Who are we Americans makeing the next super power with our consumerism?

           

            Watching a documentary today on the Dali Lama really put into perspective goods that come from China and the true cost of whom I am supporting by buying things made there. China shows not just intolerance for Buddhism and Christianity, but intolerance for all religion, making religion a crime punishable by prison. State sponsored racism, as was evident last year with the minority population of Uighurs. China's complete disregard for human rights and free speech. China's genocide of the Tibetan peoples killing by some estimates 1.2 million. And let us not forget that China still is a communist government, a political system that we have spent untold dollars fighting and for the sake of commerce now ignore and support. All of this makes me wonder, just whom are we making as the next super power with our insatiable hunger for cheap goods, I myself include, I am no better, I am sure that if I looked on the tags over half the things in my house have “made in China” written on them. This brings me to my next point.

             Everyday I have more and more compassion for the immigrant. Again I have to thank Lowell Grisham for changing the way that I think. To open my eyes to the truth, my views have changed and they are still changing, I am not perfect. Sadly I admit that I have held some very racist views in the past towards those who recently immigrated here. I only saw them as people who hated America, who were only here to work without paying taxes and abuse the school, welfare, and food stamp programs. I still don't think that many immigrants from Mexico have America in their heart. However, at the same time, I would find it hard to love a place and people who's majority population didn't want me here. Who had not embraced me, and whom I felt looked down upon me, Lord knows how Martin Luther Kings heart was filled with love and not hate ( I don't believe that I could of had his grace, forgiveness and fortitude, a true modern hero and role model for us all ). I know that most are here for better jobs and a better life for there children and are not raising children who are gang members as it is easy to stereo type the few. I still see a lot of them still flying the Mexican flag, abusing the welfare system, and the youth become part of the thug, gangster culture. Still I know that most are good people who just want a better life on the other side of the fence.

            This whole subject makes me thing of how we could solve this problem on both side of the border and still keep American dollars on this continent, not sending them overseas. I see no reason our cheap goods could not be manufactured in Mexico. The peso is still 4 or 5 to one to the dollar, the people are in dire need of jobs and the country of modernization. They are our neighbor with a ready and willing work force, why are we ( we being Walmart and the other titans of consumer goods distribution ) not embracing them. I know that Jos A. Bank certainly has, look at the stock market, they are doing very well. If we provide the jobs everything else will follow, better schools, public programs such as health care, and all infrastructure. If we have to have cheap goods why not get them from a free, democratic government that embraces our own ideas and way of life?

            I would like to make a promise to myself that I will no longer buy anything made in china, not for hate of the Chinese people, but for fear of who I am empowering, yet I know very well this is not a promise I can keep. It's like saying that I'm going to buy only goods made in the USA. I do try, I go so far as to buy Florida orange juice because I know the oranges were grown here, not imported, and the company is farmer owned. I do the same thing with Borden cheese, knowing not only is the company farmer owned, but the cheese is made from real milk from hear in America, and that Velveeta is made partly from imported dried milk proteins. Yet I find it impossible to find a microwave made in the USA or even a pair boxers or underwear, so I know sadly, it is a promise I cannot make. We as a whole must come together and demand the companies we buy from, buy themselves responsibly. That they only purchase from countries who conform to the basic rights of human beings. Only when we come together as a whole, as we are slowly seeing with the responsibly of the green movement can this movement happen. It starts with caring and awareness, even Walmart will cater to the mass if the masses demand it, as we are seeing with the organic movement. We need a ethical consumption movement.

Behind Closed Doors

      I dont usually watch TV in the morning before work, but I was late shift today so I thought that I give it a shot. As it rarely is for me I liked what I saw on the TV. It was the Steve Wilkos Show ( You know Jerry Springers Bouncer who now has his own show). He called a guy out on the treatment of a 2 or 3 year old boy, who through a DNA test, he now knows is his son. He was beating him with a belt out of his own frustration while potty training him, and it made me think of how WE ALL act when our actions are not known by others, and when we are faced with them in front of a group of our peers how what is right and what is wrong becomes crystal, and the shame that we have when confronted with these truths. I wish that I could think with this sort of clarity in all of my actions.

      We are all forgiven, and this is what Gods grace is for. Because we are all imperfect in our actions, thoughts, words, and deeds, we all fall short of perfection. It also reminds me that nether should any of us cast the first stone. For who among us, if all of our actions were disclosed in front of audience of our peers would not shutter, cry, and feel an immense amount of shame. WE ALL fall short. So we should all see the same faults in our brother are the same faults that are our own.

      This give me (us) something to strive for. Wouldn't it be such a better life for everyone if we all conducted our lives as if every action that we take was to be seen (and I believe that it is by the divine) by all. All of those prejudices that we have towards our brothers would be put to the smelter and our conduct, our thoughts, and our actions would be rightly lived ( as we all know what these truths are deep down inside).

To deal honestly with every person. To not pass by the poor, the neglected, or even the lonely without a sympathetic hand or word. Let us strive to live as if all will be known, Won't it make the world and we ourselves happier and better?