What makes you think you live in the U.S.A.?
By: Ann Hall
zwire.com
It hit me like a ton of bricks today as I was unpacking our suitcases and doing two giant-sized loads of wash after returning from our week-long trip to our home state of Virginia.
We don't make anything anymore! I mean, almost nothing! This realization happened as I was examining a label on a newly purchased shirt to be certain that it was machine washable. In big, bold print were these words, "Made in China." In addition to that, the washing instructions were printed in five different languages!
This prompted me to conduct an investigation of today's entire load of wash. I was curious enough to look at the labels in each of the 146 individual items that went into two loads. The results were astounding!
Our shirts were made in the Philippines, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico and Hong Kong. It made no difference that some of them were just good old J.C. Penny or Beal's Department Store brands. My husband's favorite, "Cool Eighteen" shirts were made in Vietnam.
Some of my Liz Claiborne garments were made in Indonesia.
Gloria Vanderbilt jeans, purchased from Costco, were also made in Indonesia, as well as Jordan and Israel. My favorite Capri pants were made in Mongolia and my husband's Levi's were made in Dominican Republic.
Our "Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes" were made in Arabia, China, and Syria, while our socks and undergarments were labeled "Made in Thailand," and "Made in Uruguay."
Towels were made in Brazil, washcloths in Pakistan, bath mat in India, and dish towels in Turkey, to name but another few of the items that were not made in the United States.
Out of the entire two loads of laundry, I found one lonesome sweatshirt made in the U.S.A. This one I had purchased years ago right here on the Isles of Capri at Bub's Sunset Lounge, later to become Backwater Nick's. I also found one T-shirt bearing the slogan "Keep Collier Beautiful" given to me as a souvenir for helping Rookery Bay with their clean-up activities in 2005. This is frightening!
Thank goodness our laundry detergent Costco Ultra and Clorox Bleach are both made in the U.S.A.
Where have all our textile mills gone? What happens if we forget how to make our own clothing and other personal items? This thought reminded me of the lyrics to the popular song, "Where have all the flowers gone..." Have we truly lost sight of our country and what it stands for? Have we reduced ourselves to being "A man (or woman) without a country?" I challenge you to take the laundry challenge in your home. If you do run across items that are made here, please let me know so that I can purchase that brand!
Ann Hall is chairwoman of the Civic Association's Island Preservation and Enhancement Team and serves on County Commissioner Donna Fiala's Island Advisory Board. The comments made in this column are the expressed opinions of this columnist, and are not necessarily the views of the association or Island Advisory Board. Readers may contact her at ahall7911@comcast.net.
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