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I dare you to do something crazy this holiday
By Robert Jacobs, Special to starlocalnews.com
The Christmanukkah shot clock is counting down. Now that everyone is battle-fatigued from Black FriThursday and blurry-eyed from Cyber Monday, it's time to get serious about the season.
But the Christmas season has already been in full swing for a couple of months now. In fact, the first day of fall found me on the third floor of a major retailer known for its famous parade. It took a little longer to find what I was looking for as things had been rearranged to make room for the Christmas section.
The signs of autumn were everywhere - cooler temperatures, leaves falling, the buzz about football, and of course, Christmas. We had just started school; just had homecoming and open house, and already it was Christmas season - in September!
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| Robert Jacobs |
When I was growing up, Christmas season officially began when you saw Santa at the end of the Thanksgiving parade. And by the way, Santa is real.
But this stressed economy has retailers desperately grasping for every holiday dollar, earlier and earlier.
I'm sure you've all compiled your list of everything you could possibly want (and checked it twice), and distributed it to your family and friends, with complete confidence that they will present said items to you on Christmas morning.
And I know some of you were salivating at the thought of waiting in line all night for the mad Black Friday rush at [insert retailer's name here] door, the sea of humanity and toy riots - "on, pushing! on, shoving! on, trampling and kicking!" - to get the latest, greatest whatever, in the truest spirit of the holiday.
But this year, I dare you to consider something different. We can no longer expect "The Government" to take care of those in need. "The Government" has maxed out its credit card. We're still paying off Christmases past while Christmas future is on layaway.
And so, it's up to us.
I DARE YOU to redirect just one of your gifts to someone who has little or nothing to live with.
I DARE YOU to tell your family and friends to donate in your name rather than exchange gift cards.
I DARE YOU to donate in the name of a family member or friend rather than spend however much on something they'll return or never use or wear.
You can donate for kids, animals, old people, poor people, sick people ...
I DARE YOU. Who's with me?
God bless us, everyone.
Robert Jacobs is an economics teacher at Allen High School. Reach him at rnj77gol@att.net
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