Wells Fargo‘s ad below features two women learning sign language as they prepare to adopt a deaf little girl. Beautiful.
But one of the best banking ads I’ve seen is at the center of controversy. Reverend Franklin Graham considers this ad part of the “tide of moral decay,” is calling for all Christians to boycott gay friendly companies, and has moved all of his ministry’s money to a new bank.
Warning: Watching the ad below may cause you to be attracted to a member of the same sex and society as we know it will end.
My goodness. If this is moral decay, I’m going straight to hell.
I have a better idea: Let’s boycott bigotry, instead.
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June 11, 2015: Apparently, Graham’s ministry has moved their money to another gay friendly bank.
Patrick,
I am currently a PR & Advertising student at Drury University and was intrigued by your blog. Fantastic post and fantastic point made. Wells Fargo has created an awesome ad that shows that they are more than just a financial institution, they are a financial institution that cares about you and your goals. By creating this ad they are showing their consumers that they are a diverse company that wants to relate to all of their clients.
Franklin Graham, in my opinion, is doing what every modern day religious group is doing and is making a big scene in order to get attention and more financial support from extreme fundamentalists. If Graham were truly an ethical individual he would be more concerned with Christian love and support rather than making a scene about moving his enormous amount of money elsewhere.
According to Joseph Fletcher, Christian Situational Ethics is grounded in one’s moral beliefs and understanding, but is superseded by love (Johannessen, 2008). Fletcher argues that love for other human beings and a genuine affection for them is the one unarguable criterion for Christian Situational Ethics. According to Fletcher this one principle is binding and unexceptionable in Christian Situational Ethics (Johannessen, 2008). Apparently Mr. Graham should be spending less time critiquing others and more time focusing on the care and love for others that makes this world a better place to live in.
Johannesen, Richard L., Kathleen S. Valde, and Karen E. Whedbee. Ethics in Human Communication. 6th ed. Long Grove, IL: Waveband Press, Inc., 2008. Print.