Wordless Wednesday

Yes, I know that it’s Wordless Wednesday. So what. So I have a few words today. Fine.

I was pleasantly surprise yesterday as I was reading the news…then I was struck by pangs of guilt. I read an article about Robert Duvall and his battle against Walmart building a store within the footprint of Wilderness Battlefield from the War Between the States. (Or the Late Unpleasantness as we Southerners like to call it...) **I am totally kidding...please do not send me vicious emails about my redneckishness!!!**

Now, I have already established my Robert Duvall issues. I know he’s aged a little. So what (again). He is totally cool. I really, really like him. He’s one attractive dude. And yes, Lonesome Dove is in my top ten favorite movies list. So there. Yep, I knew I liked that guy. As if we need one more freakin’ Walmart. I mean really. And built ON an historical site…really, really?!? Come on….

So what about the guilt? Yes…I must confess that I WENT to Walmart yesterday. Ugh. (It was before I read the article…obviously. If I had read it first, I would have been too guilt ridden to go!) For a long time I avoided such “Big Box” stores…for lots of reasons…unethical business practices, desire to fund my local economy instead of a global one, personnel practices, etc. Lots of stores do these kinds of things. I think that it is important to support local businesses which are run by my neighbors, colleagues, and friends. If you would like to see a movie that summarizes it pretty well, see Independent America: The Two Lane Search for Mom and Pop. I can SOOOO totally appreciate the Keep It Weird Movement.

But then, they built a Walmart four miles from my house. So much for principles. Now I am right in there with the rest of the payday cattle being herded along in isles into long checkout lines. The fact that Walmart would WANT to build a store on such a site is amazing to me…I find it appalling, and I find it very revealing concerning their ethics. Thanks Robert for the reminder!