I now sit in a pile of mass-media
The TV is blaring. The laptop I am composing from (if THAT’S what you want to call it) has numerous copyright violating copies of songs. The TV is casting it’s beautiful light (and a dog-eared copy of the TV Guide sits close). A small stack of New York Times bestsellers are sprawled about ("The Onion: Dispatches from the Tenth Circle," "X-Files: Antibodies," "Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone," and "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood," Michael Crichton’s "The Great Train Robbery" are all in current eyesight [coincidentally, the classic’s I’ve been assigned to read such as Shelley’s "Frankenstein" and Mill’s "Utilitarianism" are being overlooked]). A newly purchased Special Edition DVD ("The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension") lies in prominence atop a pile of shopping bags. Two large, state of the art speakers tower over me as I glance at the radio in the corner, the two work computers in the back of the room, and my cell phone that’s sticking out of my backpack.
I am further surrounded by a pile of Christmas decals, boxes of dishwasher detergent, a game of Chinese checkers, and a lamp that has a lightbulb coming out of a farm girl’s head.
As I sit with my faithful remote at my side, I have come to the inevitable conclusion that I love capitalism.
Go USA!
I’ve long been a fan of conspicuous consumption, but going through the “traditional” of pre-Christmas deals, deals, DEALS, I can’t help but feel a stirring in my holiday soul. Throw in some well-timed Christmas specials and I can’t help but feel caught up in the holiday spirit!
Right….
Okay, more seriously, it’s not the sales or specials (not that the New Muppet Christmas Special didn’t make me laugh with Animal’s rendition of Little Drummer Boy was funny too. Or how Scrooged’s Bob Cratchit character played by Bobcat Goldwaitt, goes nuts).
Those that know me well know I’ve been playing “Christmas music” since before Thanksgiving break.
At least my roommate knows (and playing Eartha Kitt’s Santa Baby on November 22 is not something easily forgotten, though playing Run, Run Rudolph by Chuck Barry was largely ignored when I played it in the mail room).
Anyway, the whole “holiday thing” isn’t spawned in malls or on the networks, but is up to individual people.
That’s comment is potent enough to deserve it’s own paragraph (this one isn’t, but I’m moving on anyway).
There’s something more than feelings being tugged by a program showing us the standard It’s a Wonderful Life (and the popular Worse-World-If-One-Had-Never-Been-Born-Scenario).
It’s more than seeing Rudolph get to lead the sleigh or all the Whos in Whoville get in a big “koom by yah” circle and sing carols.
And it’s more than 60% off on icicles, wreaths, and mistletoe.
For it to be the TRUE Christmas spirit, it must be something internal, personal, and spiritual.
Accept no imitations.
To conclude, let me quote from the Christmas Spirit that hit closest to the mark:
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
- Linus, Quoting Luke 2:8-14, in A Charlie Brown Christmas.
No wonder the TV execs loved it and countless millions have enjoyed it ever since.
Good night.
