A Christmas Commentary

The situation is all too familiar. As you lay back, further situating yourself in the comforting caress of your couch or lazy boy of which you find yourself in, digesting that five course feast you have exposed yourself to on that final Thursday in November…Finally relaxing, after all the hustle and stress, surrounding Thanksgiving day (before and during dinner) just as you are about to nod off in the comforting grasp of that couch/lazy boy….You cannot help but notice that your recently discovered serenity has already been violated. A thunderous, almost roar like, male voice suddenly emerges from the television set in the immediate vicinity….”BUY THE MEGAWATT 3000 CELLPHONE/MICROWAVE, FOR YOUR LOVED ONES TOMORROW AT RADIO SHACK BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!!!!!!!!”

Just before you can regain your resting composure, yet again, the television booms…This time it is a beautiful, scantly clad woman wearing a Santa hat, and angel wings. There is an obvious emphasis of sex appeal in her voice; “Hey guys, come to Victoria Secret tomorrow, buy the luxurious Bennet (or some ridiculous French name) perfume, and get the silky and sultry exotic lingerie for half price, and two free panties, for your woman…And she’ll REALLY give you a holiday treat!”

Then, yet again, just before you nod off into dream world, the nuisance of the real world seems to violate your peace…This time however, it is not one, but a slew (an onslaught, if one could call it) of television commercials….The first commercial is a hyperactive child screaming at the top of his lungs; ”COME TO TOYS R US TOMORROW AND BUY THE SUPERSOAKER XP 1,000,000 SERIES 2011 FOR JUST $69.99 AND GET ALL VIDEO GAMES OFF HALF PRICE!!!!” and then right afterward, a scene from your local car dealership, and the owner standing out side of it, like the child before him, screaming at the top of his lungs and self promoting; “TOMORROW IS THE BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL, BUY THE MEGATRUCK 5000 WITH THE V-12 ENGINE AND THE DELUXE FAMILY SEATING, ZERO DOWN! WITH 0% APR! YOU DO NOT HAVE TO MAKE PAYMENTS FOR ONE WHOLE YEAR!!!!!! (terms and conditions vary)” Then comes on the next scene depicting an extremely cheesy romantic situation. There is a very handsome looking man, fighting with his supermodel girlfriend, over who is going to do the laundry. The woman gives into the man’s demand. She goes through the laundry basket, and as she is sorting a bunch of dirty and disgusting clothing, she happens to find a black jewelry box. The content within the box, is a solid gold necklace, with a diamond center piece. In the scene afterward, you see that same woman and that same man, who were, but a moment ago at each others throats, now literally at each others throats! Cue the familiar jingle “Every kiss begins with Kay” (Black Friday special 50% off) Then at last, we come to final (yet all too familiar) commercial…There on your television set is Santa Claus, doing his Santa like thing, breaking and entering into a fancy home in the middle of the night, leaving presents for the children under the tree. In the dining area, there is a plate of cookies and a glass of milk designated for him. However, Santa (Although warm, loving, and filled with good cheer.) has a very insincere quality about his personality, and instead of taking the milk and cookies designated for him, he goes straight for the refrigerator, AND STEALS A BOTTLE OF COKE A COLA!!! Momentarily, he leaves the house, and a feint “Ho Ho Ho” is heard in the background. The television tube goes to black, and a holiday message is displayed. “Happy Holidays, Drink Coke a Cola!”

Finally when you feel you are about to nod off, it just hits you and you say to yourself…”Lord of all that is good and holy, the Holiday season has arrived! Heaven help us!”

It seems as it has been happening progressively through the years. The beautiful concept of Christmas, of giving, sharing, and spreading hope, along with some good cheer, has been transformed into an over hyped, and commercially sponsored “shop-o-rama”. In 2010 the concept of Christmas seems to have lived up to such a prophecy. Void of charity. Void of goodwill. Void of brotherhood. Void of it’s human dignity! Santa, is no longer, a fat and jolly man wearing a red suit, with a spirit full of unyielding benevolence. No. Santa is a lifeless corporate zombie that only gives empty materialistic gifts, and urges others to buy empty and overly materialistic gifts, and nothing more! Often it is asked by the consumer ( You are being referred to as “consumers”, because Wall Street does not look at you as a human beings, but only as “consumers” to be exploited.) “What is on your Christmas list?”, “What do I get you for Christmas?”, “What should I buy such and such for Christmas?” Like such people are being coerced by Corporate America to spend enormous amounts of capital (In most cases, money, such people do not have.) in order to show someone how much, they supposedly, “really care.” Who else here is tired of this crap? Personally, I am.

This Holiday season, I refuse to get elaborate with gift giving. We live in a very stressful economic time. People struggle to keep a roof over their head. People struggle to feed themselves and their children. People struggle to pay their bills and makes ends meet. There are people who are very hungry. There are people who need clothing. There are people who need blood. There are people who need a prayer. Christmas is not just about showing love to those who you already love. Christmas is about showing love and giving hope to those WHO NEED LOVE, and, WHO NEED HOPE. As it has already been mentioned, the typical consumer usually asks “What should I get you for Christmas” I have an answer, in regards to what I want….I DO NOT WANT YOU TO DO A DAMN THING FOR ME!!!!!

What I want is for you to do well for those, who are not well to do. I want you, to donate your blood. I want you, to give to a worthy charity. I want you, to buy clothes for a child in need. I want you, to give your time to a lonely soul. I want you, to help feed those who might be hungry. I want you, to bring hope to those who have little hope. I want you, to love your neighbor like you love yourself. I WANT YOU, TO BRING MEANING BACK TO CHRISTMAS! Why do I want this? I want this, because, all the various peace movements in the world cannot do this by themselves. All the various charity organizations cannot do such by themselves. I cannot do such by myself. It will take ALL OF US to make a significant difference.

If not for me, then for yourself, put down the pen and paper. Cancel a shopping trip. Turn off the television set. Tell, Corporate America, to “shove it”. Go out and make difference! Go out and make Christmas special again! Show someone that you are an angelic human who gives hope, and that you indeed have an ounce of compassion left in you! So from the bottom of my heart, do I bid you all, a Merry Christmas, and a very happy Holiday season! Please go out and make a difference!

This is, Michael Phillip Pellagatti,

Thanks for reading

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