Sunday, February 25, 2007
Shopping Used to be FUN!!
I really miss the days when shopping was fun.
When I thought about this boycott, I knew it would be a challenge. However, I did not ever seriously think that it would usurp the fun from shopping.
I went to the mall yesterday and damn near everything is made in China...I mean bras, picture frames, clothing, books, bedding, towels...
While I don't think I found anything new on this trip that was made in China, I was growing increasingly more disgusted with the idea of this boycott, as well as the nagging knowledge that my own desires to pay as little as possible for stuff I don't need anyway, is fueling this vortex of overseas manufacturing.
For awhile, I am able to temper this disgust with smug satisfaction that I can't buy the really cool shirt I thought would be perfect for Luke. Two stores later, I am debating the merits of lying about the origins of the waterproof boots I want to buy. Even though they really aren't what I'm looking for, I like the $10 price tag. If it weren't for the ban, I would have bought them just for the "bargain" factor.
I was in Kohl's for a bit and even found a few things made in America. I didn't really like any of it, but there was this disconcerting feeling that I SHOULD BUY IT because it is made here.
An even more disturbing reaction I am having is the, "Where is this made? Oh, not in China. Okay. It's okay to exploit that country!" feeling. It started out as sort of a joke at the Lincoln Park Zoo when we were exploring this boycott idea, and I fear that it is rapidly becoming a second mantra.
I never really gave much thought to the idea that this project would open my eyes to the various places where my merchandise is made. I have never even heard of some of these places until I started obsessively reading labels.
Have you ever heard of the Northern Marianna Islands? Do you know where they are?
I answer "no" to both questions.
I have no idea where some of the countries are, never mind what the capitol of that country is, and yet the people who live there toil to make one more product for myself and millions of other faceless consumers.
What are their working environments like? Do they have health care? Do they enjoy what they are doing? Why do I care? Why doesn't this shirt fit?
What happened to the fun of shopping?
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1 comment:
It's been years and years since I've bought anything labled made in China.
Alot of what my wife and I buy are found on the internet. Some are still made in the USA. My shoes, pants , all my clothes actually. My wife will buy from Walmart as long as it's not made in China. I can still get most of the tools I want 'made in usa". Some times only the very top of the line are still made here. Doing a google for "made in the usa" and similar terms has been helpful. Sometimes, assembled in the USA is the best I can get. On most stuff there's often an alternative to made in China , may not be USA but at least I don't have to send dollars to China. Unfortunatly, most people in America don't much care if their neighbor has a job or not. I don't consider most of the world to be friends of the U.S. so I'd just as soon keep as much of my money here as I can. All you can do is try.
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