I have never been a fan of the Hallmark Channel. Its fairytale themes portrayed a dream-come-true romantic ideal that seldom, if ever, was a reflection of reality. The channel was a haven for make-believe romances and I cannot remember ever watching any programming that pointed to the biblical ideals of love and marriage.
When the Hallmark Channel aired a commercial that depicted two lesbians getting married and kissing the idol of idealized heterosexual relationships came crashing down, and the organization of One Million Moms characterized as “A division of the Christian-right American Family Association,” called for a boycott. That made the next news cycle.
The CEO of Crown Media Family Networks, they own the Hallmark Channel, said the ad was aired “in error” and assured One Million Moms that the Hallmark Channel would “continue to be a safe and family friendly network, Praise the Lord.”
GLAAD, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and masters of the boycott, evidently contacted the owners of the Hallmark Channel faster than their CEO could finish saying, “praise the Lord.”
Hallmark CEO Mike Perry recanted, “The Crown Media team has been agonizing over this decision as we’ve seen the hurt it has unintentionally caused. Said simply, they believe this was the wrong decision. Hallmark will be working with GLAAD to better represent the LGBTQ community across our portfolio of brands…and reinstate the commercials. Our mission is rooted in helping all people connect, celebrate traditions, and be inspired to capture meaningful moments in their lives. Anything that detracts from this purpose is not who we are. We are truly sorry for the hurt and disappointment this has caused.”
I will say it again, I don’t like boycotts; they are a tactic of ungodly people which lead to ungodly consequences. In this case One Million Moms succeeded in having Hallmark apologize to GLAAD, reinstate the offending commercials and promise to cooperate with them “to better represent the LGBTQ community across our portfolio of brands.”
I think it safe to say that boycott backfired, but if you go to One Million Moms’ home page the group is still urging people to “sign the boycott Hallmark pledge.” I guess they did not learn their lesson.
Christ has told those who are His, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you,” John 15:19. If, as Jesus said, we “are not of the world,” what would lead us to think we can succeed using the tactics of the world.
Believers serve a King whose kingdom is not of this world and the King has commanded us to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Matthew 5:44, so we can do as Paul said and “overcome evil with good,” Romans 12:21.
Maybe we should obey our King and do as He says if we hope to rescue our culture.
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