The weather outside is certainly frightful. The first snow has already fallen,
and as I drive down the street I cannot help but notice the spectacle of lights
that garnish the modest homes of middle class America. Oh yes, it is Christmas
time, the most wonderful time of the year, right? It should be at this time, if
not any other time of year where we can be have peace on earth and show love and
compassion for our fellow man. Don’t believe me? I’m not surprised; you don’t
have to look very hard to find the despicable behavior that encompasses the
holiday season. The one event that to me that symbolizes the corruption of
Christmas is the trampling of a Wal-Mart employee as hundreds of dollar-crazed
shoppers rushed the main entrance. The crowd was so frenzied to get inside and
have the opportunity to purchase this season’s hottest item at a discounted
price that before the poor man could get the doors open he was knocked to the
ground and trampled to death by hundreds of shoppers.
It is sad that the meaning of Christmas has dissolved from a time of rejoice and
celebration, to a season of stress and materialism. However, I would not place
the blame on Christmas, or even on the corporations that choose to exploit it;
but instead on the degradation of our society. Every day of our lives we are
exposed to=2 0mass media that constantly force feeds us values of vanity and
materialism, and defines success and happiness in terms material and monetary
possession. I guess that is one of the drawbacks from living in a capitalistic
society run by greedy and corrupt corporations whose sole purpose for existence
is turning the biggest possible profit at any expense, never hesitating to
ignore morality and ethics.
I believe in the goodness at the heart of people. I believe that it is a
person’s character that defines them, not what shoes they wear or what car they
drive. I believe that the less people connect their happiness with materials the
happier they will ultimately be. One can never feel fulfilled or happy if all he
or she ever does is drool over the newest model of Lexus, or the trendiest new
smart phone. I feel that our society would be in a much better place if more
people chose to ignore the corruption that the media projects on us, and chose
to make the best with what they have. Instead of putting so much emphasis on
vanity and material goods, we should enjoy the time we have with our friends and
family, or spend our hard earned money on a vacation or a fulfilling passion;
something with actual value in life, something fulfilling. What would you rather
have at the end of your life; expensive cars and a nice house, or a good story
to tell? It is pathetic that even at the time of year that used to be when
selflessness and fellowship between men was most important, we still let the
media’s materialistic values run our lives.