J. Crew catalog lists country of origin of only products made in West (Caucasian countries), i.e. Made in Italy, Britain, France, Scotland, USA, etc. All other items are merely labled "Imported." ripoff Lynchburg Virginia

Kenneth Friedman wrote the J. Crew comment allegedly by "Ruther." He did so to make fun of my political view points. Ruther

There is no question that there are worse things in this world than J. Crew's catalogs.

The problem is, if J. Crew can get away with it, then other companies could as well.

I'm a little concerned, however, about Sherri's comments about "[me] getting a life and looking in the mirror [for a racist]."

First of all...Consumer Advocacy is my life. I've been doing it since my internship with the New York State Attorney General's Office, Consumer Fraud Department, back in 1988. I love helping improve the global business environment, whenever possible. Just remember Edmund Burke's words..."The only thing necessary for the triumph [of evil] is for good men [or women] to do nothing."

Second, If I ran J. Crew's catalog department, I would certainly include all races and genders in the photos, not just Caucasians or token non-Caucasian female models. Also, I would definitely say where items were made, regardless whether they are from the USA, a foreign Western nation or the 3rd world. How exactly does that make me racists?

Your argument, Sherri, is exactly how a racist attacks a non-racist. For instance, the KKK tried to spread the word that Martin Luther King Jr. sleeps with three women. In that case, the KKK was saying King had too much of a life. Also, the KKK usually comments that Blacks are equally racist toward Whites. Sherri, you fit the mold. Got a mirror?

There are serious problems in the world. Stressing for years about what a mail order catalog means by "imported" is silly.

You talk about racist? You should take a look in the mirror.

For over 14 years now, I have been regularly writing J. Crew regarding their deceptive and racists catalogs. Recently, I wrote their new CEO, Ken Pilot about the issue, but I have yet to receive a response nor resolution.

The Issue: Please obtain a J. Crew catalog...whether from 14 years ago or a recent one. You will notice that products made in a Western country (Caucasian country) state the products' origin, i.e. Made in Italy, Made in Britain, Made in Scotland, Made in the USA,... etc. However, products made in South East Asia, Mexico, Africa, or any other place that is not historically Caucasian, product origin is merely labeled as "Imported."

When your average American consumer hears the word "Imported," it means that the item is exclusive enough to ship into the US. For instance, Warsteiner is imported from Germany, Rolls Royce is imported from England and St. Andrea is imported from France. These products are of such fine quality that distributors bring them into this country since they command higher prices than your average American beer, car or cheese.

Unfortunately, when J. Crew labels items "Imported," it almost always means the products were cheaply made in a 3rd World sweat shop, and not that the products are better than those locally made of equal price.

What I asked Ken Pilot was this:
Is J. Crew deliberately trying to deceive consumers by calling cheaply made 3rd World products "Imported" or is J. Crew simply eliminating all non-Whites from their advertising?

Anticipated Rebuttal:
1)I expect J. Crew to say that they call items "Imported" when a particular shirt, for instance, was made in too many countries to list.

Well then, why does their catalog not have a page listing where "Imported" items are from? Also, aren't products from Italy, France and Scotland "Imported" as well? Why does J. Crew list the origin of only historically Caucasian countries?

2)I expect J. Crew to say that they hire lots of African-Americans, Latinos and Asians in their advertising & marketing department.

Well perhaps J. Crew only hires "Busters"- those of non-Caucasian heritage who favor Whites over their own kind. Personally, I know many "Buster" Asians who favor White culture over their own. I know many Asian women who only date White men. To say that a non-White cannot be racist against his or her own racial group would be a simplistically weak argument.

Note: J. Crew used to have token Asian and Black men in their catalogs. (Granted, they had very Caucasian phenotypes). Today, however, Asian and Black men are simply excluded from their catalogs. As Spike Lee once eloquently said "What century am I living in?"