When otherwise non-political entities become political

[Sam Vara]

I tend to agree that this looks more like marketing than anything else. Businesses and other organisations carefully observe which way the wind is blowing, and then engage in branding exercises to tweak the way they are seen by their consumers and potential consumers.

Something rather different happened in the UK last year, when some large businesses "declared" for one side or the other of the Brexit debate. This was less about branding than attempting to influence the decision in the way that the company thought advantageous. When it comes to economics, businesses tend to be quietly political all of the time. We tend to notice it more when the issue - as in the gay marriage debate - has a more tenuous link to the entity's main concerns or business.

[Mr Man]

And from the UK

Is the poppy a political symbol?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-37834224

[DooDoot]

In this topic, I would like us to discuss the pros and cons of such endeavours, and the issues that arise from such engagement.

I think qualifications are important. For example, when the govt legalises a new drug, they don't ask unmarried football players to approve the new drug. Instead, they obtain advice from medical experts. The illogical thing about the same-sex marriage survey is the govt is asking people who don't have families to vote. If only parents with children were allowed to vote, what would the outcome be? The left-wing cultural-marxists are doing their usual violent kamma in the name of tolerance & nondiscrimination:

Former prime minister Tony Abbott says he was attacked by a same-sex marriage campaigner in Hobart, who headbutted him and said "you deserve it" before running away.

Mr Abbott, who has been campaigning for the No vote in the same-sex marriage postal survey, was in Tasmania to attend a Young Liberal cocktail party on Thursday evening when the alleged incident occurred.

He told Macquarie Radio he was headbutted by a campaigner wearing a "Vote Yes" badge after the man approached him and asked to shake his hand.

Mr Abbott said his injuries were minor, and that he had a "very slightly swollen lip".

[chownah]

In Australia, Catholicism was historically left-wing.

Interesting!

- - -

I think we should be careful in our definition of "political activism". Putting up a poster saying that LBJTO people should be treated respectfully and not be disciminated against is not in my view "political activism". Even having talks or presenting literature that explains (for instance) that black lives matters is not a single organisation and so it is best to consider that anything a blm organisation support should not be taken as necessarily representative of what other blm organisations do is not in my view "political activism".

The problem of course is that people seeing these posters or hearing the talks or reading the literature may be likely to politicize these things in their minds and conversations.

Why display such posters, if not with the intention for political activism?

With regard to the LBJRO poster it might be to promote morality. With regard to the BLM to educate so that people so that will not make the mistake of assigning one groups views onto another group.
chownah

[chownah]

I tend to agree that this looks more like marketing than anything else.

While I am sure that no executive in a responsible position would promulagate something which would seriously hurt the bottom line I think it is good to remember that even executives in responsible positions can be morally upright individuals and take risks in the name of furthering moral uprightness.
chownah

[Sam Vara]

I tend to agree that this looks more like marketing than anything else.

While I am sure that no executive in a responsible position would promulagate something which would seriously hurt the bottom line I think it is good to remember that even executives in responsible positions can be morally upright individuals and take risks in the name of furthering moral uprightness.
chownah

Yes, perhaps my assessment was a bit cynical. I think you are right - or at least I hope so!

[Mr Man]

Two other stories that have been in the news recently

Chelsea condemn anti-Semitic Alvaro Morata chant from fans at Leicester

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41216477

Romelu Lukaku: Striker says it is time to 'move on' from controversial chant

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41356197

United posted on social media ahead of Wednesday's Carabao Cup win over Burton Albion - in which Belgium forward Lukaku was an unused substitute - that "action will be taken against any offensive behaviour", reminding supporters of the club's commitment to racial harmony.

[chownah]

Having a commintment to racial harmony is not political activism....it is moral activism.
chownah

[Sam Vara]

Having a commintment to racial harmony is not political activism....it is moral activism.
chownah

It depends on the level of commitment. Fostering understanding and harmony between racial and cultural groups is moral. Abolishing national boundaries and communities in a big homage to internationalism is sometimes less so.

[chownah]

Having a commintment to racial harmony is not political activism....it is moral activism.
chownah

It depends on the level of commitment. Fostering understanding and harmony between racial and cultural groups is moral. Abolishing national boundaries and communities in a big homage to internationalism is sometimes less so.

Sorry, I wasn't very clear. I was responding to the post previous to mine which ended with this:

United posted on social media ahead of Wednesday's Carabao Cup win over Burton Albion - in which Belgium forward Lukaku was an unused substitute - that "action will be taken against any offensive behaviour", reminding supporters of the club's commitment to racial harmony.

Nothing related to nat'l boundaries or nationalism here I think. Sorry I wasn't clearer in my posting.
chownah

[Sam Vara]

Sorry, I wasn't very clear. I was responding to the post previous to mine which ended with this:

United posted on social media ahead of Wednesday's Carabao Cup win over Burton Albion - in which Belgium forward Lukaku was an unused substitute - that "action will be taken against any offensive behaviour", reminding supporters of the club's commitment to racial harmony.

Nothing related to nat'l boundaries or nationalism here I think. Sorry I wasn't clearer in my posting.
chownah

No, my fault. I made a general point based on your specific one. "True but not right", as Ajahn Chah said. Your post is perfectly clear.

[Mr Man]

Having a commintment to racial harmony is not political activism....it is moral activism.
chownah

However the whole story does have a political aspect to it, in my opinion. Manchester United had, apparently come under pressure from "Kick It Out" a campaign group and the Football Association. The chant was directed toward their own star player so possibly the fans did not see the chant as offensive but rather humorous. That external bodies (to the club) should be able to dictate what can be sung could be seen as infringing on the culture and traditions of football fans.

Another story

Leicester City ban three fans for homophobic chants at Brighton match

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/ ... ans-500745

All three of these stories are from the last month.

[DooDoot]

In this topic, I would like us to discuss the pros and cons of such endeavours, and the issues that arise from such engagement.

These organisations who make money from defiled (kilesa) activities can strongly influence defiled people, including children who have strong tendencies to be influenced or conditioned by defilement (kilesa). I will share an example of this, which I experienced three days ago & which supported the reason why I marked the box "No".

Three-days ago I was in the water at the beach, alone, at sunset. Its school holidays and two sets of children decided to join me in the water. The 1st set of children were with their Aboriginal parents from a nearby large but isolated Aboriginal community. The two girls (around 12-13yo and 8 yo) were playing naturally with their father & having fun, in a natural family like manner. The other three (white) girls were not with their parents & playing cheekily as girls do. Based on their talk, at least two were sisters although all three were probably sisters. They were around 12yo, 9yo and 7yo.

Then, at a certain time, the 9yo & 7yo were kissing each other on the lips & they were all laughing "like gay marriage". Here, is a classic example of how children are so easily influenced by and experiment with social ideas presented to them. So now there is not merely young girls (which I see at the beach often) pretending they are pop stars erotically dancing & porn models taking raunchy I-Phone pictures of each other. Now there is a new cultural Marxist conditioning of young children pretending they are gay married. Instead, of little girls playing with dolls as they used to do, pretending they are mothers, based on the role model of their parents, they can now pretend they are raunchy pop stars, porn stars & gay couples. The cultural Marxism grows & grows and those who disagree with it are demonized & crucified as homophobic, misogynist, antisemitic, Nazi, etc.

[binocular]

/.../ The cultural Marxism grows & grows and those who disagree with it are demonized & crucified as homophobic, misogynist, antisemitic, Nazi, etc.

What does Marxism have to do with any of this???

[Sam Vara]

/.../ The cultural Marxism grows & grows and those who disagree with it are demonized & crucified as homophobic, misogynist, antisemitic, Nazi, etc.

What does Marxism have to do with any of this???

Cultural Marxism is held by some to be behind the recent erosion of traditional distinctions and/or values.