Flags made in China
July 9th, 2009 at 02:17pm Mary Kaull
Kevin Thompson of Rockford wrote the Register Star about his rude surprise at Rockford’s Fourth of July parade this year. The small flags handed out by the local political parties were imprinted with the words “Made in China.” Typically, I pass over such letters because I can’t verify them. (I wasn’t at this year’s parade and our reporters can’t be everywhere.)
But I called Jan Klaas, head of the Winnebago County Republican party, and she confirmed that indeed the flags were from China. Klaas said she didn’t know when the flags were ordered that they came from China. The supplier gave them no clue, she said. Once they were bought and paid for, Klaas felt stuck. I sympathized. Do you cover up the words with Magic Marker or Wite-Out? Wouldn’t that be defacing the flag? And how wasteful!
Political Editor Chuck Sweeny envisioned the Chinese manufacturer having a lot of fun sneaking in the words “Made in China” on these flags. As if the trade imbalance is not insult enough! Take a look at the photo Thompson submitted. Do you share his ire? Here’s his letter:
“The Fourth of July parade this year was wonderful as always, but one issue needs comment.
“The political parties handed out American flags to everyone in the crowd. This seemed wonderful until I looked closely at the flag.
“There, printed on my flag–the flag of the United States of America–was not a sticker but the imprinted words, “Made in China.”
“I immediately thought of the many friends and others in my community, my country, who are out of work because we sent our manufacturing jobs to everywhere but America.
“Families are losing homes, unemployment is still rising and our political parties purchase and hand out American flags with “Made in China” on them. Even beyond the jobs and the people affected, what about respect for our national flag itself?
“I cannot believe anyone, especially an elected official or a person working for a political party, would think this is acceptable — to purchase these, and then have the nerve to hand them out to American citizens on Independence Day.” — Kevin Thompson, Rockford
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2 Comments Add your own
1. Kevin Thompson | July 11th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
“Do you cover up the words with Magic Marker or Wite-Out? Wouldn’t that be defacing the flag?” The Flag had already been defaced. The order, when found with the words printed on the flag, should have immediately been returned to the supplier. By not doing so, and instead choosing to hand the Flags out during the parade, Jan Klaas has made the statement to the manufacturer, the supplier, and everyone who received a flag that this is acceptable. It is certainly NOT acceptable.
2. Josh Everest | July 14th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Thanks Kevin for the article. I think now more than ever Americans are protecting their jobs and noticing more and more all of the products that are not manufactured in our great country. As we do not support the loss of manufacturing of our products to other countries we forced this issue long ago. Americans have become a nation of greed and mostly of money. We all want more out of life but this greed of money has forced Industry to move were labor is much cheaper. Although I believe Unions have done allot of good for us I also believe they are part of the problem of our decline in manufacturing. When manufacturers cannot market goods at a reasonable price for consumers they cannot sell their products. We all want raises at our jobs but remember the company has to market what we are making and when the cost of production exceeds there market they are left with only two choices, relocate or close there operations. With that being said do agree that our very own patriotic symbol should only be made by our very own patriots.
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