This is great!!! The AFL-CIO has
collected children's letters to Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott. Here are some samples:
"I am 7 years old. I have told my parents not to buy my school supplies from Wal-Mart. You have been very mean and cruel to the poor. You are not very nice to your workers. I think that you need to be put in time out." Tristan, age 7, Texas.
Here's a 12-year old who knows what real "American values" are:
"You really must change these things that are going on. They are unfair and cruel and contradict our American values. Make the difference now, Mr. Scott, before it turns bad." Avi, age 12, Pennsylvania
Actually, Avi, things are pretty bad right now, but I applaud your sentiments. Here's the one that gives me hope for the future:
My name is Mackenzie and I am 14 years old and just about to go into the 9th grade. This year there are certain supplies I need for high school. Including a new binder, pencils, paper, and I might even get a new backpack. I am sure I could come to wal-mart and get all of these at very good proces, but I don't want to. I refuse to set foot in a store that uses children to make their products. I don't know if you have a wife and children but imagine, if you will, having to send your children, at very young ages, off to work somewhere where they must operate dangerous machinery, work straight through any breaks, and even miss school. Education is important, you, Mr. Scott should know that.
By the way if you haven't figured out that I am a girl, here's a news flash for you....I am a girl and when I grow up I want to be paid the SAME amount as any men I work with. Equal pay for equal work.
Mr. Scott, wal-mart can do better, you can afford to do better and lastly America disserves better.
OK, I would have hoped for better spelling and punctuation, but doesn't Mackenzie just put most adults to shame? So what's your guess on how Wal-Mart will deal with these critics: call them self-interested union stooges or try to open up a "dialog" with them?
JR