"I'm Taking My Ball And I'm Going Home"

"I'm Taking My Ball And I'm Going Home" :
The un-American, unpatriotic sentiment of some American corporations and some citizens.


Fair labor laws, minimum/equal wage laws, anti-bias/anti discrimination laws and unions has made the middleclass which is the backbone of America. Businesses that start or uproot manufacturing and customer service operations to foreign countries to avoid these, don't understand what makes this country great and strong. It may be cheaper to make a product in Indonesia or Thailand, but are the work conditions better or the workers better off? And their countries economies are made strong at our expense. Eventually, Americans may not even be able to afford to buy the products due to the loss of jobs.

Globalization; a company expanding into other countries is different from out-sourcing, and is good. It is another way of spreading capitalism and fair competition; the true American way that can yield unlimited success and prosperity the right way. Greed is different. We should expand (different from upheaval) into other countries ready to prove the American way and not be so quick to take advantage of other cultures, perhaps even transporting our own to work overseas. When we exploit foreign citizens anxious for a better life, we look like hypocrites and in fact are, telling them they are not worthy to be treated like American human beings and/or that that company doesn't believe in the American way period. And from an American citizen point of view, it leaves the taste that perhaps, not only do some corporations not believe in our fair labor laws and product safety standards, maybe they also want to bring to our shore the conditions found in these other nations. What else are we to believe?

We will fail as a country if all take the attitude if I don't get what I want, "I'm taking my ball and going home", taking my manufacturing to China, taking my money out of stocks, taking my money out of Church, taking my skill set out of the community, etc., etc., etc. Many of us do this on many different levels. And it has especially been magnified and falsly justified when our politician or political party candidate doesn't win. It has not just been big business, but many celebrites have taken this attitude or made comments concerning leaving America, such as Alec Baldwin, who did stay to his credit, and Madonna, who for all intent purposes has basically left.

This attitude divides us and there is strength in numbers. It's not just in citizenship or domestic business outsourcing we see this attitude, but in marriage (50% divorce), in business/other partnerships, in professional athletics (which really angers me as a sports fan), in employment (but most think thrice in this economy/tough employment era), Church-hopping (and it's not just the congregants looking for greener pastures, but I got kicked out by leadership I guess looking for better grazers of said green pastures. SMH), and even faith, religion, beliefs all together. All seem to seek their own, not seeing the proper perspective and balance between personal care and concern for ones self and on that of others together as one unit intertwined; interdependance.


I'm not asking any to roll over or do what I hate 2nd most to the above; compromise. But what I am saying is make up in your minds to stay, stand firm and fight for what you believe is right, right from where you are. Change minds. Change circumstances. But don't runaway. Where's the love and true patriotism? You can't and won't leave when you have these attributes. What about the little guy; the next guy? How much harder will they have to fight when you just leave? Fight! Engage in debate. Have pure dissent and not gamesmanship. But do so while you remain steadfastly always doing your best, giving your best, being your best; win or lose. Stand your ground. Make them understand. But don't hold America or any institution hostage by withholding what you bring to the table. That is the equivalent of black mail, extortion and force which is unamerican.

I've heard rumblings of what some will do if President Obama wins and what some will do if Romney wins. Where's the care for the country regardless? In addition to all of the above, we have to also stop this endless election cycle. Whoever wins the presidential or any election deserves some time of peace and unity to get the job done. In the case of a president, at least 2 and 3/4 to 3 years is appropiate.

Again. Let us all agree this is our home and worth the good fight and loyalty. Let's care for the future, the children, those who will come later. It's not seeing the immediate and far-off future that has us in the predicament we are in now. I know where my heart lies. Where does yours?

-Yulanda K. Jones

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