By Karen Aney (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: December 6, 2011
‘Tis the season to be giving – or something like that. Adhering to this tradition, Impark recently teamed up with the Salvation Army. For every toy donated during a four-hour period on November 25, Impark granted amnesty from one parking violation. There was no limit to the number of toys a person could donate; as such, there was no limit to the number of tickets a person could get out of paying. Because of this, 2698 donations were received.
That’s awesome, really. People made a child’s Christmas a little bit brighter, and violators avoided lining the pockets of Impark’s officials just a little bit more. As many of you reading probably share a mutual hatred of Impark, that probably makes you feel pretty good. But wait, there’s more.
The Salvation Army does many amazing things for the homeless, battered, and otherwise needy – but it’s important to note that at its origins, it is a religious organization. As such, it follows certain principles outlined in a certain religious tome that may ruffle some feathers.
One example? Harry Potter hating. In an interview originally published in The Toronto Sun, an anonymous Sally Ann employee confessed that books and toys involving Harry Potter—and other fantasy-based works such as Twilight—were not accepted as donations. If these items were received as donations, they were disposed of. “I asked if these toys went to another charitable organization but was told no, that by passing these toys on to another agency for distribution would be supporting these toys,” the individual stated. Salvation Army has stated that it is not corporate policy to ban these items, but individual stores are free to do as they choose – and that this measure is fully supported. It’s always fun to partake in a little Twilight bashing – so we’ll grant the Sally Ann that one – but Harry Potter? Sure, the wand’s pretty phallic, but that’s no reason to avada kedavra the whole franchise.
Another example of feather-ruffling is the Salvation Army’s stance on homosexuality. It’s outlined directly on their website: “The Army recognises that same-sex friendships can be enriching, Christ-honouring relationships, bringing joy through mutual companionship and sharing. However, same-sex relationships which are genitally expressed are unacceptable according to the teaching of Scripture. Attempts to establish or promote such relationships as viable alternatives to heterosexually-based family life do not conform to God’s will for society.” Now, having a stance on a matter based on religious ideals is fine – but it’s not alright when these stances start affecting your treatment of individuals. In the same section of the manifesto that outlines their stance on homosexuality, the Salvation Army states that “for this reason such practices, if unrenounced, render a person ineligible for Salvation Army soldiership”. Translation – they don’t hire people if they’re gay. Still feel good about Impark’s donation spree?
Let’s pretend for a minute that it’s acceptable under our Charter to not hire someone because of their sexual orientation. The Salvation Army’s discrimination reaches further than that, as described on www.bilerico.com, a website dedicated to the LGBT community. “When a former boyfriend and I were homeless, the Salvation Army insisted we break up before they’d offer assistance. We slept on the street instead and declined to break up as they demanded,” states the founder of the site. Now, even allowing for the fact that it’s his site and also that it’s not really possible to prove this occurred, there’s documented proof that the Sally Ann lets their stance on homosexuality affect its outreach programs. In 2004, when New York City made a decision to force all charities in the city to adhere to civil rights laws, the Salvation Army threatened to close all its soup kitchens. So, they were prepared to let all the needy in the city suffer based on the city’s demands that they stop their discrimination of homosexual individuals.
So, yeah. Impark made sure that some kids got some toys – even though it meant taking a hit to their money bags. The kids win instead of a corporation, and that’s great. But some of the 2698 donations will probably be disposed of based on religious opinion – and that’s not alright, especially given the fact that the Salvation Army is a federally-funded operation. Given the fact that the Salvation Army adheres to so many practices that contradict the rights and freedoms that we Canadians hold so dearly, though, I’m going to keep right on hating Impark. Thankfully, I’m hating them with four less parking tickets to my name.
