So this will kind of be my re-released version of the Rick Mercer Rant, about Christmas. Every year rolls around to the Christmas time and I'm always feeling discussed about the same few things each year. Now don't get me wrong, I love Christmas and I'm sure I will always, maybe its the way I was raised, the time period I was raised in, the location or some other outside factor. But there are three main things each and every year lately (last 5 to 10 years) that annoys me, read them below and let me know if you feel the same way:
- Politically correctness during Christmas: Its Christmas people, not the
festive season, the holidays or anything else. This time of year was
made a holiday for a reason...... that reason is its Jesus's Birthday,
its Christmas. Don't be giving me a "Happy Holidays" Mr. Wal-Mart
greeter, say Merry Christmas. I don't want to see a winter scene on my
Tim Horton's mug, I want to see a jolly ol' Saint Nick kissing mommy
under a Christmas Tree. More and more we are giving in to all things to
make them politically correct, but guess what Christmas should not be
one of those times. So I think I am only going to shop at stores that support Christmas for what it is. Unfortunately for my wife the only store I have seen so far this Christmas that says Merry Christmas in their ad's and in store is Canadian Tire.
- Kids want it all: Now this just may be me, but Christmas is a time for spending time with family, friends and loved ones. Yes, a gift is nice to receive and I love giving them more than I love receiving them. I donate to the food bank each year and also give toys to needy families so they have something. I hear some kids asking for more and more each year, costing hundreds and even thousands of dollars, and I shake my head, than shake it more when their parents give in. Teach your kids about how many more unfortunate people are out there with nothing, teach them the meaning of Christmas, spend time with family and friends and the people you love. These are this things that matter the most in life, not the material things. To this day I do not know of one Christmas where I have wanted something and was mad that I did not get it or ask for so many things that would make Mackey Cram poor (I think that was his name. Some rich old fart I heard dad talk about many times), and I'm sure my parents would agree with me on this one and so would my wife since my answer each year to that question of "What do you want for Christmas?" my answer is simply nothing. I have all I need.
- Christmas ad's running earlier and earlier: Each and every year the TV
ad's, Sears Wish book, and decorations in the stores come out earlier.
It seems every year you now see decorations popping up before Halloween
is even over. Why can't retailers wait until at least mid-November
before bomb-barding us with everything. By the time Christmas day
actually arrives your sick of it all. We received our Sears Wish Book
this year in August, yes, August, five months before Christmas and just
seven month after the last. When I was I kid that thing would not arrive
till the end of November unless my parents were hiding it away from me.
Please feel free to add comments below or add to the list of stores that will still say Merry Christmas during this time of year and think about all of this and do some reflection, or soon Christmas will be forgotten for what its meant to be. I know, I for one, will not forget and I will have a happy and joyful Christmas as always. So Merry Christmas to all!
