American Consequences - December 2018

THE FINAL WORD

TRY GOING GRINCH THIS XMAS STOP THE NSANITY

before she loses it anyway. There’s nobody forcing you, at the last minute on Christmas Eve, to rummage through the men’s section at the mall to pull out yet another lumpy sweater to give to your cousin Phil. He’s got enough ugly sweaters, trust me. I speak from experience. About five years ago, my family decided, in what felt like a revolutionary act of anti-Santa blasphemy, that we would no longer give Christmas gifts to each other. There are six of us in my immediate family, plus four significant others for each one of the siblings (three brothers and a sister). We cast off the chains of holiday consumerism and have never looked back. Now, before I go on to tell you about the glories of a gift-free Christmas holiday, a few provisos are in order. My immediate family is full of adults now. There are a few children of cousins, but they are babies too young to really care what’s under the tree. I’m not advocating for depriving kids of the mythology of Santa and his sleigh (though I do think it’s best to tell it as a story, not some bizarre ghost story involving a fat, bearded trespasser who whips flying deer and wants to steal kisses from mommy). My parents always gave us great presents when I was a kid, and Christmas morning was very special for all of us. Kids should, within reason, get gifts, toys, treats, and all

Stop giving gifts to your family members this holiday season. I know, it’s heresy to write this. Some of you may be wondering if I’ve turned into a Jehovah’s Witness or a Bernie Sanders supporter. But I’m just speaking the truth. In our commerce-obsessed culture, the single most recognizable part of our end-of-year holiday tradition is the wrapped gift under the tree (or menorah). And by no means am I writing here to advocate for a particular approach, in terms of belief or practice, for the holidays. That’s totally your call. This is a screed against compulsory gift gifting, plain and simple. Embrace your “inner Grinch.” Put an end to the gift obsession. Just walk away. That’s right, I’m bringing you word from the other side: You don’t have to do it. You don’t have to stand in line at Zales or Tiffany’s, waiting to buy that diamond tennis bracelet that the Mrs. will only wear a couple of times

This is a screed against compulsory gift gifting, plain and simple... You don’t have to do it.

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American Consequences 75

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