10-31-2009, 07:15 AM
Well, yes and no to all the above, imho.
Of course having Xmas lights up already (or, indeed, at all) can be interpreted as tacky, inappropriate via poor timing, a waste of electrical power and so on. Yet this could also be validly interpreted (at least in part) as businesses, employees, and a concerned community as a whole realizing if they do not have a very good holiday sales season at this critical juncture then they are going under. Closing down forever. Jobs lost. Homes foreclosed. Kids hungry. Some folks light candles in church while they are fervently praying for a miracle to save them and their children; others switch on holiday lighting around their storefront, govt office bldg, and home. Do we criticize the folks lighting candles in church while they pray?
On an altogether different vector of approach to the issue, this discussion has somewhat the same flavor as the "There are children starving in __(afflicted place)__ so we should not eat __(something tasty)__" argument. Similarly, the sentiment of "others-are-so-desperately-poor-and-lacking-in-clothing/housing/food/medical treatment so we should do without or at least feel guilty about enjoying access and abundance in those regards" is a kissing cousin of this outlook. In fact I am quite sympathetic to this common and compassionate perspective (and used to champion it quite a bit, myself), yet have come to think it may be somewhat naive in a few regards and --much, much, worse-- may even assist to perpetuate the cycle of lack and limitation which genuinely afflicts so many. Buying in to this notion may continue to breath life into it.
Why is it bad to have pretty lights around one's home or business? Such decoration thrills small children who are still in that early period where they know the world as a magical place; it may also delight small children who have decades of mileage on them, too. [
] If the Nazis were about to bomb us in London then I'd agree we should all sacrifice the lights so the Luftwaffe has a harder time accurately dropping bombs on us and would agree we should redirect the conserved electrical power and materiale toward the war effort, but thankfully enough this is not the case. Peak oil depletion Doom may be tapping its way up the sidewalk like a blind skeleton gripping a red-and-white cane, but it has not yet found our gate (and may never, if we collectively pull our head out of our butt so as to see the way to take effective measures against such happening). Agreeing any frills beyond absolute bare minimum necessity are a decadent extravagance swiftly moves us into a grimly Soviet utilitarianism. Been to Russia recently? A great many people are conditioned to sacrifice much in day-to-day quality of life in the belief this is necessary for the good of everyone, while a very few enjoy jaw-dropping excess. This brainwashing which insists such sacrifice is necessary or disaster will befall everyone is a lie, of course, just like the lie that only petrochemicals will serve as an adequate energy source, but the masses have bought in and are enslaved to the narrative both conceptually and physically.
Rather than agreeing Xmas lights (...or church candles, or art museums, or dance performances, or any other "extravagances" unnecessary for mere survival) are to be scorned and eschewed in favor of a thrifty Calvinist frugality and plainness, I'd argue instead that a more worthy goal is to shift the paradigm so everyone, everywhere, can enjoy decorating their home, business, &/or govt office bldg with pretty lights and in doing so not marginalize or harm anyone else--including future generations--or the environment. And not just with regard to Xmas lights, either, but also food, shelter, medical care, and then all the rest which shifts away from life as mere survival and toward life as celebration.
Now, you may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one....
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Nirvana vs Rick Astley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN75im_us4k
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Astonishing skill! This archer is a real-life Legolas and then some!
http://geekologie.com/2013/11/real-life-...rs-anc.php
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Astonishing skill! This archer is a real-life Legolas and then some!
http://geekologie.com/2013/11/real-life-...rs-anc.php
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