As you can imagine, the cynic in me was dying to leap out. Support organic farmers? Since when has Target, of all places, been concerned with organic farming or supporting anything unconventional. The wave of questions was lapping at the shores of my brain. However, I was able to manage my cool and nonchalantly took a peek at the tag on the inside of the shirt. Ha! What hypocrites, I thought to myself, the shirt itself isn't even organic, therefore purchasing it would defy the very phrase printed on the shirt, which is the initial appeal for purchasing it in the first place. In order to buy this shirt one would have to be a hypocrite, I concluded. I then decided that Target must simply be marketing to a particular segment of the population. Another shirt nearby contained the phrase "Think Global, Act Local" which also nurtures its own sort of hypocrisy in that in order to act locally, one would not be shopping at Target. I turned, disgusted, and continued my errand run. However, I couldn't just leave it at that. Something was eating away at me, "Am I a hypocrite for shopping at Target?" I mulled this idea about a bit and came up with 1,001 rationalizations for why I am not, in fact, a hypocrite. I do the best I can...maybe if I was a billionaire I would never shop at Target again, commit to local products, and only buy organic food and clothing, but I'm not. So, therefore, I shop at Target and purchase products, like this shirt, that relate my ideals but don't necessarily support them. I guess I'm a hypocrite too.
2 comments:
yeah, I know, I have seen those shirts in target and even bought one with a recycling symbol for Mac...My sister in-law bought the one you are talking about...to tell you the truth I dont think there is much you can purchase in the world right now anywhere, including local stuff that doesn't somehow add to the problem. Especially since much of the problem is consumption in general and this never ending need for more. It is horrible...even if the world changed 50% it would be no where near enough...
One thing I do believe though is that we are all a self-obsessed country where image seems to be everything and nothing changes if it isn't first perceived as cool...the marketing world knows that the environment is IN and I really hope it is...I will play my pawnish part by wearing these sentiments on my clothing, whereas I would never wear any other words or logos...they've got my demographic down.
And you know I didn't shop at Target for 3 years at all on principal because I read an article about how their goal was to become like walmart...then after 3 years I just gave in.
What do we do? I don't know.
Great ideas you have...always makes me think.
Great Conversation...I think about these things to, as I stroll down t he isles at Target, and many other stores..and yes, they are marketing to my demographic as well. I try so hard not to buy into it all. I do my best to buy local produce, and live within our means..but it's hard... Erica, I don't think you are a hypocrite...your doing your best, ya know !! You should check out www.etsy.com. It's all handmade stuff, some very eco friendly, and you can search your town for someone local, the site is cool to. Plus you are supporting small business's. Its one way to find gifts, antiques and the prices are very reasonable.
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