PJ Media

When the AFA announced their Disney boycott, I thought “Give me a break! Disney bends over backwords to provide families with decent entertainment.” For example, their parks are geared toward families. Just compare a Disney park with a Six Flags or some other theme park. The others are all about the thrill rides and are full of teenagers there with their friends – not their families. They know their market. Disney parks, on the other hand, are full of families. The rides may not be quite as fun or thrilling, but the atmosphere is worlds different. Similarly, their animated features are clean and wholesome. They are aimed at smaller children, but usually include humoric elements that appeal to adults as well. The competitors (Shrek, et al) are geared to teenagers and young adults. They contain crude low-brow humor missing from their Disney counterparts. Consequently, even though AFA had issues with some of the things being done by Disney management, most of us felt like the good offered to families by Disney outweighed those decisions, and thereby chose not to join in the boycott. However, in this case I was appalled to see how openly and forwardly Ford was actively promoting and encouraging this “alternative lifestyle.” This isn’t about selling cars to gays, advertising in a magazine, or even offerening domestic partner benefits. This is about being the premiere sponsor of Gay-Pride festivals. The company is going out of their way to take sides in this issue. They’ve clearly decided which side they want to come down on – and it’s not in the middle. Once I learned what they were doing I decided not to buy another Ford. Consequently, when I replaced my Taurus, it was not with a Ford. When I needed a new minivan, I actually test drove a Windstar and really liked it, but I bought a Sienna. When my Contour finally gives up the ghost (which it’s about to do – it’s got a blown head gasket), it’ll be replaced with something other than a Ford. To suggest that this boycott has not had an impact, or to compare it to the Disney boycott is simply ostriching (hiding your head in the sand). You’re welcome to leave your head there as long as you’d like, but you’re not going to gain a very accurate or complete view of the world around you.