'Splain It To Me, Please

 I recently retired (yea!) from my last career as a sales associate in the hardware department of Smith and Edwards Co. in West Jordan. Let me say from the start, I have a lot of respect and love for this company, and for my fellow employees at the store. Nothing I am going to share with you now is meant in any manner to cast disrespect upon that company.

The hardware department sold flags of various types, including all branches of the military as well as American Flags, along with flagpoles, mounting brackets, etc. We did not sell Confederate Battle flags, flags of foreign nations, or political flags/banners.

My fellow associates and I noticed a somewhat disturbing pattern in our sale of American Flags. As you are aware, it has become very common for individuals to fly American Flags (and some others)  mounted to staffs on the back of pickup trucks. Two or three times a week, we would have customers ask for American Flags, of which we had two brands. One was made in America, one in China. The Chinese variant was less expensive that the "Made in the USA" flag. Sad to say, most of the younger customers in their MAGA hats would take the Chinese flag because of the cost difference. Older customers tended to prefer American Flags "Made in the USA," those wearing veteran's caps would gladly share their stories of being in the service and under fire for America's flag. Yes, some of the older customers were wearing MAGA hats, but they were buying American made flags.

So, I guess I don't get it. MAGA-Make America Great Again- by purchasing Chinese made American flags. America First-unless it is cheaper to purchase an imported item.  

Talk is cheap, and slogans are plentiful. Putting your money where your mouth is, well, that is a different story. 

Thoughts, anyone? 

Thanks for reading; your comments are encouraged and welcome. Just click the word "comment" in the white box below. 

R.M. "Bob" Hartman