For shame! American Flag not American Made!

March 18, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

FYI: This is a cross-over post from my other blog...
My brother called me earlier today. This is important because, neither one of us is big on phone conversations... I call him on his birthday. He calls me on my birthday. Otherwise, phone calls between us are mostly reserved for emergencies. Needless to say, I immediately returned his call.

Here's the gist of our conversation. Howya doing? Fine. You? Fine. Everything OK? Yeah. Whatsup?

My brother says: The reason I called is something was bothering me and well you're better at this stuff than I am (stuff: meaning I am more prone to rant than he). He continues: You know I rode with Dad and other Patriot Guard Riders to welcome home a soldier returning from Iraq. While I was standing in the flag line waiting for the approach of the soldier, I happened to glance at the tag on the flag. It said Made in China. I mean, I'm there, doing my patriotic duty, honoring an American soldier returning home from Iraq and I'm holding an American flag made in China!

My brother is an easy-going guy who rarely gets rattled or loses his kool. He is the least politically outspoken among us. I could tell the more he talked about it, how disgusted and offended he was over the incident. He made it clear I should say something, write something, do something.

OK. Where is the commentary that makes sense of it? Is it truly outrageous that an American flag is produced anywhere other than the USA? Is it outrageous that just about everything we buy in the USA bears the made in some other country label?

It could be argued that Ol' Glory is still Ol' Glory no matter where she is made. To the contrary, it could be argued that the manufacture of Ol' Glory should never be outsourced to a foreign country, much less a Communist country. But couldn't the same be said for any American product that is outsourced to another country? And shouldn't the real question be WHY our product, along with our jobs, is being outsourced to other countries? And shouldn't the next question be WHY are Americans buying the product once it returns from across the seas?

Now, the Patriot Guard is about as patriotic a group as exists in the USA these days. They do extraordinary work. We are all proud to be members of such a fine organization -- but -- without a doubt, the majority of the flags flying from the back of the motorcycles and the flags used to form the proud flag lines are made anywhere but in the good ol' USA. In fact, I challenge you to find bumper stickers, window decals, Support Our Troop ribbon magnets, patriotic lapel buttons and pins, biker patches or anything of the sort that actually bear a Made in the USA label.

How do you fix it? I'm sure the flags are purchased in the most cost-effective manner. Barring that, they are purchased from whomever makes it a matter of convenience. Perhaps a more savvy sort than I could work up a cost comparison and present it to the higher ups of the Patriot Guard. Perhaps, they are not aware of the issue. Short of donating American-made flags to your local PGR chapter, I'm not positive you can fix it. PGR members do not pay dues, although we support the organization by purchasing PGR related paraphernalia and we get to PGR events under our own power. I'm open to suggestions.

So why are we not waving American made flags in the pursuit of our patriotic duty? Why are we not buying American-made product? Why are we not asking - no demanding American-made product? It is out there. I propose a few factors to consider: Cost. Availability. Apathy. Complacency. Heaven forbid - could it be Ignorance? How about All-of-the-Above? Not to mention, I-Have-To-Shop-At-Walmart-Syndrome.

I, along with a good many others, over the last few years, was surprised to learn that most of our toys, clothing, linens, leathers, tools, electronics, automotive parts, vehicles, drugs, health care products, food, and hell, even dog food is made somewhere other than the land lying between the shining seas.

Reality check: hold onto your Pakistani hats people because if we don't start standing against those who have outsourced our product along with our livelihoods and our liberties, not to mention our Democracy, you can bank that there will be little if anything left other than the idea of Ol'Glory that represents anything even remotely close to Americanism. The stock market has rebounded somewhat - who do you think is buying up all that cheap stock? Is it you? Cuz, it ain't me.

What can we do? First of all, in regards to this issue - we can choose to be conscious of what we buy. Don't like the cost of American-made product? Maybe we can buy less and buy better (meaning: Buy American). Don't like your China-made flag? Buy an American-made flag. Be proud of your purchase and encourage others to do the same. Feel like investing? Buy Harley-Davidson stock instead of GE. Second, we can vote the blood-suckers who are selling us down the Yangtze River (biggest river in China) out of office and demand better representation. Third, we can choose to be more active, more responsible, more accountable in our own lives with our own money. We can choose NOT to do business with companies affiliated with the sordid likes of Chase and AIG. It is time we adopted higher standards for ourselves and choose to hold those with whom we associate to those same standards. Fourth, SAY something, WRITE something, DO something about what does not set well with you. Fifth, be more than just a closet-American. Fly Ol' Glory. Look for Made in the USA labels. Join the Patriot Guard. Host a tea party. Vote! BE 100% AMERICAN - ALL THE TIME.

With that said, can you buy an American Flag, actually made in the USA? Most assuredly you can. See:

American Flags Express

Flag Store USA

United States Flag Store

I wrote a post similar to this one last year entitled, Keeping it in the USA where I listed sources of a good many companies still producing in the USA. I've reproduced the list at the end of this post.

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Here are a few web sites pointing in the right direction.

Still Made in the USA - an on-line shopping resource for American-made products for the home and family

U.S. Stuff - say YES to USA!

Made in the USA Forever

Made in the USA - Understand the Power of Patriotic Spending

Toys Made in America

Alliance for American Manufacturing

How to Buy American

All American Clothing Company

A long list of All-American Goods

Here's a sample listing:

Harley Davidson Motorcycles: William Harley and Arthur Davidson build a new motorcycle in 1903, the same year the Wrights successfully test their flying machine. The demand for Harleys and their many custom designs grows over the years to become one of the world's most recognizable brands.
Recipe for Success:Set up assembly lines where 100 people build motorcycles one kickstand, spoke, tire and custom chrome piece at time.
Ratz's Facts:Avg. time to build a Harley = 2 to 2 1/2 hours. The York, Penn. Harley plant is big enough to turn out a fleet of 747s. More than 3,000 men and women work round the clock to meet demand.

Listed below are a few items that will make it easy to get started buying made in the USA:

3M Scotch Tape, Ball Mason Jars, Burt's Bees products, Campbell's Soup, Coca-Cola, Craftsman Tools, Dr Pepper, Frito-Lay, General Mills, Harley Davidson, Jack Daniels, John Deere, Kellogg's, Knotts Berry Farm, Kohler, Merle Normon Cosmetics, National Cash Register, Oscar Meyer Weiners, Pendleton Woolen Mills, Pepsi, Rubbermaid, Serta, Shawnee Mills, Slinky Toys, Spam, Starbucks, Tillamook Cheese, Whitman's Chocolates, Yankee Candles, Zippo Lighters... Like I said -- easier than you think.