I love the holidays. I get to see family members that I only get to see once a year. I get to listen to cheasy Christmas music. I get to watch drunk uncles dance the cha-cha whilst balancing their hair pieces atop their heads. I get to wear my winter jacket and break out my scarves and knit hats.
What I hate is mindless mass consumerism, extreme capitalism, and GIFT CARDS. Oh fuck, how I hate gift cards. I get them every year. And to suckporiums like Macy’s and Gap nonetheless. It’s a lose-lose situation for me and my kin and a win-win situation for the corporations. (Did you know that in 2006 there totaled 8 billion dollars in unclaimed gift cards?)
I hate malls and chain stores anyways but I especially hate them during the holidays. My first job was during X-mas time in the mall. During my breaks I would sit in front of the giant, decorated Christmas tree and fantasize about crashing through the skylight and impaling myself on the star tree-topper. Morbid yes, but it got me through my shifts.
I’m also tired of hearing about the economy and how consumers need to spend more money to boost the economy. Maybe people just don’t need all the crap that they flood the market with. I certainly don’t. That’s the real problem. It’s not that people aren’t spending money because they ain’t got none. It’s that people work hard for their money and know where their priorities are. People shouldn’t be forced into buying frivolous crap as a civic duty; so the economy doesn’t collapse; so someone out there doesn’t lose a job. Whatever quick fixes they come up with is not enough to sustain a stable future. Mass consumerism sucks and I’m not going to buy into it.
Long story short: I’m pledging to buy handmade this holiday season. If I can’t buy it, I’ll make it myself. I’ll try my best to remember everyone this holiday, but If I don’t, I’ll have at least tried. I know even the Handmade Pledge isn’t perfect. I mean, even if I make my own handbag it doesn’t mean that I spun my own fibers, weaved my own textiles, or cast my own metal finishings (like the Amish do!); money and goods will pass numerous hands before I give my final gift. Hey, this world can’t be perfect . . . but it can be better.
