B Y OZ SKINNER
Thanksgiving is a time for family. It is a time for coming together and celebrating one another’s company. Contrary to what multinational corporations would have you think, it’s not about football, or huge dinners that no mortal could ever finish. Most importantly, it’s not about shopping.
November 28 is Black Friday, so-called because of the rampant consumer fetishism that engulfs the country running on a tryptophan high. The Friday after Thanksgiving is designated by corporate moguls as the first day of Christmas shopping. Malls entice people out of their homes, away from their families and into the stores to show how much they adore each other by showering their loved ones with gifts and dollar signs.
I recall a friend several years ago who decided not to participate. She instead made gifts for her family. She spent months knitting her niece a nice sweater. Upon opening on Christmas day, the niece was thrown into a fit of rage. The handmade sweater didn’t have the cultural significance of the Tommy Hilfiger sweatshirt she so desperately wanted. If this outpouring of ingratitude wasn’t enough, my friend was further chastised by her sister for “being difficult” and “not caring about her family”.
Is it just me who is shocked by the audacity of the current generation? Some have been so bold as to call it “Generation me,” and I think they are right. We have lost sight of the things that matter with our voracious consumption of material goods. We have lost the ability to appreciate handmade goods for the time and effort and true compassion they really represent. What does this say about us? Are we so spoiled and blind that we cannot see that we are lucky to be in college, to be able to even go home to see our families and unlike so much of the rest of the world, we have a roof over our heads and food in our bellies. Isn’t that enough?
This year, I am fighting back. Adbusters, an anti-capitalist magazine from Canada, encourages citizens to act out with their annual Buy Nothing Day. The idea is simple – while soccer moms are waking up at 4 AM and trampling each other to get the best deals at the local supermart, I will buy nothing. Not a candy bar, not gas, not anything. I will boycott it completely. Additionally, the Adbusters website offers protest opportunities for individuals to plug into.
On a personal note my friend and I will head to the local mall dressed as Santa Clause and Jesus Christ to have a battle royale to the death, or at least until we get kicked off the premises. The idea is not to stop all the shopping but to get people thinking, something we stopped doing in this country. Perhaps this year, a few more people than usual will find peace and joy that doesn’t require a credit card or down payment.
