On Not Being American
shadowibis @ Sat Jul 10, 2004 5:55 pm
Dang, forgot to log-on. That was me. 
michou @ Sat Jul 10, 2004 6:47 pm
Salut Shadowibis ! I'd had figured it had to be you or
Sauron.
Bet you recognized my love and respect for Americans,
eh ? 
shadowibis @ Sat Jul 10, 2004 7:51 pm
I knew I recognized the style.
One other thing about being American I don't like. Their elections take way, way too long to happen. It's enough to bore one to tears after a year or so. Canada may have had two elections before the Americans even have one. If they have another one that is. I wonder, since Bush appears creepily confident that he will remain president.
RPW @ Sat Jul 10, 2004 8:27 pm
There was a comic published decades ago entitled "Total War" (or something like that) I don't tink it lasted very long, but was about "someone" who attacked the United States (in the manner of D-Day) to give them an example of what war was all about. It was actually quite boring, but I suppose it was trying to make the point that we over here haven't experienced anything like what most of the world has "enjoyed", and we will never understand the impact we have on others until we go through it ourselves.
Even something as "innocent" as not buying Fair Trade coffee (because it is "too expensive"), without realizing just what the so-called "extra" expense is meant for, shows our naivity in dealing with the realities of the rest of the world.
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RickW
RPW @ Sat Jul 10, 2004 8:29 pm
Sure! Conjure up another "9-11"......."postpone" elections to deal with "terror" crisis......but are Bush and handlers that clever?
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RickW
whelan costen @ Sun Jul 11, 2004 12:57 am
ok I'll bite what is Fair Trade Coffee?
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If I stand for my country today...will my country be here to stand for me tomorrow?
michou @ Sun Jul 11, 2004 5:32 am
There are many sites on the net where you can get information on Fair trade coffee. Here is one of them <a href="http:// www.globalexchange.org/ campaigns/fairtrade/coffee/">Global Exchange</a> <p>Due to its large exports, coffee is an important example of Fair Trade Practices but isn't the only one. There exists Fair Trade Stores where you can buy an entire array of wares, jewelry, clothing, food etc... In French they are called EquiTerre and here is a French link for more information on the subject <a href="http://www.equiterre.com/">EquiTerre</a><p>
RPW @ Sun Jul 11, 2004 8:22 am
Fair Trade Coffee: http://www.oxfam.ca/campaigns/fairTrade.htm ------ Fair Trade Chocolate: http://www.vegans.free-online.co.uk/ethchocF.htm <p>---<br>RickW
Jim Callaghan @ Sun Jul 11, 2004 8:28 am
Just another example of multi-nationals pushing costs down to maximize profits.
When the farmers all quit, the price will skyrocket, and then we will all be saying "what happened to the price of coffee ?", with a surprised look on our face.
Fair trade is a dream that will never be implemented.
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"Arrogance in Politics is unacceptable"
Jim Callaghan
Minden, Ontario
705-286-1860
www.misterc.ca
RPW @ Sun Jul 11, 2004 8:23 pm
"When the farmers all quit..." There are some 37,000,000 actual slaves in the world today, more than all the slaves EVER shipped from Africa in the heyday of slavery that we read about. So when the farmers (aka slaves) 'quit', they will be dead, and they will be replaced. All for a cheap cup of coffee.......<p>---<br>RickW
whelan costen @ Sun Jul 11, 2004 10:36 pm
Thanks for the links RPW and Michou, I was not aware of this Fair Trade, great idea and the more consumers demand it the more corporations will be forced to deal in fair trade.
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If I stand for my country today...will my country be here to stand for me tomorrow?
Guest @ Mon Jul 12, 2004 12:26 pm
Fair trade does sound good but there's a caveat - those same poor farmers have to pay fees to become part of the Fair Trade 'corporation'(that's essentially what it is). Then they are required to submit themselves to the requirements of this corporation or be shut out of markets - this is a power shift, not empowerment of the individual farmers, they still dance to someone else's tune. Shaking up who has the power is still not a bad idea, but property rights and the rule of law would be of greater benefit to most of these farmers than the 'benevolence' of first world aid organizations.
RPW @ Mon Jul 12, 2004 7:15 pm
Yes, but like a co-op. And they can put food on the table......
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RickW
Guest @ Tue Jul 13, 2004 12:40 am
Election Day Worries
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5411741/site/newsweek
michou @ Tue Jul 13, 2004 8:58 am
Ok, so this thread started about "not being American" and we digressed to Fair Trade practices.
Or are they related ?
Just asking.