Boycott THIS!

vanity | March 16, 2003 | southernnorthcarolina

[southernnorthcarolina]

Boycotts, it seems to me, are more a province of the political left than of the right. I have no way of knowing whether boycotts led by liberals are more successful than those led by conservatives, but there sure seem to be more of them; or at least, they get more publicity.

Boycotts led by or on behalf of unions, enviro-wackos, peace activists, human rights groups, animal rights groups, gay groups, civil rights groups (remember, the whole STATE of South Carolina is being boycotted, albeit to no discernable effect), womens' groups, the religious left, and so forth -- seemingly, there's no end to it.

On the other hand, boycotts rarely seem to get organized on the political right. I expect that's because we are, by and large, more "grown up," and tend to harbor the impression that boycotts are a little silly, if not childish. We are reluctant to "cut off our nose to spite our face," as the old saying goes. And I will admit to having purchased ice cream made by socialists, albums performed by anarchists and produced by sociopathic radicals, novels written by gays, beer brewed by union thugs, and boxer shorts imported from Communist countries, among many other sins.

Up till now, I haven't spent much time worrying about what kind of people made the goods I was buying. One can argue that I should have, but in fact, I've been lax in this regard, as have most conservatives, I suspect. But everyone has his limit. I've reached mine.

My gut feel is that the DIXIE CHICKS and the whole damn country of FRANCE will soon feel significant effects on their bottom lines in reaction to recent events.

I can't do much about the Chicks. You can't boycott what you don't use in the first place, and country music makes my skin crawl. But I can, and will, refrain from buying products produced by their concert tour sponsors. It's my understanding that they're beginning a big U.S. tour on May 1 in Greenville, SC, about 95 miles from me. I can't imagine a more unfortuitous (for the Chicks) beginning venue. It'll be interesting to see ticket sales, actual admission counts, and -- maybe -- some tour stop cancellations.

If I can't do much with regard to the Dixie Chicks, I can by damn put a hurting on France, all by myself. I went to my friendly wine merchant yesterday, and purchased three cases for my sadly depleted cellar. A few months ago, perhaps 18 to 24 of those 36 bottles would have been French. No more. Zero. I've been to France -- Provence and Paris -- only once, enjoyed it, and hoped to return some day in the not-too-distant future. Today, you couldn't drag me. Not if it were free. France's decision not only to veto our motion in the UN, but to send diplomats to various African capitals to round up votes against us, was all it took for me to arrive at this decision.

If we conservatives boycott less than do liberals, my guess is that we boycott better. Our efforts will be more focused, rather than spread over dozens of "causes." I think we can make a real economic impact here.

[fightinJAG]

Also someone posted that there are loads of people trying to unload their Vichy Chicks tickets on ebay, but no one is bidding on the old biddies.

[fightinJAG]

Great letter. When I wrote Lipton I also explained that, while Lipton is not the Vichy Chicks, boycotting Lipton is one of the only ways the little gal can express her outrage at those who are put on the big stage.

[fightinJAG]

NASCAR and country music in New England bodes well for America.

I went through a country music phase some years ago. A friend said to me (a happily married woman) jokingly: "hey, you better stop listening to that stuff or you'll start wanting you a cowboy."

His point was that country music tells a story, and, however corny it comes off at first, that story nevertheless is very human and very evocative of our deep emotions. Wierd, but as simple as this music appears, it does draw you and make you think about the human drama.

Can country music make even New Englanders into conservatives? Maybe! :-)

[RWG]

country music makes my skin crawl

Try some soap and water at least once a day.

[Aeronaut]

Revised recipe: 3.5 oz. Bombay Sapphire Gin.

The sacrifices I will make for my country's honor know no bounds. :-)

I'm coming for a visit. ;-)

[KneelBeforeZod]

Of course, I live in Virginia's wine country, so I'm truly blessed.

I heard you can get "2 buck chuck" wine out there...if you're near a Trader Joes

[fightinJAG]

Oh, yeah, baby. I'm near a Trader Joe's on one side and Virginia wine country on the other. Truly the best of both worlds!

2 Buck Chuck is all it's cracked up to be.

[Mad Dawgg]

"Don't forget the Lipton Corporation as in the Vichy Chicks Lipton Tea Tour (after they finish the "Bill Clinton Apology Tour" in Europe)."

I believe Pepsi owns Lipton

[wayoverontheright]

But conservatives don't boycott somebody just because they are liberal or have a different point of view. They boycott for specific reasons. For example, some of us have decided to boycott the Dixie Chicks not because they (or she) disagrees with Bush's decision to remove Saddam Hussein from power but because they made a disgusting remark about our president on foreign soil. And many of us are boycotting France not just because they also disagree with us on the war, but because they have actively sought to undermine us and betray us on the world scene.

So true. I would add that our boycotts are not organized, need no stemwinder publicly rallying the masses to action. What has happened to the Dixie Chicks and France has been the result of thousands upon thousands of individual decisions made without regard to whether or not these actions would be joined by others.

[Ciexyz]

In honor of German perfidy, I pledge to boycott German mustard along with French cheeses and wine!

[1rudeboy]

Do California wines come from red counties or blue counties?

What the heck does that have to do with anything? Here we are, discussing boycotting various products on the basis of their owners, and a good number of folks on this thread seem to think that California wines are ok based on local voting patterns? Think, people.

[Sunshine55]

From the "official French boycott" site, http://www.frogweenies.com/

Air France. Air Liquide. Airbus. Alcatel. Allegra (allergy medication). Aqualung (including: Spirotechnique, Technisub, US Divers, and SeaQuest). AXA Advisors

Bank of the West (owned by BNP Paribas). Beneteau (boats). BF Goodrich (owned by Michelin). BIC (razors, pens and lighters). Biotherm (cosmetics). Black Bush. Bollinger (champagne).

Car & Driver Magazine. Cartier. Chanel. Chivas Regal (scotch). Christian Dior. Club Med (vacations). Culligan (owned by Vivendi).

Dannon (yogurt and dairy foods). DKNY. Dom Perignon. Durand Crystal

Elle Magazine. Essilor Optical Products. Evian.

Fina gas stations and Fina Oil (billions invested in Iraqi oil fields). First Hawaiian Bank.

George Magazine. Givenchy. Glenlivet (scotch).

Hennessy. Houghton Mifflin (books).

Jacobs Creek (owned by Pernod Ricard since 1989). Jameson (whiskey). Jerry Springer (talk show)

Krups (coffee and cappuccino makers).

Lancome. Le Creuset (cookware). L'Oreal (health and beauty products). Louis Vuitton.

Marie Claire. Martel Cognac. Maybelline. Méphisto (shoes and clothes). Michelin (tires and auto parts). Mikasa (crystal and glass).

Moet (champagne). Motel 6. Motown Records. MP3.com. Mumms (champagne).

Nissan (cars; majority owned by Renault). Nivea. Normany Butter.

Parents Magazine. Peugeot (automobiles). Pierre Cardin. Playstation Magazine. ProScan (owned by Thomson Electronics, France). Publicis Group (including Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising).

RCA (televisions and electronics; owned by Thomson Electronics). Red Magazine. Red Roof Inns (owned by Accor group in France). Renault (automobiles). Road & Track Magazine. Roquefort cheese (all Roquefort cheese is made in France). Rowenta (toasters, irons, coffee makers, etc.). Royal Canadian.

Salomon (skis). Seagram's Gin. Sierra Software and Computer Games. Smart & Final. Sofitel (hotels, owned by Accor). Sparkletts (water, owned by Danone). Spencer Gifts. Sundance Channel.

Taylor Made (golf). Technicolor. T-Fal (kitchenware). Total gas stations.

UbiSoft (computer games). Uniroyal. Universal Studios (music, movies and amusement parks; owned by Vivendi-Universal). USFilter.

Veritas Group. Veuve Clicquot Champagne. Vittel. Vivendi.

Wild Turkey (bourbon). Woman's Day Magazine.

Yoplait (The French company Sodiaal owns a 50 percent stake). Yves Saint Laurent.

Zodiac Inflatable Boats.

[GoreNoMore]

If we boycott the french and german companies and buying more 100% american. Do you realize that the american jobs lost to the french companies would be picked up by the american companies? Supply and demand, the demand is not being reduced, it is just shifting of the purchasing dynamics.

[baggadonuts]

Ummmm...what about K2 and Olin. Love my K2s. Seems to me American manufacturers really fall down when it comes to bindings.

[timestax]

It's the tourists who must STOP going to Europe, and maybe for the next few years, TO PROMISE to SEE AMERICA FIRST!!

[KneelBeforeZod]

what about K2 and Olin

Wow Olin used to be all over the mountain. Wonder what happened to them? K2 has some cool stuff, but really, neither of than has anything that comes close to Rossignol Bandits, or Salomons X-Screams and 1080s. Actually there is a new company called "Line" but their stuff is hard to find.

[MotleyGirl70]

I have K2's and Salomon boots. I love the set up. A few of my family memebers have Rossignol and swear by them.

Do people even own Olin's anymore. I haven't seen those around a whole lot.

[KneelBeforeZod]

ooh... great to see another FReeper holding the line against the infidels (snowboarders)

I've tried snowboarding, but I'm too addicted to going fast to ever stop skiing.

I've got Rossignol skis with Salomon bindings and Salomon skis with Rossi bindings... and some Salomon Evolution boots.

Fischer and Head ...there's another two that used to be everywhere and now I never see them

If you're looking for a great ski movie...check this out...Puts Warren Miller to shame!!

[Gopher Broke]

Good post. I STRONGLY believe in Conservative boycotts...Yes the left does these too but there is one BIG difference.

Leftist weenies have NO MONEY, anyway. Conservatives generally HAVE MONEY and can be very effective at boycotts.

Because of the boycott of DISNEY called years ago by various groups (because of the Disney promotion of the homosexual agenda), I still refuse to buy anything related to Disney...or to go to their movies (Disney, Touchstone, etc.)

Conservative boycotts WORK, if we stick to our guns!