M is for Merchant

I recently visited the Smithsonian American History Museum. One of the exhibits contained a small collection of abolitionist literature. One of the books highlighted in this collection was a childrens' book of verse, with a title something along the lines of "The Abolitionist ABCs." For a while, it was a fairly standard excoriation of the slave trade and slaveholders. But then I turned to "M is for Merchant" - and "M", it turns out, was for all of the northern merchants who profited, directly or indirectly, from slave-produced goods. The book turned and went straight for the jugular of its northern readers, showing them that, yes - they might not own slaves. But that didn't necessarily make them innocent of profiting from - and supporting - the evils of slavery.

I rather liked that page of the book. I hadn't been so impressed by some bit of historical information since reading (last year) how the Grimké sisters attended a northern abolitionist meeting, and sat down next to all the black people who'd been relegated to the "black pews."

Things that have impressed me before, though, have often turned around to bite me in the end, when I sit down and actually think about them. Usually it's for the best, but the process is never comfortable. And that page of the book does bring up a heck of a lot of questions. Many of which, I suppose, have crossed my mind before - like wondering how far we're responsible for where our money goes. Or how many things we may end up supporting without even noticing or thinking about it. And how permissible any ignorance and indifference about such things is (or is not).

The following is far from an exhaustive list of thoughts. Just current high points, I guess, in a very muddled mess.

* I looked at the history of the fair trade movement. Was interested to find that it owed some of its origins in movements started in the 1830s. Several associations of northern abolitionists refused to purchase any goods produced by slave labor.

* From time to time, various groups protest and boycott various organizations over their treatment of their overseas workers, or their treatment of the environment. One may disagree with their solutions, or their analysis of the problem, or even that there is a problem in any particular protested instance. But one cannot say that right treatment of employees, and that stewardship of God's creation, are unimportant things, matters not worthy of any thought or concern.

* Nations often refuse to trade with nations they believe are engaging various human rights abuses. Despite their drawbacks, trade sanctions seem to be a standard means of trying to force change.

* Anti-war protesters have refused to pay a portion (or all) of their taxes out of objection to wars in which the nation was engaged.

* There are many corporations that give funds to Planned Parenthood. So does the government. Planned Parenthood does a number of good things, including STD treatment and cancer screening. (I'd tentatively add preventing-egg-and-sperm-from-uniting contraception to the mix, though I know my Catholic friends would disagree). It also does things like provide 1/4 of the abortions performed in the United States, making it the largest provider of such services in the country. (305,310 last year...compared to 4,912 references for adoption. See page 9).

* Part of one's tax money goes toward support of abortion (c.f. above) and now embryonic research.

* I'll admit, this troubled me. (This, on the other hand, is just plain funny).

I've simply thrown all these down onto the page, with little attempt to connect dots or pass judgment, because I'm still thinking through a lot of this. I'm not sure how the dots should be connected, which dots are important, or what it all means.

But I guess if I become a radical liberal hippie environmentalist socialist commie activist anarchist, you can at least all shake your heads and say you saw it coming?