'Tis the season to shop 'til we drop, forget corporate greed, and spend like there is no tomorrow. 'Tis the season to put aside all of our concerns about poisoned Chinese imports, and give in to the pressure from family and peers to celebrate with no thought for what we will have to give up to satisfy our craving for acceptance. After all, if you don't celebrate Christmas, you are a Grinch! Well I say, Grinch this!
Corporate America counts on Christmas sales to stuff its purse, and place Americans in holiday debt. In fact, Christmas is the main shopping event that generates more revenue for Corporate America than any other time of the year. So the question is, why do we give in every year to this push to create more debt when any other time of the year we protest against it? What makes Christmas shopping an exception? Could it be that we have been manipulated by the mass media? Naw, couldn't be! A manufactured holiday, promoted by Corporate America, the Corporate Church, and almost everyone we know and love? Must be a conspiracy theory. But wait, isn't the push for 9-11 truth a conspiracy theory also? Hmmm...how about a push for Christmas truth? What about a commission to study the effects of Christmas?
How can we, as a nation, wrestle our economy from the grip of greedy corporations when we play into their hands every year? Why do we buy their lies this time of year while rejecting them the rest of the year? How can we stop the cycle of debt? How about this: a nationwide boycott of Christmas purchases. Boy, wouldn't that put a crimp in corporate profits.
Shop if you want to, but I for one, will not comply. I will not give in to the corporate push to place my family in jeopardy by rushing to the nearest Walmart, plastic in hand, to purchase yet another unwanted gift that will be thrown in a closet, or recycled for next year. So I repeat, Grinch this, corporate America!
Copyright 2007, Barbara H. Peterson
