Friday, February 24, 2006

Can we buy their freedom?

Is anyone else getting tired of hearing about events like this:

Chinese police detained two underground Roman Catholic priests this week and has held a 70-year-old bishop for three months.


I'm really tired of seeing how catholics are treated in China, and having people speak about how engagement is going to bring change. Ok, you want change? Here it comes:

I ain't buying anymore of their crap!



99% of the time, the stuff made in China isn't a vital neccessity to everyday life, and so doesn't need to be purchased. Period. I'll continue to buy stuff made in Guatemala, Romania, or even Thailand, but not from China. I'll still get takeout from the local House of Hunan, but anything that says 'Made in China' is staying on it's shelf at the store.

I've already been weaning the chinese garbage from our normal expenditures, only when there are no alternatives will I buy their wares. I don't shop at Walmart anyway, so there's one less source of tension there.

If China thinks that I am being selfish, and that thier people will suffer if I don't buy their goods, I'll say this:

"Quit jailing my spiritual brethren! If you can let them live freely, then I will consider you fair. Until that day, you get squat from me."



Wow, I've been ranting, haven't I? So be it, but my challenge still stands. Can you go 'China-free for a Free China'?

4 comments:

Kevin Whiteman said...

I'm with ya Jimbob. I'm now China-Free

Fidei Defensor said...

I'd like to see the gov't put a nice hefty tarrif on the crap they send in.

Anonymous said...

I saw your post on this issue at jimmyakin.org under "And now a word for gmail users." I made comments there. Please go see.

I love the Church, her papacy, her magisterium. I share your loyalties.

However, it's going to take a lot more complexity and subtlety from us than purging our use of anything made in China.

Sir Galen of Bristol said...

I try to avoid buying things made in China, but it's pretty hard at times to do so.