Last Updated on: 26th February 2014, 09:11 am
I heard something on the bus that just made me sad. I don’t even know if I can make this make sense to anyone else but myself, but I’ll try. I heard a little kid, maybe 6 or 7 sitting with someone who sounded like he was only in university, but I wasn’t sure, but the kid seemed to know him. They were talking, and the kid looked at a sticker on the bottom of his toy, and said, “Made in China. Wonder what it’s like in China.” At this point, the dude he was sitting with started into this big speal about how people in China work in horrible conditions and all the company ever cares about when getting them to work is about profits and the people are basically slaves. After a couple repetitions of “why?” the kid was silent for the rest of the bus ride. At least this is what I heard. Somebody please tell me why this little kid has to know that this sort of thing happens yet? And, does the guy really know that that toy was made in horrible conditions? Does he know for a fact that everyone in China works like slaves? Way to fill this kid’s head with your ideas of what it’s like in China. Holy wow the poor kid was not prepared for that reality, or this dude’s view of reality, bomb. Why don’t you just tell the poor little guy that there’s no Santa Claus, the easter bunny doesn’t exist and the tooth fairy is his mom. The hell with innocence and fantasy altogether.
Then I heard something about think about that the next time you play with your toys. Ok hold the pony. Somebody bought him those toys. If you did, then you’re real sick because you acknowledge those horrible working conditions, and then give that company more money. If you didn’t, how dare you turn him against his parents through his toys? Now he’ll go home and wonder about his parents. I’m all about opening somebody’s eyes, but like this? I guess this only happens in this hippy vegetarian city.
Maybe I misheard the whole conversation, but that’s what I heard. Maybe I’m just jumping to conclusions. But I couldn’t believe that he was telling him all that. IT’s one thing if the kid brings it up first, but to do it that way. I don’t know. I just found it unsettling. Maybe I’m a wimp. But it won’t leave me alone. Maybe it will now. What does everybody think? Does this seem normal?