Post no. 3

So what about China? I try not to buy products produced there, right? But that's so dang hard. I'm usually good about it. I certainly won't buy unnecessary things from China. I buy almost all my clothing made in the U.S.A. and my shoes are almost always from Portugal. (The brand Novacas is easily the cutest brand in the world to me.) But today I had to buy binder clips and I could not find any that were not made in China. I had to buy them because a course packet from school was shoddily made and it fell apart. It's too thick for staples or paperclips and it already has a bunch of rectangular holes cut out of it where the spiral went through so it cannot be hole-punched and put in a three-ring binder. I am a quite unorganized person, and needed somehow to keep the course packet together. . . Thus, I had to buy binder clips from China. This, of course, led me to feelings of guilt all day and also led me to get pissed off about the hypocrisy of the entire planet. (Or at least my small corner of it.) Here's what I mean.

Example 1: Radical Pro-Life Neo-Con-Republicans really like free trade, right? They like the (pretend) free market and all that stuff that comprises the U.S. American dream of small govt., personal responsibility, and wealth you don't have to share. Therefore, they love that we trade with China. . . uh, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT FORCES WOMEN TO HAVE ABORTIONS. So how does this fall in line with their pro-life stance that is a wedge issue in every election? That, I can't answer. . . you'll have to ask one of them. Perhaps because trade is not directly associated with abortions. . .

Example 2: I work at a Beacon Program with youth. We are a youth development site, right? That means it is super important not only that we keep-kids-off-drugs and what not, but that we help youth to develop leadership skills, that we enable them to have the same opportunities as their affluent peers, and that we assure that they are not voiceless but are equipped to challenge the status-quo of injustice around them. (At least that's the idea.) So, why do we purchase cheap-ass supplies and camp T-shirts made in China? You all KNOW some of that is made in sweatshops. I mean, I know WHY we do it. . . Saving money on supplies is key to funding a free year long program, right? But I cannot justify forcing some kid with whom I have no obvious connection to work in a factory all day everyday so that a child with whom I do have an obvious connection can have a better life opportunity. All children and youth deserve to not work in sweatshops. If I am ever in charge I will figure out how to minimize this China thing. . . Ya know, concentrate on getting more donors so you can purchase legitimate T-shirts.

Example 3: Going Green is like a big deal right now. It's a trendy thing to do, and as far as trends go it's a good one. But how do all these companies that are supposedly environmentally friendly justify having things shipped to them from around the world? Talk about Carbon Emissions. . . I just don't know the answers to any of these examples.

All I know is I hate abortion, I love children and I hope this earth last long after I am dead. . . So, I PERSONALLY cannot purchase things made in China. . . but today I did. . . What does this say about me? Probably just that I'm not any better than anyone else, which is something that, in theory, I already knew.

So yeah, basically, I don't understand the world, and that is all. I have 19 more physical things to hand in before school is out (physical things as in not reading but an actual assignment and/or test) There are only 9 weeks left in school and I have a lot a lot to read as well. . . So obviously, I am too busy to write daily and still haven't posted about the debate. But I promise, I do have thoughts about it.