Universe

Question:
One of the problems that I have had is with the exploitation of third world labor. While I agree that Sweatshops are necessary things for economic development, should the DeMolay and More Store be getting shirts made in countries that practice human rights violations?

(This would include shirts, hats and other products made in China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India)

Choices:
Yes
No
Maybe

 

Aye, but here's the rub ... who is willing to pay 200-300% more for the same materials?

I think we need to also be sure that when we claim "human rights violations".

Remember, when you point your finger at someone else, there are three more pointing back at you!

S&F,
Ron Blaisdell

Although I 'm not sure what specific rights are violated, i'll assume its child labor. Warning- I think people are going to strongly disagree with me. We should buy products from child labor places. Consider that they make like a nickel an hour or day or whatever, but that buys a lot of cabbage and other stuff that they would other whys not be able to eat. Children in child labor factories are not there by choice, its to survive. As Americans we do not have the right to shut down child labor factories and indirectly starve children to death. Child labor is really bad but child death is even worse. Granted we could totally eliminate global poverty but won't any time soon. In the mean time DI should continue to use these products (which I assume they are).

Hi everyone I was wondering do you have to be an EO or Alumni to buy merchandise from the DeMolay & more store?
What are the things we as active/senior demolays can buy from the store?

Joshua Kock
Master Councilor
Aruba Chapter No.1
Oranjestad, Aruba

No, anyone with a valid credit card can buy merchandise from the DeMolay and More Store.

Pete,

Good topic but problematic. Define Human Rights. For example China defines Human Rights as the right to live. Period. Concepts such as right to healthcare, education, employment, etc.etc. are foreign concepts to them. We run into problems everytime we attempt to impose our values on other cultures that may have developed differently than us.

We are seeing that debate with prisoners of war. The Geneva convention only protects soldiers in uniform. Not our troops operating in plain cloths covertly overseas and certainly not Talaban or Quada fighters not wearing a uniform or not fighting under the flag of any country.

We now see people claiming combatants having the Human right to an attorney but during World War II we had 200,000 German Soldiers on U.S. soil in prison camps and they were not entitled to any legal representation. Was President Franklin Roosevelt a Human Rights violator?

So when someone says "Human Rights" I ask whose version of "Human Rights"? and How can we define it when the entire world can not come to a common agreement on what this means.

I am reminded on one of George Carlin's old lines:

"If firefighters fight fire, and crime fighters fight crime, what do freedom fighters fight?"
In 1776, the revolutionaries firing at lines of redcoats from behind stonewalls might have been seen as terrorists back in Britain (if there was such a term then).

Great question Peter, but getting everyone to agree to terms may be tough.

We all have to make our own ethical and personal decisions. Anyone shopped at Wal Mart lately! (BIG can of worms!).

I know they broak the violations alot. But the more they work the more money they get. Then they might get a better chance to move into a country with better labor laws.