I read the front page of the Dispatch today. The article about "Simple and slow..." in regards to Christmas. People reverting to not so many gifts or shopping or hub bub. I did not miss the implication there is something laudable in all this and maybe we all should strive for it.
I call BULLSHIT.
One person claimed she was spoiled (I assume with gifts at Christmas) growing up and it took her until her 20s to get it. Get what exactly? That kids are shallow and easily amused and love toys, lots and lots of toys no matter the size, shape or price range? The only thing they may like more than toys is the shiny, glitzy wrapping paper or maybe the box it came in. You know the joke, the kids play with the box it came in more than the toy or they like unwrapping them more than the present. Well, guess what? You can't have the box or the wrapping if you don't have a wrapped up box to unwrap.
Or did she get that it is actually a TON of work and expense all orchestrated by adults while the imaginary fat man in the red suit gets all the credit? Yeah, I could see wanting to back off of that responsibility once you see it heading your way. This seems another version of the ultimate parental copout. I got all the gifts, unwrapped them in a lord-of-the-flies-frenzy, had christmas morning high, loved it, got excited with it, was spoiled but now that I am 20 or 30 or 40 or whatever, yeah, I don't really think I, er..I mean you, need all that stuff.
And kudos to you, couple in the university district with a short tree and ornaments homemade by your one child. Can we get more stereotypical? Is there an Atlantic Monthly sitting on your coffee table? Do you still breastfeed your 3 year old in public just to make a point? Instead of a gift exchange they had a "gathering" for an apple saucing party. Kids picked the apples, the adults all collaborated harmoniously to make the sauce and whatev that they later gave as gifts. They claim the experience was such a "great thing to do..it was like value-added gifting..got so much more out of it than if they would have gone to the store and bought something..."blah, blah, blah. Give me a megamall that inserts bamboo shoots under my nails as I shop any day over that mind numbing, god we are soooooooo superior, BORING crap. Please tell me you at least drank wine while you worked. No? Apple juice and organic chex mix? Yum.
And the tree was compared to Charlie Brown's tree. Kids are not stupid. They can clearly see that Chuck is not happy about his tree. He eventually settles but I'm not sure there's a global message there since that character was painted as the doormat of the group who regularly is shown staring and shouting into an empty mailbox or running to kick a ball that we all know won't be there. And how about the Grinch Who Stole Christmas? He stole everything but they still sang. Ok. So they dealt with adversity. They came together as a group and solemnly sang. But there was a frickin party once the Grinch returned all the stuff. And we will never really know if the Who's decided to press charges after the feel good celebration.
I get being materialistic can be a problem. But have you checked the economy lately? This nation is built on a solid foundation of overconsumerism. We NEED your apple picking, homemade bread dough ornament dollars at Old Navy. So I say hit the malls. Right now. It won't hurt to pick up several items for the Toys4Tots drive as well and/or to find a food pantry to which you can also give some money. The economy needs your excess and materialistic instinct.
No comments:
Post a Comment