When they asked me to write this week’s blog for the website, I thought I would share a recent personal experience with y’all (as they say in Kentucky!)
I’m proud to be an American. However, I have never been an over-the-top fanatic perched on a peach crate shouting to the world “Buy American.” The truth is that until about a week ago, I believed most foreign goods do support and provide jobs for Americans.
On my 4½ hour drive to Hopkinsville last week I decided to listen to the news on my satellite radio. I don’t normally, because on a long drive like that I don’t want to listen to negative news… I need something to keep me going! I’m also not a very political guy, so I tend to tune out the news easily.
I know that the financial future of our country and every US Citizen is more uncertain now than at any other time in our history. I can list the concerns: social security, 401k’s, pensions and retirement plans, health care… you know the deal. And our country continues to rack up our national debt as we continue to run in a deficit – which can’t happen at my house, or I wouldn’t have a house anymore!
Then on that 4½ hour drive last weekend, I caught a little bit of the Memorial Ceremonies for the 10th anniversary from 9/11. I’m sure that stood as much as a reminder to you as it did to me. So many innocent Americans lost their lives that day. To hear the stories of the families whose lives have forever changed because of that day is heart breaking - the kids who are now 9 years old and how they never met their fathers because their mom was already pregnant the day of the attack, for example - the stories go on and on…
My outlook has changed. It’s time we all take pride in being American and to think about supporting American businesses and American made products first. I say ‘first’, as I understand that this is not always a viable option, but it will be a major contributing factor in my decisions moving forward. It’s actually sad to say that it took these events to really open my eyes, but I can tell you that I am more proud to be an American now than I ever have been in my entire life.
I’m also proud to work for Ebonite International. All of our consumer bowling balls are made here in Hopkinsville, KY. Many of our glove and accessory products are hand sewn and assembled at our Robby’s plant in Columbia, TN. Furthermore, we recently purchased a wooden pin manufacturing company and moved the pin production from Mexico to Hopkinsville, KY, in the United States. When is the last time you heard something like that happening?
I can tell you that we are looking at ways to bring some more of our other outsourcing back home. In total, we employ over 250 American Workers. You’ll hear from those plant workers involved in this effort in later posts on this blog.
I am proud to be a part of this team, this company and more importantly, our country, the United States of America.
“DRIVEN TO REMAIN THE WORLD’S BEST BOWLING COMPANY.”
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