Very good post, and that's all I have to say about that.
Okay I'll concede a possible point, but then I would have to give up all my American manufacturers/makers who dare to make products with anything like a Japanese influence since there's no tradition of it here. I mean, how many samurai were running around the Old West?
This is one of those threads that I could easily write off as being a waste of time since it seems to be devoid of any intent of actual discussion and guided more towards trying to prove that nobody can make us think differently than we do---which to me is so obvious that it could do without being stated. Still, in the interest of furthering discussion in the very mild hope that any words can penetrate lines in the sand (and the impassable forcefields they create complete with cool bluish glowy effect) I'll take a crack at it.
Because of the choices we've made as a nation (and not all of them were mistakes) we're no longer quite the manufacturing giant that we once were in all product fields. Now, of course, it should be pointed out that we actually do build a HELL of a lot of things, but our factories are usually automated and quite expensive, and as such are given over to manufacturing things that cost a whole hell of a lot more than a pocketknife or sell to a much wider market. Nevertheless, in smaller durable goods (tools, toys, textiles, etc.) we have certainly let things drift away to other shores. This is one of those things that I have a gut reaction to that can be pretty much summed up with, "that's awful" and yet, I have to cope with the dichotomy that never once in my life have I ever aspired to be bent over a sewing machine for ten hours a day, and it's rather narcissistic of me to say that job should be done by "some American" so long as it isn't me. The "greatest generation" that rolled up its sleeves and out-manufactured the entire world did it for patriotism, did it in hope for the future, but they sure as hell didn't do it because they found extremely repetitive tasks to be mentally stimulating. They also encouraged their children to be the most college-bound generation in the history of the nation so that they wouldn't be stuck with the same kind of work their parents slaved over. Our values have led us to where we are in manufacturing, simple as that. As such, hating or refusing to support somebody because their values led them to where THEY are in manufacturing just seems kind of goofy to me. Yes, I understand the ideological differences between the two countries in question, but I honestly believe that continued market success and increasing wealth and knowledge among the Chinese people is actually the best hope there is of shattering those things we don't like about their government. An ever growing population of people who know that their lives could be better than they've been led to believe is a serious recipe for change. I wouldn't be even sort of surprised to see a Chinese democratic republic form within my lifetime. As such, if through a purchase I can support a group of workers who turn out superior work, and thus reinforce in them this revolutionary capitalist idea that effort brings reward, I get to enjoy a nice knife and take a nice little shot at the foundations of a repressive communist mindset in one go, which is frankly rather appealing.
Now I absolutely, categorically, love good products that are stamped/stenciled with a big 'ol "USA" on the side. The key word within that sentence though, to my mind, is "good" and it's the pivot point on which my decision hinges when it comes time to buy. Call me a sunshine patriot if you will, but the simple fact of something being located here doesn't make me proud of it. I was born at 38°51′48″N 104°47′31″W. It's geographically within North America!! Woohoo!! Exciting, huh? Not really--the geography isn't what makes America America or me an American. Now, I am proud to be American--because of our very improbable success as a country in the face of overwhelming odds (free people who continue to cohere of their own free will, ragtag group of peasants defeating the most powerful empire in the world, etc), because of our mighty history of overcoming obstacles both physical and ideological, and because of the ideals that we aspire to. See, I'm proud of the things that stand out as great, where we truly are unexcelled by the rest of the world as far as I'm concerned. There are areas where we're not the best in the world, however. I'm a bit of a wine buff, and have to own up to the fact that not only do I buy and enjoy primarily European products but I also don't think that lessens my patriotism. I also have a ridiculously expensive gun habit, and my favorite double rifles happen to come from England, and yet holding/shooting them has yet to fill me with a desire to pee on the American flag. I appreciate quality, hard work, attention to detail and the resultant pride of ownership wherever I find it, and while I'm happy to appreciate it here in the good 'ol U.S. when it's available, I also won't pretend it is where it's not. I buy factory and custom, U.S. and foreign, and operate in the happy knowledge that my American credit card company takes interest off of my internet purchase from an American knife distributor who ships me my product using an American parcel carrier, and every single bit of that money that goes to their American employees recycles back into the American marketplace, regardless of where the product itself was made.
I've worn an American uniform and been shot at for America, and personally think that my support for this country is more strongly proven by those actions than by the tang stamp on the knife I cut my apple slices with. This doesn't mean I'm right or anyone else is wrong, it's just my take.
