Money
I watched "Wal-mart, The High Cost of Low Prices" this weekend. Very interesting stuff. I do understand that documentaries are designed to tell only their side of the story, and I would like to think that I can see that there is something going on on the other side of the story. This one I felt differently about. I was ticked.
There were interviews with old employees, from managers to "associates", and people who work in the Chinese sweat shops.
I have just spent a semester in womens studies, finding out more and more about concerns like sweatshops, the environment, health care, sexism, racism, and economic status. All of these things are adressed in this film, and it is no surprise that Wal-Mart gets failing grades in all of them.
I joined the facebook group to ban Wal-mart, and I would hope you do the same.
One interview with a Chinese girl, who works 12-14 hour days 7 days a week, lives in the "apartment" provided by the company (for a high rent, of course) and makes mere cents an hour, was especially interesting. The interviewer asked her what she would want to say to people who shop there... she said something like, "Respectable wal-mart shopper, do you know why that toy cost 5 dollars? Because I got paid 3 cents to make it."
I also started a facebook group called "Shop Locally - Support your community" and I hope to fill it with shops in our areas that produce locally, employ at fair wages, and make our communities better places to live. I might blog it eventually to make it available to a wider audience, but that will take some time and only can come to be if the facebook is successful and people contribute.
On a cooler note, I am done this semester. 7 more classes and I officially have a degree. Not bad. Although I have been wondering where society places its importance lately.
Would I rather be 110 pounds and be a model getting paid ridiculous salaries to do cocaine and be a human hangar?
Actress? Photos would flash and everyone would know what I had for breakfast (bagel and light cream cheese, and apple and a huge glass of water if you were wondering...) lunch and dinner.
Would I rather get into pro sports, or sportscasting, where I can be influencial worldwide without having to be able to string together a coherent sentence or have any real convictions?
I have come to terms with the fact that as an aspiring teacher, which I obviously feel is a fairly important job, I will never be a national icon, paid that well, or followed by the paparazzi. But I have been raised in a fairly intelligent, loving, supportive household that expected a lot from me. So I am compelled to make a difference. Some people aren't. But those people are no more and no less than me... just different.
I guess I am happy I don't have people trying to take photos in my window, drug addictions, or people judging my lpersonal ife instead of my skills on the ice or the court.
I am thankful for my degree. It means I have one more thing for people to ignore on my resume!
posted by Bee @ 08:25
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