The Holidays, commercial events or traditional days to get together?
On the 2nd Jan 06 Mart wrote...
OK now as for what do I think of the holidays. For me they are neither of the options you outline below. For me they are nothing to do with religion because I am an atheist, but then again they seem to be nothing to do with religion for people who claim to be religious too but that's of no concern to me. They are also not an occasion for me to feed the commercialist fat cats even more (damn, that phrase 'fat cats' sounds so corny!). However speaking of my observations of other people, I would lean in favour of the commercialist notion as a definition of what holidays have become (remember the 'love day' in the Simpsons for a better description than I could ever give).
what holidays should be to me is a time where most people don't have to work and therefore we should all spend the time together having fun. this is why I have banned presents years ago - and initially I had banned them for one year only to see how it would work out - but I found that it worked so well I don't see myself un-banning them ever again. My ideal holiday (no matter whether it be easter/christmas/whatever) would be where everyone would spend time together. And not just time sitting around drinking a million cups of tea, but having fun. Be that going on the beer, playing games, whatever. Instead people seem to be so focused on going shopping etc and this is a mistake in my opinion. I don't blame your 'fat cats' as you call them, they are making money on it so go for it, it is the fault of people who are too easily led - a lot of people complain about the commercialism of Christmas for example, but I am the only person who simply opted out, it is as simple as that to avoid the commercialism of the fat cats if you don't like it !!! Trust me, if people know you they will accept it, and if they don't accept it, you are better off not knowing them.
On the 9th Jan 06 Shane Cowley wrote...
Esteemed colleagues and honourable gentlemen let if you will slightly deviate from the rant of Ebineezer Mart, for I have my own holiday rant.
In Marts rant he spoke about issues that bug him about 'The Holidays'. I presume that to be a reference to the recent Christmas Holidays as holidays is a vague and general safe word that removes any spiritual or religious reference to Christmas. I found it funny that Mart ranted about the fat cats that we fatten during the holidays when he was using the very language that the Corporations who bleed us every year use to influence us . The fat cats in the retail and media industries are making a conscious effort and diluting the Christmas period down to a spend spend spend time of year. If we forget the whole point of Christmas then there will be nothing to celebrate in future years. We will get sick of shopping.
Christmas for me isn't defined by being dragged to the church and being made feel guilty cos some guy in the street had no home. Christmas is a vital holiday for the survival of our civilization and societies. Yes I concur that people are using this charitable season of goodwill for self profit and promotion. Many see it as a time to outdo the other by buying a bigger more expensive gift. Many others throw money at every charity to make themselves feel like they are being good and helpful. Then there are the boasters those that boast and pontificate about their contributions to funds and charities. Then there are those who have a balance in their lives the don't overindulge in consumerism, socialising , eating or religion. They may like Mart even believe that they are Atheist. We would be lost if we did not have a period of time for reflection and charity. Whatever the motivation any acts of kindness are necessary in an ever increasingly cold heartless impersonal and godless society. I don't see the sense in thinking you should celebrate the religious side of it or not at all. Even the most self centred self obsessed ambitious shop til you drop yuppy will have at some stage over the last two weeks have demonstrated the spirit of Christmas through a thought, act or even words.
Christmas has been hijacked by the fat cats who want us to consume and not think. What is happening in America is sickening and worrying. The forces that I will refer to as the New World Order have banned the public display of the Word Christmas. You now celebrate the holidays by decorating your winter tree and pulling festive crackers. The saving grace about Christianity, the essence of the message and teachings is that you are asked to treat others as you would have them treat you, love thy neighbour. Countless studies conducted in the states prove that regular church goers tend to spend less on material goods than those who don't attend or are non Christian, jewish or atheirs. The fat cats want to return to the pagan winter holiday where you gorge yourself on food ,drink and in this modern era shopping. Whether you are a church goer or Atheist you must agree that they are words that if heeded we would live in a harmonious society. Removing the term Christmas takes that message out of mind, so we are less hesitant to indulge in self gratifying chores like shopping, drinking etc. For now the meaning of the Christmas holidays may be lost on a lot of people however the spirit of Christmas will never die, the churches may be rocked by scandal, corruption but you cant remove an essence or a spirit from the mind. Already in the states and England there has been a backlash people including non Christians are tired of this discouraging of referring to Christmas in public, the fat cats will never completely break us and rob us of Christmas. At end of the day Cribs and Churches will remain long after the Malls and Temples of Commercialism have crumbled.
In direct response to Marts rant if you are content and comfortable with your ideals beliefs, and customs why waste energy on getting wound up by those you don't agree with for being either pigs or hypocrites. Lifes too short.
Shane then updated what he said with...
Having re read marts rant number 7 I understood better the point he was making about banning the gifts and all. Initially I interpreted it to mean an act of misery put having read it after getting some stuff off my chest I (was no longer blinded by my rage at this wishy washy Bryan Dobson attitiude of lets follow the yanks and wish everyone a happy holiday) realise he was banning the commercial aspect so I amend my response as follows:
I would never be one for totally banning something from yourself. Its nice to receive the odd gift remember the word which the greek civilisation was built Gravitas, moderation in all aspects of life. In saying that the greek civilisation did crumble in the end and greece as we know it today is a complete shithole.
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