wal-mart

In the United States, slavery has been outlawed for over 140 years. Americans as a whole agree the practice was flawed and evil. Far fewer Americans address the issue of modern slavery. What is slavery in the modern sense? We must first examine the definition of slavery. Webster defines slavery as “The owning of slaves as a practice.” Slaves are defined as “A human being who is owned by another.” Modern slaves are minimum wage employees. The largest slaveholder is Wal-Mart. How does Wal-Mart own people? Wal-Mart controls how other companies produce their products, they do not offer healthcare, and they do not protect their workforce.
Wal-Mart lables itself a “Low Price Leader”. We need to question their methods of leading low prices. How do they keep the prices low? Most products are made overseas. Those that are made in America are purchased at a price that hurts the manufacturer. In 2002, Wla-Mart bought $12 billion in merchandise from China. Nearly 10% of all Chinese exports to the US were sent to Wal-Mart. What does this mean, making products overseas? These are not the factories we valued in America for over a century. These are sweatshops wehre women and children work for hours on end and receive pennies a week. The “Fair Trade Act” was fair to one corporation: Wal-Mart. Even manufacturers struggle to see a profit when cooperating with Wal-Mart. Eventually, most coroporations give in and produce their items overseas.
Wal-Mart is not known for treating employees fairly. The perfect example of this was Black Friday, 2008. A Wal-Mart temporary employee was killed in the rush for products. Slaves were beat to death or worked until they dropped. This slave was trampled by an angry mob, seeking the cheapest sale. My mom, Salina Jett, has always held strong opinions about how business should be conducted. When K-Mart decided to keep stores open on Christmas Day, she vowed not to shop there. She can count the number of times she’s since entered the store on one hand. When Wal-Mart faced inquiries on Black Friday, 2008 regarding the death of an employee, she quit buying products there.
“They have no regard for human life. There was not enough security that day. For God’s sake they have intercom systems on their shelves. They couldn’t get a blowhorn and calm the crowd? They could’ve provided wide screen tv & refreshments to keep people calm. Could’ve made experience nicer. Could’ve found out what people were there for, limited item purchase per person. Could’ve postponed opening when man was killed. Instead they let it all go and tried damage control.”

How did master’s provide for ill slaves? Some allowed “Witch Doctors” amongst the slaves to care for others. Some would send for the local doctor. Many just let the slaves suffer. Wal-Mart endorses public aid in its breakrooms. Signs are posted advising employees how they can benefit from the system since they do not make enough to pay for private insurance (wal-mart movie). In lieu of offering healthcare, Wal-Mart offers public aid. Employees are discouraged from calling off for any reason, including illness.
Real change will not occur until we as a society insist on taking responsibility for human lives. Wal-Mart focuses on profit margins, at the expense of anyone. They put people out of work instead of sending them to work. Instead of encouraging “fair trade” they demand and manipulate policies and procedures to prevent growth of American businesses and companies. Salina Jett adds, “I used to love Wal-Mart. Now they’ve made these remodels and you’re in a warehouse, not a store.” She would like to see changes made in the way Wal-Mart values its employees. “They have the power to make changes in society, but they choose to use it to line executives pockets. They can say they offer stock options, but the stocks are crashing and the execs are keeping the profits.” Modern abolitionists must seek other retail options, and pay the higher price if necessary. We must ask ourselves what is the price we are willing to pay for low prices? Everything has a cost. If we are getting a deal, someone somewhere is paying the difference, possibly with their life. Is it worth it?

Let's Roll

Title: Let's Roll: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage

Authors: Lisa Beamer

Rating: ****

Unknown Words

Sequestered: To Set apart

Blithely: Of happy character

Dichotomy: a division into two especially mutually exclusive or contradictory groups or entities

Erudite: learned

Review: This is a love story about Todd and Lisa Beamer. It's also a story of overcoming odds, with the deaths of parents and spouses. Lisa's grief was still raw when the book was written, and it shows a side to her I fear the population overlooks. The closest deaths I've experienced have been cousins, both within the last year. The first few chapters of Lisa's story were incredibly difficult to swallow. There are a few chapters in the middle I felt were unnecessary. The ending offers a final look at life after 9/11, and how daily routines were forever altered. I'd like to see an interview with Lisa or any of the families now, to see how they are doing. It's worth noting Lisa's daughter Morgan is a few months older than my own baby sister. I also have a daughter now, and though I'm no longer married, I could not fathom the death of a spouse. Lisa is not afraid to reveal where her strength comes from, and some verses are repeated throughout the book. When it's time to finish up and go home, she still gathers her boys by saying "Let's roll".

The Reader

Title: The Reader

Author: Bernhard Schlink

Rating: **** 1/2

Review: I found The Reader at a flea market in Taylorville. I bought it because I saw the trailer for the movie on Bookcrossing. I never expected to actually read the book, so I was excited to find it. I read the entire novel in four hours. It's a fast read, with characters that push the plot forward. When I started reading, I was curious how the sections would end and move forward to the next. As the story unfolds, the reader catches more and more glimpses of the larger picture. The ending was quaint. I was not disappointed. I'm looking forward to seeing how filmmakers show it.

5 Children and It

Title: 5 Children and It

Author: E. Nesbit

Rating: *****

Review: This is a charming story about five children finding a sand fairy who agreees to grant them wishes. The wishes and results are quite funny. Some wishes are funnier than others, some are more realistic than others. In the end, the reader is left desiring to read more adventures of the children and the sand-fairy.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond

Title: The Witch of Blackbird Pond

Author: Elizabeth George Speare

Vocab:
Paduasoy: a slightly corded, strong, rich, silk fabric.
Damask: A reversible fabric of linen, silk, cotton or wool.

Timorous: Full of fear

Inveigled: To entice, lure or ensnare, by flattery or artful talk.

People: Captain Samuel Talcott, magistrate

Dr. Gershom Bulkeley, Royalist minister
• Eleazar Kimberly, Puritan schoolmaster
• Governor Edmund Andros, Governor of the Dominion of New England, including Connecticut
  

Rating: ****

Review:

The Darkness is Real

Title: This Present Darkness

Author: Frank Peretti

Rating: *****

Review: This was Peretti's first novel. When reading this story, you have to understand Peretti was the first to write the setting. The situation, the concepts of spiritual warfare, neither had been touched before. For years, Peretti was the only author in this market. Now he's been joined by Ted Dekker, and I'm sure there are more I'm unaware of. Critics say fans of Stephen King might enjoy his books. I've never read Stephen King, so I don't know. This Present Darkness would be a great intro to how Peretti writes, but if you want something that jumps right into the action I'd recommend The Oath or Monster.

What Would YOU Do?

Title: Tortured for Christ

Author: Richard Wurmbrand

Rating: ****

Review: This is an excellent story about forgiveness. Rev. Wurmbrand wrote this short novel to introduce the outside world to the horrors of the persecuted church. It worked. Thirty years later, copies are still being printed and new people are still enjoying his classic work.This is one of those books that should be on a must-read list, but most people probably will not read it. I started it my sophomore year of high school, right after 9/11. I struggled through it initially, but when I picked it back up this week I finished it quickly.

George's Marvelous Medicine

Title: George's Marvelous Medicine

Author: Roald Dahl

Rating: ****

Review: This is not the best Dahl book, but it is funny. Children with mean grandparents will love the solution George thinks up for fixing her meanness. I doubt this book would be published today, due to the ingredients in the "medicine". Parents could talk to their kids about what medicine is and why we don't play with it (or make it). Parents could also discuss other solutions to the mean grandma problem, and George's parent's reactions to the medicine. It's a cute book.

I pledge allegiance, to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic, for which it stands, one nation

Title: Under God

Authors: Toby Keith and Michael Tait

Rating: *****

Review: This should be required reading in all history classes. There is so much more here than in any textbook I've ever read. I copied down the names of the historical figures listed to check what other history books say about them. Reading the lives of leaders in narrative form is easier, and these stories are about 3-6 pages each.

Stand and Deliver

Title: Stand and Deliver

Author:

Reading Goal: I finished it in an afternoon.

Rating: ****

Review: The book is obviously a novelization of the screenplay, so I tried imagining the actors as I read. I felt some of the dialouge was stereotypical, but most movies like this are. When I read more about the story after reading the book, I found it was incredibly close to the real events. It is an uplifting story, and a quick read. If you don't have time to read the book, watch the movie. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

The Magic Finger

Title: The Magic Finger

Author: Roald Dahl

Reading Goal: N/A

Rating: ****

Review: My edition was not illustrated by Quentin Blake. This greatly impacted my view of the story. I can't help it, I'm biased. As far as I'm conserned, Dahl and Blake are PB&J. The story is cute, but I didn't really get the point. Maybe the point is there is no point? It's a typical Dahl short story. I didn't find anything overtly special about it.

Sex God

Title: Sex God

Author: Rob Bell

Reading Goal: N/A

Rating: *****

Review: I love Sex God. I saw it at On a Leap of Faith and bought it right away. I peeked at Velvet Elvis, his first book two years ago. Sex God is an easy, quick read. I enjoyed the whole experience. It really made me re-think the way I view so many things...