill:
In her "Plan for Peace," Sanger outlined her strategy for eradication of those she deemed "feebleminded." Among the steps included in her evil scheme were immigration restrictions; compulsory sterilization; segregation to a lifetime of farm work; etc. Birth Control Review, April 1932, p. 107
On adultery:
A woman's physical satisfaction was more important than any marriage vow, Sanger believed. Birth Control in America, p. 11
On marital sex:
"The marriage bed is the most degenerating influence in the social order." - Margaret Sanger
On the YMCA and YWCA: (I just find this one interesting, as the YMCA and YWCA were both founded as organizations to help men and women)
"...brothels of the Spirit and morgues of Freedom!", The Woman Rebel - No Gods, No Masters, May 1914, Vol. 1, No. 3.
On the Catholic Church's view of contraception:
"...enforce SUBJUGATION by TURNING WOMAN INTO A MERE INCUBATOR." The Woman Rebel - No Gods, No Masters, May 1914, Vol. 1, No. 3.
On motherhood itself:
"I cannot refrain from saying that women must come to recognize there is some function of womanhood other than being a child-bearing machine." What Every Girl Should Know, by Margaret Sanger (Max Maisel, Publisher, 1915)
(Side note from me: I, personally, as a woman have never once felt that my womanhood meant I was a "child-bearing machine" - I also do not know any of my female friends who would say they feel this way.)
After reading the above, you should have a pretty solid grasp on why I do not support Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger's agenda or anything that represents the two. Every human life has dignity, and just because someone refuses to acknowledge this fact does not make it any less true. Whether the life in question is an unborn child, a handicapped person, someone of a racial minority or someone of a racial majority - each human life has equal dignity. It is what we choose to do with that dignity that defines us. Personally, I am going to stand up for the dignity of all people, regardless of how a single Socialist woman has managed to brainwash a generation.
Wait - I take that back. Ms. Sanger hasn't won, she hasn't brainwashed an entire generation or else I myself would not be writing this. There are still those who believe in the dignity of all humanity, and it is my prayer that those who still believe in the dignity and beauty of all human life will continue to stand up for truth.
It's too bad Ms. Sanger never met Mr. George Washington Carver. His take on human life and dignity is much more inspirational:
"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these."
- George Washington Carver
Monday, December 1, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
Pastors Accuse Planned Parenthood of 'Genocide' on African Americans
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,352537,00.html
Interesting article on Fox News - kind of ironic since I just wrote a blog about Margaret Sanger on here (http://chrisandbekah.blogspot.com/2008/04/in-her-own-words-margaret-sanger-brief.html) using her own words to explain why I do not support Planned Parenthood. It seems quite accurate to say that the beliefs of PP's founder continue to be the same foundation and agenda of the organization today.
(Article below)
Pastors Accuse Planned Parenthood for 'Genocide' on Blacks
Thursday, April 24, 2008
By Kelley Beaucar Vlahos
WASHINGTON — The Planned Parenthood Federation of America has perpetuated a “genocide on the black community,” says a group of African-American pastors who claimed Thursday the birth control and abortion provider has had a racist agenda since its beginnings in 1921.
Holding a brief vigil and press conference in front of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Washington, D.C., the group of pastors and activists said they were incensed by the results of recent “undercover” inquiries into several Planned Parenthood clinics across the country.
“Every day … over 1,500 black babies are murdered inside the black woman’s womb,” said Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, of Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny (BOND). “This is a race issue.”
The pastors urged Congress to initiate an audit of the organization and have written letters demanding that money for Planned Parenthood be eliminated from federal Title X funding, of which the group got $65 million for fiscal year 2007, according to pro-life Concerned Women of America. In total, Planned Parenthood received $300 million in government contracts and grants in the current fiscal year.
The national office of Planned Parenthood provided FOX News with a lengthy statement on Thursday in which it said its role in the African-American community is widespread because the need is greater.
“The (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) revealed that a shocking number of teenage African-American girls — nearly half — carry a sexually transmitted infection," reads the statement. "This compares to an overall average rate for all teenage girls of at least one in four.
“The largest increases in the teen birthrate were reported for non-Hispanic black teens, whose overall rate rose five percent in 2006. In addition, African-American women are more likely to die of breast cancer than the general population,” it said.
But an investigation, undertaken by students at the University of California at Los Angeles newspaper, The Advocate, revealed troubling responses from Planned Parenthood staffers when asked by an actor, posing as a “donor,” if he could earmark his contribution for abortions for “black babies” only.
In one example, Autumn Kersey, vice president for marketing at Planned Parenthood of Idaho, is asked whether a donation can be specified “to help a minority group … like the black community, for example.”
“Certainly,” Kersey says in a taped response in which she sounds genuinely encouraged by the offer. “If you wanted to designate that your gift be used to help an African-American woman in need, then we would certainly make sure the gift as earmarked for that purpose.”
The caller responds: “Great, because I really faced trouble with affirmative action, and I don’t want my kids to be disadvantaged against black kids. I just had a baby; I want to put it in his name.”
Kersey responds, “Absolutely.”
The "donor" proceeds to proclaim that “the less black kids out there the better,” followed by, “understandable, understandable,” by Kersey, who laughed as if he were joking.
“Excuse my hesitation, this is the first time that I’ve had a donor call and make this kind of request, so I’m excited and want to make sure I don’t leave anything out,” she is recorded saying.
Kersey's and other statements were culled from calls to Planned Parenthood clinics in six states. In each, the staff person answering the call expressed an interest in taking the donations despite the caller’s overtly racist commentary.
That is part of a troubling trend, say critics, who accuse Planned Parenthood of targeting minority neighborhoods. They blame the institution for a disproportionate rate of abortions among black women.
“I think the media, and I think America, and certainly black folks, need to start thinking about race and Planned Parenthood, said Rev. Clenard Childress, who raised the question, not for the first time, about Planned Parenthood’s founder, Margaret Sanger, who died over 40 years ago at the age of 86.
Sanger, a pioneering advocate for universal access to birth control for women, was also a proponent of “eugenics,” a philosophy that advocates social intervention, like birth control and abortion, for "improving" the hereditary traits of the human race. According to biographies written about Sanger, who was the sixth child of 11 eleven born to a rigid Catholic family in upstate New York, her support for this practice was focused on the “unfit” and the poor — slum dwellers — as they were called at the time, by making contraceptives more available there.
Over the years, comments made by Sanger about reproduction among the poor and minorities have led to her reputation as a racist and a belief that she wanted to “weed” out blacks from society. Planned Parenthood has disputed that caricature and has pointed out her supporters in the black community, including Martin Luther King Jr., and W.E.B DuBois. Nevertheless, Childress and others repeatedly invoked her name as a major force behind a century-long “genocide” on the black community.
According to a report released by the group of Students for Life America on Tuesday, black women are 4.8 times more likely to have an abortion than white women, while the black population in the U.S. is in decline. Black women account for 36 percent of those having abortions in the U.S. today, according to group, while black children make up 17 percent of live births.
“Contrary to the public’s belief that Planned Parenthood is helpful and supportive of family planning and the health of the mother and child, recent news and research show that the roots of its foundation have continued to give birth to continual hatred and disdain for minorities that its founder saw as 'unfit,'” the group says in its report.
In its response, Planned Parenthood emphasized that 97 percent of its services are focused on providing contraceptives, breast and cervical cancer screenings and sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment — not abortions.
“Those services are more important than ever as this country faces a health care crisis — too many women can't afford birth control, too many families don’t have adequate health insurance coverage and too many young people are faced with unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections,” the organization said. “As a safety-net provider, it is Planned Parenthood's mission to provide women, men and teens with affordable access to reproductive health care services and information, regardless of income.”
Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood of Idaho apologized in February for the comments made by its staff during the UCLA student investigation.
“A fundraising employee violated the organization’s principles and practices when she appeared to be willing to accept a racially motivated donation,” said the Idaho-based organization told the Idaho Statesman. “We apologize for the manner in which this offensive call was handled. We take full responsibility for the actions of the fundraising staff member who created the impression that racism of any form would be tolerated at Planned Parenthood. We took swift action to ensure that each of our employees understands their responsibility to communicate clearly with donors about the fact that we believe in helping all individuals, regardless of gender, race or sexual orientation, make informed decisions about their reproductive health care.”
That's not enough for Lilly Epps, an activist who joined the pastors in denouncing Planned Parenthood on Thursday. She said she was 26 years old when she got an abortion in the clinic used to stage the protest. She said the day has come to get “the truth” out about Planned Parenthood and what it is doing her community.
“I am a mad black woman,” she said. “Words cannot say how angry I am, how ignorant I was. But I thank God I came to the truth.”
Interesting article on Fox News - kind of ironic since I just wrote a blog about Margaret Sanger on here (http://chrisandbekah.blogspot.com/2008/04/in-her-own-words-margaret-sanger-brief.html) using her own words to explain why I do not support Planned Parenthood. It seems quite accurate to say that the beliefs of PP's founder continue to be the same foundation and agenda of the organization today.
(Article below)
Pastors Accuse Planned Parenthood for 'Genocide' on Blacks
Thursday, April 24, 2008
By Kelley Beaucar Vlahos
WASHINGTON — The Planned Parenthood Federation of America has perpetuated a “genocide on the black community,” says a group of African-American pastors who claimed Thursday the birth control and abortion provider has had a racist agenda since its beginnings in 1921.
Holding a brief vigil and press conference in front of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Washington, D.C., the group of pastors and activists said they were incensed by the results of recent “undercover” inquiries into several Planned Parenthood clinics across the country.
“Every day … over 1,500 black babies are murdered inside the black woman’s womb,” said Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, of Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny (BOND). “This is a race issue.”
The pastors urged Congress to initiate an audit of the organization and have written letters demanding that money for Planned Parenthood be eliminated from federal Title X funding, of which the group got $65 million for fiscal year 2007, according to pro-life Concerned Women of America. In total, Planned Parenthood received $300 million in government contracts and grants in the current fiscal year.
The national office of Planned Parenthood provided FOX News with a lengthy statement on Thursday in which it said its role in the African-American community is widespread because the need is greater.
“The (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) revealed that a shocking number of teenage African-American girls — nearly half — carry a sexually transmitted infection," reads the statement. "This compares to an overall average rate for all teenage girls of at least one in four.
“The largest increases in the teen birthrate were reported for non-Hispanic black teens, whose overall rate rose five percent in 2006. In addition, African-American women are more likely to die of breast cancer than the general population,” it said.
But an investigation, undertaken by students at the University of California at Los Angeles newspaper, The Advocate, revealed troubling responses from Planned Parenthood staffers when asked by an actor, posing as a “donor,” if he could earmark his contribution for abortions for “black babies” only.
In one example, Autumn Kersey, vice president for marketing at Planned Parenthood of Idaho, is asked whether a donation can be specified “to help a minority group … like the black community, for example.”
“Certainly,” Kersey says in a taped response in which she sounds genuinely encouraged by the offer. “If you wanted to designate that your gift be used to help an African-American woman in need, then we would certainly make sure the gift as earmarked for that purpose.”
The caller responds: “Great, because I really faced trouble with affirmative action, and I don’t want my kids to be disadvantaged against black kids. I just had a baby; I want to put it in his name.”
Kersey responds, “Absolutely.”
The "donor" proceeds to proclaim that “the less black kids out there the better,” followed by, “understandable, understandable,” by Kersey, who laughed as if he were joking.
“Excuse my hesitation, this is the first time that I’ve had a donor call and make this kind of request, so I’m excited and want to make sure I don’t leave anything out,” she is recorded saying.
Kersey's and other statements were culled from calls to Planned Parenthood clinics in six states. In each, the staff person answering the call expressed an interest in taking the donations despite the caller’s overtly racist commentary.
That is part of a troubling trend, say critics, who accuse Planned Parenthood of targeting minority neighborhoods. They blame the institution for a disproportionate rate of abortions among black women.
“I think the media, and I think America, and certainly black folks, need to start thinking about race and Planned Parenthood, said Rev. Clenard Childress, who raised the question, not for the first time, about Planned Parenthood’s founder, Margaret Sanger, who died over 40 years ago at the age of 86.
Sanger, a pioneering advocate for universal access to birth control for women, was also a proponent of “eugenics,” a philosophy that advocates social intervention, like birth control and abortion, for "improving" the hereditary traits of the human race. According to biographies written about Sanger, who was the sixth child of 11 eleven born to a rigid Catholic family in upstate New York, her support for this practice was focused on the “unfit” and the poor — slum dwellers — as they were called at the time, by making contraceptives more available there.
Over the years, comments made by Sanger about reproduction among the poor and minorities have led to her reputation as a racist and a belief that she wanted to “weed” out blacks from society. Planned Parenthood has disputed that caricature and has pointed out her supporters in the black community, including Martin Luther King Jr., and W.E.B DuBois. Nevertheless, Childress and others repeatedly invoked her name as a major force behind a century-long “genocide” on the black community.
According to a report released by the group of Students for Life America on Tuesday, black women are 4.8 times more likely to have an abortion than white women, while the black population in the U.S. is in decline. Black women account for 36 percent of those having abortions in the U.S. today, according to group, while black children make up 17 percent of live births.
“Contrary to the public’s belief that Planned Parenthood is helpful and supportive of family planning and the health of the mother and child, recent news and research show that the roots of its foundation have continued to give birth to continual hatred and disdain for minorities that its founder saw as 'unfit,'” the group says in its report.
In its response, Planned Parenthood emphasized that 97 percent of its services are focused on providing contraceptives, breast and cervical cancer screenings and sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment — not abortions.
“Those services are more important than ever as this country faces a health care crisis — too many women can't afford birth control, too many families don’t have adequate health insurance coverage and too many young people are faced with unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections,” the organization said. “As a safety-net provider, it is Planned Parenthood's mission to provide women, men and teens with affordable access to reproductive health care services and information, regardless of income.”
Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood of Idaho apologized in February for the comments made by its staff during the UCLA student investigation.
“A fundraising employee violated the organization’s principles and practices when she appeared to be willing to accept a racially motivated donation,” said the Idaho-based organization told the Idaho Statesman. “We apologize for the manner in which this offensive call was handled. We take full responsibility for the actions of the fundraising staff member who created the impression that racism of any form would be tolerated at Planned Parenthood. We took swift action to ensure that each of our employees understands their responsibility to communicate clearly with donors about the fact that we believe in helping all individuals, regardless of gender, race or sexual orientation, make informed decisions about their reproductive health care.”
That's not enough for Lilly Epps, an activist who joined the pastors in denouncing Planned Parenthood on Thursday. She said she was 26 years old when she got an abortion in the clinic used to stage the protest. She said the day has come to get “the truth” out about Planned Parenthood and what it is doing her community.
“I am a mad black woman,” she said. “Words cannot say how angry I am, how ignorant I was. But I thank God I came to the truth.”
Thursday, April 10, 2008
When you want to know, ask! What lead to the demise of my Starbucks addiction...
I've never been one to take rumors seriously, especially if it is a rumor that might mean I have to change something I like about myself or something I enjoy (enter....Starbucks!). This said, I went straight for the source when doing my research about Starbucks supporting Planned Parenthood. I emailed the company, and just asked.
True to form, I received the type of response I expected...a completely "PC" response (literally it must have been copied and pasted from a manual) that was unsigned (it sure seems like no one wants to take responsibility for their words these days). Here are the first two emails:
(me):
Sent: 04/08/2008 09:16 AM
To: info@starbucks.com
Subject: other
Message: Hi, I have heard that Starbucks is a large supporter of the organization Planned Parenthood. Is this correct? Thank you.
(Starbucks):
Hello,
Thank you for contacting Starbucks Coffee Company.
We encourage our partners (employees) to get involved with the causes they believe in and support, and our "Choose to Give" and "Make Your Mark" programs apply to any qualified organization or cause that our partners choose to support.
Make Your Mark: Starbucks believes volunteerism is vital to a healthy community. With that in mind, we created Make Your Mark, a program that matches our partners' and customers' volunteer hours with cash contributions to designated nonprofits - $10 for every hour, up to $1,000.
Choose to Give: We believe charitable giving is a personal decision. Respecting this, Starbucks designed Choose to Give!, a flexible workplace-giving program that matches each partner's charitable contributions, up to $1,000 annually.
Starbucks is proud that so many partners at all levels of the company actively support neighborhood organizations that are important to them through volunteering or charitable giving. Whether it's schools, parks and churches, or being involved in Earth Day clean-ups and walk-a-thons, Starbucks partners are making a difference in their communities.
Thanks again for taking the time to share your concerns.
Sincerely,
{$Nickname}
Starbucks Customer Relations
As they clearly did not answer my simple question by their politically correct response, I was compelled to ask a little bit more. It seems to me that Starbucks has a great charitable giving program, but the thing that concerned me was it didn't appear that there were any regulations placed on what kind of organizations they were willing to give to. I figured there must be some sort of guidelines (through my work as an in-house corporate paralegal for the past few years, I know too well that corporations make guidelines and policies for everything), so I went ahead and asked.
(me):
Thank you for your response, I really appreciate it! I just have one more question - are there any guidelines for what kind of organizations Starbucks will support their partner's in, or are the personal decisions of charitable giving that are unique to each partner respected no matter what the content of their non-profit organization is? I only wonder as there are so many different organizations out there, many of which are controversial and many of which are not. Does Starbucks support any organization that a partner wants to give to, or are there regulations of some sort in place? Thanks again!
Here is the response I received (Starbucks):
Hello,
Starbucks provides donations and sponsorships to nonprofit organizations in the following areas: the work of young social entrepreneurs, literacy, the environment, local communities, and programs in coffee-growing communities. We believe our partners (employees) are the best resource we can offer, therefore we also support organizations in which they are active volunteers. This ensures that our investments touch the neighborhoods where Starbucks partners live and work.
Best Regards,
Alyssa R.
Customer Relations
Starbucks Coffee Company
Sadly, this response didn't really answer my question either (and I already know they do in fact support Planned Parenthood, I got that info straight from the Planned Parenthood website and from Starbucks corporate information directly). In fact, it didn't answer it at all. It was basically the same answer from their previous email (although someone did sign their name this time, sort of!). I was hoping they might have some documentation available on fiscal responsibility/charitable giving that had more specific guidelines on what kind of organizations were allowable for the charitable giving.
I can't help but wonder that if Starbucks' emailed responses to me really are the only guidelines for their charitable giving programs, what if one of their "partners" volunteers with, say...the KKK? Yes this is an extreme example, but if Starbucks really encourages and will support without question "organizations in which they (their partners) are volunteers" - technically it could fit the bill. What if the KKK happened to be a "cause they (their partner) believes in and supports"??? There are numerous other groups and organizations out there that are also controversial (including Planned Parenthood - of course this is a controversial group, which is probably the reason Starbucks failed to directly answer my question, and if you notice, did not mention PP by name in their emailed responses to me).
I can't help but wonder what ethical compass Starbucks uses in deciding what charitable organizations to support and what ones they will join in with their "partners" to support - if any? It seems to me it might be in their better interest to make some regulations - and if they really care about their customers, to possibly cut out funding to controversial organizations. If you want to be "politically correct" - how about doing so for the benefit of all your consumers (which include those with both conservative and liberal beliefs). There are plenty of great organizations out there that need donations and avoid the moral controversies.
With such great giving programs in place and so many needy organizations, I don't see why Starbucks choses to support the largest provider of abortions in America - and since they do, I don't see why they won't just up and admit it at face value. Are you afraid to offend someone, Starbucks? As this seems to be the case, maybe you should re-think your ethical responsibilities.
True to form, I received the type of response I expected...a completely "PC" response (literally it must have been copied and pasted from a manual) that was unsigned (it sure seems like no one wants to take responsibility for their words these days). Here are the first two emails:
(me):
Sent: 04/08/2008 09:16 AM
To: info@starbucks.com
Subject: other
Message: Hi, I have heard that Starbucks is a large supporter of the organization Planned Parenthood. Is this correct? Thank you.
(Starbucks):
Hello,
Thank you for contacting Starbucks Coffee Company.
We encourage our partners (employees) to get involved with the causes they believe in and support, and our "Choose to Give" and "Make Your Mark" programs apply to any qualified organization or cause that our partners choose to support.
Make Your Mark: Starbucks believes volunteerism is vital to a healthy community. With that in mind, we created Make Your Mark, a program that matches our partners' and customers' volunteer hours with cash contributions to designated nonprofits - $10 for every hour, up to $1,000.
Choose to Give: We believe charitable giving is a personal decision. Respecting this, Starbucks designed Choose to Give!, a flexible workplace-giving program that matches each partner's charitable contributions, up to $1,000 annually.
Starbucks is proud that so many partners at all levels of the company actively support neighborhood organizations that are important to them through volunteering or charitable giving. Whether it's schools, parks and churches, or being involved in Earth Day clean-ups and walk-a-thons, Starbucks partners are making a difference in their communities.
Thanks again for taking the time to share your concerns.
Sincerely,
{$Nickname}
Starbucks Customer Relations
As they clearly did not answer my simple question by their politically correct response, I was compelled to ask a little bit more. It seems to me that Starbucks has a great charitable giving program, but the thing that concerned me was it didn't appear that there were any regulations placed on what kind of organizations they were willing to give to. I figured there must be some sort of guidelines (through my work as an in-house corporate paralegal for the past few years, I know too well that corporations make guidelines and policies for everything), so I went ahead and asked.
(me):
Thank you for your response, I really appreciate it! I just have one more question - are there any guidelines for what kind of organizations Starbucks will support their partner's in, or are the personal decisions of charitable giving that are unique to each partner respected no matter what the content of their non-profit organization is? I only wonder as there are so many different organizations out there, many of which are controversial and many of which are not. Does Starbucks support any organization that a partner wants to give to, or are there regulations of some sort in place? Thanks again!
Here is the response I received (Starbucks):
Hello,
Starbucks provides donations and sponsorships to nonprofit organizations in the following areas: the work of young social entrepreneurs, literacy, the environment, local communities, and programs in coffee-growing communities. We believe our partners (employees) are the best resource we can offer, therefore we also support organizations in which they are active volunteers. This ensures that our investments touch the neighborhoods where Starbucks partners live and work.
Best Regards,
Alyssa R.
Customer Relations
Starbucks Coffee Company
Sadly, this response didn't really answer my question either (and I already know they do in fact support Planned Parenthood, I got that info straight from the Planned Parenthood website and from Starbucks corporate information directly). In fact, it didn't answer it at all. It was basically the same answer from their previous email (although someone did sign their name this time, sort of!). I was hoping they might have some documentation available on fiscal responsibility/charitable giving that had more specific guidelines on what kind of organizations were allowable for the charitable giving.
I can't help but wonder that if Starbucks' emailed responses to me really are the only guidelines for their charitable giving programs, what if one of their "partners" volunteers with, say...the KKK? Yes this is an extreme example, but if Starbucks really encourages and will support without question "organizations in which they (their partners) are volunteers" - technically it could fit the bill. What if the KKK happened to be a "cause they (their partner) believes in and supports"??? There are numerous other groups and organizations out there that are also controversial (including Planned Parenthood - of course this is a controversial group, which is probably the reason Starbucks failed to directly answer my question, and if you notice, did not mention PP by name in their emailed responses to me).
I can't help but wonder what ethical compass Starbucks uses in deciding what charitable organizations to support and what ones they will join in with their "partners" to support - if any? It seems to me it might be in their better interest to make some regulations - and if they really care about their customers, to possibly cut out funding to controversial organizations. If you want to be "politically correct" - how about doing so for the benefit of all your consumers (which include those with both conservative and liberal beliefs). There are plenty of great organizations out there that need donations and avoid the moral controversies.
With such great giving programs in place and so many needy organizations, I don't see why Starbucks choses to support the largest provider of abortions in America - and since they do, I don't see why they won't just up and admit it at face value. Are you afraid to offend someone, Starbucks? As this seems to be the case, maybe you should re-think your ethical responsibilities.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Bye Bye Starbucks, thanks to Planned Parethood
So, I think my mom is going to be happy...I no longer am going to be supporting my old addiction of Starbucks coffee.
This is not because the quality of the product and service has gone down dramatically (although it has), but because I finally decided to escape my status of happily caffeinated denial and do a little research. I had heard that Starbucks was a big supporter of Planned Parenthood (and those of you who know me, know I am pro-life and nothing breaks my heart more than this organization - not simply because of their being the largest abortion provider in America, but also because of their foundation of being anti-human life and anti-family). If you don't believe that, feel free to check out their website. Something that sticks out to me like a sore thumb is this statement:
"Planned Parenthood offers medically accurate information."
Really, Planned Parenthood? If this was actually a true statement, then your abortionists and staff wouldn't go around telling women life does not begin at conception, and that the unborn children they are carrying are just "blobs" and not actually true human life. If you don't believe they actually say this to women, go in and find out for yourself. I have spoken to women who have gone to PP for pregnancy tests or to obtain birth control and those who were pregnant were told just that. Medically accurate information? Please...you learn more medically accurate information in a junior high biology class then you'll learn from the "medical professionals" at a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic.
Another interesting fact, directly from the PP website - is that if you DO choose to continue your pregnancy, Planned Parenthood suddenly calls your child a "baby." Please note the following:
How Soon Do I Have to Decide?
If there is a chance that you will continue the pregnancy — you should begin prenatal care as soon as possible. You should have a medical exam early in your pregnancy to make sure that you are healthy and the pregnancy is normal.
You can get complete information about prenatal care and how to pay for it from your family doctor, your local Planned Parenthood center, other family planning clinics, women's health centers, and your state's department of family services. Good prenatal care is very important for a baby's health.
Really, Planned Parenthood? If a pregnancy does not mean you are carrying a human child, as their pro-abortion propaganda relates, why would prenatal care matter at all? Oh, I get it - if you WANT your baby, then he/she is a baby. If you DON'T want your "pregnancy" - he/she suddenly is not human, and instead of being worthy of prenatal medical care (which as we see above is actually encouraged by Planned Parenthood for those women who WANT their child), is simply something you are able to destroy. Which is it, Planned Parenthood? If Planned Parenthood itself truly believed a pregnancy is not a valuable human life, in no way would they encourage prenatal care for those mothers who want to have their children. Why should they? Why would a "blob" need medical care? Better yet, why should a woman need to do all this (directly from PP's website) if they WANT their pregnancy to continue:
Taking Care of Yourself
Eat enough good food — fruits, vegetables, cereals, breads, beans, rice, and dairy products, as well as fish, meat, and poultry.
Keep your body in good shape. Stay active and get regular exercise.
Get plenty of sleep.
Do not smoke.
Do not drink alcohol.
Limit drinks with caffeine, like coffee and cola.
Do not eat junk food.
Do not take any drugs or medications — not even aspirin — without checking with your clinician.
So Planned Parenthood, why would getting solid nutrients and avoiding harmful substances matter to a pregnant woman if the pregnancy is not an actual valuable life? Why would a woman need to protect the contents of her womb (also known as a baby) and care for him/her in this way before birth, if really (according to Planned Parenthood) he/she is just a blob? I think that every person who has ever taken a biology class knows the answer to this question. Unborn life is LIFE - and worth being protected, especially in the delicate prenatal stages of development.
You can't have it both ways - and Planned Parenthood knows this. Sadly, because of the "convenience" of their on-demand abortions and brain-washing propaganda aimed at convincing women that their pregnancies are nothing more than a simple inconvenience that popping a pill can fix (literally now, with the abortion pill), Planned Parenthood continues on, destroying a third of my generation's population. A third. That is one amazing statistic. No wonder there are problems with Social Security and the economy. One third of the people who should be here with us were killed before they had a chance to take a simple breath.
I could write on this subject for hours, but going back to my original subject, Starbucks is listed on the Planned Parenthood website under this introduction:
The following companies all generously match employee donations to Planned Parenthood Federation of America. If your employer is on this list, then you can make your gift go as much as twice as far.
Call me crazy, but I can't justify supporting this company anymore. I am realistic and do know that you can't boycott everything, and that Starbucks won't even notice the TINY dent that me not purchasing their products will make. At the same time, I will know. Sometimes it is worth living a conviction, even if it seems the outcome will be so small that no one will notice. Human life is worth that to me. Is it to you?
(For even more information, read this woman's article - it was really interesting and well written! http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=45694)
This is not because the quality of the product and service has gone down dramatically (although it has), but because I finally decided to escape my status of happily caffeinated denial and do a little research. I had heard that Starbucks was a big supporter of Planned Parenthood (and those of you who know me, know I am pro-life and nothing breaks my heart more than this organization - not simply because of their being the largest abortion provider in America, but also because of their foundation of being anti-human life and anti-family). If you don't believe that, feel free to check out their website. Something that sticks out to me like a sore thumb is this statement:
"Planned Parenthood offers medically accurate information."
Really, Planned Parenthood? If this was actually a true statement, then your abortionists and staff wouldn't go around telling women life does not begin at conception, and that the unborn children they are carrying are just "blobs" and not actually true human life. If you don't believe they actually say this to women, go in and find out for yourself. I have spoken to women who have gone to PP for pregnancy tests or to obtain birth control and those who were pregnant were told just that. Medically accurate information? Please...you learn more medically accurate information in a junior high biology class then you'll learn from the "medical professionals" at a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic.
Another interesting fact, directly from the PP website - is that if you DO choose to continue your pregnancy, Planned Parenthood suddenly calls your child a "baby." Please note the following:
How Soon Do I Have to Decide?
If there is a chance that you will continue the pregnancy — you should begin prenatal care as soon as possible. You should have a medical exam early in your pregnancy to make sure that you are healthy and the pregnancy is normal.
You can get complete information about prenatal care and how to pay for it from your family doctor, your local Planned Parenthood center, other family planning clinics, women's health centers, and your state's department of family services. Good prenatal care is very important for a baby's health.
Really, Planned Parenthood? If a pregnancy does not mean you are carrying a human child, as their pro-abortion propaganda relates, why would prenatal care matter at all? Oh, I get it - if you WANT your baby, then he/she is a baby. If you DON'T want your "pregnancy" - he/she suddenly is not human, and instead of being worthy of prenatal medical care (which as we see above is actually encouraged by Planned Parenthood for those women who WANT their child), is simply something you are able to destroy. Which is it, Planned Parenthood? If Planned Parenthood itself truly believed a pregnancy is not a valuable human life, in no way would they encourage prenatal care for those mothers who want to have their children. Why should they? Why would a "blob" need medical care? Better yet, why should a woman need to do all this (directly from PP's website) if they WANT their pregnancy to continue:
Taking Care of Yourself
Eat enough good food — fruits, vegetables, cereals, breads, beans, rice, and dairy products, as well as fish, meat, and poultry.
Keep your body in good shape. Stay active and get regular exercise.
Get plenty of sleep.
Do not smoke.
Do not drink alcohol.
Limit drinks with caffeine, like coffee and cola.
Do not eat junk food.
Do not take any drugs or medications — not even aspirin — without checking with your clinician.
So Planned Parenthood, why would getting solid nutrients and avoiding harmful substances matter to a pregnant woman if the pregnancy is not an actual valuable life? Why would a woman need to protect the contents of her womb (also known as a baby) and care for him/her in this way before birth, if really (according to Planned Parenthood) he/she is just a blob? I think that every person who has ever taken a biology class knows the answer to this question. Unborn life is LIFE - and worth being protected, especially in the delicate prenatal stages of development.
You can't have it both ways - and Planned Parenthood knows this. Sadly, because of the "convenience" of their on-demand abortions and brain-washing propaganda aimed at convincing women that their pregnancies are nothing more than a simple inconvenience that popping a pill can fix (literally now, with the abortion pill), Planned Parenthood continues on, destroying a third of my generation's population. A third. That is one amazing statistic. No wonder there are problems with Social Security and the economy. One third of the people who should be here with us were killed before they had a chance to take a simple breath.
I could write on this subject for hours, but going back to my original subject, Starbucks is listed on the Planned Parenthood website under this introduction:
The following companies all generously match employee donations to Planned Parenthood Federation of America. If your employer is on this list, then you can make your gift go as much as twice as far.
Call me crazy, but I can't justify supporting this company anymore. I am realistic and do know that you can't boycott everything, and that Starbucks won't even notice the TINY dent that me not purchasing their products will make. At the same time, I will know. Sometimes it is worth living a conviction, even if it seems the outcome will be so small that no one will notice. Human life is worth that to me. Is it to you?
(For even more information, read this woman's article - it was really interesting and well written! http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=45694)
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