Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Christmas Gifts: Do They Really Bring Joy to Everyone?
The Christmas Season is fast upon us and with this comes the tradition of gift giving. We purchase all kinds of gifts for all each other.These gifts range from expensive things such as the newest Louis Vuitton purse or the lastest electronic gadget, like the iPad, to the simplest things like a bar of chocolate. Although these gifts may bring joy to the person receiving the gift, is the feeling mutual? Is this gift bringing joy the person who made the gift? The newest Louis Vuitton purse may bring a smile to the face of a girl who is an avid pruse collector, but is the person(s) who made the purse getting joy out of toiling for long hours in a factory or sweatshop, receiving a meager salary to support their family?
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Good point that you bring up in your post here about the holiday season. I would have to believe that many of these workers are underpaid and perhaps not receiving the same joy as the individual on the receiving end, however I'm not too sure about how much they should receive as payment for shift work at a factory that produces purses. Perhaps it is a shame that the latest fads demand for people to use brand name products and purses, rather than just whatever they feel like using. This has become an issue in many industries in fashion, especially on ridiculous wants such as a purse. After all, it is just a purse.
ReplyDeleteThe act of reciprocity can actually bring ill will to the receiver of a gift. For example, gaining a gift that you really didn't want, and now having to pay it back. On the other end on who made the product, it is a shame that a lot of name brand products do not care for the well being of the sweatshop workers they hire, and thus the products we buy come from the sweat and blood of children, or victims. But what can we do? Not but from them, spread the word of its injustice. What people have to do is change the hearts of those ignorant of suffering.
ReplyDeleteI like how you brought up the thought of not only the receiver, but of the person that did make the product. I understand that many places over seas treat their workers quite horribly and barely get paid enough to feed their family. This is wrong at all costs, but think about this... many items now are made by machines. There are still employees, but they manage the machines most of the day. I do not think it is like it was a hundred years ago where people were sitting at a desk for twelve hour days sewing. But don't get me wrong, I know there is much mistreatment out in the world today. I do not understand why people need to have the latest gadgets, most of the time they end up breaking and you have to get another one. People should just wait until the item is perfected, and then run out to get it. I don't know that is just my opinion; I was never really spoiled like that so I don't really understand why people do it. I will definitely keep up with this blog, it is interesting! (:
ReplyDeleteYou make a really good point. I think sometimes we take what we have for granted and forget about those that don't have as much.
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