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elfsThe other day, in the usual Twitter kerfuffle about urbanism and America and how much I dislike consumer culture, fast fashion, and the need to drive everywhere, I was attacked by a right-winger (who's since blocked me, so no link) who demanded to know why I wanted to "take away everything that's great about America."
Why is fast fashion something that's "great" about America?
I want to live in a place where almost everything I care about is within walking distance, rather than having to waste much of my life commuting to-and-fro, paying money and time to care for the ton of steel and the extra pavement. I want to live in a place where I walk past my neighbors, rather than shadowy figures in other metal boxes. Walkable neighborhoods are full of people who live longer.
I want to live in a world where my clothes last, and I love my fashion choices so much that I'm saddened when they fall apart, rather than one where I tire of them so quickly they clog the loading docks at Goodwill. If your clothes from last year are now "bad" to wear, they were always bad to wear; it just took you time to understand that.
I want to live in a world where my streets are safe for children because people aren't in a hurry to drive over them to get to their next McNugget meal.
I want to live in a world where my daily walks take me past a grocery store, where I can buy fresh foods and take them home and make them into meals that treat my body and soul.
Suburban life is loney and hollow, and even religion is a pointless salve when people now drive long miles to attend churches that align more with their political leanings than with their neighbor's needs.
Why is fast fashion something that's "great" about America?
I want to live in a place where almost everything I care about is within walking distance, rather than having to waste much of my life commuting to-and-fro, paying money and time to care for the ton of steel and the extra pavement. I want to live in a place where I walk past my neighbors, rather than shadowy figures in other metal boxes. Walkable neighborhoods are full of people who live longer.
I want to live in a world where my clothes last, and I love my fashion choices so much that I'm saddened when they fall apart, rather than one where I tire of them so quickly they clog the loading docks at Goodwill. If your clothes from last year are now "bad" to wear, they were always bad to wear; it just took you time to understand that.
I want to live in a world where my streets are safe for children because people aren't in a hurry to drive over them to get to their next McNugget meal.
I want to live in a world where my daily walks take me past a grocery store, where I can buy fresh foods and take them home and make them into meals that treat my body and soul.
Suburban life is loney and hollow, and even religion is a pointless salve when people now drive long miles to attend churches that align more with their political leanings than with their neighbor's needs.
