My next target for boycott is, well, Target. I already boycott Walmart, and I don’t shop at big box stores more than a couple of times a year anyhow, usually when I need some sort of small appliance. When I do, it’s usually at Target. Recently Target has decided to cave under pressure and remove from its shelves a compact disc carrying case bearing the image of Che Guevara because some of its shoppers were offended and complained that the chain was promoting Marxist thought by offering it for sale -- at least that’s their story. I don’t happen to own anything bearing Che’s likeness, other than some books containing photographs of him, and I am not at all interested in owning the cd case either. I am aware that had Che not been murdered by a certain government for his attempts to undermine the spread of capitalist/imperialist control of all of the Americas and were still alive today he would not be happy to see anyone profiting from selling anything with his picture on it. But I wonder who on this planet, WHO actually complained to Target about it?!? How many complaints could they possibly have received? Could it be the result of some vast, right-wing conspiracy? (Uh-oh, am I even allowed to use that expression without Hillary Clinton’s permission?) At a time when the future of Cuba is questionable and young minds (potential voters?) might be influenced by seeing a picture of a man so instrumental in bringing about the Cuban revolution on a personal accessory, could some group -- rather than individual shoppers -- have orchestrated this whole thing? Is it too farfetched to consider this possibility? Regardless, I now have to take the time to write to Target and tell them I won’t be shopping there again because they removed this product from their shelves for the wrong reason. Damn!
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