Is Consumerism Necessary for Holiday Happiness?

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Author: Lisa Kraege|Martin Cramer

Christmas time is here. Happiness and cheer. Also coming are Hanukkah, Kwanza and Festivus, all bringing loads of gifts in their wakes. It doesn’t matter what you’re celebrating because everyone knows that the holidays are really just an excuse to buy, spend, eat, give, laugh, fight and generally cavort to the extreme. That’s what makes America great: our consumerism.

What would the holiday season be if it didn’t entail hunting through the half-price bin while fending off pushy shoppers with your strategically-placed shopping cart? Although such images could be interpreted as animalistic and crazed, I prefer to look to the feelings that inspire such events: the desire to give. I love shopping for my friends and family, scouring sales for creative finds and literally going broke in an attempt to bring out a little happiness in the ones I care about. Besides, what’s the point of saving money only to spend it later? As long as we live in a capitalist society (forever) people are going to use and spend money, so why not spend it all on those around you?

The arguments against spending money around the holidays are manifold. Why give money to corporations? Why encourage the connection between religious holidays and consumeristic excess? Why not save your money for something useful? All of these are excuses – excuses not to spend the little money we have in a joyous act of giving.

It is the best opportunity we get all year to be good people. It’s the only time when you can justify spending 45 dollars on an apple spice reed diffuser for someone other than yourself. We college students are especially adept at crafting excuses in order to avoid spending money. We constantly claim our lack of funds or Marxist leanings as cause for our Grinch-like frugality. But even those of us who actually are economically disadvantaged can afford to give at least a little bit. Besides, our failing economy needs our help!

Of course people can get carried away with shopping and consumerism over the holiday season, but only as a result of holding back for so long. At least when they release their desire to spend, the end recipient is someone other than themselves. The holidays are a time for spending in order to give. Why fight the joy?

Lisa Kraege is a junior ECLS major. She can be reached at lkraege@oxy.edu.

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