The new Eagles album is out.  It came out yesterday.

I LOVE the Eagles.  They are my favorite band of all time.  Seriously.  There are only two bands I would walk over hot coals to see.  Eagles and Melissa Etheridge.  (Conicidentially, she opened for the Eagles on the Hell Freezes Over Tour.  Me?  I was stuck in traffic on my way to Texas Stadium for the concert.  Missed Melissa, did not miss the Eagles).

I really want this new album.  20 songs of pure Eagle goodness.

So, you might ask, what’s the problem?

Well, in my world, the problem is quite a huge one.  The album is available only at WalMart.

I HATE WalMart.  I mean really really hate them.  They are one of the worst of the irresponsible corporate behemoths.  They are environmentally irresponsible, they do not care for the communities they have stores in, they do not pay a living wage, they allow their pharmacists to override doctor’s decisions when prescribing “the morning-after pill…”  I could go on.  But I won’t.

The thing that chaps me is that Don Henley has been a staunch environmentalist for years, and is quite liberal politically as well.  I read an interview with Don Henley regarding their choice to go with WalMart.  He said they are making progress in their environmental and labor initiatives.  And that he wanted to go with them because of their distribution power.  Making progress is not the same as fixing the problems.  He also said WalMart isn’t any worse than a giant record label.  He’s probably right about that.  But I still don’t want to give WalMart any of my money.

I read one blogger who suggested just ordering the CD set from the Eagles website.  However, it is pretty clear to me in viewing the website that the actual ordering goes through WalMart.  Even if you want to download it, that goes through WalMart.com. 

I checked Amazon.com and they have the album available through third party individuals.  Those who have no objection to shopping at WalMart and then marking up their price…so either way, WalMart would technically be getting my money.

So, the dilemma.  Do I break my WalMart boycott?  I haven’t been in WalMart since 2001.  Would it be sacrificing my principles to go to WalMart to get the Eagles album?  Has WalMart really made strides in the right direction?  If they have, then maybe they aren’t the evil corporate behemoth any longer…

I am torn.  I really want the Eagles new album.  But I really don’t want to support WalMart.

And yes, I know, my lone boycott of WalMart is not hurting its pocketbook any.  But, really, it is not about hurting WalMart (that’s an added bonus, if it happens), it is about remaining true to my principles and leading by example.

*le sigh*

When I put it that way, I guess the answer is clear.  No Eagles album for me.