The other day I went to the library to write, and picked up some used holiday magazines to peruse. Notice how I said "holiday" and not "Christmas." I'm sure we're all well aware by now that it is not kosher (!) to use the term "Christmas" anymore because not everyone celebrates that particular day. Personally, I have no problem with that for oh so many reasons.
I love reading magazines, but there are several contradictions in these magazines that aren't setting well with me. The first is this: every single magazine publication that I have ever read refers to the Christmas season as the holiday season in order to avoid saying the big "C" word. Don't want to offend anybody. And yet almost every single page in every magazine features something red and green, tree-shaped, a jolly old elf, mistletoe, snowman-shaped (with colorful lights in the background) or reindeer-esque. And every commercial on TV features dancing gingerbread men or a plate of decorated tree cookies and has the Nutcracker playing in the background, but still shows off how conscientious the company is by spouting off "happiest of holidays, from our socially-aware company."
Um, do these companies think that non-Christmas celebrators are so stupid that they'll feel included by these shenanigans? And, let's be honest with ourselves. Christmas is a purely secular holiday. Even in churches. Churchgoers, when was the last time your church threw a Christmas party that didn't include a visit from Santa Claus, lots of cookies and candies, perhaps even a gift exchange?
There are a few other contradictions I've noticed in my magazines. Sunset featured a big article about a group in San Francisco that decided to forego consumerism. The people in this group spent an entire year only spending money on food, health-related items, and used goods. Nothing new at all. A very inspiring article. Except that the page bisecting the article featured a little boy on a computer printing out his enormous list of items that he wanted for Christmas on his new photo printer. And the article that followed it was Sunset's long list of gift picks.
Similarly, I enjoyed Oprah's insistence that the holidays are all about people. All of us, and how we are all interconnected. And yet her face appears nine times throughout. I was actually surprised that it was so rare, though her arms and her dog, Luke, do make cameo appearances. There's even an ad telling you to give the gift of happiness - a book called "O's Big Book of Happiness: The best of O, The Oprah Magazine." Yes, Oprah is happiness. I suppose she's right, then. If we are all interconnected and she is happiness, then we, too, can be happy by buying her book.
My favorite contradiction, however, is the idea of "Green," "Earth-friendly," and "Eco-conscious" gifts. Something that every single magazine has a section for these days. Buy something green this Christmas.
I must be crazy. I seem to be the only person on the planet who thinks that buying new goods is one of the worst environmentalism faux pas' one can make. And I hate that all these supposedly aware, modern magazine editors are so, incredibly contradictory in their message.
Another blog post for another time?
No comments:
Post a Comment