I like to read articles from The Atlantic magazine. And that is probably a little clue to my political leaning. But an article written by Jonathan Merritt definitely deserves a mention in the losttouchwith blog. Why? Because he talks about the ineffective (as he describes them) boycott measures that this country seems to be using more than a little these days.
For those of you who would like to read his article online, you can find it here (sorry, you'll have to copy and paste, links don't seem to be working right on blogger today):
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/07/in-defense-of-eating-at-chick-fil-a/260139
What he fails to account for is the emotional benefit of the ability to boycott. I am one of those that will boycott Chick-fil-A even though I do like their food. I will boycott them because I do not want my hard earned money to be able to be contributed to any cause I don't believe in. That is, in my opinion, a little naive of a view, because I also purchase fuel, shop for clothes, eat at various restaurants, and generally consume goods at many places where my earnings are being passed on and used for causes I don't believe in. But emotionally it feels better when I take a stand of some sort.
In the long run, does it do any good? Maybe not in the larger world view. But it allows me to make a statement about what I believe in my own small way. And that allows me to stay in touch with my own sense of self, something that many people in the world and our own United States have lost touch with in this day and age.
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