Politics from the Palouse to Puget Sound

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Where Was PARD?

According to the Daily Evergreen, the WSU Progressive Student Union held a protest today against WSU’s role in the sweatshop market through collegiate apparel sold at The Bookie called “I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Sweatshop Clothing” on the Glenn Terrell Mall. The demonstration involved members of PSU standing out on the mall wearing boxes or trash bags with phrases like “Proud Cougs Don’t Support Sweatshop Labor” written over them in red.

I've been pointing that fact out for a long time.

But why stop at The Bookie? Take a look at the labels on clothing in ShopKo in Pullman, Tri-State in Moscow, Costco in Clarkston, or Target in Spokane and the majority of them are not made in the United States. Clothes just aren't made in the U.S. anymore, thanks in large part to labor unions, but I digress.

As we all remember, the Pullman Alliance for Responsible Development attempted a similar stunt back in January with an abortive "sweatshop tour" at the Moscow Wal-Mart. That same evening, "former sweatshop workers" spoke of the evils of Wal-Mart at a forum held at WSU by PARD.

It begs the question: Where was T.V. Reed today? Where was Deirdre Rogers? Where was Jose Alamillo? Where was Don Orlich? Where was Citizen Hosick? (Don't worry Lu Laoshi, you're off the hook. I know you're in Taiwan. But please keep checking the blog!)

Aren't they concerned about the plight of Third World workers? Do they not care for for "social justice?" Or do they simply not have the guts to bite the hand that feeds them?

No, this is yet another exposing of the elitist hypocrisy and selective outrage that wrests any possible attempt to gain the moral high ground from the hands of the PARDners.

Chris Tennant was right. PARD is just an anti-Wal-Mart club.

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