Dopey Drive

Donald Wildmon's American Family Association has for some time tried to run some sort of boycott against the Disney company for being "gay-friendly." Now, they're calling it off, citing some kind of vague, limited success. One suspects it's more a matter of them realizing their impact was microscopic and that it was time to claim some feeble gains, declare victory and get out before too many people noticed how ineffectual they were.

Actually, I think something like 99% of all boycotts are utterly ineffectual, except maybe to get the boycotters a few moments in the spotlight to express their outrage. Most Americans don't alter their buying patterns much, at least over so-called moral issues. Some of them will even write indignant "I'll never buy your product again" letters and then, on their way home from mailing the letter, stop off and pick up the product. It would not surprise me if the Disney organization noticed zero loss — and perhaps even an uptick — due to Wildmon's hysterical boycott.