It's notta TUMAH!

Jul 10, 2008 - 18:32 PM PST

What a beautiful day...

I had an awesome time visiting/doing some pre-registering stuff on my soon-to-be university campus. It was scary as hell and yet exhilirating...this feeling of being an adult and being on my own. And when I spoke to people today, actual real sensical words came out of my mouth! I was afraid I'd have a hard time making friends seeing as...I have a hard time making new friends. But everyone seemed to be as if not more uncomfortable than me. But it's ok, it was the good kind of uncomfortable...the kind of uncomfortable you know is necessary to feel before you start having the time of your life.

I also went to an interview to work at Urban Outfitters. Holy Santa Claus, the girl who went before me was an INSANE interviewee, and when I say insane I mean that she answered every question with an Obama-esque speech highlighting her strengths while uplifting the listener(s) with words of hope and raising thought provoking challenges. I think the interviewers were a little p.o.ed after a while because she kept asking questions and not leaving.

But anywhoo I learned that Urban Outfitters officials have openly admitted to using questionable methods of clothing assembly (*cough* sweatshops) which let's face it, most retail stores do. The ethical question is: do I keep buying the clothes? Am I helping these destitute women crouched by sewing machines in darkly-lit rooms by purchasing products which provide a ridiculously small but nonetheless necessary salary for them and their families? Or am I a part of a mass consuming circle of viciousness, cruelty, and things that make baby Jesus cry? This is the question. How does one approach the solution? Years ago, the US proposed putting a ban on child-made products from places like India and Blangadesh, and hundreds of children were fired from their positions as factory workers (as their employers feared losing business/money) and these kids were forced to turn to things like prostitution.

How's about we stop taking part in this madness and encourage our big retail stores to start selling "responsible clothing" and how's about we start offering children (and their parents) in developing countries part-time, safe, and decent-paying jobs as well as an opportunity to get an education while earning money?!

Is that so hard to do?

Well, I will be off in the fall studying these global development questions and trying to save the world and such things.





I leave you with a song.



Walking on Stones by The New Frontiers