Toms Shoes: One Day Without Shoes

Students went one day without shoes for TOMS Shoes.
College of Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Toms
• Shoes

[Mxtylplk]

"Without shoes, these children walk in extremely unsanitary environments."

Here's a thought: why don't we help clean up their environs instead?

[fleuryloo]

@Mxtylplk sounds good to me... but why should it be one or the other. Start a revolution, eh?

[fleuryloo]

I wonder if you have actually seen TOMS shoes, they happen to be quite like walking barefoot, just without the danger of cuts, scrapes, etc. I appreciate your p.o.v. but I would urge you to think about how we can help these people. What do you suggest?

[fleuryloo]

I understand your point Mercetron, but in many countries simple diseases that are easily transmittable by foot become very serious very quickly. Rotting Food, animal waste, and Human waste are contributing factors. Many people do not have access to the medications they need or even to an abundant clean water source for bathing. If we can get them shoes that can dry easily and protect the foot from open sores, we make a HUGE step. Thank you

[sarahmay1995]

are we allowed to go barefoot to school??

[fleuryloo]

@sarahmay1995 it depends on the campus, but most professors appreciate the cause. Bring flip flops for restaurants and cafeterias though :)

[Mercetron]

@fleuryloo The whole "like walking barefoot" concept is so strange. Cuts & scrapes? Have you tried a barefoot lifestyle? I have. 9 years, perhaps 1-2 cuts per year that heal in an hour or two. No infections. My legs, feet and back don't hurt anymore. Warts and fungus have no chance of "getting hold". I run softly, and not high-impact heel first kind of way that shoes forces me into, saving legs and knees and back. I could go on forever.

Suggestion: Medicine & education. Necessities! NOT shoes.

[Mercetron]

@fleuryloo Also, there is the thing with foot sores not healing even close to as fast with shoes on as they do if they're left bare. And, the fact that constant bare feet are much more resistant to damage than constantly shod feet. And, of course, the whole mechanical/mental part where bare feet usually means higher awareness and care to where step. Let's not forget the long term damage shoes do to our joints and back by forcing us to walk quite differently than "nature intended" so to speak.

[TheNaturalRunnerVanc]

@JohnWhite22422 (IMPLYING that human resistance to viruses has not changed at all in millions of years) Haha what?

[TheNaturalRunnerVanc]

@fleuryloo A shoe with a wider toe box. Or sandals. Toms shoes necessitate that you buy them far too small for your foot in order for them to "break" in, at which point your foot resembles a ballet flat. Human feet are not meant to look like little slivers, and it's unfortunate that deluded Western ideal has determined the shape of Toms instead of actual anatomy. It's not so much as breaking in the shoe, rather than breaking (in) your foot

[deutschPerson333]

@sarahmay1995 I do every day. Do it its a better way to live

[lotte225]

everybody is so negative about this initiative.

yes, we have walked barefoot for a few thousand years, and yes, medicine and education are also important.. but let's think a little more positive:

- this initiative is world wide, and makes people think about how fortunate we are with our luxerious lives, we have shoes, a home, food...

things that are normal to us are SO special to them.

one day without shoes is a great, great initiative, and i know, some people will never get that.

[Mercetron]

@fleuryloo It seems very simple. Shoes = shielding. But it's not true in practise. Take just 2 kids coming inside. They cake off their shoes, and will walk in whatever their shoes had stepped in. Then, then put shoes back on, and any virus/bacteria will have plenty of time (and soft, warm, always damp) skin to penetrate. Bare feet can walk in a lot of filth, but the skin's natural thickness and constant use makes it difficult for bacteria to get hold. Shoes are NOT helping. Thank you.