| Christmas gift-giving can be a trying | | | | to make his point. |
| experience. Shopping for just the right | | | | |
| present for everyone on your list requires | | | | That Christmas, I didn't get a robe. But I |
| much thought. What do they need? Is it the | | | | got a different sort of gift -- a subtle, |
| right size, color, and style? What about the | | | | unexpected one that doesn't wear out, become |
| quality? The long lines at the stores for | | | | obsolete or fall out of fashion: the gift of |
| returns the next day prove just how | | | | understanding that it's important to take a |
| challenging it can be. | | | | stand for your beliefs. |
| | | | |
| And after all that effort, how long will your | | | | My father was a man of principles. He'd go to |
| purchases really last? In today's world of | | | | great lengths to argue his case if he thought |
| disposables, planned obsolescence, and | | | | something was wrong or unfair. As a teenager, |
| ever-changing trends, it's rare to receive a | | | | I often viewed him as stubborn, difficult, |
| gift that lasts more than a few seasons. | | | | and even embarrassing at times. But now, with |
| | | | the wisdom of age and experience, I see him |
| For these reasons, Christmas presents at our | | | | in a different light. |
| house were sparse. To my perennial | | | | |
| disappointment, my parents weren't much into | | | | Through his commitment to his values, he |
| buying gifts. They had no patience for the | | | | taught me an important lesson that day at the |
| whole process. My father especially lost | | | | mall. I didn't realize it at the time, but it |
| interest when everything started being | | | | influenced me deeply. Now as an adult, I, |
| manufactured in China. Dad was a proud | | | | too, am compelled to speak out when I feel |
| veteran of World War II, and he didn't like | | | | something isn't right. The values I speak out |
| the notion of our goods being produced on | | | | for may in some cases be different from his, |
| foreign shores. | | | | but it's the commitment to them that matters. |
| | | | |
| I recall one Christmas, after some prodding, | | | | Sometimes the gifts we receive from others |
| he agreed to buy me a robe, but on two | | | | are not wrapped in paper and bows. They are |
| conditions. First, I had to pick it out. If | | | | not manufactured, bought or sold. They are |
| he was going to buy it, he didn't want any | | | | the gifts of teaching by example, of |
| guesswork. Second, it had to be | | | | inspiring and motivating, of passing on |
| American-made. Simple enough, I thought. So | | | | lessons of living. After the flurry of the |
| together we went to the local mall, trudging | | | | holidays has come and gone, these are the |
| from store to store in search of a robe made | | | | gifts that endure. |
| in the U.S.A. Dad pored through the racks, | | | | |
| scrutinizing every label: Made in China. | | | | I may have been shortchanged at Christmas |
| Korea. Cambodia. Vietnam. (That one really | | | | when it came to getting presents, but my |
| perplexed him.) Surprisingly, there wasn't | | | | father gave me a gift much more precious and |
| one to be found. In each store, he confronted | | | | lasting than anything he could have bought at |
| the sales clerk and asked why they had no | | | | the store: strength of character and |
| robes made in the United States. I was | | | | conviction. Top quality, perfect fit, and no |
| frustrated and embarrassed, but he persisted. | | | | exchange or return needed. A belated |
| It was really important to him, and he wanted | | | | thank-you, Dad. |