In protest at the catastrophic and highly damaging "regime" of President Donald J. Trump, the "Orange One", in the United States of America, I, like many others, have decided to boycott products from the USA.
I also have no wish ever to go there again. They probably wouldn't let me in anyway, after what I've written about the racist, sexist, convicted criminal who is inexplicably in charge of the world's most powerful country.
[Image courtesy of Red Bubble]
My Backstory
I have been to the States once, back in 1998, when my young family and I - wife Jeryl, and children Amy (15) and Tom (12) - spent a month, taking in New Orleans, Los Angeles, Malibu, Stanford University, San Francisco, Yreka, Tacoma and Seattle.
New Orleans [expedia.es] San Francisco [Lufthansa] Seattle [Conde Nast Traveler]
We were hosted throughout by family and friends, which meant we had a more meaningful experience - at least, we thought so.
Yet even back then, nearly three decades ago, there were things I didn't like: the blatant racism against Native Americans (Red Indians), African Americans (blacks) and Mexicans ('Spics); the less obvious negative attitude towards Poles (Polacks), the Irish (Micks or Paddys) and Italians (Eyeties or Dagos); the dreadful food; the ridiculous licensing laws; compulsory tipping and poor quality hotels, infested with cockroaches and rats.
[Photo: Amnesty International USA]
And it was all very expensive, even back then.
The current state of affairs
Nowadays, following two disastrous Trump administrations, Joe Biden in between, and before them, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barak Obama, whose legacies are not as good as they might have been, the USA has become a lawless land reminiscent of The Wild West.
School shootings have increased beyond all proportion and forest fires - mostly arson - have laid waste, land, properties and left many dead.
[Photo courtesy of Rolling Stone]
My Boycott
So back to the purpose of this article - my boycott of all things American.
I no longer buy American clothes, preferring clobber made by slaves in the Far East, rather than American slaves! Asian garments are readily available in Europe at a good price.
[Image: Hula Global]
I do not use American-owned airlines and I have never owned an American car. And, "sure as eggs", I won't be buying a TESLA anytime soon!
American Food
Nothing American gets into my shopping trolley.
I have stopped buying Heinz Baked Beans, although the ones we get in Europe are produced in Wigan (UK), Paris (France) or La Rioja (Spain).
There are plenty of alternatives whose origins are in France, Ireland, Spain and the UK. And they are invariably cheaper than H J Heinz.
HP Sauce is also owned by Heinz, but it is produced in Italy and Spain. So, that's ok, I think.
[Amazon]
Beer and Wine
US beer
is virtually undrinkable, so I never buy Budweiser nor Coors.
Budvar, from the Czech Republic, is a different matter. It's a fine beer.
Beers on sale in the USA [PUNCH]
American wines, eg from California, are delicious, but there are wines available elsewhere which are just as good.
I'm talking about Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and Spain, as well as countries like Croatia, Greece, Hungary and Turkey.
Wine from Alsace, France [Grape Escapes]
A Confession
I recently switched my internet provider to a company called Starlink and signed up for a one-year deal.
I subsequently learned that Starlink is owned by the ghastly Elon Musk, he of TESLA fame!
However, Musk is South African, isn't he? So, that's OK, or, is it ..... ?
Elon Musk's infamous Nazi salute [Photo: The Guardian]
Links:
© Pablo de Ronda (Paul Whitelock)
Images:
Amazon, Amnesty International USA, Conde Nast Traveler, El periodico, expedia.es, Grape Escapes, Hula Global, Lufthansa, PUNCH, Rolling Stone, The Guardian, Wikipedia
Thanks:
Google Images, Wikipedia, www.help-me-ronda.com
Tags:
Alsace, Amazon, American car, Amnesty International USA, baked beans, Conde Nast Traveler, Elon Musk, El Periodico, expedia.es, Grape Escapes, Heinz, Hula Global, Los Angeles, Lufthansa, Malibu, New Orleans, Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock, PUNCH, Rolling Stone, San Francisco, Seattle, Stanford University, Starlink, Tacoma, The Guardian, Trump, Wikipedia, Yreka