After listening to the news, reading various websites and hearing people talk.... it's just got me to thinking about the "spirit of xmas." Some people think it's too commercialized. Some people think it's too religious. Some people just want to suck you dry.
I've come to a few conclusions.
- No matter how hard you try, you will NEVER convince people that 'christmas' was actually a pagan holiday that was celebrated BEFORE there was even a Christ.
- It doesn't matter how much you donate or give, there's always going to be people who sneer at you because you won't throw loot in their little pot.
- News flash: commercialized? YES. Why shouldn't it be? Everything else in this ill-fated society is commercialized. At least we're being consistent.
- Every year the 'tv' industry thinks they're geniuses for taking the traditional holiday shows and redoing them in '3d animation.'
What have I learned and how do I feel about these conclusions?
Well... for starters, #1 has taught me a few things. People who feel so threatened about their beliefs/religion that they feel the need to attack or belittle someone else really are scared to death. Deep down I think that they 'feel attacked' because they are lacking something in themselves. Now what this is or why I have no clue. I think religion is great. Believe what you want, but believe in it completely and let others make up their own mind. It should be personal. You shouldn't feel the need to go to foreign countries and try to convert others. Help them with food and shelter and clothes. Leave their spirituality to them. Trust me, they'll find what works for them. When someone says or does something that doesn't follow your beliefs, let them do it. If you are firm in your stance then it doesn't matter what they do. If it's meant for them to 'find God' then it'll happen in their own time. Don't fight over it. Life is short. Worry about your own because in the end we'll all answer for what we've done. Whether it's to some deity after death or to ourselves while we're on our death bed. Just chill out.
#2 - I'm so tired of those damned bell-ringers. Yes I know they're doing a 'good deed' and are volunteering their time. Strike that, all of the ones who rang bells that I ever knew were paid. And I've been a bell ringer at one time (helping out a friend). And I can tell you from first-hand experience that they DO dip into the pot and take money to go buy sodas or food or in her case a new lipstick. No I didn't take anything. I don't need that on my conscience. And not all of them do. But how can we be sure? Every year I see the 'Angel trees' and I read the names. We used to get a few kids off the tree every year. They wanted things like mittens and coats and shoes. What do they want now? Playstation 2 games, tv's, disc walkmans, Xbox's. And you're telling me these kids are needy? Now I understand that young kids don't know and they always ask for big things. That's fine. But 14 year olds? They're old enough to know about money and hardtimes. I don't even have a damn Xbox or Playstation! And I hate to say it, but every name on the trees I've looked at have been something to the effect of "She'kwanda, Jev'on, Lakeesha, Mo'twika." Not to say that that's wrong. But surely there are SOME asian, native american, hispanic or white kids who are needy? Am I wrong? Here in the south (especially here in the south) things just aren't equal. People bitch and groan about it but it doesn't exist. I learned that the hard way. If you're not a minority then you're screwed.
#3- What's the big frikken deal about xmas being commercialized? You CAN have the 'holiday spirit' of giving and still spend the loot. People should be glad in a way. The more people spend the better our economy gets. The thing here is to learn the balance. Let people have their expensive shindigs. Just do whatever you have to do to create the balance. Money's great but as my Mother always says, you can't take it with ya.
#4-Enough with the asinine attempts to redo every traditional show in 3d. It sucks! It looks stupid! Give us the original and get on with it. The first year they 'remake' the Charlie Brown xmas story or It's a wonderful Life in 3d will be a cold cold day. Literally.
So those are my takes on the holiday spirit. Merry Christmas. Happy Yule. Happy Hanukkah. Whatever the crap you celebrate. Enjoy.
