It's getting to be that time again... AND I'M ALREADY SICK OF IT!!!!! >:(

The Xmas commercials and adverts have already started, and with each passing plug, I grow more agitated. Christmas really has been bought out by the market, and I know someone says that every year, but I still don't think it is said enough. Instead of celebrating togetherness, family, the season of winter, or (I haven't forgotten) the birth of Christ, Xmas is now a celebration of materialism in its worst form.

I know I am not the only one who feels this way, and this is not a partisan concern. Right, Left or in between, you have to admit it's gotten out of conrtol.

So rather than spend the next two months bitching like I normally do, I think that this year I am finally going to DO something about it. First of which is to warn family and close friends that I'll not accept any useless gifts this year, so they can save their money. If someone wants to get me something for Christmas, I'd rather it be something simple and useful (like shaving cream, or a pair of good socks) than something I never needed in the first place (like a stupid iPod - and that one goes out to the kid on the "Anyone got any money" thread). Likewise, I'm only giving gifts of the same nature. Simple, like a book, a CD, a fruit basket. Giving gifts at Christmas is not about breaking the bank, it's about showing someone else you care.

Also, I am going to use the free time I will have this season as an opportunity to go out of my way in order to help other people. I am going to volunteer at a soup kitchen or something, and I am going to try to hook some of my friends into doing the same thing.

Between dec. 15 and jan. 5, I'll be on vacation from both school and work, and back in Sarasota, FL visiting my family. Without the hassle of school and work, I can do something to help, and to personally take part in the struggle against materialism. Perhaps some of you would like to join me this year (and maybe some of you already do this and it is I who will be joining you!) by doing the same thing and setting an example for your friends and family in your respective communities. Explain to your children what the holiday season is SUPPOSED to be about, and do something to fight its commercialisation... Invite a lonely friend or co-worker to Christmas/Hannukah/Kwaanza/Yule dinner, or to a New Year's party. Volunteer for a good cause. I don't know, you think of something.

I decided to make this a thread so that other people could do any number of things.

1. Join me in bitching about materialism.
2. Tell us about past anti-materialistic holiday activities you have done in the past.
3. Keep us updated on what you're doing this year in order to take back the holidays.
4. Tell me to shut the hell up.
5. Tell us why you agree with and enjoy the materialism of the modern holiday season.

It's getting to be that time again... AND I'M ALREADY SICK OF IT!!!!! >:(

The Xmas commercials and adverts have already started, and with each passing plug, I grow more agitated. Christmas really has been bought out by the market, and I know someone says that every year, but I still don't think it is said enough. Instead of celebrating togetherness, family, the season of winter, or (I haven't forgotten) the birth of Christ, Xmas is now a celebration of materialism in its worst form.

I know I am not the only one who feels this way, and this is not a partisan concern. Right, Left or in between, you have to admit it's gotten out of conrtol.

So rather than spend the next two months bitching like I normally do, I think that this year I am finally going to DO something about it. First of which is to warn family and close friends that I'll not accept any useless gifts this year, so they can save their money. If someone wants to get me something for Christmas, I'd rather it be something simple and useful (like shaving cream, or a pair of good socks) than something I never needed in the first place (like a stupid iPod - and that one goes out to the kid on the "Anyone got any money" thread). Likewise, I'm only giving gifts of the same nature. Simple, like a book, a CD, a fruit basket. Giving gifts at Christmas is not about breaking the bank, it's about showing someone else you care.

Also, I am going to use the free time I will have this season as an opportunity to go out of my way in order to help other people. I am going to volunteer at a soup kitchen or something, and I am going to try to hook some of my friends into doing the same thing.

Between dec. 15 and jan. 5, I'll be on vacation from both school and work, and back in Sarasota, FL visiting my family. Without the hassle of school and work, I can do something to help, and to personally take part in the struggle against materialism. Perhaps some of you would like to join me this year (and maybe some of you already do this and it is I who will be joining you!) by doing the same thing and setting an example for your friends and family in your respective communities. Explain to your children what the holiday season is SUPPOSED to be about, and do something to fight its commercialisation... Invite a lonely friend or co-worker to Christmas/Hannukah/Kwaanza/Yule dinner, or to a New Year's party. Volunteer for a good cause. I don't know, you think of something.

I decided to make this a thread so that other people could do any number of things.

1. Join me in bitching about materialism.
2. Tell us about past anti-materialistic holiday activities you have done in the past.
3. Keep us updated on what you're doing this year in order to take back the holidays.
4. Tell me to shut the hell up.
5. Tell us why you agree with and enjoy the materialism of the modern holiday season.


Have I rubbed off on you? You a changed man or what?

1. Although I do buy gifts and I do recieve them I'm against the idea that the United States has made by making christmas a material holiday.  I have my priorties straight with love, celebration of Christ Birth and caring about other people.

2. Always get a kid's list at Wal-Mart and buy him/her things they need/want but parents can't afford.  Also took part in operation Christmas child for kids who go nuts over the 10 bucks I spent on them.

3. yeah

4. with pleasure, a lot of pleasure.

5. In all sense of reality I like giving things to people who appreciate them and know i do it out of love.  I also like recieving things from people out of love and whether it's something that cost a crap load of money or someone just took a piece of paper to write me a letter, either way it's the love behind it that counts.

I don't buy Christmas gifts anymore except for my aunt, grandma and mother.  I got tired of all the running around and stressing out trying to find the right gift for everyone.  But I don't have a problem with people buying gifts, the only things I think are a shame are:

People spending money they can't really afford.  :-[

People buying gifts because they think they "have" to.    :-\\

Bah Humbug!



Carlos and I stop exchanging gifts many years ago. But we will buy a joint gift for the house- (DVD player, dish, etc.-this year may be a new bathtub).  I hate giving/getting gifts just for the sake of giving/getting gifts. If I give a gift, it is because I know that person truly wants/needs it. I used to do a lot of volunteer work-a few years ago, I put together over 100 holiday baskets for families in need (as in ordering the food and orginizing voluteers to but them together).  I don't do it any more because of personal reasons but I still feel a bit guilty about not being out there helping our neighbors. But, now I give $$$ to different charities-instead of giving my time.




Cat

Jessica and I are sending a care package to combat troops tomorrow.  It's a cool program she heard about from a customer where an organization sponsors gifts to our troops, and they;ll be getting stuff like toiletries and playing cards from us. 

I keep sarcastically referring to the fact that it is not December yet.  I hate the fact that they are starting to play Xmas tunes BEFORE Thanksgiving.

I get gifts for the family and try very hard to get something they like, and have fun doing it.  Other than that
they can take all these Christmas Carols they pipe in the store, and the Christmas packaging for everthing from toys to condoms and get rid pf it.  It's so obnoxious, but people buy into it and try to outdo each
other, not with what they gave, but with how much they spent. I believe there should be a 2 week rule, the week before, and the week after, for all the decorations and cheer and baloney that goes with it. 

I still get gifts for my kids, but I ask them what they need.  And of course gifts for the little grand kids, but none of the extravagant "gotta have it" stuff.  Books, educational toys, stuff like that.  And yes, I hate all the hyp. 

By the way, there is no evidance that Jesus was born on what is now Dec. 25th.  But that date is very close to the winter solstic, a holiday that pagans around the world celebrated (the Sweedish St. Lucia celebration comes closest to a pagan rite).  So just as churches were built on pagan holy cites, the church tried to take over pagan holidays.  Another example is Beltain (May Day) and Easter.

Happy Isaac Newton's Birthday!
http://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/n/fotos/newton.jpg