Holiday Spirit

This cartoon says that consumerism has taken over Christmas, and it's been taken over for quite some time now. I agree. Unfortunately, stores and businesses bombard people with advertisements or anything else to get people to notice them and go buy things so the companies can make money. Even more unfortunate is how this actually works... for example, I was in the waiting room at the doctor's office a few days ago when Oprah came on TV and she did a special about "her favorite things." This was one of the most oddly selfish and attention-grabbing shows I've ever seen. It was amazing how people who you'd think would have no interest--who were reading a perfectly good magazine--turned up their eyes to watch as Oprah unveiled nice objects amidst the crowd of screaming middle-aged women. Oh and while we mention magazines, those Christmas ads in there....

Where is Purpose? Where is Truth? Where is Hope? Where is Love? Where is He?

Looking around at the store in which this cartoon is set, we see SALE signs and a television and a big ol' cash register and merchandise everywhere. The Grinch says something showing how he's changed himself and his view of Christmas--that he really gets it now. However, the lady at the register thinks naught of the real meaning of the quote but immediately wants to make a purchase of it; she not only offers to buy it, but in the image in the cartoon she is in fact already holding out her credit card. The man at the register is looking a little sick of the whole holiday already, but presumably glad to make a few bucks. Also, the woman is wearing a Rudolph sweater, further emphasizing the materialism: it's not just good enough to like something--you have to buy it too. She's carrying a number of presents... it wouldn't be Christmas without presents, if you go by what the world says. Christmas is a time when we buy things for other people and hope they buy us something really good too, according to the world. It's so sad that the baby Jesus and His Salvation is virtually nonexistent in the world's message. That is what this cartoon really says. It says that no one really knows what Christmas is about... and it shows in the buying, buying, buying. It shows in the presents and in the purchasing and in the cash flow.

The woman in this cartoon is sure enthused about Christmas alright, but with her materialistic spirit of colorful boxes and cute little sweatshirts, we see that she is missing the most important part.

scratch that.

the ONLY important part... everything else is just trivial!

The only way to get something of any sort of value is to buy it, right? The answer to this question is an absolute "no." Absolutely, the only thing of value came to us on Christmas a long time ago, but that gift is free.