Am I over-reacting?

[Big Daddy Audio]

I hereby retract this discussion.  I wasn't over reacting.  I was pissed, but I'm over it now.

I shop at Wal-Mart on occasion.  I don't do a lot of shopping there.  I'll look for certain toys that are Wal-Mart "exclsuives" and not much else.  Wal-Mart is opening up a "neighborhood Market" grocery store down on the corner.  I won't shop there, but it has nothing to do with politics.  Wal-Marts generally give me the creeps.  I don't really like Target, either.  I also don't like K-Mart.  I do like Sears.  I like Sears because...

...get ready for a new heated discussion, GB...

They have signs that say Merry Christmas during the major shopping season from Mid November through New Years (I don't think any other majors do).  They appear to not give a damn about the PC crowd, and I commend them for that.

That is all.

[SecondhandSophisticate]

I like Sears, too. I once read in this book, _The Millionaire Next Door_, that the Sears Credit Card was one of the few that millionaires (self-made ones, if anyone has read the book) would be likely to carry (the other being, I believe) J.C. Penney. That really impressed me, but I already shopped at Sears. All our kitchen appliances are from Sears. Our former mattress was from Sears.  My late in-laws shopped at Sears from the 50s onwards. Remember the "wishy books", the big Sears catalogs that used to come in the mail in the fall and had a huge section of toys?

I agree with Big Daddy. What's wrong with Merry Christmas?  Since I'm not allowed to say it, I found myself saying it more, not out of spite, but because I want to keep the spirit alive. If I know someone else celebrates another holiday like Solstice or Hanakah (sp, I am sure) I wish them those salutations as well.  I LOVE Christmas. So shoot me.

xo,
SeSo

[Other People s Junk]

Count me in as one who likes "Merry Christmas!"  I refuse to send out Christmas cards that don't say that, but it is getting harder and harder to find them.  Hello?!  They are CHRISTMAS CARDS.  Not season cards or holiday cards!   

[SecondhandSophisticate]

 Check out thrift stores, church sales, garage sales for actual Christmas cards that say Merry Christmas. You may also find some great vintage cards as well. And maybe Sears, since they hang up Merry Christmas signs...

Merry Christmas,
SeSo

[Good Buddy]

Half of my family is Jewish. We always celebrated Christmas from the Santa angle (Gotta Love Santa!).
The largest majority of America is "Christian" so saying Merry Christmas is fine with me. I say it. I have to be aware that my dad's side of the family might correct me, but whatever.
I think this "PC" way of thinking is a little old hat nowadays. If someone gets their panties in a bunch, of well.

[alexandra]

Gosh, here I added to some of heat in this discussion, then I quietly went away... But now I am back!

I hesitate to turn the thrift in question into the labor board -- that is for the staff to do.  I have been sued by a business because they were upset that I reported them to the AG when I felt I'd been misled.  Don't want to go there again.

Secondly, the thrift is part of a good charitable effort over-all, which I feel is worth supporting.  And you will notice, because of potential lible issues, I have not named them either.

I'm not wanting to look cowardly... only express that there's certainly often more than one side to an issue.

And as far as all the anti-Chinese sentiment... a dear friend brought home a totally lovely little girl from there a few years back (I consider her to be very high quality ;-).  For her sake, I hate to see the "Made in China" label/phrase totally trashed.  Our society (not saying anyone in this forum) can take zealotry too far.  What starts out with a rational basis can combust into something far more harmful.  I just hope we all are aware of that to some degree... Having a municipality actually carry out a ban like the one mentioned is a legal pipe dream.  Even if it did happen, what would it really accomplish?  Mostly, a lot of lawyers would be involved and it would take years to resolve-- but I guess that particular municipality doesn't have piddly little cash-flow problems that would be depleted while the effort to make that kind of legislation legal cost taxpayers more and more. I know that the city I live in couldn't afford such foolishness.

I admit it; I shop at Wallies.  I don't have a lot of spare cash.  I think it was Marge Simpson who said "We don't have enough money to shop with a conscience." Or something like that.  I don't mean it to sound that cold... but from every corner, it seems we are being told how to make the world a better place by not spending our money somewhere or another.  IMO, if we are so concerned with the lack of conscience, we ought to do our part and reach out to a specific person in need -- and help them.  IMO, we make the world a better place by *doing* something, not by refusing to do something. 

I just don't happen to think there is an ultimate good or evil in the Walmart/China debate.  But... I also don't buy Walmart or Made In China goods when I thrift... better quality stuff can be found for the same price.

Thriftily,
Alexandra
www.livingwithoutmoney.blogspot.com

[SecondhandSophisticate]

Hi Alexandra!  Hope all is well.

What a lovely, thoughtful post.

I love your Marge Simpson quote...it's so true, isn't it? 

I just wish somebody had told me back years ago what "global economy" really means (sigh)

I do what you do...don't buy secondhand stuff made in China though, I must admit this can be very hard clothes-wise.

BTW, I was thinking about you on Saturday. I purchased, for $1 a vintage Liz Claiborne (I know how much you love the line)...in bright orange  cotton with "bat-wing" sleeves (the detachable shoulderpads are missing, alas .)  You should see it, it is such a trip. And yes, I do plan on wearing it as soon as it drops below 90 here.  PS:  It was made in Hong Kong I'm suffering from orange illness. If it's orange and doesn't offend my current sensibilities, I must have it.

SeSo 

[alexandra]

Dearie, I must confess, when I buy some of the older (i.e. 80's) women's wear... I remove the shoulder pads.  I guess with other large attributes I am sporting, the pads just seem to be too much!  You might actually do well with newer/scaled down pads anyway.

And now that dear Liz is gone, I think we ought to look for her pieces in thrifts so that we can preserve them.  She did so much for women's fashion -- I think she is truly an under appreciated fashion icon.

Thriftily,
Alexandra
www.livingwithoutmoney.blogspot.com

[SecondhandSophisticate]

You are so funny, Alexandra!

I have broad shoulders for my height and the 80s made me look like a football player. Remember those days--shoulder pads in the dress or blouse, then in the jacket, then in the coat over all the other shoulder pads. Ye Gods!  Now I don't need them, trust me (groan) One of the---ahem---'advantages' of middle-age.

I agree with you about Liz, and that's why I was so happy to find this earlier version of her work. It looks quite iconoclastic without the shoulderpads...very clean lines and a stunning color in a natural fabric.  It matches the Vera scarf I picked up earlier in the day for a dime and the 70s burnt orange boots (knee-high), leather, that I picked up for $6 yesterday. As soon as I get accessorized, I think I will post a pic here. I'm planning to wear this outfit  to a dinner in a few weeks.

I have to be careful wearing recent vintage because if I'm not, I'll just look like I forgot to update my wardrobe over the past 30 years, you know what I mean?  The Brits call it "Mutton dressed as lamb"  Ouch!

Ciao,
SeSo

[MrsGoodwill]

I don't like slow lines at thrifts.

Or Wal*Mart.

I won't shop at Wal*Mart because IMHO they are too big and too messy and the customers are unhappy and the workers are unhappy and so the overall vibe is just too negative.

And why is it that Wal*Mart seems to always have so many ditched doo-doo diapers and carts all over the parking lot?! Ugh!

[Good Buddy]

I won't shop at Wal*Mart because IMHO they are too big and too messy and the customers are unhappy and the workers are unhappy and so the overall vibe is just too negative. Embarrassed

Agreed, although we do shop there from time to time.

And why is it that Wal*Mart seems to always have so many ditched doo-doo diapers and carts all over the parking lot?! Huh Ugh

I dunno, I guess it's the clientèle that shops there..

[Jay2TheRescue]

I rarely go to Wal-Mart but I do go in there to get the oil changed in the car and truck.  I always use synthetic oil, and Jiffy Lube wants about $80 to do that.  Wal-Mart does it for half the price.  Its like buying the oil & filter and they change it for free.

-Jay

[Troy McClure]

Ooh they are breaking the law!  Personally, not to be all sanctimonious or anything, but I wouldn't shop there again.  I think that you express your values by how you spend your money. (Incidentally, this is why I don't shop at Wal Mart.)  I would probably tattle on them to your state's labor board as well.  But then again, I'm like that.

Another anti Wal-mart Crusader?  I agree a company should pay you  for time on the clock and overtime..it is the law, but in retail there is a lot of down time, many employees take breaks on the clock etc.  Employees only get taken advantage of when they allow themselves to be.
I read  all these articles about  large companies bullying their employees and can't understand why they don't just work for some one who treats them better. Just like the consumer votes with their wallet, the employee votes with who he or she choses to work for...

I will now get off my soapbox as it might break from my weighty thoughts...