Christmas is dead!
Christmas is dead!
That's pretty much how I feel these days. No meaning... no warmth... nothing really to look forward to. I thought about it for some time wondering why it is that I just don't feel anything during Christmas. I think I may have my finger on it. Throughout the past 10 years we had seen the advent of Playstation 1,2 and now 3. We have more versions of Nintendo then Nightmare of Elm Street parts it seems. And of course we have furby and Tickle me Elmo. Bottom line is this - corporate America has spent so much time researching the spirit of Christmas just as much as Jack the pumpkin king resulting in a season of emotional manipulation and simulation.
Retailers have claimed this Pagan, Christian, Jewish, Muslim. During the holidays you wanted to feel warm and cozy because it really was what you WANTED to feel. Today Christmas is like being in the destist chair and told you need to relax. You try to relax and you know you should but you can't help tensing up when you hear the drill. You just can force emotion. You know I laughed very hard today in Downtown Crossing when I say Santa and His Elves walking down Washington St because the sleigh, the Hats and the Elves' shirts where covered in the TJ Max logo. My god out retailer have been slapping there logos on the sacred symbols themselves. Wow I never thought the day would come when you have Goodwill toward men and Peace on Earth - Brought to you by TJ Max. Never mind the Macy's tree lighting ceremony where the light the tree over the storefront just one block away. It was shameless self promotion and I wanted to throw up.
Unfortunately we have taken the goodwill and peace of earth and handed it over to Best Buy and Walmart and expected... well I think you get my point. Somehow beating the crap out of someone for a chance to get the latest Play Station which will become 3 times less valuable in 4 weeks doesn't inspire a sense of cozy warmth much less peace on Earth.
Merry Christmas, now shut up, give me your money!!