George Takei Blasts High Court's Birth Control Ruling, Calls For Hobby Lobby Boycott
They're in trouble now, and a hearty bravo to Mr. Takei!!
George Takei Blasts High Court's Birth Control Ruling, Calls For Hobby Lobby Boycott
The Huffington Post | By Shadee Ashtari
Posted: 07/01/2014 2:47 pm EDT Updated: 4 hours ago
Actor and human rights activist George Takei condemned the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby ruling Monday as a "stunning set-back for women's reproductive rights" in a post Tuesday on his personal blog, That Blog Is So Takei.
"Hobby Lobby is not a church. It's a business -- and a big one at that. Businesses must and should be required to comply with neutrally crafted laws of general applicability," Takei wrote. "Your boss should not have a say over your healthcare. Once the law starts permitting exceptions based on 'sincerely held religious beliefs' there's no end to the mischief and discrimination that will ensue."
In a 5-4 decision Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that closely held corporations can opt out of providing contraception coverage if it violates their sincere religious beliefs, a ruling Takei viewed as potentially skewed by the plaintiffs' Christian faith.
"In this case, the owners happen to be deeply Christian; one wonders whether the case would have come out differently if a Muslim-run chain business attempted to impose Sharia law on its employees," Takei said.
The "Star Trek" actor also criticized the craft store chain for spending millions of dollars on employee retirement plans that are invested in a variety of manufacturers that produce the same contraceptive products the company protested in its lawsuit.
"It also buys most of its inventory from China, where forced abortions are common," Takei added. "The hypocrisy is galling."
Takei urged readers to boycott Hobby Lobby and other for-profit businesses that deprive their employees of health coverage based on invasive religious beliefs.
"We are a nation that respects religious beliefs, but also the right not to have those beliefs imposed upon you by others. Our personal beliefs stop at the end of our noses," Takei concluded. "The only way such companies ever learn to treat people with decency and tolerance is to hit them where it counts -- in their pocketbooks."
= new reply since forum marked as read
I wish someone would also organize a boycott of Koch Industries... 
because it involves, y'know, women actually making their own life choices. Can't have that, am I right? 
Businesses are not religious endeavors so their religious philosophies are pointless if their employees are forced to follow them like oh say in the Spanish Inquisition or The Dark Ages because then they defeat the purpose of the whole idea of accepting Christ. Since most fundie types think "Prosperity Jesus" is real they feel it's okay to turn the shield of religious freedom into a sword that must be bowed down to. It's unacceptable for them to hold a woman's ability to carry hostage on the terms of "religious freedom" or at all.
I'm totally disgusted. 
I'm not an artist (or a scrapbooker!) but I occasionally buy art supplies for various reasons, including as gifts for the artists in my life.
Texas Art Supply has Pilot Razor Point II (also known as "crack in pen form"
for 30% off reg. price. I've bought from Dick Blick before and they have a ton of good merchandise at good prices.
I'm afraid my boycott of Hobby Lobby will do no good, because I've never shopped there and wasn't planning to anyway. I wonder what people like me could do (within legal bounds) to hurt them financially? Buy their stupid crap and return it for a refund? Wander around the store randomly moving merchandise to the wrong department? (I don't like that one so much -- just hurts the poor schlubs who have to restock the shelves.) Stage weird events like Flying Spaghetti Monster revivals (or Satanic rituals) in their stores? (Sounds fun, but could result in arrest.)
I'd be interested to know people's ideas for creative disruption of HL's business.
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Smart guy! And he uses his powers for Good. 
