05.01.04: pro-choice: anti-curves
File under "think before you join": The CEO and founder of the "Curves" gym for women is a major funder of several organizations allied with the extreme anti-abortion group Operation Save America, according to the San Francisco Chronicle (April 20, 2004). Part of "Operation Save America's" creed is that there is a link between abortion and breast cancer -- a link that has no basis in scientific fact and has yet to be proven true.
As the Snopes Web site points out, just because the founder of Curves donates his profits to such groups, does not necessarily mean that his franchisees do. However, I'd assume that there must be some trickle-up happening there, since anyone who owns a franchise must pay back to the central organization -- which, in turn, puts profits in their CEO's pocket, which, in turn, goes to "Operation Save America."
Snopes also points out that the founders of the food chains "Domino's Pizza" and "Carl's Jr." are also openly pro-life supporters.
Lesson learned: if there's any nationwide business that you support on a regular basis, be it Wal-Mart, Curves, or, yes, even Domino's, investigate their politics. Don't let your dollars indirectly support a cause in which you do not believe. I know that a Curves has recently opened up here -- I'd considered joining, but I will not set foot in the place now.
Hats off, Roe!
You make an excelent point: KNOW WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES
I know that you and I differ in our political and social views, but I agree with you 110% about putting your money where your mouth is.
Unlike Michael Moore and Ted Nugent, the regular folk do not have a public forum to flaunt their views - other than your website, that is. :-)
It's our money that makes an impact.
Well said my friend. I think that my money and your money probably cancel each other out though. :-)
But I luv ya anyway!
Sharon -- 05.11.04 08:56 AM
And now we hear from Joe, another man against choice who will never be pregnant! Pro-choice is not the same as pro-abortion. If you don't agree with abortion, don't have one, but don't try to play God to other people. Lots of us are pro-faith, pro-family, and pro-choice.
Janet -- 05.10.04 08:55 PM
Good for Curves! Let's all support the right to life for women born and unborn. Thanks for those willing to stand up and be counted. My wife will definitely renew at Curves and now I am going to help my daughter-in-law join. While the breast cancer link is unproven the devastating emotional and mental results of eliminating their own children is definitely proven. No doubt, how could there be?
Joe Spangler -- 05.10.04 05:08 PM
I said I'd willingly support sterilization for those interested IN sterlization - not for all women who consider an abortion.
Some women know they don't ever want children. Some men know they never want children. Those people I'd happily help financially so that they could accomplish what they desire.
I support adoption, yes. I think it's a beauitful valid option for people who find themselves pregnant and in a situation where they do not want the baby or can not provide the life/family the baby deserves.
As for rape or incest victims who become pregnant from the violence they endures, I think that abortion should be offered and legal. They had no choice in the matter and to force them to carry a baby that resulted from a horrible, violent crime is cruel.
Not all women who are raped/suffer incest choose to have abortions however if they become pregnant- but I think the option should be made available, in a safe and peaceful
setting.
For those who are choosing to have sex, even if they are "using birth control" -well, making that choice to have sex, even if the birth control has been utilized and failed, is achoice that has been made.
Having sex must come with the knowledge that a woman might jUST get pregnant- and for those people I do not support abortion as a means to back out of what has already occured.
For those people the options that are human are:
adoption
or
raising the child.
Rape can not be compared to a woman choosing to make love to someone.
Rape involves no choices.
Being intimate with someon is all about choice. And before a woman opens her legs, she needs to consider all of the what Ifs. And prepare for the consequences of any eventual outcome.
I'm sorry you're so hostile. I didn't intend to cause any rage. I just wanted to express my opinion.
(America)
hannah -- 05.06.04 02:19 PM
Curves has 2 million customers. If half of them are pro-choice (which would be in keeping with the stats for the US overall, according to the latest Gallup poll), thats a million pro-choice Curves customers! They could easily match or outdo the $1 million a year for five years that the Heavins have pledged to three pro-life charities in central Texas. Curves franchisees pay $400 a month to Curves headquarters, which uses the money to run the business. I figure, as a Curves member, that Gary Heavin might get $1 or $2 a YEAR of "my money". Of which he donates 10 percent to a bunch of charities, including the 3 pro-life groups. So maybe a dime of "my money" gets to pro-life charities through Gary Heavin. Considering that I just gave a contribution of $25 to Planned Parenthood directly as a result of curversforchoice, I've already done way more positive good that someone who merely quits Curves and encourages others to do so.
tomatillo -- 05.06.04 12:08 PM
If any of y'all are already members...may I suggest the strategic placement of pro-choice literature (info on protests, NOW, NARAL, etc.) at your nearest Curves location?
Lucretia -- 05.05.04 09:38 PM
Hannah,
So you'd rather sterilize those who seek abortions, rather than, say, fund adoption centers? Or fund better and safer methods of birth control? Or even fund comprehensive sex education in classrooms, for teenagers, both here and abroad?
No? You'd rather provide funding to sterilize a 16-year-old? How about a victim of rape? Should they be sterilized, too? Better yet, let's sterilize everyone who's gotten pregnant because their birth control failed -- the reason behind almost half the abortions currently performed. That'll show those silly, silly women!
Thank you, Hannah, for reminding me that rigid, close-minded, ignorant dunces such as yourself still exist in this world. It's much appreciated!
Roe -- 05.05.04 03:18 PM
I'm definately going to support those businesses with as much cash and word-of-mouth support as I can.
:)
It's so nice to know that there are people who know that
abortion shouldn't be used as birth control methods.
Or because a woman wants to back out of what happens when she choose to have sex.
Havings sex means that you just MIGHT get pregnant.
(egg sperm thing, you know)
That is just excellent that there are people who- despite it not being popular, will stand up for all life, even the littlest lives, who can't yet fight for themselves.
I'm all for (free!) sterilization for those who would abort a human life to make their own life more convenient. I would willingly fund that for those interested.
thank you for the information :)
it's much appreciated.
hannah -- 05.05.04 02:39 PM