Sign on Options
Theme: [Light Selected] To Dark»
22Dec 12

So, we're now living in the "new world" I suppose, since yesterday marked the end of the world as we knew it. Not feeling much different. As a matter of fact, the end of the world didn't stop consumerism one iota. The desperate dash to buy more "stuff" continued on with fierce ambition, and I'm ready for the holiday to be history.

In the wake of a mass-shooting tragedy (and the tragedy of the media using the tragedy as a vehicle for yet more media consumption), as well as a myriad of other imminent concerns in the world, the focus is still sharply on getting enough crap to put under a tree.

I know, every year someone has to Scrooge all over Christmas, but really, does it not feel dirty to you yet? Is it that easy to forget about the needs of the many so that the avarice of the few can battle it out over a Doc McStuffin doll?

I love waking up in the morning and seeing what my wife put in my stocking, and I love seeing my kids' enjoyment when they check their stockings and open their gifts. And I don't blame anybody (we're all in this together, after all) for the nastiness that accompanies the holidays. But I'll be good God damned if I won't shout at the devil. The holidays are mostly a decadent orgy of consumption, and the bad has long been outweighing the good of this literally pagan holiday (no, Jesus wasn't born in the winter -- check your Bibles -- nor would he trample old ladies to get to a toy). Jesus wasn't a bully. Jesus wasn't greedy. Jesus wasn't blasse. And I don't think he would want anything to do with Christmas.

Happy End of the World!

19 comments
Duke_51
Duke_51

Yeah I agree. I'm tired of Christmas, in fact I've boycotted presents all together this year. We should stop buying each other crap.

Bigboss232
Bigboss232

I hate consumerism yes I am a random. Consumerism is stealing from future generation to have now.

dannyodwyer
dannyodwyer moderatorstaff like.author.displayName 1 Like

Really I don't think there is a 'meaning' to Christmas. Some of us put meaning on what we thought it was about before, or perhaps what we'd like it to be about. But if you were to be impartial about it I think disgusting rampant consumerism is a pretty good summary of what Christmas is.

 

I do agree with you on the Jesus not being born in the winter thing though -  that really should be a known quantity by now. It's just the whole courting pagans thing is sort of embarrising thing for the church to admit. It's easier to lie. And they're pretty good at it.

Shmoe82
Shmoe82 like.author.displayName 1 Like

I don't like the over consumerism that has come with christmas that put people in debt but a bit of gift buying is something I think is good.

I do think Jesus (or any other good deity) would like Christmas, just not the overindulgence of buying that happens during it.  Its a holiday about giving to others (you don't buy for yourself hopefully), family, church (if you're into that), movies/songs/tv/etc with moral messages, charities gets loads more money during holidays, everything is festive, and many more reasons.

MikeLirette
MikeLirette like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

I think Christmas is overdone, but I don't believe in this "Jesus". Religion is just a control mechanism. People need to learn to see that. It's the same way Christmas grabs people. Churches do the same crap to everyone. If you didn't want my opinion you shouldn't have talked about it, (If you have a problem with what I said).

nate1222
nate1222

 @MikeLirette

 I'm cool with "X-Mas". But moreso for the festivities. I don't buy into the belief systems surrounding it: religious and corporate alike.

 

If the rest of society can sit on its ass and hang out with loved ones -so should I.

nate1222
nate1222 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

Damn. Someone exhibiting candor. I tip my hat to you, kind sir.

 

I think these "End of the World" buffs just keep pushing back the date so that when it finally DOES happen, they can say, "See? We told ya'!"

 

As far as X-Mas consumerism: I'm a bit guilty myself. I recently raided GOG and Steam for good cheapies. I've also gifted games to my brothers and nieces via their GOG accounts. So I'm not one to talk.

 

From grinding away at our jobs to spending the money we grind away for, we're pretty much just working our asses off to make rich folks even richer. Heaven forbid we unplug from it all. Some rich f___ might not be able to buy his tenth yacht. And, of course, this mindjob of a system we live in would collapse.

 

I call it "X-Mas" because, as you pointed out, it ain't Jesus' Birthday. Dude wasn't born in the Winter. Also, I don't subscribe to religeon -Christian or otherwise. So I celebrate "X-Mas", not Christmas, and I do so by sitting on my ass and giving gifts to loved ones.

 

This Pagan god named "Noel" was born in mid to late December. It was believed that Noel was born during the Winter Solstice and that is why the sun is out less in the Winter; Noel is still a youngin'. As Noel grows up, annually, the sun is out longer and longer -reflecting Noel's maturity. And during this Pagan European holiday, the ritual was -you guessed it- giving gifts.

jollyjoel23
jollyjoel23

People can be so stupid. It wasn't the end of the world, it was the rising of a new beginning, lol. Believe it or not, we are in a new world now.

Allicrombie
Allicrombie moderator moderator like.author.displayName 1 Like

every year I buy one cat and one mouse and give them to a hungry family.

GeekyDad
GeekyDad moderator moderator like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @Allicrombie LOL Always some nutjob mucking up my blog! :P

yeah_28
yeah_28 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

I dont even celebrate Christmas in the usual way anymore, since about 8 years ago we just get together the family and/or friends who want to come, eat and have fun talking, no presents, no tree.

 

Besides that, here Christmas and new year's eve just means people buying a ton of stuff and pushing themselves in shoppings, loosing fingers,eyes or killing their pets with fireworks, and dying driving like crazy being drunk or high.

 

The only thing i really really like about chrismas is that some places start gathering old toys and clothes for sick or poor kids, that should be made every year though.

 

 

squalls_revival
squalls_revival like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 4 Like

Nobody can predict the end of the world. Don't buy into the hype. Whatever happens will happen. There is nothing to do but ride the wave.. Unless you feel you can run some kind of revolution.

Asagea_888
Asagea_888 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 5 Like

Your blog is sad but true.  Christmas should be a time of putting others ahead of ourselves.  The presents under the tree are nice, but they come and go.  What really matters is being happy with what you have, and giving to others that are less fortunate.  Isn't that what this Holiday is all about?

This comment has been deleted

Asagea_888
Asagea_888 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 7 Like

 @Brishon1 I think he was trying to convey that the real meaning of Christmas (i.e. helping the poor in their time of need, spending time with family, reflection, etc.) has been drowned out by the notion that we've become a materialistic culture.  We're so incensed on the "gifts" and the "stuff under the tree" and not so much phased by the need to acknowledge the less fortunate.

TrueProphecy22
TrueProphecy22 like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @Asagea_888  @Brishon1 Where exactly was the "real meaning of Christmas" fifty, sixty years ago outside of films?

We've been a materialistic culture for a very, very long time.

cablemodemx2
cablemodemx2 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

It sounds as if this Jesus character you speak of would be missing out on the delicious, decadent orgy of consumption.

Conversation powered by Livefyre