How do people bring about needed change? My answer is often a cynical stepping
back in frustration, I must confess. I'm only one person. I don't have any real
power in this culture. Surely there are others who feel the same way.
But not Ella Gunderson. She was aware of a problem that touched not only her
life but hundreds of thousands like her. She was not a powerful CEO or
government official. Yet she did something that has helped initiate a change
from which you and your family could benefit soon. By the way, she is only
eleven.
Ella has been troubled over the narrow range of clothing options for girls. All
she seemed to see was racy teenage fare – low-riding jeans and tight, revealing
tops. "You see girls doing a lot of tugging. They want to be covered, but they
are not having the clothes cooperate," her mom says. "The girls want to look
feminine and they want to look pretty, but the only look the stores offer is
sexy."
So a girl from Redmond, Washington, wrote this letter after a recent shopping
trip: "Dear Nordstrom, I am an eleven-year-old girl who has tried shopping at
your store for clothes (in particular jeans), but all of them ride way under my
hips, and the next size up is too big and falls down. I see all of these girls
who walk around with pants that show their belly buttons and underwear. Your
clearks [sic] sugjest [sic] that there is only one look. If that is true, then
girls are suppost [sic] to walk around half naked. I think that you should
change that."
Both the manager of the store where Ella had shopped and Executive Vice-
President Phil Nordstrom wrote back. They agreed with her and promised to
educate both purchasing managers and sales people on offering fashion options.
Ella didn't scream. She didn't picket the stores. She didn't organize a boycott.
She didn't just grumble as she walked away. She spoke from a principled
conviction to people who were in position to make a change for the better. She
says she is happy about what she did – and also confesses to being surprised.
Your company has a suggestion box or web site. There is a supervisor or company
president. Somebody is in charge. That person should not only receive
information about product design and employee efficiency but also proposals
about morale, ethical behavior, and workplace atmosphere.
Before getting too cynical that things won't change in your workplace or
community, church or family, turn your frustration not into rage but into a
positive suggestion. The result just might make you happy – as well as surprise
you.
Rubel Shelly whcoc@edge.net
Rubel Shelly has preached for the Woodmont Hills Church of Christ in Nashville
since 1978. During that time, he has also taught at David Lipscomb University
and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He is the author of more than 20
books, including several which have been translated into languages such as
Korean, Japanese, Portuguese, Italian, French, and Russian. He is married to the
former Myra Shappley, and they are the parents of three children: Mrs. David
(Michelle) Arms, Tim, and Tom.
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