Boycots make any sense?

[RKleis]

I am on record on this board with my attitude toward this Iraq thing, may I leave it at stating how ashamed I am respective the German governments position in the matter.



That said, I dont think any position is being helped by boycotting brand names of french, german or any given name.



All of the international brands are traded and listed at the NYSE,

so by boycotting Bosch, Evian, (DC?) or whatever, chances are you're hurting your own retirement plan.



Secondly, this may be some food for thought:



German Chancellor Schröder, who has been instrumental in bringing all this nonsense about, has his approval rate down to 28 % in the German public.

Tony Blair, on the other hand, has his hands full with the peace lovers in his own party?



Does it make sense to boycott German stuff over British then?

I think not.



I just hope GWB goes ahead finally, gets it over with and proves Schröder and Chirac wrong and stupid.



Then, maybe we should do away with the damn security council altogether, since they cant pull their heads out after seventeen!resolutions against Saddam.



Just my 0. 02 $ fwiw



rob

 

[DHayden]

I don't think boycotting is the answer either. The protesters here in America who have no education on the subject and blindly follow the others are making me want to boycott American products! (if that was the answer) :-laf

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

I want to organize a protest against protests

 

[TxDieselKid]

Originally posted by turbo tim1

I want to organize a protest against protests

What was that Hank Williams Jr. song, "The Coalition to end all Coalitions"!!!



Andrew

 

[sdalton]

Sorry, but I dont agree. Maybe If the French, and the German people did a little research on who they elected to represent their views, then the French and German governments wouldnt be in such hot water. Also, maybe if those 72% of the Germans actually came out publically, in condemnation of their leader (same for France) then you wouldnt be looking down the double barrel of boycots. I would be happy to loose a few dollars of my retirement plan if it ment that the offending countries would pull their heads out of their rears and elect someone who had the best interest of their people at heart. But all I seen in your country, and Frances, are people burning American flags, and condeming the USA. Who, by the way , has forgiven one of those countries of a lot of atrocities and war debts.

 

[DHayden]

It seems GWB is in hot water himself (whom I fully support) with protesters. I bet people in other countries watch the news and it looks like we are against our own President. I wish my fellow American's would step up and show our support more than we are. These protesters make my stomach turn, they can all turn out for these protests because they don't have anything else to occupy there time. As I stated in another thread; Do you really think things would be different if anyone else was President? He would have his supporters and his critics, and there would still be protests and on and on and on. I don't think the masses should be punished if they don't share the views of their leader, (except for the French :-laf :-laf :-laf)

 

[Champane Flight]

Products

Most of the products that some are boycotting are owned by French and German interests, but manufactured in the USA. Therefore when you boycott, you hurt fellow Americans who can lose their jobs as a result. One example would be Daimler/Chrysler .



Both sides of this issue, both peace and war backers have equal feelings toward their perspective. It comes down to who you believe, and what matters to you as Americans. I feel that the majority of Americans are in agreement on one thing, no matter which side, we have the right to say and act upon our belief. It is too bad that the pro-war crowd (just like its leader) can't get their poop together and put on a decent demonstration. Maybe it because there are not enough of them or maybe another political failure of our leader?

 

[WDaniels]

Boycotting is definitely a two edged sword. Short of a total 100% ban the only thing that would probably hurt is if the tourism industry fell off.

But the thing that really chap's my hinder regions is that we have our brothers, sisters, fathers, grandfathers and in alot of cases, friends with whom we fought with, bled with and even died with, resting on French soil, their souls overlooking a country that wasn't theirs and died for, now realizing that what they fought and died for was in vain. We have thousands of Americans buried on French soil dating back to the First World War. I would like to see their bodies exhumed and brought back to a home that appreciates and loves them. No matter how you look at it, the French would not even exist without British and American intervention on several occations. I'm not saying that the French government has to agree with what ever we say or do but to hinder an ally's safety on the basis of monitory greed is unforgivable. If they did not want to participate they could have abstained just like they did in Libya. But there they learned that riding the fence doesn't always work.

This is only my humble opinion.

WD

 

[DHayden]

Don't worry, I will still be here to protect your freedom, yes even those who think it comes naturally. I will protect those whom don't think they need it until it is too late. I will watch the lambs in the coral whom think the world is too big to bother with them, and protect them from the wolf who comes in the night.



My poop is together thank you, and luckily I don't need to take the time out of a working schedule to stage an anti-protest protest (Though sometimes dealing with the people who do have time to protest take away some of my time to do my job). For those who can only get through the day by bashing Bush, you should watch some footage of the Oliver North trials when our honorable "almost" President Gore was questioning Olly. He was asking why Olly bought such an expensive alarm for his house, Olly replied;"to protect my family from the most dangerous man on earth, Osama Binladen". To which Mr. Gore replied;" That's extreme isn't it? after all who is this Binladen... and why haven't I heard of him?" (yes it gets better)



I for one am glad the problem is being dealt with instead of letting someone else make a mockery of the UN and the US for another 4 to 8 years. I am not content being a sheep waiting to see if the wolf will eventually catch up to me or my family.



That's my belief :-{}

 

[DHayden]

Don't worry, I will still be here to protect your freedom, yes even those who think it comes naturally. I will protect those whom don't think they need it until it is too late. I will watch the lambs in the coral whom think the world is too big to bother with them, and protect them from the wolf who comes in the night.



My poop is together thank you, and luckily I don't need to take the time out of a working schedule to stage an anti-protest protest (Though sometimes dealing with the people who do have time to protest take away some of my time to do my job). For those who can only get through the day by bashing Bush, you should watch some footage of the Oliver North trials when our honorable "almost" President Gore was questioning Olly. He was asking why Olly bought such an expensive alarm for his house, Olly replied;"to protect my family from the most dangerous man on earth, Osama Binladen". To which Mr. Gore replied;" That's extreme isn't it? after all who is this Binladen... and why haven't I heard of him?" (yes it gets better)



I for one am glad the problem is being dealt with instead of letting someone else make a mockery of the UN and the US for another 4 to 8 years. I am not content being a sheep waiting to see if the wolf will eventually catch up to me or my family.



That's my belief :-{}

 

[RKleis]

Thanks, guys,

for being such a diverse, inspiring and sincere group.

I appreciate it.





sdalton,

the biggest worry for me is the selectivity of information the media gives us.

I spend almost 50 k miles on the road anually in or around Germany, yet haven't seen Stars and Stripes burning.

I know the neighbourhoods where that is happening, and those lowlifes burn any flag for whatever reason comes in handy.

They 'd happily burn a German flag if they dont get their social security check on time.

By watching the media over here, even CNN international, you'd get the impression DC and New York are full of concerned looking anti GWD protesters.

I guess we all have to be aware that the abundance of information available says nothing about its quality.

 

[sdalton]

What the world doesnt understand is that the media is almost fully controlled by the leftist, socialistic, liberal, anti-Bush, anti-America, and Anti-War crowd. I have seen a group of 15-20 anti-war(Bush) crowd protesting in Houston. They get national coverage and they make front page, and all the news channels cover them. These reporting agencies make them seem like there were thousands out there. Yet, I went to a Pro-America Rally(That would be a Pro-War rally for you leftists) in Houston. There were cameras from every station around. There was between 8000-10000 supporters there. Only one station covered it, and made it sound like we were a mob. This was only briefly mentioned. It was peaceful and there was a lot of prayer for the troops safety.

So, I again ask, if Germany and France are so against their leadership, then why dont they do something about it, rather than put up with it?



RKLeis, I am sure you know your countries history. Even though it isnt tought as much in your public schools anymore. Remember one of your countries past leaders named Adolf Hitler?? In reading history, and speaking to your fellow germans, who lived back then, there was a recollection of pacivity, and complacency, on the part of your people back then. I dont think I have to tell you what happened to Millions of Jewish people. This was because of so many, and might I say, a majority, of your country men thought ignoring Hitler,and what he was doing, might be the best solution.



Sorry about being so blunt, but, it seems that History is soon forgotten by the world, unless it directly effected them originally.

 

[Ladders]

Just my 0.015$ worth.....

March 12, 2003



Today it was reported that severe earthquakes have occurred in 10 different locations in France. The severity was measured in excess of 10 on the Richter Scale. The cause was the 56,681 dead American soldiers buried in French soil rolling over in their graves. According to the American Battle Monuments Commission there are 26,255 Yankee dead from World War I buried

In 4 cemeteries in France. There are 30,426 American dead from World War II buried in 6 cemeteries in France. These 56,681 brave American heroes died in their youth to liberate a country which is guilty of shamefully unspeakable behavior in the 21st century. May the United States of America never forget their sacrifice as we find ways to forcefully deal with the Godforsaken, unappreciative, and forgetful country of France!



PASS THIS AROUND! Maybe it will get to someone in France!!!





Nuff said

 

[RonaldLarson]

We all can voice our displeasure

Simply by ALWAYS being discrete in the selection of everything we buy. That is a far more permanent and financialy destructive method of voicing displeasure with a country, a group, a manufacturer, than a boycot. Boycots have short lives, and are soon forgotten. Being diligent in selecting the country or manufacturer of the product you buy, can last forever. It's like a diet: real diets are wise selection of food types and label reading, fad diets are short lived and rarely successful "quick fixes".

We are all responsible for our own destiny. If we understand that our every action is our responsibility and will effect us,for better or worse, we will live better, longer and happier.

The French Connection, and German, to Hussein, in trade and in equipment for building weapons, is just plain bold faced fact. China has been shipping solid rocket fuel through Syria and France to Iraq.

Who ya gonna buy from, next time you visit Walley World?

It's about individual wisdom and choice, not following a herd !

Ron

 

[Sled Puller]

Originally posted by sdalton

Sorry, but I dont agree. Maybe If the French, and the German people did a little research on who they elected to represent their views, then the French and German governments wouldnt be in such hot water. .

CAREFUL!!!

You forgot Billy Boy, and his stoopid side kick Algore who almost won the last election? (granted dead people voted, numerous times. )



I'm sure the Germans, not sure about the french, have a majority of conservatives, that are getting steam rolled by the crook liberals.

 

[RKleis]

sdalton:



I dont think I have to tell you what happened to Millions of Jewish people. This was because of so many, and might I say, a majority, of your country men thought ignoring Hitler,and what he was doing, might be the best solution.





You are absolutely right.

What you didnt get right, it is not forgotten and rather kept alive.

What is also kept alive is the memory of millions of regular guys who got drafted, sent to who knows where to spill their guts for the country, führer and whatever. The ones who made it thru came back and promised to never get into that position again.

What is also deeply engraved is the fact that governments lie and the real reason for war is never the one publicly stated when it all starts.

 

[Boomer II]

Re: Thanks, guys,

Originally posted by RKleis

for being such a diverse, inspiring and sincere group.

I appreciate it.





sdalton,

the biggest worry for me is the selectivity of information the media gives us.

I spend almost 50 k miles on the road anually in or around Germany, yet haven't seen Stars and Stripes burning.

I know the neighbourhoods where that is happening, and those lowlifes burn any flag for whatever reason comes in handy.

They 'd happily burn a German flag if they dont get their social security check on time.

By watching the media over here, even CNN international, you'd get the impression DC and New York are full of concerned looking anti GWD protesters.

I guess we all have to be aware that the abundance of information available says nothing about its quality.

We get the same type media coverage here, five people can gather against President Bush and it's front page news, 3000 gathered in support and it didn't make the Dallas Morning News.

 

[DHayden]

How about those protesters in Paris? Destroyed McDonalds to get at us war mongering Americans. Did'nt anyone tell them that McD's is a franchise owned by individuals and they just sent some innocent Frenchman to the poor house? Of course being a smart business owner I'm sure he had insurance, now all the French can pay for the protesters destruction