Chinese Working Overtime to Sew U.S. Flags

Washington Post ^ | 20 September 2001 | John Pomfret

[Zviadist]

SHANGHAI -- As America wraps its wounds in red, white and blue, flag factories in China are running nonstop to feed the overwhelming demand in the United States for the Stars and Stripes. At the Shanghai Mei Li Hua Flags Co., office director Wu Guomin has received orders for more than 500,000 flags from customers in the United States in the week since the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. ... It is unclear what percentage of U.S. flags are made in China, but as with all textiles, the numbers have boomed in recent years. China produces more shoes and clothes for the U.S. market than any other country. In a few years, China will become the biggest producer of computer parts for the U.S. market as well.

[Zviadist]

Yeah, rally round the flag. Too bad for all the American workers screwed out of a job. But I guess it is unpatriotic to actually care for some poor slob who used to have a decent job sewing flags. Better to give $20 billion to bail out the airlines, and let Chinese prisoners keep making all our flags. Rah rah rah!

[Zviadist]

US Flags: made in China.

[riri]

I am quickly losing hope.

[Bobby777]

it's an insane world ...

[Sicon]

There's something incredibly ironic about the Chinese, the last big bastion of Communism on earth, working overtime to make, of all things, American flags.

[VoodooEconomist]

I don't give a rat's @ss where the flags are made. Americans continually vote with their wallets by buying cheaper goods. If you got a problem with that, take it to the consumer. Besides, I rather enjoy watching Chinese labor being paid pennies an hour so that we can buy inexpensive Old Glories.

[Attillathehon]

On the streets of New York, they're selling T-shirts with pictures of the WTC, the American Flag, God Bless America, etc. The label says "Made in Pakistan."

[independentmind]

Somehow, I think Betsy Ross would not be pleased.

[Razz Barry]

I'll just make my own.

[stuartcr]

They'll finish the flags as soon as they get the new berets done.

[dead]

But I guess it is unpatriotic to actually care for some poor slob who used to have a decent job sewing flags.

They are shipping 500,000 flags to a country of 280,000,000 in the middle of a flag-buying frenzy. I think your fears are beyond silly. Do you personally know of a flag maker who has lost his job in this country? Does anybody?

Every real flag I’ve seen comes with a Made-in-America label. These Chinese flags are probably the plastic ones you see ringing gas stations.

[MissAmericanPie]

They may as well keep them over there, I will not buy one, I don't buy "Made in China" period.

[RebelDawg]

It is a sad shame that China's economy is making a profit off of this new found American patriotism and not America's economy and workers...

[A Ruckus of Dogs]

Wu Guomin has received orders for more than 500,000 flags from customers in the United States in the week since the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington

I wonder how many orders he's getting from the Islamic countries needing flags to burn.

[2Jedismom]

I got the last flag in the Tulsa Target. It said Made in the USA and was from Valley Forge Flag Company.

[CJ Wolf]

Look for the ones from Taiwan. Much better quality and people.

[Buffalo Bob]

Anyone who waited until this event to decide to own an American Flag is not much of a patriot.

[NorCoGOP]

That's where the shirts were probably made, but not "screened" with the design...

I am having a bit of a crisis with all this- I see all the shirts/hats, etc... available for sale, and, most are being done with proceeds to victims, etc....but, I'm still troubled by the "souvenir" mentality we seem to have when affected by this...the money is going to a good cause, I just cringe at the fact - I guess it brings the phrase..."been there, done that, bought the t-shirt" too close to home. I just don't consider it appropriate.

I'm ALL for donating money to help out, giving blood, etc....it's the material side of this that really makes me sick.

[Cleburne]

What next: Flags made in Afghanistan?