Chinese-Made American Flags
By Bd200789
@Bd200789 (2994)
United States
July 15, 2008 11:08am CST
The House said Monday that any flag flown on federal property, including post offices, should be made in the U.S.A. After 9/11 Chinese-made flags seemed to pop up everywhere. People rushed to show their sense of patriotism by buying American flags, and U.S. manufacturers couldn't keep up with demand. Now the demand has lessened and American firms can easily make enough flags for government buildings. What do you think? Should American flags be made in the U.S.?
After all, many other symbols of patriotism were not made in the United States. Look at the Liberty Bell. It was made in London by Whitechapel Foundry. The Statue of Liberty was sent to us from France.
Look at all the flag shirts sold after 9/ll. My mom worked for Wrangler at the time, and she says the flag shirts they were selling there in the plant’s clothing store were made overseas. A lot of workers refused to buy them.
Are you wearing a flag pin right now, or do you have one at home somewhere? Look and see where it made. Most likely it is made in China.
5 people like this
16 responses
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
15 Jul 08
If I don't support products that are made somewhere, it is because of the onditions of the products or the plants in which they are made, and because of slave labour conditions suffered by the people who make them, not because of the produts themseles.
I am really no sure what to think of this. If people are so patriotic that not enough flags can be made in the USA, Americans can be tankful that people C A R E ! Also, if they are that concerned, they ould EMPLOY MORE AMERICCANS to make these flags instead of out-sourcing to China, or omewhere else.
2 people like this
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
15 Jul 08
Hi Bd200789,
I knew the American flags were made in China and I even made joke asking if Chinies flags were made else where. British flags are made in China as well so I can't think of anything that isen't made in China terrible
Have nice day.
Tamara1 person likes this
@tigertang (1749)
• Singapore
15 Jul 08
This is quite a funny story. OK, I'm not the biggest fan of the Chinese communist party but I really think that whether people buy made in China, USA flags or Made in Mexico, USA flags or even Made in the USA, USA flags should be entirely up to them. Congress should not be wasting the American tax payers money on trying to legislate where people buy plastic flags from - this is very UN-AMERICAN.
@nilzerous1 (2434)
• India
16 Jul 08
China has nearly monopolize global market so far as labor sensitive industries are concerned. Although I find no problem in general being an end user what I should be worried about is price. When I get something at a cheap rate, why should I not take it.
But your question relates to certain product lines which involves national sentiment. National flag, or any products where flag symbol appears, is totally different from any other merchandise. And I think there must be a restriction like there must have some restrictions already regarding its usage. It does not speak of too high of any country's self-esteem. May be I wrong, but if I would know even my National Flag is being imported from somewhere else, it would have been very shocking for me.
Americans, who denied to purchase those flag shirts at Wrangler, responded to their honest patriotic feelings.
@nilzerous1 (2434)
• India
16 Jul 08
Thanks for your very valued opinion.
You have wisely pointed out.
I have also read an article about that. I learnt in that article that they use teenage girls in place of conveyor belts forcing them to run from one place to the other of the workshop and that too against a bare minimum wages. And when we use a product, if you think of the underlying human sufferings associated during its manufacturing - a form of resistance automatically develops within you. Anyway, I have also heard that China is going to amend its existing Labor Laws following an ever growing International Pressure for abusing human resources.
Regarding US laws- I do not really have much idea but what I have learnt from my friends/relatives - Americans honor the human dignity and human labor the most even in comparison to other first world countries, forget about the stories of China or other Asian Countries, where human labor does not have any value at all and dignity is the proprietary of rather privileged class of people.
Anyway in this discussion, my point of view was that nothing comes ahead of National Flag, or anything associated so closely with national sentiment. Even if those flags were prepared in China confirming to US guidelines of manpower management, I think Americans have every reason to react strongly.
Hopefully, you have understood my point.
@mynameismine (771)
• United States
16 Jul 08
I could get on a really huge soap box here regarding China's labor laws and known human wrongs but I think the best thing would be for you to do your own research (if you are really interested) to find the answer to what you posted about what is wrong with buying the cheapest products. China is not the only country who does this I know but they have a very bad record of human suffering for money. One reason why American made goods are so expensive is because of the rules and regulations that must be followed, they aren't perfect but they are much more strict than most any other country you will find and they are in place for very good reasons.
It isn't always about the money.
@mynameismine (771)
• United States
15 Jul 08
I have refused to buy many things made in other countries, esp., communist countries like China. The human rights policies are non existent (Tienanmen Square, one-child policies, forced abortions/sterilizations) and it is well beyond obvious to anyone with more than a 3 IQ that they will cut corners and add anything and everything to make a buck even if it means killing with the end products (like their fake baby formula and our multiple lead laced toys). I have a very anti China policy in my house, not because of the people themselves, but the government.
@pshiv29 (91)
• United States
15 Jul 08
I have to agree with mynameismine. A countries flag should be made in THAT country! Even here in the US. The flag is a symbol of idenitiy, pride. Way too many things, clothes and other stuff are made in other countries... no wonder there's not much work here! But that's another rant of mine...lol.
@ch88ss (2271)
• United States
17 Jul 08
I don't think it matters where it is made. But I doubt that anybody knows the history of the flag better than those that lives here.
So they may forget and do only the wrong color strips, or miss a star.
but again, everything now adays in the store is made in china.
Even our computers are made in china.
@alindahaw (1219)
• Philippines
16 Jul 08
I think it is ironic that most establishments in the country are flying American flags that are made in China. The whole thing simply does not sound so good to me. Hey, it's the American flag that we are talking about here. Why would we let other nations make the flag for us in the first place? Yes, Chinese products are cheaper but there are things that we simply should not just let other countries make for us.
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
16 Jul 08
I noticed this discussion,and went to take a look at my souvenir US state Fridge magnets,and Starbuck's Mugs..One mag is marked US made (The Az One was Made in OH!) a couple have no visible markings,the others that do are Chinese,as is one Mug,the other is Taiwanese..
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
16 Jul 08
I'd have to think on this one. I neither wear my heart on my sleeve nor a flag on my lapel. In fact, I tend not to wear much jewelry at all, and the clothing I prefer would have solid colors rather than any kind of pattern.
I do believe that what people buy or wear as individuals should be up to their own consciences within reason, but federal property is another matter. It does make sense for merchandise purchased with US tax money be made by US workers with US materials. On the other hand, there is already quite a bit of arduous bureaucracy in government, and more regulations slow down the business of government and take the attention of the workers away from doing the jobs they ought to be responsible for doing. I would think that common sense should prevail and that those who hire government workers should be able to select and then trust competent people who would be able to make good judgments on their own, without undue intereference from congress.
This may, however, not be the case. I think, though, that before being allowed to serve in Congress, all of our elected officials should be required to have read King Lear.
@mimico (3617)
• Philippines
16 Jul 08
That's really interesting! I never noticed this before, but it's really ironic how US flags are made in China!!! I guess if you really want to be patriotic then you ought to buy flags manufactured in the USA. But if it costs way more than those made in China, I'll settle for the imported flags.
I think the government shouldn't ban Chinese-made flags simply out of patriotism. After all, the US is a staunch advocate of democracy and free trade. Maybe the government can use other measures to help flag manufacturers in the US so they don't fall behind the Chinese suppliers?
@ninapuspitarini (80)
• Indonesia
16 Jul 08
Yes, I have wax statue of Liberty made in China, my sister gives me from canada.
@tivonshi (110)
• China
16 Jul 08
That's not a FUNNY story~!!!
So,if you don't like the thing which made in China,just don't buy it,ok?
Please,just be polite,what's wrong with China and Chinese? Just American is human?
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You don't know the history of China,so you can't understand something in China.
When Chinese built their country,where were you? Just "aboriginal people"?
So,if someone tell you "9.11" is funny and wonderful,what will you say,American???
@Afallingrock (289)
• United States
16 Jul 08
Well products made outside america are widely used but American flags made outside America? That's just cliche if you ask me. I'm all for intercountry relations and the buying and selling of goods worldwide, but I am against such a travesty as this. What would our forefathers say if they knew we were waving flags made in another country? This is jsut my opinion but I say we stop outsourcing for flags. I don't like the idea of small chinese children working in sweatshops 20 hours a day just to make a flag.
@RDugas (247)
• United States
16 Jul 08
I personnaly think that alot more things that we buy or that are sold in the US should be made here at "HOME". I know somethings we have to get from other countries, but alot of things can be made right here and it would give people who live here more jobs. With the way the economy is going with people not having jobs, we should start buying more things made in the US. I do think things that are symbolizing the US and patriotism should be made here, I mean wouldnt that show MORE patriotism?
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
15 Jul 08
I just got a new pair of shoes, and I am sure they are not made in Canada or the States because even though they are leather they cost $25.00. If I got them made in Canada, the States, or even Great Britain, I would have to pay around $100. They do not pay that much in China, and I even bought a t=shirt and skorts, that cost around $70 and guess where the material came from? Yes China.
I mean it is all right to make one object, like the Liberty Bell, or the Eiffel Tower, but to put many people out of work in the States and make everything in China or Taiwan because it is cheap, you reduce the quality. I do not have a flag, but I used to check souvenir stuff supposedly made by the Native Indians in British Columbia and you look at the bottom and it said, "Made in Hong Kong." Yes in order to get things cheap, you have to pay cheap wages and they are not in the States nor Canada.
@shlooper (309)
• United States
15 Jul 08
Since the US is capitalist we will outsource our labor to wherever the cheapest work can be found. I see no reason why we should make an exception for flags. In the globalized economy eventually the labor or intellectual labor will come back and benefit our economy. By being exclusive about stupid stuff, like flags, we are damaging economic relations with the countries that we will later want to help us.
