Posted by:
intjsegry
(
)
Date: December 01, 2012 03:33PM
I love this. Working in retail for YEARS my BF and I (Now out of it finally) were subjected to the CRAZY part of the holiday... the gift giving, overly religious, self indulgent, stupid songs 100 times, excuse for a season of "giving" crap.
Watching unaware 20 somethings looking blankly and SNuggies wondering if that is the "perfect gift" for that one girl he likes... or getting physically threatened with violence if you won't give them the "matched priced" of a totally different item. (this happened to my BF, they guy got in his face and threatened to follow him home...of course BIG Corporation backed up the customer, and my BF finally had enough and quit).
The holiday is a joke when it comes to the corporate take over of the holiday. We are marketed to every single second of the day (so it seems) but during the Season, it is on steroids and disguised as "loving your fellow man" by buying him a... brand new radio so he can throw out the one he just got last year....!!!
do you know that Christmas is the ONE day of the year most companies (yes, big ones) are in the BLACK all year? No wonder it is shoved down our throats.
I LOVED Christmas growing up, because of the tie to religion, free gifts from people, and yes, even the feeling of everything.
When I became an atheist, I began to realize and resent the religious aspect being shoved down my throat, the killing of millions of trees for a tradition that serves no purpose but to cause fire hazards and messes (buy a fake tree people if you have to have one), and the overzealous attempts at this time of year to "wish me god's love".
I have to admit that my BF is was more zealous and about his hating of the Holiday (though it has slackened this year now that he is out of Customer Service). However, I missed the feel of the season... not what it has become.
We've finally compromised. Winter solstice it is. No gifts, no religion, no god, and no guilt, no stupid corporate laden songs.. but egg nog, (whisky added), wassail, fires, smells of the season and lights... okay.
I'm sure if there was a national day of atheism (maybe there is?), or a day of Buddha, or Allah, or whatever, and it was celebrated as WIDELY and obnoxiously as Xmas, Christians would go freakin' nuts and cry intolerance.
Even HUGE atheists like Dawkins and Hitchens loved the Holidays... they just celebrate it for what it really SHOULD be about... family..... and booze of course...
Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 12/01/2012 03:39PM by intjsegry.