Guest
19th May 2002, 21:26
Ive been pretty familiar with dollar stores for much of my life, before I realized what was going on in the world. They provide cheap and abundant supplies of just about anything you could want, from inexpensive gifts to candy to those enticing little plastic toys along the wall. Dollar stores are a symbol of the United States. They are also, in my mind, one of the worst examples of imperialism to be found.
This afternoon, I had the misfortune of going to a dollar store, and I will share my experience. I was already mad about the whole thing- the idea of dollar stores is that things are cheap enough for you to buy a lot without worrying about money. Quite the American dream, hence the save money obsession. And how do you think the stores can afford to sell things so cheap? They exploit people, mostly in China but in other places, too. The people slave away each day in sweatshop conditions, making far less than would be acceptable here. The products are being mass produced, and then shipped over here to pack the shelves of Dollar Tree and other stores like that.
As I walked into the store, I noticed an area dedicated to patriotic themes, an awfully annoying thing that has become quite a trend since 9/11. Of course, when you look at the labels, every single thing was made in China. I think its disgusting, how people buy these things to support their country, when they are really causing other people in the world to suffer. Perhaps even worse, people know it, but they buy the things anyway. I then browsed the store, checking the labels on the items. They were all from China, except one thing from Thailand, and a made in the USA roll of aluminum foil. Hail the aluminum foil. Sad.
Suddenly, an announcement came over the system- I dont remember it word for word, but it was something about how, thanks to its customers, Dollar Tree had 2000 stores nationwide. Also, it said that although money doesnt grow on trees, it seems like it does at Dollar Tree stores because everything is only a dollar. The announcement ended with some kind of motto, the end saying that people are priceless. I was outraged. There were two thousand of these awful places, all exploiting people. (Of course, that was only the Dollar Tree branch.) Also, why do you think they can sell things for only a dollar? Because they pay the people next to nothing! And people are priceless should be rephrased- People are priceless who come to our stores and buy our merchandise and make us rich. Everyone else is worth less than a piece of junk.
As we were getting ready to leave, I asked my mother if I could ask someone for a copy of the announcement so I could quote it directly. She said no, that it was inappropriate for living in this country. She said that sometimes, we must conform to the standards in the place where we live. I told her that when people conform, they are letting themselves become tools of those above them. My mother doesnt know the meaning of inappropriate. My sister, of course, just had to get something from the vending machine. She got a little pink rabbit beanbag, all stitched up and with China printed in bold letters across the side. Some lady in a sweatshop in China took the time to sew that together, while it is sold for fifty cents over here. As we left, I asked my mother if that bothered her. She said yes. And who wouldnt it bother? Yet, I remarked to her, she still bought things at the dollar store, and various other stores throughout the area. I told her again about what happens when people conform. Im sure that many people living here know about the awful things we do to others, but they continue to live the way they do until they die without ever questioning. That, I think, is beyond pathetic. Only sometimes people arent sure what to do. I know Im not. People must figure out away to unmask the system and stop all the lies once and for all. If anyone here knows what to do, could you please speak up?
[Yes I am a guest. Im not allowed to register because my parents would kill me, so I have to post in this forum only.]
This afternoon, I had the misfortune of going to a dollar store, and I will share my experience. I was already mad about the whole thing- the idea of dollar stores is that things are cheap enough for you to buy a lot without worrying about money. Quite the American dream, hence the save money obsession. And how do you think the stores can afford to sell things so cheap? They exploit people, mostly in China but in other places, too. The people slave away each day in sweatshop conditions, making far less than would be acceptable here. The products are being mass produced, and then shipped over here to pack the shelves of Dollar Tree and other stores like that.
As I walked into the store, I noticed an area dedicated to patriotic themes, an awfully annoying thing that has become quite a trend since 9/11. Of course, when you look at the labels, every single thing was made in China. I think its disgusting, how people buy these things to support their country, when they are really causing other people in the world to suffer. Perhaps even worse, people know it, but they buy the things anyway. I then browsed the store, checking the labels on the items. They were all from China, except one thing from Thailand, and a made in the USA roll of aluminum foil. Hail the aluminum foil. Sad.
Suddenly, an announcement came over the system- I dont remember it word for word, but it was something about how, thanks to its customers, Dollar Tree had 2000 stores nationwide. Also, it said that although money doesnt grow on trees, it seems like it does at Dollar Tree stores because everything is only a dollar. The announcement ended with some kind of motto, the end saying that people are priceless. I was outraged. There were two thousand of these awful places, all exploiting people. (Of course, that was only the Dollar Tree branch.) Also, why do you think they can sell things for only a dollar? Because they pay the people next to nothing! And people are priceless should be rephrased- People are priceless who come to our stores and buy our merchandise and make us rich. Everyone else is worth less than a piece of junk.
As we were getting ready to leave, I asked my mother if I could ask someone for a copy of the announcement so I could quote it directly. She said no, that it was inappropriate for living in this country. She said that sometimes, we must conform to the standards in the place where we live. I told her that when people conform, they are letting themselves become tools of those above them. My mother doesnt know the meaning of inappropriate. My sister, of course, just had to get something from the vending machine. She got a little pink rabbit beanbag, all stitched up and with China printed in bold letters across the side. Some lady in a sweatshop in China took the time to sew that together, while it is sold for fifty cents over here. As we left, I asked my mother if that bothered her. She said yes. And who wouldnt it bother? Yet, I remarked to her, she still bought things at the dollar store, and various other stores throughout the area. I told her again about what happens when people conform. Im sure that many people living here know about the awful things we do to others, but they continue to live the way they do until they die without ever questioning. That, I think, is beyond pathetic. Only sometimes people arent sure what to do. I know Im not. People must figure out away to unmask the system and stop all the lies once and for all. If anyone here knows what to do, could you please speak up?
[Yes I am a guest. Im not allowed to register because my parents would kill me, so I have to post in this forum only.]