Little did I know that the majority of my peers would react differently, and I've learned that reading about poverty and social injustice doesn't affect people nearly as strongly as the sight of a Santa Claus decoration in September. The emotional free-fall that results is uncanny to watch, and I've only seen it paralleled by responses to my dislike of Chik-fil-A food. (Again, not a very important issue, but people react with a harshness that is possibly only rivaled by popular reactions to rising gas prices.)
"This is the depression hotline. Can I help you?"
"Yeah, I saw a Christmas decoration at Macy's."
"Is that a problem?"
"Don't you own a calendar? It's only October! I don't know why I even bother to get out of bed, anymore. I mean, what's the point of living? My life is meaningless."
"Sir, this phone number is only for emergencies-"
"-It's like you don't even care! Don't you understand? I SAW A CHRISTMAS DECORATION BEFORE THANKSGIVING!"
But the stores in question aren't decorating for Christmas - they're selling decorations. These stores couldn't possibly sell decorations to everyone who needed them just on the morning after Thanksgiving, so these things need to be on shelves and available for purchase.
But this doesn't matter to any people I know. The very sight of red and green items on the shelves of Target sends passers by into an emotional frenzy that one wishes would be matched by their reaction to staggering unemployment levels or rising interest rates. I've never understood this.
Bwa-ha-ha!
3 comments:
No kidding. You tell them that a quarter of the population of Africa has HIV or about the rape and genocide in Darfur and they don't bat an eye, but God help them if they hear "Sleigh Bells" before Thanksgiving.
And I also agree with you that Chik-fil-A's food is shitty.
Agreed. I'm always confused by the fact that these same people LOVE Christmas. Why not begin celebrating it early?!
UHHH chik-fil-a has great food, bad music...haha
I think people should wait 'till it's cold outside to sell or put up Christmas decorations. Any day over 70 degrees is not a good day for Christmas.
So....Christmas in the tropics is right out. In Texas and most of the South, it lasts for two weeks in February.
Alaska has Christmas everyday!!!
I enjoy Christmas (almost as much as Thanksgiving) I have no reason to wish for it's delay. Most of the US celebrates it with mass consumerism, why not sell plastic snowmen in August? If people weren't buying it at that time, it wouldn't be on shelves.
I'd prefer to change the name of Christmas to "Thanksgiving: The Second Helping," but I still like the holiday. I even like the music, all of it.
It would be really nice to see some of the consumerism fade from Christmas and families would care more about just being together and being kind to others.
WOW!!!!!!!
I just realized that Christians celebrate the birth and death (and resurrection) of Jesus, but don't actually celebrate anything he did while living(esp those few years of ministry). That's quite amazing. (Both the non-celebration, and my not realizing it 'till now.)I am at a loss for words now....later.
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