With a Capital “H”

From an email I received today from a right-wing extremist group, the American Family Association, I learned that McDonald's is "aggressively promoting the homosexual agenda" as it gave a donation to the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. Apparently, McDonald's is proud of it, too, which really irks the AFA. I personally didn't know there was a NGLCC, so I suppose I'll have to make a motion to add "better publicity" to the homosexual agenda at some time.

I almost stopped for an Egg McMuffin this morning in light of the news, but I didn't have enough time. With all the family/marriage destroying, child brainwashing, and natural disaster creating left to do today, I really didn't have time to wait for a minimum-wage earner to take off that factory-farmed slab of Canadian bacon.

Okay, not really. My homosexual agenda today really includes cleaning up the yard, fixing a toilet, and cleaning the garage, which should explain why I'm procrastinating by writing this post. Oh, and because McDonald employees continue to ask whether we would like a "girl toy" or a "boy toy" when we order a Happy Meal for my partner's child, I'm trying to respect her wish not to frequent the evil McKingdom which subliminally influences life choices for everyone. I'm guessing that either toy could be a cheap piece of poison made by a 7 year old slave somewhere, but that would just be piling on.

Honestly, I'm never sure whether the list I carry in my jeans pocket (sewn on in some overseas sweatshop) is a shopping list or a boycott list.

At the last State Gathering for the Wisconsin State Green Party, there was a short, but passionate debate issue surrounding veganism. Some members think that consuming meat and other animal products is in direct conflict with our non-violence and ecological wisdom pillars. Others think veganism is a slap in the face to the small organic farmer who is struggling to use sustainable agricultural and aqua-farming methods. I'm simplifying for space reasons, but there were points taken by each side. While I'm proud that we're finally examining some of our own practices, I was alarmed (yet oddly comforted) to find that some engage in similar or worse habits than I!

I support my congregation's efforts to reduce its environmental footprint and wish it would quit having ham dinners, but often take an SUV to church. I ask my partner when our first CSA share will arrive while eating a lunch which includes a banana. I had "cage-free eggs" for breakfast, not knowing if the layers were free-range or just packed together like, well, chickens ("cage-free" doesn't necessarily mean their feet touch the ground). I try not to eat "meat", but I use dairy products and wear leather shoes. I'll put every scrap of paper in the house into the recycle bin, but then forget to take the canvas bags to the grocery store. I love organic, fair trade, shade-grown, locally roasted coffee and small locally-owned booksellers, but every once in awhile I find myself in a Barnes and Noble with a Starbucks cappuccino in my hand. I was so thirsty at Saturday night's Gallery Walk, I chugged water from two plastic bottles while talking to Rep. Hintz about puppy mills (he'd say it was because I was doing so much talking).

The closest category that defines my consumer habits isn't "union-friendly", "locally-owned", "organic", "vegan or vegetarian", or "green"; it's "H-y-p-o-c-r-i-t-e" with a capital "H".

The local Lake Winnebago Green Party has discussed printing a guide with suggestions for local consumers. I'll be honest about this, too; we're having trouble drawing the lines about what makes a store, restaurant, or business "good" and/or "green" for the Oshkosh area. I'm curious as to how other Main Street Oshkosh readers make their choices. Where are your personal lines drawn? Where will you bend? Does it make a difference to you when corporations are major donors to progressive causes? Does philanthropy trump environmental concerns? Vegan, vegetarian, or hypocrite?

Posted in: Food and Business