Last weekend I made a bracelet with black beads and four white ones with the letter "W" on them. No, I didn't make a typo with the beads; it's not a WWJD bracelet. But it kinda looks like one.
A bag of all "W" beads at Hobby Lobby was cheap. I proudly wear my WWWW bracelet now. Wore it to court and made sure it was visible, just in case it might be mistaken for a WWJD model.
What does it mean? Quakers will get this one. It stands for What Would Woolman Wear.
John Woolman had a revelation that slavery was wrong, and henceforward he sought to eliminate products that involved the use of slave labor from anything he purchased. That meant foregoing clothing dyed with indigo grown by slaves in the Carribbean. With off-white clothing he stood out in a crowd. Part of his witness against slavery. He had more than that, but the clothing was his hallmark.
Don't buy Chinese. Really.
What my WWWW bracelet means to me is a reminder to look to the conditions that produce the goods I consume. For years I've been careful to NOT purchase anything made in China. Selfishly because China's slave-like wages put my Indian-import company out of business ten years ago. Then it put my start-up company with a made-in-the-USA product out of business a few years later. Altruistically because our dollars flowing to China only help keep people enslaved there.
Sometimes it isn't possible to avoid buying Chinese. Look at the labels when you go shoe shopping (everyday sensible footwear).
I can throw a really good fit over this situation. More later.
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I got this email today:
ReplyDeleteTHE CAN FROM CHINA I WAS BUYING FOOD THE OTHER DAY AT THE COUNTRY MARKET. ON THE LABEL OF SOME PRODUCTS IT SAID 'FROM CHINA '. FOR EXAMPLE THE "OUR FAMILY" BRAND OF THE MANDARIN ORANGES SAYS RIGHT ON THE CAN 'FROM CHINA '.
I WAS SHOCKED!!
SO FOR A FEW MORE CENTS I BOUGHT THE LIBERTY GOLD BRAND OR THE DOLE SINCE IT'S FROM CALIF.
Are we Americans as dumb as we appear --- or --- is it that we just do not think?
While the Chinese,knowingly and intentionally, export inferior and even toxic products and dangerous toys and goods to be sold
in American markets, the media wrings its hands and criticizes the Ex-Bush Administration for perceived errors.
Yet 70% of Americans believe that the trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended.
Well, duh..why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges?
SIMPLY DO IT YOURSELF, AMERICA !!
Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says
'Made in China ' or 'PRC' (and that now includes Hong Kong ), simply
Choose another product, or none at all.
You will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese products, and you will be equally amazed at what you can do without.
Who needs plastic eggs to celebrate Easter? If you must have eggs, use real ones and benefit some American farmer. Easter is just an example, The point is do not wait for the government to act. Just go ahead and assume control on your own.
THINK ABOUT THIS: If 200 million Americans refuse to buy just $20 each of Chinese goods, that's a four billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in Our favor...fast!!
The downside? Some American businesses will feel a temporary pinch from having foreign stockpiles of inventory. Wahhhhhhhhhhhh !!!
The solution? Let's give them fair warning and send our own message.
Most of the people who have been reading about this matter are planning
On implementing this on June 4, and continue it until July 4.
That is only one month of trading losses,
But it will hit the Chinese for 1/12th of the total, or 8%, of
their American exports. Then they will at least have to ask themselves
if the benefits of their arrogance and lawlessness were worth it.
Remember, June 4 to July 4.
EVEN BETTER. . . START NOW.
Send this to everybody you know. Let's show them that we are Americans And NOBODY can take us for granted.
If we can't live without cheap Chinese goods for one month out of our
Lives, WE DESERVE WHAT WE GET!
Pass it on, America !
Thanks Fred. Great idea. I thought about it all the way to the vet's office to get the kitty's stitches out. I was proud she rode in a cat carrier old enough (25 yrs) to be made in the USA (in Arlington by Doskocil). Ooooo, my neighbor left her modern carrier here, also Doskocil (petmate.com) and it doesn't say China on it. Bravo.
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