The Wal-Mart Thought Police

[Sapphire Blue]

The Wal-Mart Thought Police

(excerpt)

Perhaps there is some legitimacy (however hysterical) to their objections to irreverent images. Yet the political bias inherent in Wal-Mart's criteria became clearer when Wal-Mart's merchandiser for films found Robert Greenwald's acclaimed documentary, "Uncovered: The Whole Truth About the Iraq War," (produced with the support of the Center for American Progress) inappropriate for Wal-Mart. For no conceivable reason could a documentary involving no gratuitous violence, expletives, or sex be inappropriate, other than its criticism of a conservative political administration.

Pathetically, the rationale for these items is that they "would not appeal to the majority of our customers" or would offend those proverbial family values. Fine, if they know their designated market and have complaints pouring in from their consumers. Except that those two books were both fixtures on the bestseller list for months and Sheryl Crow, Nirvana and the Goo Goo Dolls are top selling entertainers. And those items that are not religiously objectionable demonstrate the degree of hypocrisy within the "family values" standards.

Even something as potentially broadly appealing, positive, and utterly non-offensive as a T-shirt reading "Someday a woman will be president" was pulled from the sales floor because "the message goes against Wal-Mart family values." So old school patriarchy and sexism are Wal-Mart values? Seems a little retrograde and moot in the age of "take your daughter to work day."

<snip>

In all seriousness, the most self-defeating attitude for progressives would be to give an elitist sneer to those who shop at Wal-Mart, shrugging our shoulders not only at Wal-Mart's censorship but at its union busting, sex discrimination, and reprehensibly stingy health plans for already underpaid workers. To Wal-Mart shoppers: There's nothing wrong with wanting religious or G-rated entertainment material in your own home, and wanting to shield children from materials that you find offensive. But it is a problem when the biggest retailer in the country -- a staple for millions of people -- only offers up a sanitized world of culture that is comprised primarily of "Veggie Tales" videos and Toby Keith albums (wonder if they include the "gonna put a boot in your ass" lyric).

Continued @ http://www.alternet.org/wiretap/24069/

[mark11727]

1. I dunno --- I could've sworn I saw a DVD of "Fahrenheit 9/11" there once.

[Sapphire Blue]

6. I've never gone into a Walmart, but they apparently offer it on...

... their website (along w/the rebuttal)... results from a "Fahrenheit 9/11" search":

Fahrenheit 9/11
Michael Moore
Release Date: 10/05/2004
DVD, Rating: R, Runtime: 112, Color, Closed Captioned, Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment, 10/05/2004
DVD $21.60

Songs And Artists That Inspired Fahrenheit 9/11
Various Artists - Alternative
Release Date: 10/05/2004
Music Inspired By Fahrenheit 9/11
CD See Music Downloads for this album
List price: $18.98
Our Price: $14.88
You Save: $4.10 (22%)

The Official Fahrenheit 9/11 Reader
Moore, Michael
Paperback, Simon & Schuster, 2004, ISBN# 0743272927
Paperback List price: $14.00
Our Price: $9.66
You Save: $4.34 (31%)

Fahrenheit 9-12: Rebuttal To Fahrenheit 9/11
Paperback, Iuniverse Inc, 2004, ISBN# 0595337406
Paperback
List price: $15.95
Our Price: $14.99
You Save: $0.96 (6%)
Out of Stock

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/search-ng.gsp?search_constraint=0&search_query=Fahrenheit+9%2F11&ics=20&ico=0&Continue.x=19&Continue.y=2

[Sapphire Blue]

7. Interesting... I just found "Uncovered" on their website.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2625089

I wonder if their standards are different for online merchandise?

[lukasahero]

2. "So old school patriarchy and sexism are Wal-Mart values?" In a word,

yes. Oh, was this supposed to be a rhetorical question? :grr:

[ochazuke]

3. Time for guerilla retailing

We could get some empty DVD or video cassette cases with the documentary's information pasted on the outside and information about Wal-Mart's polices on the reverse.

When the customer arrived at the cashier, they've find out that it's not a saleable item, and they'd find instructions to petition Wal-Mart to be fair and stock the real thing.

[holboz]

4. I never understood why WM sold Grand Theft Auto...

...whilst it bans albums based on a non-offensive lyric or hardly questionable album artwork.

But WM is a conservative company so the hypocrisy is hardly surprising. And horribly frustrating.

Viva la Target!!!!!!!!!

[lildreamer316]

5. THEY SELL THONGS!! at wally world.

Hypocrites.
(and condoms?)
(and ALCOHOL!!)