Originally Posted:
by Mary Alice Holmes on Monday, December 15, 2008 at 10:37pm
I am appalled. We as a nation are swimming in debt, banks failing, celebrity fund managers are bilking rich and famous clients of billions, major industries are crashing to the ground, and just like in 2001, we are being told that shopping will somehow cure all society's ills. No, it won't. Really.
Please don't shop for me this holiday season. I don't need it, whatever it is. My house and the houses of my friends and my family are overwhelmed by stuff we don't need. Please help me cull my stash of unnecessary items by not giving me anything. I'm not kidding.
If you were considering buying anything for me, please donate to your favorite charity. Or mine. I have a few...my public radio stations (or yours), Rosie's Place in Boston, the Los Angeles Mission, the Women's Bean Project in Denver, my special favorite (the gift tht keeps on giving) The Heifer Project. Just the other day, the Boston Globe ran an article about how The Home for Little Wanderers, an organization that houses homeless and runaway children, has had the least amount of donations this year that they have had in many, many years.
A five or ten dollar donation to any of these charities will mean so much to a child who has nothing. (Well, except the public radio stations but you don't really need me to lecture on the joy that they bring to everyone who has a radio. I'll do that in March for the spring fundraiser.)
I have complex feelings about Christmas. I can really relate to Linus Van Pelt at Christmastime. I don't think the way we "celebrate" Christmas was what Jesus had in mind with his gift. It's not about scented candles or bath beads or socks or iPods. It's about a gift from your heart for someone who is truly in need. In this case, I am talking about cash and I am talking about kids. Please give to your local children's charity. Remember how great it was to be six and to believe in Santa Claus. Think about helping to provide a needy child with that special kind of magic. That's what I want for Christmas.
2012 Postscript: I'm still appalled.
by Mary Alice Holmes on Monday, December 15, 2008 at 10:37pm
I am appalled. We as a nation are swimming in debt, banks failing, celebrity fund managers are bilking rich and famous clients of billions, major industries are crashing to the ground, and just like in 2001, we are being told that shopping will somehow cure all society's ills. No, it won't. Really.
Please don't shop for me this holiday season. I don't need it, whatever it is. My house and the houses of my friends and my family are overwhelmed by stuff we don't need. Please help me cull my stash of unnecessary items by not giving me anything. I'm not kidding.
If you were considering buying anything for me, please donate to your favorite charity. Or mine. I have a few...my public radio stations (or yours), Rosie's Place in Boston, the Los Angeles Mission, the Women's Bean Project in Denver, my special favorite (the gift tht keeps on giving) The Heifer Project. Just the other day, the Boston Globe ran an article about how The Home for Little Wanderers, an organization that houses homeless and runaway children, has had the least amount of donations this year that they have had in many, many years.
A five or ten dollar donation to any of these charities will mean so much to a child who has nothing. (Well, except the public radio stations but you don't really need me to lecture on the joy that they bring to everyone who has a radio. I'll do that in March for the spring fundraiser.)
I have complex feelings about Christmas. I can really relate to Linus Van Pelt at Christmastime. I don't think the way we "celebrate" Christmas was what Jesus had in mind with his gift. It's not about scented candles or bath beads or socks or iPods. It's about a gift from your heart for someone who is truly in need. In this case, I am talking about cash and I am talking about kids. Please give to your local children's charity. Remember how great it was to be six and to believe in Santa Claus. Think about helping to provide a needy child with that special kind of magic. That's what I want for Christmas.
2012 Postscript: I'm still appalled.
No comments:
Post a Comment