Dear Yak,
I’ve recently taken up the traditional Indonesian craft of batik, which involves the decorating of fabric using hot wax and dye.
Since then I’ve become a bit addicted, making all kinds of things and giving them to friends and family. Everyone says how wonderful my creations are. My batik lampshades are particularly popular.
At least I thought they were. But last week when I was visiting a friend, I spotted two of my beautiful lampshades in a box of giveaways for the homeless and needy. I’d given these same lampshades to my friend for Christmas and at the time she’d seemed so delighted to receive them. I’m trying hard not to take this personally. Should I say something?
Yours sincerely,
Shades of Dismay
Dear Shades of Dismay
You need to do more than just say something. You need to take affirmative action; to wit, grab those lampshades out of that box and whack them repeatedly around the callous, unthinking head of that so-called ‘friend’ of yours. It needs to be made clear to her, as bluntly as possible, that her behaviour here is morally and ethically unacceptable.
Yes, batik is an exotic traditional south east Asian art form. But in the wrong hands it’s only a few rungs up the evolutionary ladder from knitted toilet roll covers. The poor and needy have enough to cope with already without having ugly DIY lampshades foisted upon them.
Hope this helps.
With Kind Regards,
The Yak
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