Wednesday, February 4, 2004

J.R. Young, shame on you. Before sending stories like the one you submitted about Target Stores to a widely read local paper like The Citizen, you should check out the facts more thoroughly. Had you done so prior to submitting this story you would have found that this claim, like many of the stories knocking corporate America, are nothing more than Internet garbage.

Target, as well as most big retail stores, is a good corporate citizen. They take their responsibility to “give back” to the community very seriously. In fact, Target is a good enough citizen that they probably won’t pursue a slander case against you for putting this misinformation in our local paper.

If you don’t want Target or any other big store in your area, use real facts to fight for your position. Before you post something like this story, which you undoubtedly received from a friend via e-mail, check it out www.snopes.com for the true story. You’ll save yourself a lot of embarrassment.

And, no, I am not a Target manager or employee. I’m just a regular consumer like you. Our U.S. businesses have taken a hard enough hit in maintaining consumer confidence with Enron and Martha Stewart-type scandals. We need to patronize those that deserve our support and not undermine their success by passing on false rumors.

Dianne S. Yost

Fayetteville, Ga.