Why I don’t shop at Walmart
This topic always draws a lot of feedback. The thing is from the moment someone starts to talk, or write, you usually have a good idea what side of the fence they are on (it’s the same as when you listen to someone talk about Kanye West’s statements and racism). I fear-and I’m speaking about myself too-that too often we are choosing what side of the fence we want to be on, and then just finding evidence to back it up. Maybe it’s cause you had a bunch of liberal friends, or you hung out with the grunge crowd, some external pressure just decided for you that you hated Walmart, and since then you’ve found all kinds of reasons why this is true. For others it’s their republican upbringing, their support of “Christian” values, or their love of low prices that swayed their decision and now they’ve found all kinds of reasons to support that choice. Honestly, I probably fall into one of those categories, but give me a minute to share with you why I personally avoid Walmart.
At some point in my movement towards maturity, I recognized the significance of personal responsibility. I realized that with any situation, regardless of the reasons behind it or circumstances concerning it, my involvement (or passive silence) would show my support for it. If something is against the rules, and I say nothing about it, I show my support for it. If my government, of which I am a part, makes a decision and I say nothing about it, I support it. I need to take responsibility for those things. If I am ever confronted on those things (and I have this strange feeling I might be), I will not be able to pass blame like Adam did, I will be held accountable for my decisions.
I’ve definitely made poor decisions in the past. I remember being in high school and seeing a sign posted above a drinking fountain in the hallway. Walmart and Sweatshops was the topic, and I passed it by without a second thought. Interesting that I can remember that now, but it had no bearing on me then. For a number of years I had been aware of this, and I did nothing.
At some point later, maybe after I had been exposed to some facts, seen some video, and been confronted a few more times, I realized that important lesson on personal responsibility. Suddenly, the weight of the responsibility was heavy on me. I never went through a research project of weighing the Pros and Cons of Walmart. To be honest most of this debate about whether Walmart is good or bad seems to miss the point for me. I’m not saying it doesn’t have significance, but it gets us into a balance game, and I’m not interested in that.
This is the one fact that disturbs me. Close your eyes. Think about the shirt you are wearing. Trace it back through the store you bought it from, back past being packaged, past being shipped, and to the place it was stitched and sewn together. I’m terrified when I do that and I see a small child, dirty and weary from 18 hours a day of labor, looking into my eyes and awaiting an explanation. What will I say to that little girl? What does taking responsibility mean for me there?
I cannot in good conscience buy from a store where I am aware that that is where the items came from. Does Walmart employ sweatshops? I’m not sure, but I’ve heard evidence of it, and the mere possibility scares me. Do other Stores employ sweatshops? Probably many other stores do, and as I become aware of them, my purchasing decisions and opportunities will become more and more difficult; But that in NO way allows me to disregard my responsibility. Do ALL stores employ sweatshops? I do not believe so. I know of a number of fair trade clothing stores whose goal and focus is to be sweatshop free.
I’m not advocating a boycott; I don’t know enough about economics, etc to make a strong decision on that. I do think that when a company like Walmart is in the news for bad practices, it should affect our spending habits. When Martha Stewart goes to jail our continued purchases send the message that we don’t care about her breaking the law. When we read that Coca-Cola has been polluting the water in India, our continued purchasing sends the message that we do not care. I long for someone with much more brilliance then I to come along and give me a plan for making choices and organizing in a way that will affect change for the good. Are you that person?
I leave you with this. As a friend, I want to admonish you. I am aware of some facts that might or might not be true about Walmart. Please stop shopping there until you have examined the facts. [facts to be found on your own, so as to avoid any bias on this site]
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thanks for dropping by at my page, appreciate it a lot:)… i hope you didn’t mind my re-posting your article. i feel it might help others in making their resolutions this new year. but i don’t really make new year’s resolutions…what i see in my life when i do my evalutaion and reflections that needs to be changed or work on then i just try my best to do…i stop making resolutions…:)
no, i haven’t read your other blogs yet…but i will add your link in my list if you don’t mind…so that i can visit your page whenever i can…:)
have a good week ahead and happy new year to you and your family!:)
God’s blessings
sarita:)
[...] Below, in it’s entirety, is something I wrote a while back about why I don’t shop at Walmart. With all the CRM posts and everything I felt this was probably a pretty appropriate time to post this up again and hopefully garner further discussion on it. If your going to link to the article, please link to the original, Why I don’t Shop At Walmart: [...]
I can not say that I hate Wal-Mart, but I do dislike them. Some of the reasons are mentioned in your blog, but probably the biggest reason is, that I worked at one of their stores for about 14 months, after I retired from Civil Service, and I know how they treat their employees, (Excuse me, “Associates”) and it’s not good. Of course I know, a lot depends on who the store manager is, but I would not set foot in their store if not for my wife, she buys groceries there, and she needs my help with the heavy stuff. She will not listen to me, and go to Krogers.
Great blog, God Bless you.
I have refused to buy from Wal-Mart from some time, I don’t like the way they treat their employees as well. I would like to leave something for some food for thought though…
When the topic came up recently about Starbucks and their “causes,” my girlfriend and I had to stop and look at what was going on (she works there). Yes, they have supported gay pride parades, they have even given money to Planned Parenthood, but when you investigate, here’s what you find:
They also give to World Vision and will match up to $500 of your own money to non-profit organizations, both WV and Planned Parenthood. The problem with boycotting is that our brothers and sisters in Christ work hard at these places. My girlfriend has been able to witness to loads of people while working there, something that couldn’t have been done if loads of people were boycotting because she would not have a job. Boycotting often makes Christians look REAL stupid.
With that said, I still refuse to go to Wal-Mart. I have a lot of other options as to where to buy the things I need but in some places people don’t always have that option.
Sorry for the long post, I know it’s annoyed at least 3.65 people, but You;d probrably like me in person!
YWAM M
J Justice,
Thanks so much for stopping by and chiming in. I don’t think your annoying anyone by sharing your comments and thoughts. I think it is worth reflecting on that a fair bit as well.
Here’s my thought in response. I boycott war also (I’m a pacifist), because I simply do not think it is something we should support or condone as Christians. However, I recognize that many Christians work hard serving in wars, amidst wars many chaplains and service people witness to their peers and those they serve, and probably through the intensity and travesties of war, many come to a more intimate relationship with God. None of that however, will change my opinion that, looking at Scripture, I do not see how I can support war.
But this isn’t about war (for that tangent you can find plenty of other posts on my blog), it’s about consumerism. Where you choose to spend your money is a clear statement of whose values you support. And there are businesses I simply cannot support because of some of their practices.
Does that make sense?
Ya, that makes perfect sense and I agree. My old roomate in YWAM was a pacifist as well and we used to talk day and night about it (I’m not so much a pacifist) while we were preparing to go to Iraq. I’m truely on the fence on this one. I feel both ways about war but learn towards supporting it.
After watching “Band of Brothers” and seeing how the Germans and Japs were killing innocent people, I had to ask myself what would have happenned if we had no military. Who would have stopped the killing? It’s been something hard for me to reconcile because it’s one of the few times I think war was right. My best friend went to Afganistan and S Korea in the Army and it’s something he struggles with as well, especially since he saw how corrupt the leaders were and how the US does stuff for it’s own good instead of what’s BEST for theforeigners.
Thanks for the post. I have a little piece of Dub-Mart satire on my site. Please do visit if you get time.
Peace,
Mike
Target is cleaner and they pay their workers! Jump on the bandwagon!
You should be glad that WalMart is giving those kids jobs. Their family might not be getting fed otherwise.
You liberal elitists crack me up. Have any of you ever lived in the real world.
Oh, and for the guy above who thinks giving to Planned Parenthood by Starbucks is a great thing. Did you know that Planned Parenthood makes a fortune by killing babies? And did you know that Planned Parenthood was started by a racist for the express purpose of ridding the earth of black babies?
Rico, while I appreciate your sentiment regarding \”giving those kids
jobs\”, I'm not really sure it's a solid point. If everyone suddenly
stopped shopping at Walmart and chose to shop at places that had
ethical oversight and didn't abuse human rights globally, \”those kids\”
and their families would find decent paying jobs available that didn't
come at the expense of their health and well-being.
You say: \”You liberal elitists crack me up. Have any of you ever lived
in the real world?\” I'm a little confused by this statement. Do you
care to elaborate?
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