toms shoes controversy

I take back my earlier post about TOMS shoes.

I don't support TOMS anymore. You might have heard about this, maybe not. Read this article and others for information. Basically, after the taping that I attended, a bunch of pro-gay/abortion online people started a petition and a bunch of flamy internet blog posts and Blake Mycoskie apologized and said that appearing on the show was a "mistake." They had a problem with Focus on the Family's traditional Christian(particularly the traditional marriage) values, and Blake Mycoskie(who is also a Christian) caved.

I won't go too into this..(not a good subject to talk about on the internet) but I'm really disappointed with Mr. Mycoskie. All the persecution/criticism/name calling comes with the Christian package. You even get kudos for it in heaven. But only if you stand up to it. But no:

Here's the official release:

"Had I known the full extent of Focus on the Family's beliefs, I would not have accepted the invitation to speak at their event. It was an oversight on my part and the company's part and one we regret. In the last 18 months we have presented at over 70 different engagements and we do our best to make sure we choose our engagements wisely, on this one we chose poorly."

This sucks. Focus on the Family is no hate group and treats everybody with respect. They just do radio shows and books, and they do them out of genuine love for the community. There isn't any anger, cursing, pounding of fists, tearing down houses and torching buildings or anything that comes with the label "hate group". They don't agree with everybody, but nothing does.

He "didn't know the extent of FoF's beliefs"? Seriously? All the angry blogosphere folks know the "full extent of Focus on the Family's beliefs" and they weren't contracted for an interview. Riighht. Like in the article, I'm sure he knew, but he didn't expect anybody to notice. And now that they do, he's suddenly dropping Focus on the Family like a hot potato.

It was an awesome event. They sold like 350 pairs of shoes. He told stories that made me laugh and cry. We prayed for him. How could he say that he regretted it?

The event inspired me and my mother to think differently and to make a difference in the world. My mom even emailed our relatives about it. No one said a word about homosexuality. They weren't even giving partners. FoF had no intention to go to Africa and force antigay beliefs down people's throats. It was just a show, like advertising.

There are only like 500 signatures on the actual petition. I know people with more Facebook friends than that. What kind of example in the "stand up against persecution and stick to your beliefs" department is that?

We were going to go to Nordstroms and buy a pair. Not anymore.  1500+ Focus on the Family supporters, including me, went to hear him and bought TOMS because we believed in his dreams and his vision, and it feels sort of like he turned his back on us. Just a little.


*Feel free to comment. No hate please. I moderate these. . I have a dragon that guards me and is very protective. Even better, I have Jedi~Chick and Ember.