November 20, 2004

What do Conservatives stand for?

This story is really disturbing. I have read and used this book. It is an interesting look at American culture. It hasn't stopped me from eating fast food, though I don't do it very much. How do conservatives boycott either Schlosser or his book? How do you say you are conservative and oppose information? Has corporate America become so entangled with conservative politics that nationalism and support for capitalism are confused?

Life and Deatherage: : "Nonetheless, three years later, Schlosser still needs extra security to speak on college campuses, and the Young Thugs Clubs try to block kids from hearing the message of his best-selling book by - I'm not making this up - shouting 'choice.' They're in favor of your choice to eat fast food, but not to know the truth about it. Read what happened at Ball State University this week:

'It's kind of embarrassing that I have to have security,' Schlosser told The Star Press. 'To me, it's a symptom of what's wrong with this country at the moment. My book has inspired some people to call me a socialist or communist or un-American. Wehad a Civil War in this country, and when you look at how other countries fly apart, it's because people start being called traitors, un-American, and demonizing one another. That's very, very dangerous.'

[…] Amanda Carpenter and several other conservative student protesters handed out free McDonald's burgers and fries at the front doors of Emens Auditorium on Thursday night before Schlosser's speech to hundreds of students, faculty and townspeople. The protesters also distributed pamphlets, one of which depicted Uncle Sam in his 'I Want You' pose. 'Eric Schlosser told me you were too fat!' the pamphlet read. 'Put down tha tchicken tender, fatty!'"

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's incredibly disturbing! I loved that book- I can't imagine normal people boycotting it. Corporations- sure, it might hurt their business or require them to do a better, cleaner job. But normal folks?
Seriously?

Anonymous said...

How does their beloved market operate in the absence of information? Labelling and the circulation of information about which individuals can exercise rational choice as consumers seems to be what the curent brand of conservatism is all about.

Unless, during wartime, the restrictions on criticizing the president also make it un-American to criticize American products? Hmmm