Gratitude vs Greed

There's been a lot of churn recently over how soon people and businesses should be promoting Christmas. I for one like to celebrate my holidays in order. Each has its own merits and they should be celebrated without feeling pressured or getting muscled out by another holiday that's riding its heals.

Back when I was a kid you never saw anything related to Christmas until the day after Thanksgiving.  Halloween stuff didn't appear until the beginning of October.  Thanksgiving ads didn't show up until the first of November.  This year ads and displays for Christmas started to appear in September. WTH?!

Seems ironic, or actually sad, that the season for acknowledging and celebrating gratitude is being nearly wiped out by the season of greed.  Now don't get me wrong I love Christmas for it's the celebration of the birth of Christ but let's be real, friends. As far as our society is concerned Christmas is all about consumption and I don't mean food and booze.  We are pressured for months into going out and spending beyond our means, to get all those "perfect" gifts everyone is entitled to. Gift giving has become more of an obligation rather than a loving gesture because of the over-nurtured sense of expectation many people have.  Cars, jewelry, electronics, power tools and expensive clothing seem to be the norm.  Clever marketing has created a need for all these toys and the pressure to buy comes sooner and more intense each year.  Hence, this year some stores are planning on opening Thanksgiving day.

I've heard some folks on local radio and TV stations say they''ll refuse to shop at any store that opens on Thanksgiving.  Doesn't matter what deals they're offering, for the remainder of the holiday season they won't spend one dime in any of those establishments.  I applaud that commitment.  Hey, I know life is all about choices and we live in a country where our freedoms of expression (or in this case, spending) are joyfully exercised.  So why not exercise the "freedom" to open stores on Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving isn't a religious holiday so it seems odd to hear some people say, as a justification for opening stores on Thanksgiving day, "not everyone celebrates Thanksgiving."  Hmmm,  so not everyone feels compelled to say "thank you" for all the wonderful things life has provided them?  Really?  Can't spend just ONE day in 365 to stop and say "thank you"?  Wow, that's tragic.  You know there are stores in my neighborhood that are intentionally closed on Sundays because according to the owners they want everyone, customers and employees alike, to spend the day with their families.  They're placing a value on family and encouraging others to put aside one day of their week to slow down and enjoy life.  This whole issue of stores opening on Thanksgiving isn't about religious freedom or the right to spend money.  It's about being the kind of people, the kind of community we want to be.

These stores may say there's a demand.  Not really sure how they've determined that, but sure, "if you open, they will come."  But if you close, will they riot?  Hey I get it.  You put a glass of wine in front of me and I'll drink it (assuming it's good).  But if you don't, that doesn't mean I'm going to throw a fit over it.  We bitch, piss, moan and complain over how selfish and self-centered our society has become and yet we turn around and promote just the kind of behavior we seem to think is so reprehensible.

You know if you want to shop then shop.  Knock yourself out, I'm not one to judge.  I personally choose to hang out with family and friends.  But just keep in mind that our actions, whatever they may be, are a reflection of who we really are and our collective actions are a reflection of how the rest of the world sees us.