I have often wondered about H.E.B.Buddy.
Posted on 07/11/2006 11:03:00 AM PDT by 300magnum
San Antonio, Texas -- site of the famous 19th-century battle at the Alamo -- is now host to another potential battle that is brewing, this one between homosexual activists and conservative Christians. The battle is centered on, of all things, a statewide chain of grocery stores.
The H-E-B Grocery Company, with headquarters in Kerrville, began more than 100 years ago with one tiny family store. It now boasts over 300 stores across the Lone Star State and in northern Mexico and more than 56,000 employees. It also boasts of giving millions of dollars annually to charitable organizations, educational initiatives, and relief efforts in the areas it serves. But its recent, albeit small ($300) donation to Pridefest San Antonio -- a pro-homosexual celebration -- has caught the attention of a local Christian radio personality.
Adam McManus hosts a daily drive-time, live call-in talk show called "Take A Stand" on KSLR (630 AM), a Salem Communications radio station. He feels that H-E-B was founded on solid Christian values in 1905, but contends that Charles Butt, who has been the chain's CEO since 1971, has clearly taken the company in a different direction.
"On Saturday, June 17, much to the disappointment of loyal customers throughout South Texas, H-E-B chose to sponsor the San Antonio Homosexual Pridefest at Hemisfair Park ..," McManus writes on his website, noting the company has contributed financially to similar observances in Austin as well. In fact, he says, the grocery store chain displayed a float in an Austin homosexual parade two weeks before the Hemisfair event -- right alongside floats from groups such as The Texas Gay Rodeo Association, The Transgender Advocates of Central Texas, and the Central Texas Boys of Leather.
McManus has since led three pickets at various H-E-B outlets in the Alamo City, challenged his listeners to boycott H-E-B -- and provided proof on his website of the company's promotion of the homosexual agenda. He claims his exposing of the company's involvement with the pro-homosexual event has resulted in "hundreds" of his listeners e-mailing and calling H-E-B with their complaints.
In an interview with the San Antonio Express-News, a spokeswoman with H-E-B explained that "inclusiveness" has always been an element of the company's policy. "We want to treat all our customers and [employees] with dignity and respect," stated Winell Herron, noting the company gives "millions of dollars annually" to charities and educational entities. The company says the donation in question was approved by H-E-B's Regional Diversity Council.
But the radio talk-show host told the Express-News that it is not the amount of the financial contribution that bothers him, but the principle. He said Christians are protesting that H-E-B would give any amount of money "to a group of people defined by their sin."
And McManus notes that no one would argue with H-E-B that it should treat its customers and employees with dignity and respect, regardless of their sexual preference. "But in no way," he says, "does that translate to agreement with and financial support of having unnatural, immoral, unbiblical sex with one's own gender." McManus also states that area Christians are bothered that H-E-B, "with deep roots in Christianity, would so willingly abandon their principles for the sake of political correctness."
Hoping to energize the Christian community to convince H-E-B it is making a poor business decision, McManus is offering an 11-step action plan and online petition on his website. Among the steps is an attempt to demonstrate, via consumers' receipts from area competitors, how much money the grocer has lost by "promoting the radical homosexual agenda and turning their back on Texas Christian families," says McManus.
According to the Express-News, members of the San Antonio homosexual community have begun a counter-campaign to McManus' efforts, and are urging individuals to contact H-E-B and thank the company for its commitment to diversity.
Other sponsors of the San Antonio event included Well Fargo Bank, The Gay and Lesbian Yellow Pages, Halo Beers, and Miller Lite.
Miller Lite! Oh, the horror!
LOL
With a last name like that, what do you expect?
Is there a company out there that has not embraced buggering?
Silliness! Who cares. The store donates to organizations as an advertising tool. Homosexuals buy food. Giving this group $300 bucks to get the store's name on the list of donors is pretty cheap advertising.
I'm sure they donated to all sorts of other organizations that this sellevangelist would appprove of. I'm sure they donate something to just about anyone who asks.
Everyone buys food.
Is there a company out there that has not embraced buggering?
oops, sorry for the duplicate post.
"Is there a company out there that has not embraced buggering?"
Probably not very many. All the major corps do it, just like they donate to the "Poor Sick Cats Society" and the "Save the Coyote Coalition."
Everybody buys stuff.
I got that name beat, the Mayor of Pasadena TX is named John Manlove. The last name you would ever want in Junior high.
I go to the grocery store for food--not to make a political statement.
Corporate America went left some time ago. They give charitable contributions in things that do not benefit the employees nor the shareholders. It is debatable if they even benefit the community. Quite often, they are aligned left.
Boycott is always a valid exercise, but you may soon have few places to turn. What is better is to hold their feet to the fire and get them to admit their support for the homosexual agenda.
Some stadiums have REACHED OUT and INVITED homosexual groups to buy a quantity discount of seats and then claimed non-involvement when the day is promoted as a "gay pride" event.
It is not ok to donate to an organization which stands for immorality. Can't see why some of you don't see that.
I have often wondered about H.E.B.Buddy.
LOL...pseudofed sales to meth dealers! Man, that is one hard drug to buy these days...getting a security clearance was much easier.
My worry is that this guy is going to make the supermarket stop giving money to everyone. For example, I would imagine that they donate to everyone that stops by so breast cancer runs, ms runs, etc. I believe this 300 dollars was given to one person who asked the store for a donation. I don't believe that the store said, "Alright now we are pro-homosexual or want gay marriage". This guy might end up doing more damage than he intended.
Well businesses are not like the gubmit and can be selective. Target has certainly proven that.
Not only that, but HEB is quite active in civic affairs and puts a lot back into the community. But all this dude can see is a $300 donation to a gay group. Big whoop.
First Kurt Busch driving the #2 Nextel Cup car and now this.
Well businesses are not like the gubmit and can be selective. Target has certainly proven that.
Boy you are right on that one!
Well businesses are not like the gubmit and can be selective. Target has certainly proven that.
Actually, I thought about it and I am madder at Target not allowing Salvation Army on their property than I am this grocery store sponsoring a day event. I mean who is really doing more damage to the christian overall?
I worked with a guy whose last name was Manlick.
THey will change the name to Miller Lite-in-the-loafers.
Boycotting the stores is a fine way for people to voice their displeasure in a legal, nonviolent way. Problem is, a long-term boycott is going to be terribly inconvenient. While I haven't heard of H.E.B. before reading this article, I imagine they're pretty common down in Texas. It's not unreasonable to assume that these stores are often the closest option for a lot of people or that they offer the lowest prices. How long will people last before the boycott takes its toll and they go back to shopping at H.E.B.?
He wrote anus... heh..heh...heh.....
heh heh. Chucky Butt.
I once saw a name in the phone book, Richard Head.
I dunno about the Christians, but are the Jews upset about "HEB" groceries? I mean, unless they don't sell pork chops...
By the way, I own a bottle of beer created by the He'Brew Brewing company. Haven't drunk it yet (drank? drinken? drunken? I never could conjugate that verb...). Somehow, an empty bottle of He'Brew just isn't as funny.
Miller Lite in the Loafers?
Big deal... the networks incorrectly announced that the winner of the New Hampshire Senate race years ago (won by Bob Smith) was Dick Swett.
Isn't that the problem? People oppose promotions of homosexual events, but they aren't willing to put their money where their mouth is.
If all HEB customers do just l0% less shopping there, that will make a HUGE impact on the company.
Don't live in Texas, but I would certainly at least shop at HEB less if I lived there. And I would send them a letter stating why.
Another guy with the last name of Glasscock.
"It is not ok to donate to an organization which stands for immorality. Can't see why some of you don't see that.
"
OK. So don't shop at that store. For me, shopping is something I do where I get the best value for my money. What organizations the store donates to is of no concern to me. I chose my own charities, and figure everyone else ought to as well, without my input.
"My worry is that this guy is going to make the supermarket stop giving money to everyone. For example, I would imagine that they donate to everyone that stops by so breast cancer runs, ms runs, etc. I believe this 300 dollars was given to one person who asked the store for a donation. I don't believe that the store said, "Alright now we are pro-homosexual or want gay marriage". This guy might end up doing more damage than he intended."
"How long will people last before the boycott takes its toll and they go back to shopping at H.E.B.?
"
What people? If this boycott pulls in a few hundred people, I'll be surprised. It sounds like yet another publicity stunt for the sellevangelist guy.
What about a store that donates to the communist party, or supports NAMBLA, or the Neo Nazis etc.?
"What about a store that donates to the communist party, or supports NAMBLA, or the Neo Nazis etc.?"
One more thing: Don't go to their web site and look at their diversity statement. You'll really be angry then. They're also big into the hispanic community, and I'll bet they even let illegals shop in their stores.
They also have stores in Mexico, and I'll bet you're more likely to get a job in any of their stores if you're bilingual.
I don't know about you, but I shop where it's convenient and where they have a wide selection of products at good prices. I let the store donate to whomever they want to donate to. None of my business.
I'll bet you can get good tortillas in an HEB store. That's not easy up here in Minnesota. I have to go clear down to Cesar Chavez Street to find decent ones.
Too much ado over 300 dollars.
"Who's more irrational? The guy who believes in a God he can't see? Or the guy who is offended by a God he doesn't believe in?" Brad Stine
Another guy with the last name of Glasscock.
That's an interesting crowd you run with. LOL!!
Unles H-E-B can demonstrate its inclusion of left-handed polo players I don't see how it can possibly be demonstrating a commitment to diversity. They should be boycotted. And I don't even want to TALK about their lack of support for height-challenged mud wrestlers.
Shalom.
Exactly. ZZZZzzzzzzzzz.....
Opened.
Shalom.
I hope that's not true. What if they donated to the Taliban?
You may not be concerned about homosexuality, but there are some things you should not allow your money to help support.
Shalom.
"Too much ado over 300 dollars."
Oh, I imagine the sellevangelist with the radio station is hoping to get lots more than that in donations. Good luck to him. Boycotts are good business for those calling them. All they have to do is get the attention of the perpetually offended and they can pull in the bucks. In the meantime, everyone else will still be shopping at this chain like they always have.
$300. Pocket change.
"I hope that's not true. What if they donated to the Taliban?
"
Oh, that seems highly unlikely, doncha think? Someone else mentioned NAMBLA. You can erect as many straw men as you like, but that's silly.
This is over a corporation donating $300 to some gay pride thing. They'll get some good publicity in that demographic and maybe pick up some new customers. Good business decision, I'd say. $300. Heck, I donate more than that to lots of organizations, and I'm just a little one-person business.
Way overblown.
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