So heres my rant for the day. Ive seen a blog floating around, proclaiming that those who shop on Thanksgiving Thursday are part the problem. I agree. Whole-heartedly. But the idea that we can separate Thursday from Black Friday is absurd to me. Because in both cases, were not merely interrupting the holidays of our friends who now have to work instead of eat more turkey; were not merely contributing to and bolstering a wholly consumerist culture. No, in any case - whether shopping on Thursday, Friday, or throughout the month for red hot deals and steals from standard retailers - were contributing to the global slave trade. Were burying our heads in the sand and pretending that Wal-Mart and Target employees are the only ones who warrant consideration in this sordid tale of stuff hoarding, all in celebration of the Sweet Baby Jesus. Even when we bypass Thursdays sales on principle and shop Black Friday instead, were almost certainly purchasing things produced by slaves around the world. I cannot emphasize this enough: If were shopping for deals and steals, demanding cheaper stuff, were not shopping with a conscience. I was accused once already today of basically throwing the baby out with the bathwater, and missing how God can redeem evil consumerism for His good. When we give toys to needy children, its a small redemption. When we teach our own kids, in practice, that its better to give than receive, its a small redemption. Again, I agree whole-heartedly. But small redemptions cant cost the lives and hours of slaves around the world. I learned last week that based on what I typically buy throughout the year - from makeup to clothes to running shoes to food to gifts - 57 slaves work for me. **Fifty Seven Slaves Work For Me.** With that fact still sinking into my mind, Im duly convicted (and convinced) that if Im not ethically sourcing the gifts Im giving not just to my own kids but to toy drives, etc., then Im still part of the problem...whether or not I participate in Thursdays or Black Fridays sales. Our consumerist culture that demands lots of cheap goods at deep discounts, in order that we can give the most with the money we have (or, too often, the money we dont have) doesnt just roll out over our next-door neighbors. When we shop Thursday and Black Friday and Amazons Week of Crazy Deals (or whatever it is), were not just devaluing the lives and family time of the guys who have to leave their families on Thanksgiving day. Were saying the slave who made the product isnt worth our consideration. So, if I may humbly suggest some more considerate, ethical alternatives: 1) Shop Small Business Saturday, and stay within a 10 mile radius of your own home. Buy from your friends whove got stores up on Etsy. Encourage those same friends to ethically source the materials for the awesome goods theyre selling. 2) Instead of buying a cart load of gifts for each of your kids, check out your local Fair Trade retailer and buy them each one awesome gift, made by a kid their age in another country, whose life depends on your shopping patterns. 3) Instead of throwing away cash on stuff you dont need thats made by slaves, give a chunk of change to Typhoon or Tornado relief efforts. 4) Check out WorldVision or Compassion International, and instead of buying a thing for your kids, let each of them choose a child to sponsor and exchange letters with throughout the year. 5) If your budget doesnt allow you to purchase higher-priced goods, shop at thrift stores like The Salvation Army, or forego shopping altogether. Cheaper prices mean cheaper lives. It takes effort. It takes serious diligence to know where your goods are coming from; maybe even more intention to care enough to change it and reduce our slavery footprint. But I believe its worth it. Moreso, I believe its crucial to living Disciple lives. ****** Some other good stuff to check out while youre at it (because my thoughts are hardly original): >> The Slavery Footprint That Makes Me Cringe and Cry and Consider More Than Thursday: slaveryfootprint.org/ >> The Message On Christian Consumerism That Makes Me Want to Get Out of the Mouse House: whchurch.org/sermons-media/sermon/lab-rats-no-longer >> The Blog That Started It All: jenhatmaker/blog/2011/11/29/the-christmas-conundrum#.UoKguGduoOA.facebook
Posted on: Mon, 18 Nov 2013 18:45:47 +0000
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