Mormon-founded Marriott joins push against anti-gay marriage law

[Soulsearcher]

Was just reading some articles and came across this, was kinda happy to read the comments made in the article.

Mormon-founded Marriott joins push against anti-gay marriage law - latimes.com

Edited January 29, 2013 by Soulsearcher

[NeuroTypical]

there's a problem with the link

[Wingnut]

Was just reading some articles and came ac cross this, was kinda happy to read the comments made in the article.

Mormon-founded Marriott joins push against anti-gay marriage law

Link broken.

[Soulsearcher]

GRRR think i got it fixed. Thanks for the heads up guys.

[Vort]

Was just reading some articles and came across this, was kinda happy to read the comments made in the article.

Mormon-founded Marriott joins push against anti-gay marriage law - latimes.com

"Looks like Marriott properties will be my preferred choice on trips this year."

Yes, I agree, a few good comments sprinkled through the predictable myopic leftist outrage.

[Soulsearcher]

"Looks like Marriott properties will be my preferred choice on trips this year."

Yes, I agree, a few good comments sprinkled through the predictable myopic leftist outrage.

Odd i didn't see that comment in the article. i did see it in the comments section after the article though. However as i said i enjoyed the comments made IN the article.

[Vort]

I think it's sad that people like the Marriotts feel the need to conform to the worldly standard. Their claim that they take care of people regardless of sexual preference is true but irrelevant. This is a business decision based on the bottom line, not a principled stand. If it were a principled stand, they would have joined the noble cause twenty years ago. This is corporate cowardice, and is sad to see.

[NeuroTypical]

I'm just seeing world-class business savvy, and little else here.

In an interview last year with Business Insider, Bill Marriott explained that he personally believed that marriage was between a man and a woman. But he said he does not mix his views on the subject with operation of the business.

"We have to take care of our people, regardless of their sexual orientation or anything else," Bill Marriott said."We have all the American values: the values of hard work, the values of integrity, the values of fairness and respect."

Interesting to consider the similarities and differences between Marriott and the Chick-Fil-A guy:

1. Both personally support the traditional institution of marriage, and are on record with pretty clear statements.

2. Both run (however that is correctly worded) companies that seek to foster atmospheres of inclusion and diversity, both for employees and customers.

One goes about quietly supporting organizations that advocate traditional marriage. He's discovered and spotlighted (probably not his idea), and run through the media ringer. People think about Chick-Fil-A in polarized terms - love 'em or hate 'em.

The other goes about loudly claiming the spotlight focusing on #2, while still reminding everyone of #1 in ways that hit paragraph nine of stories. People think about marriott in pretty polarized ways too - love 'em or hate 'em.

[Just_A_Guy]

Bah. More fuel for the people who think the Marriotts should go to hell for having pay-per-view available in their company's hotel rooms. (As if they needed it.)

[Vort]

Bah. More fuel for the people who think the Marriotts should go to hell for having pay-per-view available in their company's hotel rooms. (As if they needed it.)

I don't think they should "go to hell". I just think I don't want to spend eternity associating with people who sell out their self-proclaimed principles for another buck. I find such rank hypocrisy nauseating. I freely admit that might mean that it is I, not they, who am unfit for exaltation, but whatever the case, I'm pretty sure we don't belong together.

[Guest gopecon]

Opening your facilities for same sex marriages is one thing. I can understand making a business decision that you will allow a wide variety of uses when renting out facilities (and avoiding discrimination lawsuits).

Joining a cause that is in direct opposition to the Church's position is pretty hard to justify. To be fair, Marriot is not the sole owner, so my initial thought was that maybe the board just voted against him. Given the quotes that were used, sadly it appears that was not the case.

[Matthew0059]

From the article:

But David Rodriguez, an executive vice president at Marriott and its chief human resources officer, was quoted by the HRC as saying, "We are proud of our longstanding commitment to diversity, inclusion and equal treatment of all our employees within our benefits programs.

"Joining the business coalition for DOMA repeal affirms that commitment."

Indeed, Marriott's website promotes sales to gay customers with the line, "We invite you, to be you, with us." And it promotes hotel facilities for use in gay weddings and civil ceremonies.

In an interview last year with Business Insider, Bill Marriott explained that he personally believed that marriage was between a man and a woman. But he said he does not mix his views on the subject with operation of the business.

Bill's attitude reminded me of commentary on Isaiah 2:7-9 from Avraham Gileadi (emphasis mine).

Because a society consists of the sum total of those who make it up, people’s cumulative unrepented transgressions eventually lead to its demise. Aggrandizing man and his works debases a society. Those who tolerate or promote wickedness drag others down with them. The things of man’s own making, in which people take pride, thus become their downfall. When self-sufficiency replaces gratitude toward God, and when the blessings of God’s covenant their righteous ancestors merited are taken for granted or attributed to themselves, then God intervenes to humble his people.

[Guest gopecon]

While I can't see myself operating a business that provided porn or booze, I can at least understand doing so if that is the industry standard (putting you at a tremendous disadvantage if you don't offer these "features").

I can't see joining/supporting an advocacy group that is specifically formed to oppose something the Church clearly supports. I don't know the dynamics of the decision making at Marriot, but I can't see the justification for it - even from a business sense (unless they think they will make a killing hosting gay marriage receptions based on the goodwill they get from this).