Arrogant Wal-Mart Ignoring Historical Preservation Rules

Some people lament educational deficiencies in our schools.
A primary one at least to me is in history and the lack of historical perspective amongst the young is apalling.  Along comes big business to shove it aside. Is it no wonder that the young so often yawn and roll their eyes when confronted with their own heritage when business in the guise of advertising already has their sole attention? There are reasons for sites to be preserved that override the profits and motivations of corporate power. Unfortunately some don’t get that.

The headline is somewhat misleading, and it looks like it fooled Larry. The Wal-Mart site is “near the Franklin Pierce Homestead”. It is not in it, and it does not displace or change or affect the historic site. The real problem lies with “preservation rules” which govern activity entirely outside the boundaries of historic sites. Such rules have nothing at all to do with preservation.

Larry says “There are reasons for sites to be preserved” as if the Franklin Pierce Homestead is being endangered at all. There is nothing in the facts of the case to indicate this. Larry even says Wal-Mart will “shove it aside”, when in fact Wal-Mart has no interest or proposal to do anything with the Franklin Pierce historic site.

Actually Splinter you’re a little bit off. I didn’t mention the Franklin Pierce historic site specifically. You should read it again maybe. If you look again at the story it stemmed from several examples of which the most particularly egregious among them is the one in Mexico. Of course that is outside our country but the point is that when WM sees a profit to be made they’ll move heaven and earth to do it and it doesn’t matter who they run roughshod over or what the public thinks unless the public can be manipulated to their own view.

I HOPE SAM WALTON IS TURN OVER IN HIS GRAVE.  I DON’T THINK THIS IS WHAT SAM WHATED IN HIS COMPANY.  THE REST OF THE FAMILY SHOULD BE A SHAME OF THEM SELFS

The “building on Indian grounds” charges do look egregious.

However, the story on Mexico only says that the WM was going to be near the pyramid site (not on/in it). Does anyone know here if WM in Mexico was actually threatening to demolish or impact the Aztec sites? Or is this really a fake story like the Pierce one is?

There was a quite an uproar in Mexico about the Teotihuacan site. I believe the store has already opened a kilometer or less from the temple of the sun.
An article from the mexican poet and novelist Homero Aridjis
outlines the ramifications revolving around the stores construction and also its singular importance in North American history (mexico is part of north america) prior to the european discovery of these shores.

http://www.dickrussell.org/articles/homero79.htm

Thanks for the article. It turns out that the site is not endangered at all. The main complaint is that the Wal-Mart SPOILS THE VIEW FROM THE HISTORIC SITE. The man who wrote the article has an axe to grind, anyway, and tosses in the usual list of mostly-false claims about Wal-Mart business practices that have nothing to do with the preservation issue.  Some of it has a disturbing hint of neo-Stalinist rhetoric.

Toward the end, he says: “The Wal-Mart store, being built one kilometer from the archeological site of monuments, does not represent a benefit for the inhabitants of San Juan Teotihuacan”.

I would bet you good money that the inhabitants of San Juan Teotihuacan disagree with his assessment, and have voted by choosing to go to the store.

Well maybe not to you. But what’s next? McDonald’s and BK fighting their burger wars next to the Great Wall of China or gas stations and Resort Hotels within a football field of Stonehenge? Maybe we can run a super highway between a couple pyramids and plant a spa or two or even an airport or develop the area around Machu Picchu-- turn it into a theme park? It’s funny that when Alice buys her painting at the ‘secret’ auction people defend it by saying it’s for charity (as in opening a museum?) and cultural besides. Meanwhile WM--her bread and butter barges in here and if you’ve read closely what Aridjis has said has compromised the intent of the original builders of Teotihuacan.

I don’t believe the unions are getting their money’s worth with this forum.  It apears that everytime they bring up a new dastardly deed that WM has done, there appears to be very valid reason why it did not occur or was not the dastardly deed which walmart witch said they performed.

Also there appears to be about as many people participating in this site who like WM as those who hate them.  My indecision is because I am not sure how to count anonymous.

HoooAh.

Why does Wal-Mart hate America?

Randy,

Wal-Mart has been responsible for nearly 20% of US productivity gains over the last decade. They help to hold down inflation. They employ 1.5 million + people, including more seniors, more handicapped, more women, more blacks and more Hispanics than any other company. They provide a low price alternative for working people. They provide convenient hours for people on shift work. They pay billions in taxes each year. They spend more than $120 billion per year on US goods. They give millions to charity. They give away tens of millions in goods each year. They have made numerous people very rich and created more than $220 billion in stockholders wealth. They have forced suppliers to become more efficient, leading to greater productivity, lower costs and more jobs. They have forced competitors to lower prices, which benefits all of us. And they have taught us how to be frugal, efficient, decent, disciplined, hard working, friendly, productive, generous and loyal. Wal-Mart is a true American capitalist success story-one that is studied by business people worldwide and one whose pages are still being written, and will go on being written.

Why does America hate Wal-Mart? If you can find a real reason, I’d be glad to hear it.

America hates Wal-Mart because they discriminate against women/minorities, hurt the environment, buy an increasing amount of products from Asia at the expense of U.S. business, support the use of sweatshops, censor products in their stores, and offer inferior health care/wages to their employees. I could list individual cases for each example but I think you already know what they are…

Randy,

I would like to address your reply, point by point.

1. Wal-Mart is being sued by 1.2 million females for sexual discrimination. Does anyone really believe that each and every one of these 1.2 million women were the victims of discrimination? The accusations that Wal-Mart discriminates against women and minorities are baseless and ridiculous. I would be in favor of letting that suit go ahead as a class action, provided that the women agree to a win/lose situation. That is, if they are seeking $2 billion in damages, and they lost, they should pay Wal-Mart $2 billion. If they lost their homes and their children starve, so be it. Maybe that will teach them that there is no free lunch and there are consequences to making false accusations. A lawsuit does not make one guilty. If I sue you for allegedly attempting to committ a sexual act with sheep, does that mean you bang sheep or does it mean I am accusing you of banging sheep? Too many lawyers..................

2. Hurt the environment? How? Any more than your average strip mall, shopping mall, waste dump, factory or highway? Can you quantify Wal-Mart’s environmental damage or is this just another baseless accusation?

3. Is Wal-Mart the only company buying from overseas? Were they the first? What percentage of their purchases come from the US? I can answer that. It is about 80%. Where is your criticism of GM, Ford, Toys R Us, Target, K-Mart and others?

4. Wal-Mart has every right to censor products they feel are not suitable. It is their store. If you want to buy a CD that uses cuss words to describe murder, rape, drug dealing, violence and general negativity, by all means go to Target.

5. Wal-Mart offers inferior health care and wages? Here is a FACT. Target doesn’t offer health insurance to all of its’ employees. Wal-Mart does. Target pays less than Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart offers several different options to fit one’s budget and all employees who average 28 hours or more per week are elgible. They also offer bonuses, profit sharing, stock discounts, purchases discounts, scholarships, retirement and advancement opportunities. Much better overall benefits than Target or K-Mart. After all, this is RETAIL work. These people aren’t building nuclear reactors now are they?

Could you please give me SPECIFICS Randy, and also tell us how other companies are better in all the above listed areas. I am curious to hear what specific facts you can give us, outside of Wal-Mart bashing you could have picked up at a UFCW rally.

I’ll do that when you respond to my Halliburton post…

Larry & Splinter,

It seems the Teotihuacán case is extremely overblown. 

Says who?  Says Peter Mork, a guy writing a book that teaches economics through the real life stories of people; he who went there to look for himself, took photographs, and posted about his experience on the web:

Standing atop the Pyramid of the Sun all these thoughts were passing through my head as I also observed today’s civilization that was clearly visible from the vantage point. At each entrance to the site there were various small shops. To the southwest there was a large power plant, a starting point for electrical wires and polls that made their way throughout the large valley. Directly to the west lay the center of San Juan, although in any direction you looked houses and businesses could be seen. In spite of all this development there was one structure I was unable to locate, a new Wal-Mart that had drawn quite a bit of international attention just this last year.

To put it in better perspective.

http://teotihuacan.com/

Putting it within 1 kilometer as you can see could have quite an effect.

Larry,

The photos in the link you provide do not provide a better perspective. The photo on the top right, taken from the top of the Pyramid of the Moon, is particularly deceiving as to how close the town of San Juan and various businesses are located. 

The photo is taken looking directly down the Avenue of the Dead, a 2 kilometer stretch that will never be developed. If the photo were to be extended to the right you would see rows of small shops about 200 meters from the base of the pyramid that sell everything from clothing to Coca-cola.

Another kilometer past these shops is the town of San Juan de Teotihuacán. In the town, closer to the pyramids than the Wal-Mart, you will find every kind of shop you would expect to find in a small town. There are internet cafes, small grocery shops, pharmacies, and restaurants that line the plaza when you first drive in.

Following the street off the plaza towards the Wal-Mart (it is actually called “Bodega Aurrera”) you’ll see a huge “Elektra” electronics store pained bright red and yellow. Continue another couple blocks and turn to the right and you will find the Wal-Mart, tucked away in what used to be a vacant lot and further away from the pyramids than any of these businesses. A hotel located next door is similar size and color. The only difference is that the hotel has a large sign outside advertising its presence. The Wal-Mart on the other hand is one of the simpler buildings in town and looks more like a small warehouse with a parking lot.

Here is a picture of the store:

http://emilyandpeter.smugmug.com/photos/34124874-M.jpg

Here is a picture of the town (all businesses pictured are closer to the pyramids than the WM):

http://emilyandpeter.smugmug.com/photos/34124856-M.jpg

More interesting to me was the reaction of some people we talked to in the town. We were told that the international press wanted to make it sound like the Wal-Mart was going to be put right next to the pyramids when nothing could be further from the truth. According to people we spoke with, the majority of protesters in San Juan were not residents who thought Wal-Mart was destroying culture, but store owners who did not want to face the increased competition.

Anyone that travels to San Juan and sees where the Wal-Mart is located is going to be hard pressed to come to a different conclusion.

My favorite videos, most made in Los Angeles.

1. Gladiator
2. Legends of the Fall
3.  Blazing Saddles
4. 

Well - you fill in the blanks.  Al Quida and the threat, power outage, fema, people, resources, or lack thereof.  History in the making I think - and ivory towers, elevators, and people who suddenly wish they weren’t in them - maybe.

Global warming - maybe.

Bill O’Reilly in the no spin zone - maybe.

Walmart - Republicans - Democrats - Bill Frist - Clintons - maybe.

Maybe, just maybe - everything happening now - is bigger than all of us.

Let’s be frank on this board.  Really, really, frank.

There is rich, poor, and those inbetween.

Tons of people pay taxes, tons of people are poor in America.

America cares, walmart cares.

Poeple have no healthcare in America.  42 million chronically, 85 million really.  While those jobs go unfilled, 3 million people run across the border for those jobs, pay no taxes, run drugs, and still the ultra-rich; and ultra-poor.  Who pays for that - you - me - and never they.

I wish - wish - Halliburton........

Would come to the forefront - and rebuild New Orleans - on a bid contract.

Too much - too soon.

The Shining City on the Hill (the rebuilding of New Orleans).

The third fork before the river breaks - or right above the dam - for 150 billion.

Otherwise - I think - we’re all going to hell.

How to count me in.

I would say - pay - me.

Then my heart would kick in - and simply say - right and post the truth - no matter how you see it - or how you find it.

The truth is the truth - after all is said and done - no matter where you find it.

I work for Walmart.

I hate Walmart for 9 reasons out of 10.

I praised Walmart for 1 good deed.

1 down - 9 to go.

Live 1 hour debate - begins - even Kevin Brancatto (with zero comments) is here -

What to say.

Say what you lived breath and believe.

For starters.

I would caution you.

Be careful about posting history - comments - and quotes.

Especially - reality.

I just may - may - know more than you.

Pick you arguments - carefully.

To Hannity and Colmbes Specifically.

Bill Frist and Black Eyes of Coal.

Mabye it’s just me.  Maybe it’s just him.  Maybe it’s just too many holes drilled in braines, too much profit, or a medulla oblongata that he lacks.

Any who - the eyes are the windows of the soul - his are black.  Very telling.

Mine - hazel brown with an intact medulla oblongata.

Yup - you guessed - sould intact AND Poor without greater hopes.

A guff.

2 words. Fuck Wal-mart.

“One Wal-Mart spokesperson said the impact “doesn’t make a lot of sense from a business standpoint” and a Wal-Mart atty told state historic preservation officials “Let’s all agree to disagree” on the mandatory study.”

Ahh, do we not hear that enough from the extreme capitalists?  Caring for the environment makes no business sense, furnishing a living wage to employees makes no business sense, providing healthcare to employees makes no business sense.... 

It makes you wonder if “business sense” and “common sense” are opposing points of view; at LEAST from the extremist capitalist definition of it.

Why is it that more people don’t boycott Wal-Mart? If they are so greedy and unconserving and their are numerous sources to support this, why are they getting so much bussines? Are Americans REALLY THIS NEGLEGENT? I really think that the
“Anti-Wal-Mart” Americans could do something! Look at how America came to be; we are back to square one! We aren’t oppressed in the same way but we are STILL oppresed! We need to fight back. If a handful of English rebels could start a new nation why can’t alot of pissed off Americans over through some company?

Fake Plastic Jesse,

You can “overthrow” Wal-Mart very easily. Simply stop shopping at their store. In fact, go next door to Target and give them your money. You have that choice, as does every single American. With sales of $288 billion last year, someone obviously likes Wal-Mart. Even with all the flak they’ve taken, tough competition, high gas prices and the hurricane’s economic impact, they will still go over $300 billion in sales this year. Other companies have more assets and higher profits, though. Keep that in mind.