A resident, Mr Shao, who has been living here for three years, told us that it was not even peak season; when November and December come around, this place would have truckloads of children coming and going almost every day, “like cabbages being hawked in Dongguan,” –China Labour Bulletin
In reading news accounts from local Utah papers, it was apparent to me that Black Friday this year was another success. Many found deals on large flat screen televisions, video gaming accessories, Squinkies and the obnoxiously overpriced Imaginext Big Foot (which is one of this Christmas’ most sought after toys).
News stories in late November all proclaimed the sure knowledge of what kids will want this Christmas–the “must have” gifts that everyone will be desiring. It was laughable.
Why Christmas must involve requisite consumer gluttony is unclear to me. There are a few people who eschew this descent into madness in December, but it seems that even the most stalwart of Saints in the latter-days have a difficult time in even considering the possibility that giving retail consumer goods as gifts in this modern age is not only completely unnecessary, but morally wrong.
I have told a few people that we don’t do presents on Christmas, and the reactions I have received have been interesting. One woman got angry, another completely uncomfortable, still another went and bought presents for all of my children for Christmas, unable to bear the thought that my little ones would not receive junky, cheaply made plastic items from China on Christmas Day. From their reactions, one would be led to believe that it is I who am morally wrong for depriving my children.
So how could it be morally wrong to purchase gifts for Christmas?
If you are buying toys, educational or not, electronics or even shoes and clothes, please consider this:
75% of the toys in stores are made in China. A good percentage of electronics are also manufactured there, including the coveted Apple iPod and iPad. Shoes? It is nearly impossible to buy a shoe that doesn’t have some part of it manufactured in China or other Asian countries. This article about one journalist’s quest to find some American made sneakers is telling.
I especially like this quote:
The woman I spoke with at Reebok hadn’t known how much Asian workers making Reeboks were paid. “We don’t own the manufacturing plants,” she said — a common practice. According to Jeff Fielder of the AFL-CIO, much of this kind of manufacturing is now done through third parties. American companies contract with Asian entrepreneurs, often South Korean, who buy and run the factories producing shoes for the American market. Fielder calls this “exploitation by proxy.”
If you take a moment to look at the majority of clothing in retail stores, they are made in Bangladesh, Jordan, and other places where conditions may be even worse than those in the People’s Republic of China. When we purchase these goods, we are participating in that exploitation.
Would we feel the same way about buying whatever “must have” is on the Christmas list if, instead of the cashiers and employees, we were met with children, some as young as 9, pale and with squinted eyes due to 60-80 hour work weeks and very little food and inhumane living conditions were standing there, explaining how they had painted those particular Squinkies, or put together that Big Foot, or manufactured that part of the iPad?
The owner of a textile factory beating a child labourer. The boy works for ten hours a day and earns $1.
When, on the off chance I find myself inside of a Wal-Mart or Toys ‘R Us (I very rarely buy anything from these types of retailers), I look at the aisles and aisles of merchandise, and I see extortion, exploitation, and a sense of sameness in all of the many choices that makes me feel like I really have few choices at all.
I remember a few years ago, I saw a photograph taken on a little bridge in Germany. It was a picture of five beautiful, happy women, all on a little vacation. Behind them loomed a concentration camp. In the photo, if one looked closely, one could make out a few of the workers at the camp…but these women did not notice. They were on vacation–having a much needed holiday. Besides, who were they to care much about politics or the plight of those people in the camps? It wasn’t their problem, and they had their own lives and dreams to worry about.
Is it not ironic that we give to Toys for Tots by purchasing toys made by children in China who suffer far worse than most of the tots who will receive those toys?
There are many, many stories and pictures of the suffering and abuse these children face; here is one quote from a news article:
The manager recalls smelling strong paint fumes in the poorly ventilated and aging factory building. Young women employees were hunched over die-injection molds, using spray guns to paint storybook figurines.
Does your family have any storybook figurines in its collection of toys? Where did they come from and do you even care?
While researching public opinion in response to Apple’s announcement that 15 year old laborers were found to be working in one of the plants they contracted in China, I discovered that most of the public has the attitude that people who are sympathetic to the plight of these Chinese children are “bleeding heart liberals.” The worst opinion, and unfortunately a popular one, is to make it a non-issue by saying such things as “I worked for my dad when I was 14. Big deal. Give me a break. They probably like the work.”
They also rationalize that, hey, at least these kids are working in a factory and not prostitutes. Another popular line of thought is, “Well, everyone does it, so it’s just something you live with,” hearkening to the idea that it is acceptable because it is common. The general public sees no way around it.
In 2007, Mattel produced a Barbie toy. The total cost of production was $9. They charged the American consumer $29.99 for the toy. How much did the Chinese workers get to produce the toy? Less than $0.19. (See this interview with Charles Kernaghan of the National Labor Committee for details)
What is tragic is that many of the videos from China show young Chinese girls appealing to Americans to care. What do we do instead? We rejoice in the fact that we can get t-shirts for $3.50 and DVD players for $50.
My children, after watching part of the Fair Trade Center’s video, “Santa’s Workshop” exposing child labor in Chinese factories in 2008, have absolutely zero desire to purchase or receive toys made in China or other countries known to abuse and extort for labor. If we, out of necessity, somehow have to buy something that might have been made in places like this, the children first ask if we can find it in a thrift store. If that doesn’t work, we see how long we can go without it, and the children are very careful to take care of the things we have so we will not have to replace them as often.
During the American Revolution, women played a crucial role in political activism against the British. Instead of purchasing clothing from Britain, spun their own. In fact, many towns passed ordinances directing residents to plant flax in order that they might spin their own cloth. These women denounced silk and other fine things in deference to wool and linen. They refused to purchase manufactured goods from England. Benjamin Franklin wrote to his wife:
“As the Stamp Act is at length repeal’d, I am willing you should have a new Gown, which you may suppose I did not send sooner, as I knew you would not like to be finer than your neighbours, unless in a Gown of your own spinning. Had the trade between the two Countries totally ceas’d, it was a Comfort to me to recollect, that I had once been cloth’d from Head to Foot in Woolen and Linnen of my Wife’s Manufacture, that I never was prouder of any Dress in my Life, and that she and her Daughter might do it again if it was necessary…”
If we do wish to have a tradition of gift giving at Christmas, why not take on the spirit of the Revolution? While it may not be realistic to try and build your own iPod, there are many other things we can do to remember the poor at Christmas.
- If you must get something crafty and non-essential, consider shopping at Etsy. We purchased a wooden doll cradle from Peter and Peg Brewitt, a lovely couple from Kennebunk, Maine. His grandfather was a shipwright and carpenter on the the last of the old sailing ships, out of Portsmouth New Hampshire at the turn of the 20th century.
- Consider (not this year, of course), writing a book for your family. Whether it be a bedtime story from your own imagination, or a collaboration with your children (what better illustrators could you ask for?), this would be a gift that has meaning. Recently, I wrote a biography of my father-in-law’s life for Christmas (it is a hardcover trade size, about 75 pages). There are several companies who offer hardcover book publishing. One is Lulu (see a review of a hardcover self-published children’s picture book here). Others are Blurb (review here), and here is a comparison of both. Shutterfly also offers online books. I once made a 10″ x 10″ photobook with the Family Proclamation and pictures of our family so the children would be more apt to read and memorize it.
- Speaking of books, they make a wonderful gift. Instead of buying brand new ones, though, scour Half, Amazon (be sure to look at the Used books available), Alibris for great deals on classics and hard to find older books. Also, check out your local thrift stores. I recently found The Complete Works of Shakespeare, easily $100 new, for $3.50.
- If your family is past wanting retail items, but you still want to have the experience of unwrapping presents, try wrapping items needed for humanitarian kits. Let the younger ones open them up and then spend part of Christmas day assembling them.
- If you would like to buy some really great organic clothes that are Fair Trade Certified, Maggie’s has the most delicious socks I’ve ever put on my feet. The wool socks are amazing. If the family needs to go outside in the winter and muck stalls or take care of animals, you will really appreciate these socks, and so will your children. prAna wears very well and Free ‘n Equal found a really cute skirt there once. And yes, they are all expensive, because they pay the workers who make the product more than $0.19 per item.
Those are just a few ideas. Just keep in mind, however, that there are actual, legitimate studies showing that those who skip the presents at Christmas actually enjoy the holiday season more. One short, sweet must-read article about a couple who decided not to give gifts, stated:
It felt odd not shopping for those closest to me, odd not debating what they’d want, odd not having boxes and boxes to wrap and place under the tree. But suddenly I had all sorts of energy for the rest of the rituals. My husband lit Hanukkah candles; I arranged the creche on the mantel; we caught the Charlie Brown Christmas special on TV; and then we ignored TV and listened to gorgeous holiday music every evening. The cards stacked up as if done by elves. With delight and not a single sigh of burden, I planned a traditional English feast for the family Christmas Day. Two evenings later, we had friends over for dinner and laughed and talked by the fire for hours. Not once did I feel stressed. One evening close to Christmas, when I would have been running around the mall like a headless chicken, I sat happily at the dining-room table painting an ornament for our neighbors’ children. Just as I tied the ribbon, a knock came at the door–it was the neighbor, bringing us a tray of his wife’s home-baked cookies.
The entire article is lovely, and really validating for me, as I sometimes second-guess myself as it gets closer to December 25th.
Let us remember the poor at Christmas, even if they are half a world away, and be conscious of our decisions in what we support with our resources.
If for no other reason than to get a sense of how very beautiful our lives are here in America, please take some time to view photojournalist G.M.B. Akash’s photos he took in Bangladesh of children. And, if you have the time, at least watch a little of the following video:
Santa’s Workshop, Part 1:
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
We have been casually discussing toys and other products made in China. My 4-yr-old now asks, at the store, “Was this made in China? Cause that makes it junk.” For him it’s about the quality right now, but at least the understanding is slowly coming.
This year we decided on 3 presents per kid. One toy (a wooden sword made in the US), one book and one camping/emergency preparedness item and one game for the family to play together. My husband absolutely and completely refused to do no presents and he wouldn’t do “homemade” either, so this is our compromise.
I haven’t been Christmas shopping at all this year because I ordered it online. It has been so refreshing and relaxing. And we are trying to live as “China-free” as we can, but it’s so very hard. I don’t like that it is.
We are very simple in our Christmas which mostly consists of what the kids coin as “DI Christmas”. They get so excited about the little treasures they find and how they alter them to make them special for each other. We started this last year and the kids were so excited for each other to open their gift. They couldn’t wait to do it again.
Great post you always add such great food for thought. My husband groans when I tell him I have been reading your blog. We have some great debates and dicussion about your topics.
Thank you
We have been trying to buy made in the USA for years now (we are not exclusively look for American made, but definitely not sweat shop labor made). It is very hard. We often go without things we want or wait a long time until we can afford to pay more to have it made in the USA. We have often had the discussion that things are too cheap we should not be able to afford to have a closet full of cheaply made clothes. We have a few items that we have tried to purchase from a thrift store mostly. We have also made them, but the fabric we can find is often not made in the USA. I guess we may have to go back to making our own.
So… should I be miffed or mortified that I’ve never heard of the popular toys, a “Squinkie” or “Imaginext Big Foot” ?
I am the fifth of six children, plus with other family – though not blood related – we’ve acquired through the years, Christmas was somewhat overwhelming as we began to form our own families. Accordingly, years ago, we started a tradition of each family randomly drawing another and then providing gifts for just that family or individual, in lieu of everyone. That’s worked well for many years.
One of my more recent favorite memories of Christmas was when selected we asked that whatever money would be spend on gifts for our family instead be used to purchase food or other essential items and given to their local food banks or needy persons (we were in UT, and they in CA). Moreover, if possible, to get some photos of those items, the distribution of them, et cetera, perhaps with a journal entry shared of their experience(s).
We didn’t know what to expect, whether that would occur, or whether we’d just get gifts instead. I’m pleased to say the family did just that, sent us wonderful photos and shared their experience, and in our opinion, we were all the better for it.
I think it misleading to categorically state it’s morally wrong to purchase retail consumer goods as gifts. That blanket statement includes a myriad of potential needs and gifts, and doesn’t allow for individual and unique consideration of circumstances.
However, I concur with the general notions that (a) many of us already have too much, (b) we’re diverted far too often from valuable opportunities to focus on Christ as the reason for the season, (c) we should more closely analyze our resource consumption, including analysis of companies’ practices, politics, positions, et cetera, and (d) it may be morally wrong.
Nice to see another post, Misty. BTW, Merry Christmas!
I’m torn on the “no-China” (or other country using sweatshops) policy. I was mentally there for years and very vocal about it. But when I lived in Mexico I got a different perspective.
I knew the laborers and they were indeed grateful for the work. Yes, the pay was low, by U.S. standards, but it was pay. They were grateful for the opportunities and quite upset when U.S. students would show up to protest outside the factories for fear that the company would close up and there would be no work.
Here’s a link to a John Stossel story that is along these same lines: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VaHmgoB10E
It’s very difficult to judge other countries and the choices that parents, children, and business people make based on our very affluent U.S. perspective. Options to support a family are so different there.
I see your point but I can’t say I agree any more. You mention public responses to sweatshops, e.g. I worked when I was young, at least they have work, at least it’s not prostitution; but you don’t address those issues and they are real. Is it the child labor you are against? (How young is too young?) The low pay? (How much should they make based on the economy where they live?) The conditions? (Does not purchasing these items improve conditions?) All of it? Do you know what the children would be doing if not in the factory? Is there a better option?
We had employees in Mexico who made between $200-$1200 a month. This was considered a high wage for uneducated labor (it was office work but these were not college grads for the most part) but most of us in the States couldn’t see how a man could support a family on $500 a month. But they do it. Generations of families live together (is this bad?), they eat simply foods of beans, veggies, rice & tortillas, (though they are increasingly eating cheap processed food), and they use public transportation which is much better than that in the U.S. It was devastating to all those families when our business closed. None of them, as far as I know, have found employment paying as much as we paid.
For me there are a multitude of other reasons to not purchase items made overseas and instead support local producers, being a local producer myself.
We’ve been struggling for months on how to celebrate Christ’s birth rather than simply “the holidays.” Our solution is that there will be no gifts to each other on Christmas other that me writing a story for each of the children which will include something of Christ’s birth.
Try as we might we didn’t see how we could do presents without overshadowing the birth of Christ. It’s like comparing a neon sign to a candle. The sign is bright, bold, obnoxious and cold. The candle is subtle and warm. But when in the same room, what draws your attention? They just can’t coexist.
I was discussing with my husband the fact that I really don’t even know what the spirit of Christmas is all about. When I think of that term I think of serving others with “stuff” i.e. Sub for Santa. Also I feel disinclined to visit a neighbor without a plate of sugary treats. My husband said that all we need to do is what Christ would do: love one another – and this begins at home (with me).
It’s so easy to look at what I can do outside my home this season but I’ve felt that I must pull inward and create something entirely different right where I am at home. I feel that we must focus on loving and serving each other more and better. (I must say that I LOVE no shopping and searching for that “deal” to put under the tree and not stressing about if my child will like this thing or that. This alone brings a wonderful spirit to the season.)
My mother asked about our plans for Christmas and I mentioned there will be no gifts and explained why. She asked if it was a money issue. I told her it wasn’t but I’m not sure she believes me. I don’t mention our plans unless asked because I don’t want people bringing me more plastic stuff in their efforts to “serve” us.
We do however plan to give a gift on new years day. That is a day the children receive a special blessing from their father and we look forward to planning for the year ahead. The gift will be something that will assist the child in developing a talent or better fulfilling their mission. It’s a separate tradition and works well for our family.
This was very interesting, to read from a different viewpoint. While “child labor” does bother me, I am more bothered by the fact that we rely so heavily on another country (countries). Our economy is dependent on them and it opens us up to all sorts of potential economic disasters. It also bothers me that we as Americans have given up our initiative. We aren’t creating or inventing or working. We just hand everything off to another country to figure out and produce. We are no longer self-reliant and independent. We have sold our economic souls to other nations.
Getting off my soap box now….but how I long for us to return to the days when we MADE everything we needed, even spinning our own cloth if necessary. And here is where I must also admit that I don’t spin my own cloth – I’d just like for us, as a nation, to return to our roots.
Thank you for your response–it is so nice to hear from someone who has been somewhere else and sees things clearly from a different perspective. I agree with most, if not all of your viewpoint.
I do think it’s unfortunate that we contract so many things offshore, and have found that it makes it so easy for companies to distance themselves from any culpability on the part of being dishonest (my husband is in the IT employment industry, and one Indian woman could not pass her background check because what her American employers overseas actually paid her and what they REPORTED to have paid her–they reported to have paid her more–were completely different. She was being honest, but they were not. When this was discovered, the company didn’t even get reprimanded, because they had contracted through a third party, but she was virtually unemployable in her field because of the discrepancy). That’s the part I don’t like!
I especially loved your thoughts on how your family will spend Christmas, and could relate to well meaning friends and relatives thinking it’s “because of the money.” Even ward members can get that impression.
I really enjoyed your idea to get the children something for New Year’s that helps in developing a talent or fulfilling their mission. This is wonderful, and something I think we may want to incorporate in the future.
I haven’t purchased any presents this year, except for the Bishop’s Christmas Room. When I went to drop them off, I was so saddened by the plethora of cheap plastic toys that people had donated. There was a stack of Candyland games 30 high, and two dozen basketballs. I remember three years ago feely smug about donating board games, after having spent hundreds of dollars on gifts for my family. I came out of DI crying because we have so much abundance in this country and give a pittance of our excess, rather than giving until it’s a sacrifice.
That is so true.
I am hopeful that it will change, though, I think, because there are more and more parents (like you!) teaching their children to truly sacrifice, and to understand our abundance than ever before.
It’s amazing when we really start wanting the Lord to come again, what we can do to change things. And it all starts with our own families, and our own attitudes.
Thanks for the comments–I appreciate the thoughts.
Mr. Smith–I would like to clarify that I meant to say that buying consumer retail goods for presents could be morally wrong, if we are not conscious about what we are buying and at least pause to consider where it might have come from.
To clarify, I am not opposed to people who can get work in other countries. When people start talking about health benefits, minimum wage, and guaranteed breaks, etcetera, I think that is completely egocentric, and does nothing to help anyone. In point of fact, I am not in favor of most mandatory regulations placed on small businesses, etcetera. It is mostly bureaucracy at work, which in the end, does not help anyone.
What I am against is extortion and abuse. The Chinese child labor traffickers openly admit they want children because they are malleable and won’t report abuse.
Personally, I am not sure I (or anyone else), should set a minimum wage for anyone. But, when Mattel charges $29.99 for a toy that only cost them $9 to make, I would think they could pay a little more for labor, and also make sure there are no children working there.
How young is too young? I don’t know the answer to that. I would suspect that in a family business where there was no abuse going on, there would not be an age requirement. Even the smallest children are capable of helping, and it’s a nice thing for them to be able to do. Unfortunately, this is not the case so many times.
I have a particular interest in China because my husband is Chinese. When I think of 9 year old children working 70 hour work weeks, I see that their faces are so much like my own children’s faces….we have a friend that does business in China quite regularly, and I can tell you from his eye witness accounts that many things that go on there are wrong, even considering the different culture, economic standing, etcetera, of the country. In a nation that advertises the value of raising pigs over having children, it is not surprising that, in some places and with some people, children are not thought of with respect for life.
There is a difference between people working hard with different standards because their lifestyle, environment, and culture are different, than people getting beaten because they aren’t making t-shirts fast enough, or children being kidnapped and forced to work.
I am not a “bleeding heart,” and I understand that regulations and government are not the answer. Just as I would not buy a car if I had reason to believe it was stolen, or food that I believe was not raised within a righteous stewardship, I most certainly will not buy products made off of the abuse and extortion of children.
That begs the question, how can I know if the item in question was made by a hard working person who doesn’t mind the work and, relative to his culture and economic environment, is being fairly treated, or made by a 9 year old child who is being beaten by the boss?
The “bleeding heart liberals” will tell us that it’s all bad, and for some reason, illogically think that people in Bangladesh need the same benefits and wages that Americans do. On the other hand, the fiscal conservatives will say that it’s not that bad, that it’s a win-win, and that the liberals are overreacting and being foolish. I believe that both sides are usually wrong, to some degree.
If there is no other clue than the label, we pray. We do the same thing when we purchase produce and meat (the organic label, having been hijacked by bureaucrats is DEFINITELY no guarantee of anything!).
He answers us, actually and we know, from experience that He really does care for us to choose foods that were grown by a faithful steward, rather than by extortion.
If Heavenly Father cares enough to answer that prayer regarding the way we treat animals, how much more does He care about the way people treat each other, especially his little ones?
I love the way my husband’s family does Christmas. Instead of buying stuff for everyone, they draw names, around October. The names are kept secret. No one (theoretically, anyway) knows who has who. Instead of buying a gift, you have to make it. It sure changes the way you think about a present when you know you’re going to be putting your own time into making it. It’s easy to drop $20 on a book, then never wonder again if they ever even read it, or if it’s just sitting on their bookcase. But when you know that you’re going to have to spend your time and talents making something, you put a lot more thought into a gift that the person will enjoy/use. It took us almost a month this year to come up with a gift for my mother-in-law. But now that we have, I think she’s really going to enjoy it.
I’ve loved seeing what his family makes each other. One year, his dad made us a headboard (we were newlyweds and didn’t have one). Last year his dad learned how to knit and spent his days at work knitting a scarf for his daughter. His brother made his mom a book and had each of us kids write memories in it and now it’s a yearly tradition to write a memory during Christmas break. His mom made that same brother a box filled with stuff she had saved from his growing up years. He loved that trip through memory lane. His sister gave us a babysitting job per month last year. It has be so fantastic to have a guaranteed date night with free babysitting every month. She gave another brother freezer meals so that he’d be sure to eat well while at college.
I mean, really. How many Christmas presents do you remember other people giving other people? Do you remember what your sister gave your brother two years ago? I think this tradition is so amazing. It not only forces all of us to stop and think about each other and what the other person really will use and love, but it also forces us to do something, not just spend money. It gives a perfect opportunity to serve. Plus, every gift is memorable, even for years to come.
I love those examples! We’re so spread out though that I can’t see how some of those would work. Still, I want to bring this up to my siblings and my husband for the kids. Thank you.
I am the oldest of nine children and as we each got married and had children of our own it became impossible to get gifts for everyone. For a couple of years we drew names for a particular family, and got them a family gift. After a couple years we decided that we had enough “stuff” and that the money we spent on each other could be put to better use. Now we give the money that we would have spent on gifts for each other, to someone that is in real need. We have had the opportunity to help other family members and people in our communities with real needs. For example, a couple of years ago we gave around $1,000 to one of my cousins who was going through a very hard divorce, and had 2 little kids to take care of. She was so appreciative of the money, and it really helped her. This year we are donating money to another cousin of mine with special needs. He was excepted to a trade school a few months ago but has been unable to come up with the money for a deposit and first months rent on an apartment, so we are helping him with that. Every family donates what they can, there is not expectation. Helping someone is so much better then getting more stuff.
This year my children are making gifts for each other. A different child each night, gets to stay up late and make their gifts with mom. They are so excited to “give” their gifts to their brothers and sisters, and I have enjoyed spending one on one time with each of them, and they are learning how to sew at the same time.
Thanks for writing.
A wonderful post, as usual, and as usual, you have given me a lot to think over. Sigh….
Is there a way to contact you? I recieve an advertisment for our annual stake Christmas program and I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter. My husband spoke up, and now he is having all sorts of abuse heaped upon him. How does one stand under all that pressure?
My heart ached as I read this post and everyone’s comments. Each year, our Christmas has gotten simpler, at first out of necessity and then by choice. We do have gifts but I try to have thoughtful gifts and none are toys. Each child gets a book and then something else. This year, ds is getting a toolbox with tools we’ve found around so he can do some projects with dad. The girls are getting knitting looms and yarn–they are going to learn to knit hats and scarves, ect with me (I am learning too!). I am so excited about this, it’s going to be a lot of fun! We also got one for my husband’s sister who is autistic so we can teach her and spend more time with her.
I love the idea of doing a family member’s bio, Misty! My husband’s grandfather gave each family his this year and we are so excited to sit down and read this together!
So much has gone over seas. We have lost our backbone. (manufacturing) America has become manufacturing unfriendly due to big goverment. Regulations are anti-US-manufacturing and import friendly.
I agree that we have become “greedy guts” in our overabundance–I know I have fallen prey to it! With the internet what it is now, it is much easier to find high quality goods; some at good prices too.
We have really enjoyed reading the Friend, the scriptures about Christ, and listening to Handel’s Messiah (my three year old LOVES to sing vibrato =) and really belts “For unto us a CHild is born…”, and listening to “A Christmas Carol”.
Thank you for the reminder, Misty.
Another well done post, Misty. I don’t know that I can add any to the conversation already taking place. Amy made some very good points about those who work in factories in other countries. It reminded me, though, of an article I read recently by Arthur Henry King in his book, Arm the Children.
In speaking of the effects of the Industrial Revolution. A.H. King said (and I added emphasis to the last part), “You may say that the countries in which the Industrial Revolution took place went through a period of stress and strain and misery and tragedy in order to arrive at something better; the aim may have been profit, but that aim produced a higher standard of living for hundreds of millions of people. That is perfectly true. Mass production has raised the standard of living. But at the same time, it has done several other things. First, it has given mechanical work to hundreds of millions of people; that is to say, their work consists of sheer routine. We have a young friend who once worked in a bean-canning factory. She spent ten hours a day there. As beans passed by her on the band, she took off the stalks. It was good pay, but I maintain that sons and daughters of God are not here to do that sort of thing. Sheer routine is not good for the soul. I do not believe it is right from the point of view of the gospel that men and women should have to repeat mechanically, thousands of times a day, insignificant acts that are incompatible with their dignity as sons and daughters of God.”
With our excess consumerism we are promoting that demeaning work for more of God’s children. My mother’s family is from Mexico who immigrated here to find a better life for their children. My mother has always tried to support “the little guy” wherever we have lived, paying more for local talent and craftsmanship and has encouraged us to do the same. Has it changed the world? Not in a global sense but it has in our own sphere of influence.
“With our excess consumerism we are promoting that demeaning work for more of God’s children.”
I think this sums it up perfectly!
That was the hardest part of working for the first time for me. It is just so demeaning to work an unskilled low wage job. You are treated like you are worthless by your employer, because really you are, anyone could do your job. Your senses are dulled, your spirit dwindles, and your emotions take a dive.
I made sandwiches all day every day. The same sandwiches. The next job I called people at home and conducted a survey. The same survey all day every day. The next job I answered phones and took bookings all day every day. And no matter how well I performed these duties I got zero fulfillment from them, and constant pressure from my employers to improve. Nothing was ever good enough.
When we were more self sufficient we had more variety in our lives, and we were more important to the small economy which we were a part of.
Capitalism is fundamentally evil. It’s basis is greed and selfishness. Businesses charge as much as they can for a service or product and then pay their employees as little as they can for their work-and that is called profit. They are never satisfied with any profit margin, they must become bigger every year, every quarter. Too many members have bought into capitalism, an example of ‘the traditions of our fathers’ that the Book of Mormon warns against. Media convinces us that this race is worth running, that opting out is selfish and misguided, that this is the life we are here to live. That’s why it’s so important to take a step back and immerse ourselves in the gospel.
Thank you misfit for giving us that step back on issue after issue. You are doing a fantastic service to all your readers. May you have a wonderful Christmas.
I’m sorry, Kimberly, but I couldn’t disagree with you more. Capitalism is not fundamentally evil and neither is money. If you read 1 Timothy 6:10 it says the LOVE of money is the root of all evil, not having it or earning a lot of it.
True capitalism is when you have someone who wants to make an item(s) to better and bless people’s lives. All those people selling products at a local store, on Etsy or at a farmer’s market are capitalists. Can you really expect people to not earn any income and provide for themselves/their family from the things they make or do for others? Should we condemn them if their item(s) is so sought after that they are blessed and earn a lot of money? A Tyrant is what you get when a producer doesn’t care about bettering and blessing the lives of their consumers and could care less about how it will affect them because of that person’s greed of money. This tyranny is often mislabeled as capitalism. What we have now is not true capitalism but a form of crony-tyrannical-semi-capitalist-mostly-socialist.
See this discussion -> http://www.lewrockwell.com/williams-w/w-williams82.1.html
Throughout the scriptures there are many, many examples of God’s people being blessed with wealth for their righteousness and love of Christ. It’s what we do with that money to bless the lives of others that’s important. Think of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob – wealthy “capitalists” with their herds. Yet they were prophets of God and were very righteous. The “traditions of our fathers” in the scriptures show that those who sought after the love of money and not for the love of Christ were destroyed and punished – not those who had money.
Misty, I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have found your blog and read your insightful articles. Thank you! This article and those comments posted by others have got my brain thinking and working. I know this is a late comment to the post, but I’m grateful to have read it now so I can plan for this Christmas. Our family has spent the last several years out of state and away from all of our family. In that time we’ve been able to work on our own traditions and have felt very strongly that we need to make Christmas more about Christ. One thing we did to focus the day of Christmas on Christ was to open gifts the day before. I’m looking forward to making more changes. Thanks again.
This is such a great conversation. I love Misty’s posts, and I also really appreciate all the thoughtful and enlightening comments. I too, have often regretted the industrial revolution and lot of other things that most people think are great. While I know there are some plus sides to poor people having factories to work in I can’t help but think that they were cheated somewhere along the way. What did they do before American’s discovered they could get them to make us cheap crap? Did they just lie around starving, or did they have small, close-knit sustainable communities where they grew their own food and made their own material goods and lived in their own beautiful and unique cultures? I honestly think that we somehow helped create their poverty so we could “save” them from it with a lifestyle that is much much worse than their former lives. American foreign policy and trade has left a lot to be desired for decades and decades. Just saying. I often try to imagine what life would now be like if we had taken a different road in the late 1800′s and stayed true to our revolutionary war ideals. What would life look like now? I can’t do it for too long because it makes me want to cry, really. Hopefully we will experience that in New Jerusalem. I do not think there will be factories in NJ, or huge conglomerations or corporations or ginormous farms that just grow soy either. Just an abundance of hardwork, individuality, and human dignity. And service! and templework!
This post really hit a nerve for me because it seems for many years Christmas has just been (mostly) a sore spot for me. I have a really hard time bucking the status quo, especially when it comes to my family. I don’t want to hurt them or offend them, or even weird them out, but I just keep wishing I could send out a little postcard or email that says, “We love you all, but we have decided we will not be giving or accepting gifts this year. Instead, we would love to have you all over for dinner and please ask us to babysit your kids for some future date night or temple night.”
sigh. i will work up the courage soon. I should really have more faith that they will still love me and that I will be doing what my Heavenly Father wants me to do and that is all that really matters. thanks again!
I’ve thought about it more, and I think if there are factories in NJ, there will be a select few that only make very necessary items, and will probably mostly be run the way the Church’s canning factories are run now, with people signing up for 4 hour shifts every so often and taking turns. And the workers will NOT be pushed to go ever and ever faster so as to create a larger and larger profit margin. I imagine if there are some larger farms they will also be run the same way, with every one pitching and taking turns. Just had to clarify!
US trade laws are horrific. They decimated the BC logging industry to the point where it practically no longer exists when NAFTA kicked in.
The way they protect US sugar and cotton have wreaked havoc on poor countries in the Caribbean and Africa and made them unstable and dependent upon US aid.
Oh, wow, Misty. Thanks so much for the reminder!!! This has sparked another wonderful family discussion.
I have too much to say on this topic to even comment but I wanted to say thank you for the post and the links once again.
Oh, Lara, I had a nice little smile to myself imagining you trying not to explode with too many things to say on the subject. You probably handled it more gracefully than I pictured, but it was still a nice little smile.
I have never really thought much about this issue until you blogged about it. Now it’s been in the back of my mind ever since. Especially as we are huge Apple fans. We own several macs, 2 iPods and an iPad. My husband is a computer programmer for Macs and supplements our income (so we can pay off our mortgage faster) by doing contract iPod/iPad programming. So I’ve been mulling over this topic in my subconscious brain for awhile now and it spilled forth a little in conversation with my husband last night. It wasn’t a main topic of conversation, but Apple products being made in China with child labor was brought up. Today he sent me a link to the Apple Supplier Code of Conduct which they require all of their suppliers to adhere to. http://images.apple.com/supplierresponsibility/pdf/Supplier_Code_of_Conduct_V3_3.pdf
It includes this about under-age labor:
“Suppliers shall not employ children. The minimum age for employment or work shall be 15 years of age, the minimum age for employment in that country, or the age for completing compulsory education in that country, whichever is higher.”
I liked the last part, “whichever is higher.” Yes, 15 is still young. I wouldn’t want my 15-year old to work full time. But I’m also in a position where I can (or rather, my husband can) support our family without the added income of my children. When my children do get jobs (which might very well be at 15 or younger, albeit not full-time), it will be to teach them the value of work and money.
I am very aware, however, that many families in China (and other countries) do not have that option. It takes the combined income of parents and children to keep the family eating. And it is not going to be the companies that hire them that will change that situation, nor is it their responsibility to. I think that the government needs to step in and change rules and regulations. Change minimum wages. Increase the value of their money. Increase the standard of living. It’s going to take communities working together to help each other out. To build trust and help each other during rough times. It’s going to take individuals being willing to learn new skills and become more self-reliant.
Yes, the factories and suppliers need to have minimum standards. They need to be responsible for not hiring child labor for scarce pay. From my brief glance through Apple’s Supplier Code of Conduct, I think they have done a reasonable job. They stipulate an absolute minimum age (15) and several other factors that may increase that minimum age. They make sure that kids get compulsory education and follow the laws of the country. Which is part of what makes me believe that the country needs to be more involved in increasing the quality of life for all involved.
That’s not to say that child labor isn’t an issue. It is. It very much is. And I really do appreciate this post. It really has gotten me to think about things that I typically don’t think about. Really my comment is me just gushing out the thoughts going through my head today. Tomorrow my thoughts might change. Thanks for opening up a topic to discussion and allowing others to weigh in.