Saturday, November 27, 2010
Capitalists not Atheist are Ruining Christmas
I found this interesting and it first came to my attention while I was watching the morning news yesterday. The Fox 13 Utah news commentator opened the story by saying... "Meanwhile Atheist are Trying to Ruin Christmas." Atheists cannot be held responsible for the ruining of Christmas. This was already done by 3am openings at WalMart and our American Lust for stuff at the expense of our own financial health.
As an LDS kid growing up there was a certain magic about the holidays. As an atheist adult there is little joy in the financial and social expectations of the season.
I don't believe in the Myth of Christ and the season holds no special spiritual significance. As a young parent there was still some magic but as my kids get older and it is apparent they have more than everything they need the shopping portion of the Holiday has become a burden.
Not only do I support the billboard but I think it is time eliminate the government observance of this holiday and the tacit support of the religious buy fest that goes along with it. Open the government, post offices and banks on the 25th of December. Unless it falls on a Saturday or Sunday. The religious will support and celebrate their holiday regardless. However the artificial economy that is built around this religious holiday is a wink and a nod to Christianity and the myths surround its inception.
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Kevin, this is spot-on. Making kids feel like they "need" a $400 smartphone that's going to get swiped by a classmate and used in a game of keep-away in the school hallway is the fault of Corporate America and consumerism run amuck, not to mention spineless parents who can't say "no". So-called christians are ruining their own holiday with stress and debt and the desire to keep up with the Joneses.
ReplyDeleteHusband is in law enforcement and his graveyards fall during Xmas week this year (and have done for quite a few Xmases), so when the kids were little, we celebrated the holiday when Dad was off work--sometimes on December 20, sometimes not till the 28th. The kids and I would do some sort of project on the 25th--a gingerbread house, making and decorating sugar cookies, choosing a movie to watch or game to play as a family. Now that they're older, they get one nice gift--for example, if their little point-and-shoot camera died, we'll replace that for them; musician son wants a couple of effects pedals for his electric guitar; when they're 15 they get a cellphone, but we spend very little because the real gift is a family vacation to a new place (or a return to a favorite place) each summer using the money we didn't spend on gadgets. The memories are priceless.
This year, we're getting together with friends for a Solstice celebration (because it comes before DH's graveyard week begins) and burning a Yule log, then consuming good food and various hot beverages.
It's taken a few years for us to redefine the holiday and how we celebrate it, and I am so sick of this non-issue raised by Xtians every year.