This is the response that I received from McDonalds. I will bet that is a marginally personalized form letter.Mark Rouleau
rouleau-law@insightbb.com
----- Original Message -----Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2008 6:05 AMSubject: Message from McDonald's USA
Hello Mark:
Thank you for contacting McDonald's. We appreciate this opportunity to share information regarding our commitment to our employees as well as the communities that we serve.
First, it's important to note that McDonald's respects and values people. Diversity and inclusion are business imperatives and integral components of McDonald's culture. We believe that by embracing our differences we are better enabled to value and respect other people as well as understand differing points of view.
We have a long and proud history of leadership in these areas. We continually strive to maintain an environment in which everyone feels valued and accepted. We encourage employees to recognize and appreciate the contributions that all diverse groups and individuals bring to the McDonald's system.
Specifically regarding the AFA Action Alert Newsletter, here are the facts:
- All references to comments from Jim Skinner, McDonald's CEO in the Action Alert Newsletter are complete fabrications. [Here is the link to McDonald's Corporate Responsibility Blog. You can check for yourself to see if AFA accurately quoted Skinner you can find his comments there http://csr.blogs.mcdonalds.com/default.asp?category=18021&mode=blog.]
- While one McDonald's employee is affiliated with the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), McDonald's is in no way "aggressively promoting the homosexual agenda" as suggested in the newsletter. [I'm sure they are quibbling with the word "aggressively" because if you look below they admit their corporate sponsorship and not merely that one of their members might be a member of the organization. This is deception as a high art form. 2Ti 3:13 ]
- The NGLCC is a non-profit organization dedicated to support economic opportunities for the gay and lesbian business community. [Not to mention other things as well see http://www.nglcc.org/ht/d/sp/i/192/pid/192]
- In addition to McDonald's, there are numerous other Fortune 500 companies that serve as corporate partners with NGLCC. [Ten thousand files like dog droppings therefore it must be good. Compare with Mt 7:13 ]
- McDonald's commitment to diversity and inclusion is a business driver and part of our culture. [Translation, we're in it for the money and we don't care what you think unless we lose $$$.]
- At McDonald's, we treat all our employees and customers with dignity and respect regardless of their ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or any other differentiating factor. [All people are deserving of dignity. The point is that they have chosen a side in this fight. They are not contributing to AFA, ACLJ, Thomas Moore, ADF etc. The blow back on this is going to hurt some small independent owners.]
Thank you for sharing your personal point of view on this topic with us.
Jude
McDonald's Customer Response Center
ref#:5020802
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You wrote:
Dear Chairman McKenna:
I was proud years ago (early 70s) that my father was instrumental in creating the training film strips and the original Ronald McDonald handbook, the first quarter pounder cardboard boxes etc. Our family was proud shareholders in McDonalds when in the 70s the stock routinely split, the menus grew and it was a family kind of place.
As a child growing up in Itasca I got to tour the Hamburger U in Elk Grove with my dad and I accompanied him to the corporate headquarters in Oak Brook. I was proud of his connection as an artist preparing materials to be used by McDonalds. In high school my youngest brother worked at the McDonalds in Itasca and I was proud of him and his job. I have many found memories of McDonalds. It was my kind of place until now.
I am very hurt to learn that McDonalds has decided to put their entire corporate strength behind the promotion of the homosexual agenda. Im asking McDonalds to remain neutral in the culture war. Your efforts should be in providing the finest fast food products possible, not in a political battle - especially helping promote an aberrant and destructive behavior. To think that my father passed up a job at Playboy magazine as their art director because he felt that it was destructive of American Family values only to have helped a corporation (McDonalds) who is probably going to more effectively destroy those very same values. As I am writing this email I am finishing off my very last McDonalds food (Double Quarter Pounder Extra Value Meal) unless and until McDonalds recants from the position it has taken in the culture wars. I can not support those who are dedicated to destroying traditional family values.
I have to tell you that today I hang my head in shame and can no longer support McDonalds. I will pray for you, your board of directors, and your staff, for your health, soul and a change of decision. On the other I will pray for the McDonalds Corporations ruin until it comes to it senses.