The Fish Symbol and an Idea

[OnionPatch]

We see the fish symbol everywhere out here in Onion Patch. It's on cars and on ads in the yellow pages. Businesses put these symbols on their ads and their shop doors to let people know they are Christians, correct? And I always assumed they mean "Right-wing, fundie-type Christians. So, I don't do business with these people. (Note: I am a Christian but firmly opposed to the right-wing fundie Christian agenda. I feel they have hijacked Christianity.)
I've always agreed with the idea that we can vote with our wallets as well as at the ballot box and I try to keep up on which companies I don't want to do business with, etc. But it is really hard to keep track of everything. I can't get on the internet to look up the company of every gadget I buy. It would take up every minute of my spare time to research every company I do business with. So I wonder why WE don't have some sort of symbol? It would be something like the Good HouseKeeping symbol. It could be applied generally to many products, services and/or businesses. It would mean that the business or product has been produced without slave labor, harmful environmental practices, or made from companies who are strongly anti-labor, etc. etc. A non-profit group would monitor the businesses. It would be a voluntary thing....companies could apply to get the stamp because it would be a great advertisement. I would buy the product over stampless ones, wouldn't you?
Has this idea been tossed around already? Is it impractical? Do you think there are too few businesses out there that could even earn a rating? (It wouldn't have to be perfect...just fairly neutral.)
What do you think. Am I dreaming that such a thing could be possible or work?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I think it is a good idea.

BTW, when I see the fish symbol, I merely quote the poet Kabir, who said, "A fish in the water's not thirsty", in my hope that those people will someday realize the unity of religious ideals.

[JohnLocke]

2. I like it. Good idea (nt).

[SoCalDem]

3. I once called an a/c guy to ask about a repair.

His ad had a "fish".. I came right out and asked him what the "christian discount" was, and if a lapsed catholic could qualify?? He was taken aback, and said the fish was his wife's idea to prove to people that he was honest and would not cheat them..

I told him that I NEVER assumed tat a licensed repair man , fish or NO fish, was "out to cheat me".. and thought it was odd that a christian would be so automatic in thinking about cheating..:shrug:..

[Sparkly]

5. I stopped ordering from a certain coffee importer

when I phoned about an order and got Jesus music on hold.

It may seem silly, but I found it presumptuous and preachy for them to have that music at their business. There are plenty of other places with the same beans!

[Cleita]

4. Sounds good. You will need a large organization to do this

like the Sierra Club for instance. If they put their stamp of approval like good housekeeping, it could work very well. Also, it would keep the lawyers of the companies you don't approve of at bay as they are less inclined to badger large and powerful environmental or labor organizations than merely grass roots operations.

[joefree1]

6. I always wondered why it was being done before

We pagans would be up for supporting environment friendly business fer sure.


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PaganWarrior/

[OnionPatch]

7. Not sure if that's the best choice

for the stamp. :shrug:

(I like it though!)

[silverlib]

8. I don't know if it would work, but would like to see it tried...

Remember "Look for the Union Label?"

[Straight Shooter]

9. I steer clear of businesses who advertise with the fish symbol

After all, if you can't generate business through word of mouth by providing honest, competent service and quality goods, then the symbol is useless.

As for a counter symbol, though, I'd like to see a torch like the one the Statute of Liberty holds or the Olympic torch. I think it would remind people of America and what it once stood for, pre-bush.

[pbg]

10. We got symbols...

The peace sign?

(Well, yeah, a little old-hippie, but why not?)

Yin/Yang symbol?

(might start getting phone calls in Korean...)

UN Symbol?

(Hard to draw freehand...)

Hammer and Sickle?

(I heard that the trademark's lapsed on it...)

The fish-with-feet Darwin sign?

(nice and snarky, but could be confused with the Fish on bad print jobs)

The Civil Defense symbol?

A bit of ideological judo--aren't we the ones protecting the Republic, after all?)

Eye-in-the-triangle?

(for the Illuminati crowd)

Hey--this is fun!

[OnionPatch]

11. Love em!

My office mate and I had a laugh thinking up ideas. Still don't have a seriously good one though. Any artists out there? I'd love to see some examples just for fun. (But my idea is serious. I wish I knew where to start, how to start....)

[xxqqqzme]

12. how about a

Sun or a Tree? both would imply environmentally friendly businesses, as well as being simple 2 reproduce.

[TrogL]

13. It would make the business a target

Fundies don't believe in "live and let live".