By Anna Meany
This Christmas season, United States families will buy an extraordinary amount of gifts that others around the globe would find ridiculous.
The unfortunate highlight of Christmas is our country’s consumerism, a crutch that keeps our enemies criticizing us year-round. Each year, we run around like headless chickens, trying to get the best deals at superstores such as Target and Walmart. But all that plastic and metal can’t satisfy anyone completely. I’m not vouching for a present-less Christmas, but attempting to promote a merrier one.
Horror stories of Black Friday shoppers gone mad are both hilarious and embarrassing. CNN reported that a Wisconsin woman threatened to pull a handgun on someone who cut her in line. If that doesn’t shock you, maybe you should declare yourself insane. The intensity of greed during the holiday season is overwhelming. The same CNN article stated that a man collecting donations for Toys for Tots was stabbed after confronting a suspected shoplifter. Risking death to get that special discount at Best Buy is your idea of Christmas shopping? I’d rather not, thank you.
Whether or not the recession has ended, people don’t have as much money to spend this year. What will be sacrificed? Certainly a hard-working man wouldn’t pass up a nice flat screen he could buy discounted on Black Friday. He’s worked all too hard. This year, some families will forego the usual donations of money, time and gifts for charities, instead spending that money on their families or themselves. I suggest that we all remember those who can’t celebrate the holidays this year, due to financial or emotional issues. Don’t stress the materialistic presents. The experience of giving back should be a gift in itself.
Our priorities are seriously out of sync. Whatever happened to caroling and hot cocoa? The memories you want to remember aren’t angry shoppers or long lines. Sometimes, I feel the public longs for a traditional Christmas that isn’t centered on televisions or iPods. Religious or not, everyone should spend this Christmas season making memories with family.
