UK looking for outside production facilities

[Rex_Tremende]

Well... This may be splitting hairs, but made in America and made in the USA are not quite the same thing. Last time I checked, Vancouver was still (North) American.

Made in the USA? Surely there are people in the southeastern US who used to have decent jobs in textile and furniture mills would love to help out in a growing industry.

Regards,
Rex.

[pipesndrumsnun]

Come to Flint, Michigan! While we don't have a sewing factory already set up, there are plenty of buildings, workers, and tax incentives!! We have a number of great seamstresses and tailors (my aunt included!) who would, I'm sure, love steady work.

Flint is rebuilding, and, I believe, is just on the edge of an amazing come back. We used to be "Buick City"...we could easily and happily transition into "Utilikilts City"!!

[kilted in seattle]

I've bought kilts from you guys in the past and will buy kilts from you in the future. Seeing "Made in Canada" on one of my future kilts won't cause me to think you have abandoned any of your principles as long as your employees earn an decent wage.

[Ian.MacAllan]

Well... This may be splitting hairs, but made in America and made in the USA are not quite the same thing. . . .

I think Rex has the right idea. "America" is not just one nation, it's two continents. The idea that only the USA is America is a bit of chauvinism that it's time we outgrew.

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[James MacMillan]

I think Rex has the right idea. "America" is not just one nation, it's two continents. The idea that only the USA is America is a bit of chauvinism that it's time we outgrew.

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Total agreement.

A Canadian is an American! A Mexican is an American!

You can't even change to the term United States either, because several countries are also that - - like the official title of Mexico is the United States of Mexico.....

So what are we? We could always just say borish yankee gringo..... nobody would mis-understand that one....

[canawler]

The "What is America" argument reminds of a fight almost 10 years ago between Yuengling and Molson over who could use the slogan "America's oldest brewery." Although Molson is actually older than Yuengling, "the patent office held that the term "America" for most beer buyers means the United States - not Canada." Also, "Molson failed to prove that U.S. consumers would equate "America" to "North America."

So I guess, according to the US government, "America" is only the United States. No Canada. No Mexico.

[sharpdressedscot]

Total agreement.

A Canadian is an American! A Mexican is an American!

You can't even change to the term United States either, because several countries are also that - - like the official title of Mexico is the United States of Mexico.....

So what are we? We could always just say borish yankee gringo..... nobody would mis-understand that one....

I don't some would agree with that. I certainly do.

So what would we "Americans" really call ourselves, besides yank and such.

[Makeitstop]

Total agreement.

A Canadian is an American! A Mexican is an American!

You can't even change to the term United States either, because several countries are also that - - like the official title of Mexico is the United States of Mexico.....

So what are we? We could always just say borish yankee gringo..... nobody would mis-understand that one....

I'm gonna disagree here. Mostly. Sort of.

I think it is entirely acceptable to use the word "American" to refer to people from the USA. I don't see how shortening North America to America is any better than shortening United States of America to America.

And let's be honest, if you go to the other side of the world and say "I'm an American" unless you have a thick Canadian accent, people will think you are from the USA.

And not all of America is states. Puerto Rico for example. That's also why the "Made in America" label doesn't always mean it was made in the states.

When I hear people complaining about this, I always wonder why they don't apply these same ideas to other countries. I don't hear them complaining about Germany, even though all the people in that region are German, not just the ones in that country. And are we going to refer to the Chinese as people's republicans? Not likely.

The worst is when I have heard "but you're robbing them of their identity" to which I can't help but reply "And what the hell do you think you're doing?!"


Anyway. I think it's a bit silly to refuse just because the factory is in Canada. But then again, keeping money pumping into the American economy may be as important to them as avoiding sweatshop labor.

Personally I would have just gone with the Canadian factory. Then again, I also wouldn't have a problem with them setting up factories in 3rd world countries, as long as they had competent employees with decent working conditions and wages. Cambodians need jobs too.

[James MacMillan]

I don't think we are in disagreement. We are talking arbitrary names as used by others.

I have traveled extensively in Asia, Europe, Australia and the Americas. Names are something used by a person to identify another. It used to be not thought as insulting to call a person by their description. Fatty, Skinny, and Shorty jump to mind; also Blackey and Whitey could to be used without malice.

If I am in Latin America, I accept, without a problem the term Gringo – Although supposedly it’s roots go back to the meaning – enemy. When in the U.K. I’m a Yank. When in Europe I’m an American.

When strangers see me here, I suddenly must be Scottish.

The entire trend, as I have mentioned before, towards the “politically correct” is a trend to falseness. Why are we afraid to call a spade a spade? If it’s a shovel, then call it a shovel. Things, and people have names that everyone understands and should be able to use.

Me, I really don’t care what you call me, except Late for dinner.

[TheKiltedWonder]

I haven't bought a UK and I'm not sure if I would, but as a consumer I must say that I don't view buying Canadian goods any differently than buying "American" (ie from the USA, ie from the country mostly between Canada and Mexico). A canadian product will be the same quality and it won't be a sweatshop (maybe a freeze shop, depending on location). It wouldn't affect my decision one bit. That said, if anyone on here knows of a quality factory that needs some work, this could be a huge boost! Look around!

also Blackey and Whitey could to be used without malice.

The entire trend, as I have mentioned before, towards the “politically correct” is a trend to falseness. Why are we afraid to call a spade a spade?

As a side note, even if the first two terms can be used without malice, they can't be used with respect, in my opinion. And we all deserve respect. And even if they are used without malice, it would be hard for the recipient to recognize this fact.
While some political correctness is certainly a bit inane, odd and laughable, as you have pointed out, I believe that certain words just don't have a place in polite discourse. That's my take on it.