Hey, kids! Letter writing is fun! The following is my letter to…

Albertson’s Corporate HQ
Lawrence R. Johnston – Chairman, President, and CEO
250 E. Parkcenter Blvd. – Boise, ID 83726
Phone: 208-395-6200 – Fax: 208-395-6349
WEB CONTACT FORM

…regarding their recent decision to allow their pharmacists in Illinois to deny women’s birth control prescriptions:

Dear Mr. Johnston:

As a native of Boise, Idaho, I have always been proud of Joe Albertson’s little grocery store that became the 2nd largest grocery conglomerate in America. I used to shop at Joe’s first store on 17th & State St., and now that I have transplanted to Beaverton, Oregon, I find myself shopping often at store #559, which is right across the street from my apartment.

But I am proud no more. In fact, I am ashamed that I once provided contract information technology support for your corporation.

My change of heart stems from your recent decision to accommodate the desire of some of your Illinois pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions that might violate their religious or moral beliefs. These so-called “conscience clauses” have caused some pharmacists to deny filling perfectly legal birth control and emergency contraception prescriptions for women due to a pharmacist’s religious belief.

Mr. Johnston, women and their doctors are the only ones who should be involved in personal medical decisions. Women and their clergy are the only ones who should be involved in personal ethical decisions. Pharmacists, by the very definition of their job, serve to follow the instructions of doctors, not their pastor.

If your pharmacists’ religion makes them feel uncomfortable performing their duties, perhaps they should choose another profession. Or are you going to allow your Muslim cashiers to refuse to ring up alcohol, your Jewish deli employees to refuse to serve up pork, your feminist clerks to refuse to stock the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and your Catholic employees to refuse to sell condoms?

I will be boycotting Albertson’s until you reverse this decision. I will be encouraging all my friends and family to do the same. I will be organizing protests in front of store #559. I will be informing the readers of my online blog (50 per day) and enlisting other blogs in spreading the word. You and others who interfere in women’s medical choices will be the subject of my next column in the Oregon Herald, an online news organization reprinted in websites around the country.

See, isn’t that fun? Why don’t you join me? Call, write, fax, or e-mail Albertson’s and let them know how you feel.