The Success of AFA’s Ford Boycott Is a Disney-esque Fairy Tale
Whether the boycott is effective against Ford is not really the point. It needs to stay. Companies like Ford are created to provide a product for the public, profits for owners, and jobs for employees. When they are misguided into social causes, political causes, or moral disputes, they are crusading for something completely unrelated to any of those three functions. They will just have to take the consequences of alienating a large and growing number of potential customers aware of, and offended by, their detour. Let the boycott stay as long as it takes. We’ll not be living in caves.
Incidentally, I have gay friends. I treat them with respect. Likewise, gay strangers. I work with gay professionals in my work. I still disagree with their choice on the gay issue. I feel no animosity toward them.
I do feel that I have the right to withdraw my financial support when a company seeks to promote or actively support what I consider a grave, deplorable, mistake, with respect to an issue of moral principle. I feel strongly enough about it, that I am willing to change long habits and decisions of 40 years standing.
