McDonald's USA is off the menu!!

[mzteris]

McDonalds President and Chief of Operations Don Thompson is under fire for making disparaging remarks about the gay and lesbian community in a recent interview with the Chicago Tribune. Thomas claimed that since he was Christian, McDonalds would not run any gay positive ads in the USA.

. . . "I’ve never shied away from the fact that I’m a Christian. I have my own personal beliefs and I don’t impose those on anybody else. I’ve been in countries where the majority of the people in the country don’t believe in a deity or they may be atheist. Or the majority of the country is Muslim. Or it may be the majority is much younger skewed. So when you look at all these differences, it’s not that I’m to be the judge or the jury relative to right or wrong. Having said that, at McDonald’s, there are core values we stand for and the world is getting much closer. So we have a lot of conversations. We’re going to make some mistakes at times. (We talk) about things that may have an implication in one part of the world and may be the cultural norm in another part of the world. And those are things that, yes, we’re going to learn from. But, you’re right, that commercial won’t show in the United States."

he National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce -- the largest GLBT business group in the country with 1.4 million businesses -- has severed their relationship with McDonald's, writing in a letter:

We strongly believe that McDonald's plan to distance itself from LGBT and other diverse business segments, coupled with the release of the French TV ad, is ill advised and counter to the spirit of good business and sound ethics. We sincerely hope that McDonald's will reconsider its position and that the company will again show its support for LGBT people, our families and our businesses -- not just where it is politically expedient, but around the globe.

Barring a significant change in policy on the part of McDonald's, please consider this letter as official notice that the NGLCC will not accept future support or membership by McDonald's or any of its subsidiaries. Additionally, please note that we will answer any questions about this communication, the past relationship between our organizations or any other questions by members of the NGLCC, the media or other interested parties with nothing less than factual and accurate information based on our communications and experiences with McDonald's and its representatives.



(Not that they should be ON the menu anyway! And I'm not just saying that because I'm a vegetarian. Fastfood is killing us. They should call it "fatsfood" instead. )

[Bitwit1234]

1. Don't bother me I like Subway better any way...

McDonalds hamburgers taste like leather.

[Warpy]

2. Good, people will be healthier if they don't eat that shite.

You want fast food, try Subway. I can get 3 meals out of a foot long and I can make it a healthy foot long.

[nichomachus]

12. I love foot longs. Oh, wait a minute, you're

Talking about sandwiches, aren't you?

[midnight]

3. Impressive move by the GLBT Chamber of Commerce. I have just made

my very first batch of black bean burgers for my fathers day party on Sunday. I could not believe how wonderful they look and taste. Can't wait to serve them.

[RKP5637]

4. Haven't eaten in a McDonald's grease pit in years... n/t

[Me.]

5. He's No Christian

In the true sense of the word

[provis99]

6. ah, the old "No True Scotsman" argument.

He's a christian.

[Angry Dragon]

7. Would "not a practicing Christian" be a better term??

[Me.]

15. The Catch Phrase Is... In The True Sense Of The Word

As in one who follows the actual teachings of Christ. And I would venture to guess that he believes he is practicing what Christ taught.

[Touchdown]

10. Yes, he is.

I've met many Christians who aren't homophobic, but all the homophobes I met in my life are Christian.

[mzteris]

11. you've met "many"?

Really? I've met a handful out of the thousands of "christians" I know.

[Touchdown]

13. I get a deduction for charity.

;)

[storm143]

18. I've met lots of homophobes who are not Christian.

Beyond that, Jesus, from whom the term Christian derives, never ever taught that we should exclude or judge anyone. In fact, his message of acceptance and love for one another is totally contrary to what Mr. Thompson advocates. Mr Thompson has bought into the lies and distortions that have turned modern Christianity into an exclusionary, rejecting group of close minded bigots. The early church turned away from Christ's teachings and dealt quite violently with those who presented a different view. So one could say he is aligned with the thug Christianity that unfortunately permeates our society today.

[Touchdown]

19. Well good for you

I haven't. It also seems that Jesus and Edward Scissorhands have the same personality and message.

[beyurslf]

8. O man, my kids love McDs and now I don't think I can go there.

I have always preferred Burger King myself.

[Touchdown]

9. Big Mac? Quarter Pounder? Sounds like a Bear's personal ad.

I'm just sayin'.

[Left coast liberal]

14. Why would you eat that crap anyway? You are too smart for that!

[mzteris]

16. I wouldn't! I'm a vegetarian!!

but anything to get the message across to America, corporate america, humanity, "christians", etc. . . that GLBT are a force to be reckoned with and they'd better stop being such complete idiots where equal rights are concerned!!!

[storm143]

17. As a gay Christian

I find Mr. Thompsons' assessment to be a bit on the shallow side. There are many Christians who do not believe as he does. Who in fact believe that Christ calls his followers to love and accept ALL God's children. He's basically abandoned the principles that Jesus died for in order to have a basis to justify excluding people. But leaving aside how one manages to justify drawing that contradictory and exclusionary line in the sand, I have another question. If Mr. Thompson is CEO of McDonald's, why doesn't he impose this ban throughout the whole company? Worldwide? If he were truly convicted to believe as he does on the basis of his religion, he would not tolerate it in any part of the corporation. What seems more likely is that he senses he is more likely to get away with spreading his homophobia in the U.S. where democracy has never meant equality for all.