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It seems that one of the greatest of Christmas traditions is to complain about how horrid Christmas is: the tacky music and decorations, the horrendously over-packed shops, the strife of preparing a huge meal that'll be devoured in minutes and nobody will thank you for, the variable standard of television,
the hypocrisy, the waste, the ribbons and bows. But do people really believe that Christmas should be cancelled? We must find out.
The plan is this. This year (2003) we celebrate Christmas as normal. In 2004 Christmas is cancelled. Everyone will spend the bleak midwinter doing their ordinary everyday activities; no presents will be bought, no decorations will be seen, and no parties will be held (except for New Year). Then in May 2005, a referendum is held as to whether Christmas should take place that year. A similar referendum may also be held in subsequent years.
The combination of a christmas-free year followed by a test of the people's democratic opinion will allow us to finally say whether Christmas is a good or a bad thing, and whether it is worth all the hassle or not. And either way, moaning will be a thing of the past. Let the nation decide!
Basically already done here:
http://www.halfbake...requent_20Christmas [snarfyguy, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]
[link]
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//moaning will be a thing of the past//
Bit of a leap in your logic there, kropotkin. |
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I understand that the English tried this between 1650 and 1659. I also understand that, despite the edicts issued from the Cromwellian Puritans, most of the English actually ignored them and had the day off anyway, stuffing themselves with beef and goose (or whatever the festive fare of the time was). Over-commercialism isn't anything new - the Victorians complained about it too. |
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Kropotkin's Kristmas Karol? |
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Howabout a "travelling Christmas," like the Olympics, but with no competing for the next run. It'll travel through member states of the UN, where a simple majority determines if that particular country has been naughty or nice, as their name comes up next on the list for the next year. (Americans won't have to worry about it happening here until 2037). |
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But if George W. Bush is re-elected, then the US can forget about christmas for good. |
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Also... I think this idea is wrong from the base. Christmas is not bows, presents or crowded shopping malls. If that's what it is for you [kropotkin], then you can cancel it or not, you never had christmas anyways. The fact that it's become a whole christmas season instead of just one day makes it clear that the whole environment surrounding the birth of jesus has been commercialized and wrapped up in a consumist dynamic. |
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I am not a catholic and I still can find something good and worth experiencing to be extracted from this whole religious festivity. Some people still understand the almost forgotten meaning of Dec 25. You can cancel christmas for them, and they will still celebrate it. |
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"We must stop Christmas from coming.... but how?" |
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This year I'm planning to steal Christmas. I can't figure out where to put it, though. My apartment is too small. |
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Considering a vote on this matter wouldn't get farther
than this web page, Kropotkin you should consider
seeking a personal solution to your problem. I suggest
either converting to a strict religion that bans all cheery
fun, or counting the blessings you have, for Christmas is
something not intended to read into to the point where
you question its universal appeal. I do NOT suggest,
however, running for any polital office (because you,
much like we apparently do with the holiday) would be
wasting your time). |
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Pericles: But are you not yourself moaning about Christmas in the above annotation, thus proving my theory that people would be happier, or at least moan less, without it? |
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Early Christians managed without Christmas for more than 300 years. Surely we could manage 1 year as an experiment. |
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Well [kropotkin], aren't you moaning about people who moan about christmas? Basically, there's no idea here. So, um, stop moaning. |
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