TELL US: Does a More Politicized 'Buy Nothing Day' Change Your View of Efforts to Cool Consumer Fever?
This Friday's 'Buy Nothing Day,' same day as 'Black Friday,' has taken on a new political tinge. Does that change how you view the effort to keep the holidays from becoming one big shopping trip?
Photos
'Buy Nothing Day,' a 20-year old tradition of reminding people that there is more to Thanksgiving and Christmas than shopping, this year has taken on even more political coloring:
Buy Nothing Day/#Occupy Xmas.
Last year, 2011, was the first year Buy Nothing Day was connected to the Occupy movement; both are brought to you by Adbusters, a passionately anti-capitalist organization out of Canada.
The Adbusters homepage with information about Buy Nothing Day/#Occupy Xmas, is dominated by a Guy Fawkes mask, emblematic of the Occupy movement and by this quote:
“Today, humanity faces a stark choice: save the planet and ditch capitalism, or save capitalism and ditch the planet.”
– Fawzi Ibrahim
So here's the question: does the closer connection of Buy Nothing Day with the Occupy movement make it more appealing to you by giving it some political heft? Or does it take a plea for holiday simplicity and purity into the very kind of political realm that holidays are supposed to take us beyond? Let us know in the comments section below.
.....
Patrick Early
7:40 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Occupy a job and then you can go to a store and buy something for someone for Christmas. Simplicity and purity? Go to church when you're done at your job.
Anna Bucciarelli
10:43 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
It's stupid ... plain and simple! People will do what they will do no matter the day. The nuts who go all out for Black Friday are just that, nuts. The trick to shopping is to do it year round ... listen to people, hear their wishes, when you see it if you can afford it buy it, or work on home-made gifts. You will never need a Black Friday or to rush around during the merry month when all you really want to do is enjoy the season, friendships, family, church activities, bake and bake and bake! Who wants to shop in this frenzied time? Not me, that's for sure.