Once upon a time in America, we as a people aspired to being part of something greater than ourselves. Family and family friends, our parish or congregation, our community, state, country. These relationships were how we connected to the world at large, valuable beyond any price...until the war of the 'big sales' began their assault. One by one, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Veteran's Day were bartered away for a bargain. Thanksgiving is the next to fall, assaulted by even bigger sales by Walmart, Kohl's and Macy's...and perhaps others taking the second line. We are trading everything held sacred by those who came before us for what? A discount on things that will be resold on eBay or in the garbage bin in a few months.
I think it bears mentioning that as infamous Wall Street and banks have become, they maintain a reverence for the holidays. There are no midnight, Red Apple or early bird sales of stocks, bonds, or CD's. None of these employees are forced to sacrifice family time in order to keep their jobs, even though markets in other parts of the world are open on American holidays. An industry that functions to raise capital and make money manages to respect family traditions by being closed. Ironic, isn't it? They seem to have learned from Ebenezer Scrooge what the rest of the country has forgotten.
My grandparents, aunts and uncles, even a cousin or two and my father live in the memories of holidays past. They enrich the present. They instill hope for the future. I'd rather have those memories than 30% off anything.
I think it bears mentioning that as infamous Wall Street and banks have become, they maintain a reverence for the holidays. There are no midnight, Red Apple or early bird sales of stocks, bonds, or CD's. None of these employees are forced to sacrifice family time in order to keep their jobs, even though markets in other parts of the world are open on American holidays. An industry that functions to raise capital and make money manages to respect family traditions by being closed. Ironic, isn't it? They seem to have learned from Ebenezer Scrooge what the rest of the country has forgotten.
My grandparents, aunts and uncles, even a cousin or two and my father live in the memories of holidays past. They enrich the present. They instill hope for the future. I'd rather have those memories than 30% off anything.
No comments:
Post a Comment