Friday, June 19, 2009
Crazy Crap / Politics / Silverman Anti-Israel Boycott Targets Trader Joe's on Saturday, June 20
Posted by Jack Silverman on Fri, Jun 19, 2009 at 2:28 PM
"My recommendation: Head to Trader Joe's and buy anything made or grown in Israel. I hear the Israeli couscous goes well with grilled scapegoat, by the way."I wouldn't dare argue that Israel hasn't made mistakes, and I'm no fan of the policy of building settlements in the West Bank. In fact, I'm in favor of a two-state solution. But sadly, these protesters' highly selective memory of historical events (or perhaps it's just plain ignorance) is nothing short of astounding. Calling Israeli policy "apartheid" is absurd, considering that (a) the tiny nation is surrounded by far greater legions who have been actively dedicated to its destruction for the last 60 years; (b) Gaza is under the rule of Hamas, an organization openly dedicated to the destruction of Israel; and (c) the Palestinians living in refugee camps have been neglected by neighboring Arab countries so they can be used as pawns in a political gambit. And are these same protestors going to go into Wal-Mart, Target and every other store and de-shelve all of the products from China, which has a far greater track record of human rights violations? Hmmmmm. Trader Joe's, meanwhile, has provided a thoughtful, level-headed response to the pressure from protestors:
"We have received a few letters [threatening a boycott] like this via our customer relations email. Our response is that we sell products, and do not use our products as political tools or to make any statements about any political causes. We have no intention of removing any products based on pressure from any group, no matter what they support or don't support. As always, we believe our customers are smart, and they are capable of making decisions about what they purchase."
Comments (25)
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Dear Trader Joe,
Thank you for adhering to our shared American Tradition of Fairness and a Free Market. As an important member of our American Free economy you should never be pressured by any group as to what you carry in your stores.
Success in all your future endeavours.
Live Long and Prosper!
LL&P,
Greg Tobkes
East Meadow, NY
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I will go out of my way to shop at Trader Joe's. The management of the local Nashville store are outstanding and charitable and have long supported community efforts to feed the homeless.
Anyone who commits the slightest bit of vandalism in their store should be ashamed of themselves.
The real shame is that the same type of a boycott could not be done regarding Palestinian products as the Palesnians produce NOTHING but terrorists. They can't grow anything or create anything, but only destroy.
Oh, this is just too precious by half. Protesting at Trader Joe's? What's next, trying to take down Big College Radio? I hope they're wearing their fashion keffiyahs while they stick it to those Zionist kosher cheeses.
This is a good run down of the current (pretty lame) scheme to torture Trader Joe's customers. One only hopes it rains which means customers will be armed with umbrellas to shoo away these courageous couscous warriors.
And speaking of couscous, given that a lot of people are choosing to show their support for Israel by shopping at Joe's, I've added some delicious couscous recipes (courtesy of my mom) onto my anti-divestment blog www.divestthis.com.
Er, my "snark" emoticon didn't make it into my post.
I DO know that Jerusalem artichokes are not from Israel. Just wanted to clarify.
Can someone with better search skills than me please post a link to a map showing the location of the country of Palestine?
Thanks.
There is not and never will be a lack of the endless stream of ignoramuses and haters like those who reportedly victimized stores and their patrons in Europe and are now planning to attack Trader Joes, a great institution that has stood up not only for the consumers with great products and service but against the intimidation of these - oh, I will not lower myself to their level and call them what they are. You choose.
Thank you Trader Joes. And if the Palestinian Arabs can ever stop long enough from teaching their little girls and boys to hate and carry dynamite belts around their little innocent waists to blow up school buses and pizza parlors in Israel and elsewhere, and produce any kind of a product, I will go out of my way to buy it and try it. And if it's good - bravo.
Think a little. If they had their way, you could get your hands chopped off for buying something they don't like, or get buried up to your neck and stoned to death if you hold your spouses hand in public - or, if you play music at your wedding, you and your wedding party could get machine gunned by the upholders of Shariah law as they see it. Now that is progress - a few years from the Dark Ages but not many.
Wake up everybody. Including you, the vast number of Muslims who are not part of this madness, but whose pride, wounded by centuries of neglect and abuse by their own leaders, by doing nothing are, indeed, becoming perpetrators in the destruction of the progress that has been made (in starts and stops) in civilization since the Enlightenment.
Shalom. And may you and your children be well.
Thank you Trader Joe's for standing up for what is right. Shame that hatred runs so strong in the veins of people....BUT GOOD will prevail. Mark Gardner/Dallas Texas
Trader Joes- You deserver an award for not giving in to Political blackmail. We, as many others here in Massachusetts are encouraging everyone we know to shop as much as they can (especially for Israeli Products) at Trader Joes. We hope that your award will be increased prosperity for standing up for what is right.
I love Trader Joes. They are friendly and courteous and really care about providing good service. I worked form them also, many years ago.
This is an insane action by a bunch of nasty haters. I hope that people see this for what it is: an unpleasant gathering of thugs determined to humilate themselves and make busy work for hard-working TJ employees who will have to reshelve products.
I may just drop by my local TJs on Saturday and purchase a few Israeli products just for the heck of it; I have been inspired by these cretins, but not in the way they had envisioned. Viva Trader Joes!
This is hilarious.
I feel for the poor Trader Joe's employees who will have to deal with this garbage.
Thank goodness for Trader Joe's. I don't have one in my hometown, but I'm moving back to a city I love (Los Angeles), where they are the best show in town.
Keep up the good work!
I plan on buying as many Israeli products as possible upon my return.
Wherever Judeo Christian principles have freely flourished, those countries and societies have prospered and grown. In the modern world, there seem to be no examples at all of prosperous, blessed, free and progressive societies or nations ruled by Muslim or Sharia principles. Is there a lesson here? Could it be that subjugated and backward people are handicapped and severely limited---and as a result become angry, envious, beligerent and determined to bring down those who have somehow moved ahead of them on the food chain? That they look to the very religion that has oppressed and enslaved them for their salvation?
I think those who know better, and have a far better hope, must pray for their enemies. Only God can solve this hideous mess
If you want to sponsor a response then call your local Trader Joes and let them know you will buy any Israeli products found in abandoned shopping carts (you can specify a maximum amount you are willing to spend). That way the "boycott" has the opposite effect. Every loaded cart represents sales for Israeli companies. Daniel Lewis
I THINK THIS IS FANTASTIC. I hope USAs boycott goes well. of course the rabid zionist and jewish groups will try their best to censor free thought and speech when it comes to the crimes of ISRAEL. but I believe USA is finally waking up to the awful truth that by welfarng Israel we also are guilty of the crimes they commit.
The author is not on the left if he doesn't recognize the inhumane policies of Israel and support this campaign to boycott Israeli goods. For more information on Israeli Apartheid, see the academic study from South Africa at http://www.electronicintifada.net/downloads/pdf/090608-hsrc.pdf
Re the Trader Joe's boycott of Israeli goods, all politics about Israel aside, at least this gives the poor working stiffs at Trader Joe's (undoubtedly close to minimum wage) job security to put it all back on the shelves. With any luck Trader Joe's might even have to pay overtime to get it done!! What we Americans really need to watch out for is Trader Joe's becoming an online only business where their warehouse(s) are physically located in India and the orders are filled and shipped from there. Isn't America rich enough that no one here needs to work and everything that we consume can come from some other country? Didn't you get your share of the bailout money first initiated in 2008??
Re anon -
You know nothing about Trader Joe's. Mainly, it is one of the best paying employers in the USA - and has one of the most comprehensive benefits package that is available to all employees that work a minimum of 20 hours a week. The company pays very, very well - in this way they are able to retain engaged, awesome employees. They are also one of the few companies that have NO DEBT, have never laid off employees, and are making a very healthy profit - even in this economy - so no worries about job security for their employees.Trader Joe's will never sell things online - they actually like sharing information with customers and like talking to people. You can purchase NOTHING from the TJs website. Their warehouses are all in the USA.
Well I went to our local Traders Joes to buy some Israeli product. Of course they ran out of Israeli couscus. I managed to buy some feta cheese and Dorot chopped herbs ( very good!)
Unfortunately they don't carry Israeli wine there. I talked to the manager and he told me that many people asking to buy Israeli products and they already ordered an extra supply of Israeli couscus and feta cheese.
He gave me their corporate phone nomber
626-599-3700 or 800-746-7857
He told me that if you ask they will probably order some Israeli wine too and may be other products. Tomorrow I'll call and talk to executive there. Then I went to Ralphs and bought some Israeli couscus there. Ralphs has a special chelf with kosher foods and lots of Israeli products.
In any case this made me an Israel food fanatic. I will definately buy israel goods from now on and tell my friends to do the same. We Americans don't support haters and love Israel.
Shalom.
The day of rage against Israeli couscous was a complete flop. Even in Northern California, where this action originated, only a half dozen protesters showed up at one store, handed out flyers and left rejected after they were told all Israeli products had been sold out the day before (the Jewish community turned this event into: "Support democracy. Buy Israeli foods" day.)
Like much of what emerges from these people- it is like the wind- full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
Wanna bet they send out a press release tomorrow claiming victory, though?
I shop at the TJ's in Oakland on Lakeshore Ave. By Saturday, the Israeli couscous was completely sold out, as was the cheese and almost all of the Dorat spice cubes. The deranged BDS movement worked in reverse.
Great news! All Israeli products are sold out in our local TJ. The manager told me that about dosen or so people complained that their favotite Israeli products are sold out. He promised they will have a fresh delivery today. He told me that Israeli products became a big hit recently.
I am sure many people will remember to buy something from Israel every time they vivit from now on.
