Don’t buy, “Samm Elhary!”
Written by Haitham Sabbah on 27. December 2006, 0005hrs // Part of Haitham Sabbah's adventure in Zionism // Other posts by Haitham Sabbah
I was not surprised to see the argument that followed Mohammad alQaq (aka Khobbeizeh) post about boycotting Starbucks (although I missed his post then, but I just came to know about it from one of his new posts that follow up on the same). I was not surprised for the reaction I received online and offline when I posted about the same issue a while back.
What really strike me is how proud I am to see some non-Arab are fighting for issues that matters for Arab more than themselves. When I look around me and see that we are more unfair to ourselves than our enemy is (maybe not more, but we still are), it makes one feel ashamed. That’s why, when I read Wael’s post the other day, I could not but agree to what he said. Yes, we need to re-brand ourselves, however, we should make sure that it is not be based on “faked values”.
I’m writing this introduction not because I felt that I should, but because what I’m going to post following this is not something new. It is about asking everyone to make sure that at least this season, try boycotting Zionist and Israeli products. I’m sure there are plenty of posts, speeches, researches, TV shows, debates, etc… that talked about this subject before, but let’s be honest, how many of us knows who is a Zionist, what Zionism does and in spite of all this, s/he still support it (directly or indirectly)?
So, back to re-branding. The question is: “How can we re-brand ourselves if our values are not revamped?” There will be no use of re-branding ourselves if we don’t really believe in what we are doing and the values we are adopting.
I don’t know what to say, but it looks really stupid to be part of your OWN crises. And I mean ALL of us, ALL NON-ZIONIST, including (but not limited to) Arab and Muslims. Well, I think Khobbeizeh said the least words for these people who know what is what and still fake us a smile and go to buy Zionist or pro-Zionist products: “Samm elhary!” (which means something like cursing someone to die poisoned).
Looking at Arab, we are branded as the “bad guys”, yet, we all know we are fighting oppression, we are fighting racism, we are fighting occupation, and in spite of all this, we are the “bad guys”. I’m not surprised because, while we are fighting Zionism, some (which are majority) of us are supporting it from the other end because they are ignorant, others are careless and more are doing it deliberately because they are “stupid” (excuse my French)!
All right, now let me go back to business here. It is holidays season, and we all buy gifts for a reason or another for friends and loved ones, including Muslims, even though these guys think that they are the only “Muslims” in the world (Bin Laden type).
[Carlos Latuff © Cartoons]
So, lets be smart and fair to ourselves. Here is a list of what “NO TO BUY” (If you are not in hurry, more details and information is available here and here and if you need more proof, see a doctor. But if you are in hurry, here is the summery list of what “you should not buy“:
- General Electric: all GE appliances,
- CATerpillar: all CAT branded products,
- The Home Depot: includes all Home Depot retail stores, EXPO Design Centers, Villager’s Hardware stores, Apex Supply Company, Georgia Lighting, Maintenance Warehouse, National Blinds & Wallpaper,
- The Limited: all Intimate Brands such as Bath & Body Works, White Barn Candle Company, Victoria’s Secret. Express stores, The Limited stores, Lerner New York stores, Structure stores, New York and Company stores, Mast Industries - apparel manufacturer, Henri Bendel, Hollinger Publishing,
- Starbucks (yes, again. But let me surprise you with some more): Starbucks Coffee Stores, Starbucks coffee, chocolates, biscuits & ice-cream products. Seattle Coffee Company in the United Kingdom, Pasqua Inc., Hear Music, Tazo®, Hyatt Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Starwood Hotels (Sheraton), Canadian bookstore Chapters Inc, Barnes & Noble, Inc bookstores, Albertson’s Supermarkets, Drugstore.com, eBay Inc., and last but not least DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc.
- McDonald’s (need I say more?)
- Marks & Spencer (need I say more?)
- Estée Lauder : Estée Lauder cosmetics. Aramis, Clinique, DKNY, Prescriptives, Origins Natural Resources. MAC Cosmetics, La Mer, Bobbi Brown Essentials. Tommy Hilfiger Toiletries, Jane, Donna Karan Cosmetics. Aveda, Stila Cosmetics, Jo Malone, Bumble & Bumble, Kate Spade.
- L’OREAL: LaRoche – Posay Pharmaceuticals. Maybelline, Ralph Lauren, Helena Rubinstein. Redken 5th Avenue NYC. Giorgio Armani Perfumes, Lancome Paris.
- Sara Lee: Sara Lee Bakery. Meat (Hillshire Farm, Jimmy Dean, Bryan, Ball Park, Aoste). Coffee and coffee systems (Superior Coffee, Douwe Egberts, Maison Café, Pilao). Tea (Pickwick). Body care (Sanex, Body Mist, Brylcreem, Aqua Velva, Radox). Shoe care (Kiwi). Air fresheners (Ambi Pur). Hanes – Intimate apparel, hosiery, socks, knitwear, work wear, casual wear. Playtex – Intimate apparel. Champion – Men’s and women’s athletic apparel and men’s underwear. L’eggs – Hosiery. Dim – Intimate apparel, hosiery. Bali – Intimate apparel. Just My Size – Intimate apparel. Lovable – Intimate apparel, men’s underwear, socks. Outer Banks – T-shirts, sport shirts. Wonder bra – Intimate apparel. Gossard – Intimate apparel.
- Coca-Cola: Coca-Cola (incl. Cherry Coke), Fanta, Fresca, Frescolita, Sprite, Tab. Bacardi Mixers, Hi-C, Fruitopia. Dasani Water. Minute Maid, Five Alive, Sun Valley. Nescafé, Nestea, Tasters Choice.
- Intel: Processors – Celeron, Pentium, Itanium, etc. Motherboards, Chipsets, Adapters, Controllers, Network Products, Wireless components, Embedded Products, Software Development Tools.
Most of this information come from the site http://www.imopa.ca/boycott.htm and http://users.sgci.com/~peacenews/2006NovDec.html (which has updates that IMOPA does not have). However, there might be a lot more, but that is not a reason not to boycott all the above although it may be impossible for us to boycott SOME items (such as Intel), but we can at least contact the company with our serious concerns.
It is not acceptable to only keep hearing the famous losers slogan: “If you can’t beat them, join them.” Instead it should be: “If you want to beat them, stop paying them!”
Update: Of course I didn’t mention the Arsenal football team here, but they are worth the mention and I wrote a post about them before.
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December 27th, 2006 at 2:42 am
I’m boycotting Starbucks since forever. Thanks a lot for posting about this Haitham, I can never understand what’s so difficult about boycotting Zionist products or why is that considered an extreme action by some people.
I’ll stop buying Nescafe.
December 27th, 2006 at 2:51 am
00100 (excuse my French)
here is the summery list of what “you should not buy“ - yeah, we all listen to you, you tell us what we should and should not do!
December 27th, 2006 at 3:59 am
Good post.
December 27th, 2006 at 10:48 am
Wow, giving up Maybelline Long Lasting mascara will be hard.
Some of those I boycott already for other reasons. Not that I buy it, but does it help Victoria’s Secret that they manufacture in Jordan?
In a mall in California there was a kiosk selling Dead Sea skin care products. Looking closer I realized it was an Israeli company from the wrong side of the Dead Sea, so I confronted the hard-selling duo on the tactics of their nation. What was sad was they were both fairly recent immigrants from Russia, and it made me crazy that they could get visas to the US so easily to promote Israeli products.
thanks Haithim!
December 27th, 2006 at 11:23 am
Why do both sides of the boycott debate try to posit the argument in absolute terms. No it’s not possible to boycott all pro-Zionist products (nor is it desirable) and yes some products are worth boycotting because they have no value except to enrich the bastards and harden our arteries.
Junk food, coffee, and soda have nothing to do with the public good. Nor are the 100 odd low-tech, unskilled jobs they bring with them. But a research & development outfit or a CAT scan machine, is for the public good, if no substitutes can be found.
technology products, be it Intel or Microsoft, are essential for our economy and national security and technological evolution. Fatty burgers, fried chicken, and coffee are not essential for national security and do not add skilled workers to the Jordanian labor force.
At the end, what is needed is commonsense and a sincere desire to do some good espically when the price to be paid is nominal and is measured in terms of mild personal discomfort.
The boycott of Danish goods is a good example of the effectiveness of boycotts. Besides, 90% of boycotted Danish goods were not essential to our economy and had substitutes.
December 27th, 2006 at 11:43 am
Now here comes my personal confession note. I can see how some of us simply must have that Starfucks cup and eat that McShit sandwich. It’s an addiction just like Marlboro (another American product that kills but we must buy it for the good of Jordan…right?) I had my share too.
I am not much better today but I am making an effort, and I am fine with the progress being made. No, I don’t claim to have stopped. But I have reduced my consumption down to 20% for some pro-zionst US products, and for others 100% reduction.
I used to drink Pepsi almost daily, but now, I drink it once a week and eventually I will phase it out. From 365 cans of pepsi per year to 50 cans, that to me is doing something. And I know that 50 cans of Pepsi is still too much. Of course I used to drink Sratfucks twice a day (600 cups per year plus newspaper and muffin), now I drink it may be less than 6 times a year. That to me is serious progress. Same with McShit.
I will no longer argue in defense of something so selfish and meaningless by trying to find flaws in the pro-boycott camp. No one is perfect, but those who care and are doing something about it, even if it’s not 100% perfect, are far more decent than those who feel no remorse and try to undermine the proactive anti-zionists.
But my biggest accomplishment is my admission of weakness, instead of the constant dishonest whitewash.
Ethaa bu’leetum Fa’stateroo.
December 27th, 2006 at 12:04 pm
well.. some people finds it hard to boycott all the brands that you have mentioned. but my answer is simple… if you want to boycott these brands you should change your life style.
for example i changed my lifestyle in way that i don’t need to go Starbucks or hayyat hotel or buy any of those fancy products….
its a matter of needs.. and you create the needs for your self.. so if we need to have a successful boycott we need to change the way we live.
December 28th, 2006 at 5:02 am
man, I still don’t believe it, check my post
http://www.moeys.net/2006/08/04/jordanians-stop-the-boycott-crap-it-doesnt-freakin-fuckin-work/
I might be wrong, bas I don’t think so man.
December 28th, 2006 at 7:29 am
Yes, well this sort of thing almost never works.
How about focusing more on the alienation of terrorist networks and less on Ronald McDonald?
December 28th, 2006 at 12:18 pm
Moey,
Not good enough reasons to justify Starbucks. Claiming that these are rumors means you are missing a lot of inside and published stories. If you look at the extensive resources that Inminds have and find a counter evidences, then I can buy-in, otherwise, I see no justification to open my arms to support a Zionist.
Ali,
I agree with you. We should focus on terrorist network. However, I don’t buy in your vision, for Zionism is the terrorist network that is behind my problems. Your problems might be caused by different network than I care to look at. (For those who don’t know Ali, he is a pro-Zionist who justifies the crimes of the Zionist state all through out).
December 29th, 2006 at 4:05 am
btw, it’s not on the list, but i saw Blockbuster video in Ariel settlement.
sabbah, consider putting a link to this media alert? http://www.americanhummus.com/2006/12/28/israel-to-resume-pinoint-attacks-on-palestinian-militants/
It’s about CNN International’s biased reporting, and calls for emailing CNN.
December 29th, 2006 at 11:09 pm
I’m trying hard dear friend, started to shop and chose more consciously!
Thanks so much for the eye-opener!!
December 29th, 2006 at 11:34 pm
Great post! Long time fan and reader, first time commenter. I think there is a huge potential for this kind of protest. Call it, ‘vote with your wallet’. The most important thing, the God even, to our oppressors is the almighty dollar. Therefore the wallet is the most vulnerable place to attack them. I would add an idea to this; an energizer, or force multiplier if you will, that could make such an action many times more effective. Each time you personally boycott a product of one of these companies, you let them know. Write them, e-mail them, whatever, just let them know and let them know WHY. As soon as they connect a profit dip with their own actions, it will prompt an immediate response. They serve the money after all. Cause and Effect. Let them know.
December 30th, 2006 at 12:44 am
That’s a great idea, tsoldrin!
I’ll make sure to do that and will start with all the products I already came across.
December 30th, 2006 at 1:01 am
One company that I was absolutely unaware of which is complicate in the home demolitions is Volvo, they provide many of the bulldozers Israel uses. I caught this in a video here a few weeks ago. Caterpillar is ALWAYS mentioned but that was the FIRST time I had heard about Volvo. I don’t know if Volvo is black-listed, what the status of the black-list is, (how much it is still in affect since my reference is KSA many years ago) but since Ford bought out Volvo, (and Ford was blacklisted way back then) I was thinking Volvo should DEFINITELY be something to boycott on both accounts. We as ordinary people aren’t out buying Caterpillar equipment every day, but we sure do buy cars.
January 5th, 2007 at 4:41 am
You told me to wear make-up next time I come to your site and now you tell me what I cannot wear. Please make up your mind Haitham. LOL
I will not go to any of these businesses.
January 7th, 2007 at 5:16 am
the truth is always there when you want to look for it! & life is so healthy and better anyways without their junky stuff. Allah yehdi el jamee3 :s can’t say more, great post, thanx Haitham