http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=93947
I say let them be hung out to dry. It seems to me to be a bit evil to make money on a tragedy.
What say you?
I agree. It reminds me of an online comic I read (I forget which one now). It featured a guy waving a little American flag with a caption similar to,
“[bob] figures out a great way to be patriotic. He’s going to make millions off of his flag company”
No one forces people to buy things like t-shirts and flags. But I understand that some companies and businesses have tied up people trying to take advantage. For example, I heard that eBay will not allow the auction of WTC and Pentagon memorabilia. Haven’t checked this out, but I also understand they may have warnings about certain military collectibles such as Nazi ensignia.
nobody is forcing you to buy that stuff (except flags which if you don’t have outside your shop , your shop gets burned down esp if you are not caucasion)
but then people selling WTC rubble on ebay is going a little too far , not even sure about bomb fragments or bullet casings i was offered in vietnam on a short vacation
I personally feel it is the crassest form of capitalism. To pay $39.95 for a ‘legal tender’ hand-painted, one ounce, silver dollar (with a spot market value of $4.26) is not patriotic, it’s stupid. Oh sure, they will ‘donate’ $5.00 for each coin purchased, hell, in the future they might up it to $10.00! All they have to do is adjust their ‘mark-up’. You will still throw away a lot of money for something that will probably never be worth more than spot. Do you want to make a difference? Give blood, food, warm clothing, cash, whatever… don’t purchase something from these blood-sucking lepers!
Oh, and do you want a flag? There are plenty of stores that have carried flags for decades. I’m sure they will be able to supply your needs. AND, you will get a properly made flag. Support those businesses that support your community, state and country. These are your neighbors and your friends. They are not likely to play on your sympathies to turn a buck.
I rant… sorry.
[aside] Y’all do know where the flags you buy are made don’t you?
China[/aside]
Hmm. Some flags have “made in U.S.A.” tags. But we could be paranoid there…
I don’t think that we should suppourt them. Sure, buy a flag, but you don’t need one of those awful posters that show the towets on fire, and an eagle crying. That is going too far.
Well, the image of the crying eagle is just tacky, any way you slice it. It’s right up there with velvet Elvis and “dogs playing poker” for the “Why would anyone in their right mind paint this?” kivtsch award.
I don’t mind the flags and the T-shirts, but “commemorative” coins and pieces of rubble are a bit much. Better to buy a Monopoly XP T-shirt instead. 