The Price of Principle!

~ slfuchs

I now shop at CVS not Walgreens. Walgreens’ is closer, and they don’t make mistakes with my prescriptions as CVS sometimes does. Walgreens’ parking is free and convenient. CVS has a pay lot and is a pain in the ass.

But Walgreens sells cigarettes, and CVS courageously has opted not to. I support that decision.

Why?

At last count cigarette smoking causes more than 480,000 premature deaths in the United States each year—about 1 in every 5 U.S. deaths—and an additional 16 million people suffer with a serious illness caused by smoking. I prefer not to patronize a pharmacy that sells such a lethal drug.

The Price of Principle!

I used to shop at Whole Foods. I have spent thousands of dollars there over the years. I love the abundance of organic and healthy products. Yes they are rightly called, “Whole Paycheck,” but it was worth it to me.

There are two very convenient Whole Foods store near my home, and it was very convenient. I don’t shop there anymore.

Why?

The CEO John Mackey is an active supporter of so-called spiritual guru Marc Gafni. Gafni has a long rap sheet as a sexual predator. Some of his activity is criminal because it involved underage girls. He should be in jail, not giving lectures to anyone about anything.

I cannot support a store that has as its head a person who so actively supports a sexual predator. Mackey says, it’s his private decision, and it has nothing to do with the company.

No Mr. Mackey it’s not. You are the company.

But if you claim it is a private decision, then how I spend my food dollars is my private decision too.

Fortunately thousands agree with me that it does. And have signed petition asking Mr. Mackey to disassociate completely from Gafni. I hope Mr. Mackey and Whole Foods get the message. I would like to shop there again when and if they do.

For now, I am getting used to shopping elsewhere.

The price of principle!

I don’t pretend that my decisions will hurt either Walgreen’s or Whole Foods. But what we do with our dollars makes us either part of the problem or part of the solution. I prefer to be part of the solution even if it is inconvenient.

The price of principle! It’s worth it!

Published by slfuchs

Loving husband, father, grandfather and rabbi. Author of, "What's in It for Me? Finding Ourselves in Biblical Narratives,” "ToraHighlights,” “Why the Kof?,” “Why Triple Chai?,” "Who Created God?," and "...And Often the First Jew." On October 17, 2017, Rabbi Fuchs was selected as the recipient of the Vanderbilt Divinity School's Distinguished Alumnus Award. To be considered for this award, one must demonstrate excellence and distinction in justice-making through their efforts in congregational ministry, religious institutions, non-denominational/all-inclusive organizations, community–based organizations, government, or other social institutions. Spent last four falls serving in Milan, Italy, (2013) and Germany (2014-2016). Otherwise, he enjoy writing and speaking after serving three congregations and as President of the World Union for Progressive Judaism. He is currently serving as Rabbi of Bat Yam Temple of the Islands, Sanibel, Florida.

3 thoughts on “The Price of Principle!”

  1. Thanks for this important post. I love your decisions. I signed that Whole Foods petition. We have a locally owned food co-op in Ithaca, NY and no Whole Foods, so I get to choose politically correct good food without a hassle. I don’t shop at either of those pharmacies, but I will pay more attention to who sells cigarettes. Unfortunately, money is one of the only ways to influence anyone.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment