Cashmas

Well it looks as though the frenzy is in full swing here in Babylon. I'm sure I can be placed among the hordes of Christmas curmudgeons out there and plenty of people have commented on the hyper-consumerist nature of the holiday. A few years back when I worked at Tower I decided to stop being such an ass during the season and try to have some fun with the whole thing. Thus was borne Cashmas unto the world. Cashmas is a holiday celebrating the dominance of the American dollar over the worlds economy and our relentless practice of buying huge quantities of goods from overseas. The Cashmas spirit is somewhat diminished this year by the falling value of the dollar against other currencies but the country is determined to drive itself into debt appeasing the never ending hunger of our consumers regardless of economic circumstances.

Hey, more power to 'em! I figure, why get in the way of the natives and their traditions? I love watching people trying to find a Wii this year. It reminds me of every other "must have" toy for every other Cashmas season I've been alive for. Who's up for Tickle me Elmo? Anyone? I've never lusted after a thing that badly. I'm kind of jealous in a way. There's a certain amount of blissful oblivion found in obsession and the feeling of achievment when it is satisfied. Don't get me wrong, there are things I have a serious jones for (anyone want to buy me a M-Audio Keystation 88e?) but it doesn't consume my waking life like Cashmas does for some folks. I'd like to pretend that it has always been thus for me but I too had the obsession when I was a kid. I can't help but wonder how different my early experiences with Cashmas would be if I wasn't surrounded by ads and peers telling me What I Need. It's hard to tell, hard to seperate what we learned from the enviornment from what we truly thought and felt growing up. The need for things really started to fade during high school as I started becoming aware of the world around me and questioning consumerist precepts that are held with religious diligence in our society.
Perhaps I'll never be able to fully comprehend the meaning behind it all. Most people that I talk to about Cashmas claim that I am a cynic. Perhaps. I simply prefer to be honest about my intentions and the vast majority of people in this country are not celebrating the birth of a Jewish prophet when they descend upon malls in a frenzy of buying. Neither am I. My experiences growing up here have led me to believe that Santa Claus holds considerably more weight in the minds of our people than Jesus. Well, I can't see the problem here. If the people of this country prefer purchasing over compassion, let us celebrate the season!

I do see people celebrating other holidays and doing so very honestly. This is simply my attempt to give a name to the herd surge towards malls and shopping centers every year and every year my holiday gets longer and longer. Soon the Cashmas season will extend it's grasp to the entire year and we'll never stop the snow machines until every last thing on the Earth has been wrapped in mylar and stuffed under a dead pine tree.