A Rebel Against Gluttonous American Consumerism

A Rebel Against Gluttonous Christmas Consumerism

I love the Christmas season! The cookie baking, Dean Martin’s Christmas Album, family gatherings, the lights-EVERYTHING!!!

Except the insanity of American compulsion to purchase an inordinate amount of gifts, going into debt and forfieting the beauty of what this season really could be!

It’s pathetic watching ADULTS buying the media/retail lies that tell us:

If I don’t buy my kids the gifts they want: PS2/3 or 14, Whatever; an IPOD?? a car (with a bowa);  perhaps the goofy little red thing that giggles incessently; or the pressure of decorating my home to the nines with those crazy huge balloon characters! And, if I do not remain smiling throughout the whole time, I’m a scrooge, a poor sport, Grinch, etc!

Not to mention, the credit card companies are beefing up their big fat hairy lies they call “ad campaigns”. They’re reaching out and offering the “PRICELESS” moments in life that you can experience only if you use their stupid card…and pay for it for all of eternity!

OH, and that idiotic commercial that says

“Every kiss starts with Kay…”

{{{GAG}}}

If my husband brought home a diamond somethin-something, I’d KNOW that:

1. He is cheating on me.

2. He wants to cheat on me.

3. I’m going to be working extra hours to PAY for the stupid piece of rock.

For the last few years, I’ve drastically cut back on my gift buying during the Christmas season. I’m a REBEL with a cause! This year, I didn’t even leave my home on “Black Friday”. I refused to even waste my gas on that day of Consumer Gluttony.

I am rebelling against the whole idea that somewhere, during the month of December-which isn’t the month of Christ’s birth, duh!-I have magically acquired more money than any other month of the year in order to prove my value as a parent, wife or human being!

I’ve got a car payment, house payment, bills as per normal.

My son wants to go paintballing next Saturday-$35.00

My other son wants Drivers Ed-$350.00

My van needs tires-$200.00

I’m helping with the Church holiday dinner, our family will spend time together and share a meal on Christmas, the annual family Christmas party is at my house, I’m hosting a cookie exchange and open house, my daughter and her husband are home from the Army.

I’m surrounded by love-PRICELESS.

FindArticles – A holiday without gifts brought Christmas joy
National Catholic Reporter, Jan 14, 2005, by Jeannette Cooperman