First Steps on the Path (The Jewelcrest of Wisdom)

Text 1:

“Health is gained by the sick who follow the path of healing: health does not come through the acts of others.”

Response 1:

What I got out of this quote is basically that we cannot expect others or ask others to heal us as people. It is our desire to be better and our devotion to be better that will make us better people. Becoming a better person isn’t done by others because others cannot have that craving inside of them for us to be better like is required inside of our own hearts.

Text 2:

“Through information, digging, and casting aside the stones, a treasure may be found, but not by calling it to come forth.”

Response 2:

This quote is basically saying that it is not without hard work that one finds success. When I read the “calling it to come forth” part, it made me think of how many students I encounter, sometimes including myself, just expect things to happen for them. They expect to get good grades, acquire the one internship that they apply for, and to eventually make plenty of money. These things don’t just happen and they didn’t happen for those people in our lives that we look up to and want to be like. It is important that we don’t solely assess the outcome of hard work but instead understand the process.

Text 1:

“I believe that the most valuable asset that congregations and other faith-based organizations can leverage is faith.”

Response 1:

This is not only very well said, but absolutely true. Even in a corporation or organization filled with good people, there is something special about what a faith-based group can offer. There is a certain sense of hope and working for the greater good of others that prevails. People of faith know that they are part of something much bigger than themselves which helps prevent petty arguments and other actions like that which often take place in a group setting. Even in terms of decision-making, organizations of faith are more likely to do what they feel is best rather than what is calculated to be the best logistical or rational decision. There is a big difference between an organization that consists of faith-based or spiritual people compared to an organization that is faith-based in structure. When the latter exists, the values that are packaged with faith such as community and relationships become core values of the organization.

Text 2:

“It has become clear to me and to Reverend Hamilton that the most important outcome of the breakfast and the Roxbury Presbyterian campaign was the set of relationships we formed.”

Response 2:

Although this isn’t a particularly powerful statement, I was impressed by it because it pertains to normal business as well. If there’s one thing I have learned to be true in my time at Fordham, it’s that the relationships you make and the network that you create is extremely important if you want to get a job or get anything done. People don’t just do you favors or invest their time into you because you’re a good or smart person. They are more likely to do so because they have gotten to know you and because you have already invested some time into them. It was encouraging to see the overlap between business organizations and faith-based organizations within this reading.

Text 1:

“6 months after their date of sale only 1% of products are still in use… 99% of materials are trashed within 6 months.”

Response 1:

When I heard this I paused the video. That is a disgusting statistic. It made me think that all of this is for nothing. It makes me feel piggish. So we are ruining the world, the atmosphere, the natural resources, land, etc. just so that we can consume and dispose within 6 months? That’s insane. I wonder how much of that statistic involves things that are meant to have a short life span, such as household items like toothpaste, paper towels, etc. compared to things that should never really be thrown out, like clothing, shoes, furniture, etc. If the statistic involves much of the latter, I wonder why. Do that many people really throw out tangible items instead of donating or selling them? To be honest, I am skeptical of the validity of this statistic.

Text 2:
Planned obsolescence: designing and producing products in order for them to be used up (obsolete) within a specific time period. Products may be designed for obsolescence either through function, like a paper coffee cup or a machine with breakable parts, or through “desirability,” like a piece of clothing made for this year’s fashion and then replaced by something totally different next year. Planned obsolescence is also known as “design for the dump.”
Perceived obsolescence: the part of planned obsolescence that refers to “desirability”. In other words, an object may continue to be functional, but it is no longer perceived to be stylish or appropriate, so it is rendered obsolete by perception, rather than by function. Fashion is all about perceived obsolescence, and it could be said that perceived obsolescence is the number one “product” of the advertising industry.
Response 2:

In a way, I appreciate how innovative many companies are. I appreciate that they are able to come up with new and/or improved technologies so quickly. However, much of that appreciation comes from my skewed perception of innovation and improvement. How much are companies actually improving their products compared to how much they are using technology to either make products obsolete after a certain period of time or convince us that they are?

Text 1:

Another striking aspect of the Economy of Communion project is the way in which everyone involved is given equal consideration. Those who receive help are not considered “assisted” or “beneficiaries.” Rather they are regarded as active participants in the project, all part of
the same community, who also live the culture of giving. The emphasis is not on philanthropy, but on sharing, in that each person gives and receives with equal dignity.

Response 1:

I don’t have much to say to this other than about how striking this was to me. It is stated so simply that it makes me think about how non-prejudice it is. To turn giving and taking into simply participating is a totally new way to look at the process, and I believe it’s a much healthier and productive thing. I also found the statement “that each person gives and receives with equal dignity” to be extremely powerful. There is so much baggage that typically comes with this process: guilt in receiving, feeling as though you “owe” or “are owed” something depending on your position, feeling like you are “better” because you give, rather than giving because you should. I love that they position this as sharing, because to me, sharing is something that we are all expected to do, starting in pre-school. Why can’t we continue to do so forever?

Text 2:

Businesses are beginning to take care of aspects of social life, which up until a few years ago, were considered within the ambit of the state, religious institutions, or civil society.

Response 2:

This transformation is huge, and certainly shows a trend that we as people who are passionate about fair trade hope to continue. If businesses are holding themselves accountable for social responsibility, rather than it being the norm that government, etc. take care of it, then the movement towards fair trade is getting closer and closer. It seems as though this shift has occurred as technology has progressed, partially due to the ability of passionate groups of people exposing injustices publicly to a much wider audience. As technology progresses, especially in the third world countries where much of the injustice is occurring, I predict that businesses will have to take increasing care of social issues.

Text 1: The Case Against Gifts/Monetizing Gifts

Response 1: I have actually read this book before, so I’ve already had the opportunity for the contents of it to resonate pretty significantly. I remember that when I first read it, I was very impacted by the section “The Case Against Gifts” and “Monetizing Gifts” because this is such a huge discussion between my mom and me during the holidays. My initial response to this was “FINALLY, THIS IS WHAT I’VE BEEN SAYING ALL ALONG!” And I still feel that way as I read it again.

As a business student, I have a hard time not thinking about the economic impacts of things, even things that do not exist to be economically motivated. Gift giving is a very fun and rewarding activity if you take the time to be thoughtful and are able to find something that you’re proud to give someone you love. However, for many it is a chore: a necessary task that comes with the holiday season.

I personally love being thoughtful, but then again I really only have four immediate family members and occasionally a best friend to buy gift for during Christmas time. However, I often receive thoughtless gifts from relatives (aunts, uncles, etc.). They call up my mom and say “What does Nina want for Christmas”. I say, look at my Christmas list. Either my mom/Santa has bought everything or it’s too expensive. “Where do you want a gift card for?” I say that I don’t believe in gift cards. If it’s not something that you want to put thought into, I’d rather you give me money that I can physically put into my bank account and save. Gift cards force me to spend money that I wouldn’t necessarily spend and if I do use the gift card, it’s usually required that I put down some of my own money to make a purchase. Regardless, I continue to receive gift cards every year from family members that are more concerned with what is “appropriate” (meaning that cash/check is inappropriate because of its lack of thoughtfulness) than with what would make me the most happy. Nonetheless, I trade all of my gift cards with my mom for cash every year. That’s what makes me happy.

Text 2: The Commercialization Effect

Response 2: I loved this section. I was so proud to read that people would rather perform a good deed for free than give a discount. I too agree that offering money would weaken an intrinsically worthwhile motivation. In a book that deals a lot with what’s economically beneficial versus what’s morally correct, it’s nice to see an example where both apply. Is this commercialization effect something we can apply to fair trade that will benefit it?

Since learning about Handcrafting Justice last class, I have been curious about the gender roles that go into Fair Trade and how big of an impact Fair Trade plays in changing the lives on women in particular. That being said, when I read the following lines from this week’s reading I became very interested. “Women are rarely highlighted in the Bible. Lydia, like Fair Trade business women, attracted attention and set an example.” “We would consider it a spiritual benefit because we can lift out heads and be looked upon with dignity. Because we can look up at our husbands and they have to look back at us with full respect.”

If I were to make a list for rules to live by in my future, remaining financially independent, especially from a future spouse, is very important to me. It isn't even something that I would have to remind myself of because it’s such a given, perhaps because it is so attainable. Admittedly, while reading “The New Conscious Consumer: Expanding Economic Justice Through Fair Trade” and learning much more than I ever knew about Fair Trade, enabling the Fair Trade workers to escape poverty and provide for their families was all I seemed to think the goal of Fair Trade was. Of course, that is no small goal. However, until I read the aforementioned section I did not think about the gender barriers that these women face as well, and how important and probably how rare it is that they, as women, be supporting themselves and their families financially in this way. It is important that women in fortunate enough places such as America, who are working hard to erase gender barriers, take advantage of every opportunity given to them. However, it is SO important that we do not forget that the struggle continues in many other areas of the world even as ours diminish. This concept applies to all struggles, and that is what Fair Trade is all about.





One of the struggles between political parties in America at the moment has to do with social programs and what the right (meaning both ethical and effective) thing to do about the very low standard of living among an abundance of the population is. Do we raise minimum wage? Do we tax the rich even more? Though this is not the space to go into that discussion, I did find a statement in the reading “The New Conscious Consumer: Expanding Economic Justice Through Fair Trade” to be very interesting, and perhaps present a system (Fair Trade) that shows that there is a solution to this problem if we all work hard and work together. “Fair Trade is not about give and take; it’s not about handouts. It is about mutuality and respect because we need each other.” “Fair trade encourages artisans to work together rather than compete with one another. Groups have to do their own quality control. When one helps another become more skilled, one strengthens the group.”

These statements are so incredibly inspiring to me. They make me think that it is possible that with the growth of Fair Trade will not only come the intended outcomes within developing countries that are involved but lessons learned amongst already developed countries who think they even know what poverty is. I have the following questions that perhaps will be answered as the school year progresses. I am certainly aware that I am not the first person to ask these questions and recognize that I am currently ignorant in this subject: In what ways can “Fair Trade” become a term that people in developed countries all know the meaning of and understand the added bonus fairly easily? In what ways will, God willing, the expansion of Fair Trade and hopefully one day even Fair Trade becoming the norm effect how developed nations conduct businesses and deal with social issues like those that exist in America right now. Finally, from a totally business perspective, I have been wondering how these products can be marketed in a way that attracts people who are simply looking for beautiful toys or well-made beach bags, with the added bonus of being Fair Trade products, instead of searching directly for Fair Trade as their first priority. I would imagine that the former would be much more popular and effective for the time being while Fair Trade as a concept is still an unknown for many people.