On this, the morning after the 4th, I have one question.
Am I the only one who finds it odd we celebrate the Unites State's independence by spending untold millions nationwide, on Chinese and other foreign made pyrotechnics?
30 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Excellent point!
My other question is why does my state allow the sale of fireworks when it is illegal to use them?
That actually hasn't occurred to me before. hum, I'm feeling rather "Doh." I don't like fireworks that much myself and haven't actualy bought any since my son grew up. We used to buy 'em when he was a kid. He loved 'em.
Good question! And why are they being sold when there are laws in place where it's illegal to have them, a burn ban in some counties and heavy fines if you set them off in town? Another thing that makes you say, "hmmmmmm........"
Unfortunately, made in China seems to be SOP these days, no matter the product. Of course, the Chinese did invent gunpowder and fireworks, so I suppose that part is fitting.
Funny you wrote this today Travis. My youngest was asking about the fireworks we watched lastnight and I said "The Chinese make them." He sat for about 10 minutes more and said "We celebrate freedom with the Chinese?" Cracked me up.
I don't get it either; as everyone else has said, it's the American way now. I wonder if all those flags that are being waved were made in another country to. Hmm...
I'm not too bothered by the fact that all of our products seem to come from somewhere else...it is a fact of today's life that US salaries are too high to support much manufacturing, and thus companies go offshore to keep costs (eg; wages) down to keep prices down.
What is more disturbing is that Independence Day is not celebrated for what it represents, the birth of our country. It's unfortunate that so many people, particularly young people, don't understand where this country came from, how it came about, and the enormous price that so many paid for the freedoms we have today.
Sigh...it's time to get my kids to Washington DC for a history lesson. Unless we (parents) teach it, they'll never learn.
But before that trip, I'm going to shoot off some fireworks (Made In China) while drinking my wine (Made in Chile) and wearing my Nikes (Made in Malaysia). I'd drive somewhere in my Chevy (Made in USA), but it's broken down and in the shop.
You have no idea how hard it is here in New York to get shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico. Much easier to get shrimp that was caught in Asia!!
Without getting in a battle with Scott, the only reasons the salaries here are deemed too high, is that the corporations use that as an excuse to move their operations out of the country. When CEO's stop raking in millions each year, Ill be willing to talk about the average workers salary. it's all about corporate profits.
Not only is that odd, but in many places fireworks are illegal. Happy 4th, have an ash snake (if you're lucky.) *snort* Hope you had a good one, anyway!
Mary is right---you can buy fireworks, but you have to sign a statement that says that you will not use them in the state of Ohio. Pretty strange stuff...
I always try to remember Independence Day for what it represents - but it is sobering when you realize not very many people think about it in the midst of their parties and celebrations.
I went by Hobby Lobby today just to look around. They have three aisles right up front, filled with patriotic items for the summer and Fourth of July holidays. You can get pretty much anything you want there to decorate your home in red, white, in blue.
All of them bearing the tag "Made in China."
Yep. Every single thing I picked up on the aisle was marked "Made In China." Flags, banners, busts of Uncle Sam holding balloons, "Proud To Be An American" bottle openers, everything.
Good Lord, if the irony is going to be this obvious, I'll have nothing to blog about anymore.
Upon further review, roughly half of the store was "Made In China," including decorative crosses, big woodcrafts that said "Freedom", and University of Texas memorabilia. I'm pretty sure the Chinese government doesn't believe in any of those things.
When I talk about capitalism run amuck, this is what I'm talking about. Give it a shot, see how much of the patriotic stuff you'll see between now and July Fourth is actually made in America.
I believe it was TIME which last week reported an Oregonian upscale furniture manufacturer who brought his offshore work back to a mill in North Carolina because the cost of importing his designs had become prohibitive.
There is nothing that anyplace in the world exports to us that we can not make for ourselves. Unfortunately we are deeply involved, in fact spearhead, the GLOBAL economy which now strips us and bears us naked to the alter of "fair play."
Shop at Wal-Mart...you continue doing your part to aid "fair play."
"Made in China" makes me Very angry.We are in the manufacturing business & every week see companies go out of business because of products moving to China. We have a big company right here in our town that employed hundreds of people until they moved most of the manufacturing to China.Problem is when they get the product it is defective, not the right product, breaks before it can be unpacked from the box and it took 3 months to get it.Now they gotta waste 3 months sending it back, tell their customers the item is back ordered and wait for hopefully the right product to be shipped back to them. Doesn't matter that they could go across the street & get the same part in 2 weeks, no shipping, the product is of excellent quality & Yes it does cost a couple cents more but they aren't waiting for it to be shipped, shipped back for replacement & reshipped. Remember Electrolux Vacumns--they tried the China connection. Parts were so inferior they finally gave up & moved manufacturing back to the US. People wake up and start buying "Made in America" products. If you don't this country is going to be owned by China--with their profits they are buying up our land
The Chinese invented fireworks and the rest of the world was captivated by them, so it seems sort of appropriate to me.
In the 19th century, the dominant industrial, economic, and military nation was confronted with a growing flood of cheap goods from a rising challenger. The great power never did figure out a workable response.
Good point. We don't even have our flag to fly this weekend (although it was probably made in China too!). Someone stole it a few months ago and I'm in no hurry to replace it and have it filched again:(
30 comments:
Excellent point!
My other question is why does my state allow the sale of fireworks when it is illegal to use them?
truthfully, i never thought about it. after my 4th meat fix, i think about settling in on the couch and watching bad tv and not a whole lot more.
It's fitting since (most) everything else we own and eat is made elsewhere, too. From the God Bless America tee shirts to the hot dogs on the grill.
Chances are, it's not from around here.
This probably has something to do with the trade agreements between the USA and China.
That actually hasn't occurred to me before. hum, I'm feeling rather "Doh." I don't like fireworks that much myself and haven't actualy bought any since my son grew up. We used to buy 'em when he was a kid. He loved 'em.
Good point. July 4th is definitely not very connected to the occasion it marks, just a happy holiday, nice long weekend.
Good question! And why are they being sold when there are laws in place where it's illegal to have them, a burn ban in some counties and heavy fines if you set them off in town?
Another thing that makes you say, "hmmmmmm........"
Unfortunately, made in China seems to be SOP these days, no matter the product. Of course, the Chinese did invent gunpowder and fireworks, so I suppose that part is fitting.
Linda
Hey, it's safer than celebratory gunfire.
Funny you wrote this today Travis. My youngest was asking about the fireworks we watched lastnight and I said "The Chinese make them." He sat for about 10 minutes more and said "We celebrate freedom with the Chinese?" Cracked me up.
I don't get it either; as everyone else has said, it's the American way now. I wonder if all those flags that are being waved were made in another country to. Hmm...
*shrug*
The Statue of Liberty was made by the French. Who says you can't make something your own? :-)
I'm not too bothered by the fact that all of our products seem to come from somewhere else...it is a fact of today's life that US salaries are too high to support much manufacturing, and thus companies go offshore to keep costs (eg; wages) down to keep prices down.
What is more disturbing is that Independence Day is not celebrated for what it represents, the birth of our country. It's unfortunate that so many people, particularly young people, don't understand where this country came from, how it came about, and the enormous price that so many paid for the freedoms we have today.
Sigh...it's time to get my kids to Washington DC for a history lesson. Unless we (parents) teach it, they'll never learn.
But before that trip, I'm going to shoot off some fireworks (Made In China) while drinking my wine (Made in Chile) and wearing my Nikes (Made in Malaysia). I'd drive somewhere in my Chevy (Made in USA), but it's broken down and in the shop.
SL
Travis,
You have no idea how hard it is here in New York to get shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico. Much easier to get shrimp that was caught in Asia!!
Without getting in a battle with Scott, the only reasons the salaries here are deemed too high, is that the corporations use that as an excuse to move their operations out of the country. When CEO's stop raking in millions each year, Ill be willing to talk about the average workers salary. it's all about corporate profits.
Terrie
Not only is that odd, but in many places fireworks are illegal. Happy 4th, have an ash snake (if you're lucky.) *snort* Hope you had a good one, anyway!
Terrie, I gotta say I'm with you on this one.
They banned all aerial fireworks (with a fin or a stick) around here.
Mary is right---you can buy fireworks, but you have to sign a statement that says that you will not use them in the state of Ohio. Pretty strange stuff...
and all those U.S. flags they are waving are all made in China..dumbshits..
LOL! And we are free to do so! Aren't we silly?
Happy 4th!
I always try to remember Independence Day for what it represents - but it is sobering when you realize not very many people think about it in the midst of their parties and celebrations.
Nice.
~C
Really good point. I wrote this last year...
I went by Hobby Lobby today just to look around. They have three aisles right up front, filled with patriotic items for the summer and Fourth of July holidays. You can get pretty much anything you want there to decorate your home in red, white, in blue.
All of them bearing the tag "Made in China."
Yep. Every single thing I picked up on the aisle was marked "Made In China." Flags, banners, busts of Uncle Sam holding balloons, "Proud To Be An American" bottle openers, everything.
Good Lord, if the irony is going to be this obvious, I'll have nothing to blog about anymore.
Upon further review, roughly half of the store was "Made In China," including decorative crosses, big woodcrafts that said "Freedom", and University of Texas memorabilia. I'm pretty sure the Chinese government doesn't believe in any of those things.
When I talk about capitalism run amuck, this is what I'm talking about. Give it a shot, see how much of the patriotic stuff you'll see between now and July Fourth is actually made in America.
I believe it was TIME which last week reported an Oregonian upscale furniture manufacturer who brought his offshore work back to a mill in North Carolina because the cost of importing his designs had become prohibitive.
There is nothing that anyplace in the world exports to us that we can not make for ourselves. Unfortunately we are deeply involved, in fact spearhead, the GLOBAL economy which now strips us and bears us naked to the alter of "fair play."
Shop at Wal-Mart...you continue doing your part to aid "fair play."
"Made in China" makes me Very angry.We are in the manufacturing business & every week see companies go out of business because of products moving to China. We have a big company right here in our town that employed hundreds of people until they moved most of the manufacturing to China.Problem is when they get the product it is defective, not the right product, breaks before it can be unpacked from the box and it took 3 months to get it.Now they gotta waste 3 months sending it back, tell their customers the item is back ordered and wait for hopefully the right product to be shipped back to them. Doesn't matter that they could go across the street & get the same part in 2 weeks, no shipping, the product is of excellent quality & Yes it does cost a couple cents more but they aren't waiting for it to be shipped, shipped back for replacement & reshipped.
Remember Electrolux Vacumns--they tried the China connection. Parts were so inferior they finally gave up & moved manufacturing back to the US. People wake up and start buying "Made in America" products.
If you don't this country is going to be owned by China--with their profits they are buying up our land
The Chinese invented fireworks and the rest of the world was captivated by them, so it seems sort of appropriate to me.
In the 19th century, the dominant industrial, economic, and military nation was confronted with a growing flood of cheap goods from a rising challenger. The great power never did figure out a workable response.
Good point. We don't even have our flag to fly this weekend (although it was probably made in China too!). Someone stole it a few months ago and I'm in no hurry to replace it and have it filched again:(
I have My Town Monday up.
Perhaps.
And why is it the local Mexican restaurant was closed for business on Independence Day?
we are Americans..we celebrate by blowing stuff up!
Precisely why I didn't buy any this year. :)
I think it's a waste of money buying fireworks but my friends ALWAYS do so I just enjoy theirs
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