From: Madelon
To: edit@thenownewspaper.com
Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2009 12:58 PM
Subject: The sad thing about Christmas Magic.
Sir,
Christmas Magic!
Christmas Magic???
For whom??
For the millions of turkeys being murdered so that we can fill our
overfed bellies with a 'nice, traditional family Christmas dinner?
For the millions of trees being killed so that we can get into that
Christmas spirit from November 1st to January 15th, after which the
same trees are de-baubled and unceremoniously burnt or trashed?
For the millions of people who neither have the food nor the money to
buy food or clothes while we overeat, overwhelm each other with useless
presents and go into months of credit card debt just because we never
seem to have enough of anything?
For the millions of abandoned, discarded, neglected and abused pets who
spend their lives chained, abandoned or at shelters until euthanized
well before life should be over just because we no longer wish to care
for them, let alone adopt them?
The truth is: Christmas is not about giving, it's all about taking in
as much as we can get for ourselves and 'ours' , even if the stress of
mall-traffic, too many people and too much money spent puts us into an
even more violent mood than we tend to be in during the rest of the
year.
How did we get so stupid and short-sighted??
How come we can't just have a nice family dinner with our animals
inside and by our side, a good bottle of wine and a candle-lit home?
Why can't we make Christmas that one day a year when we let a turkey or
other animal live just because we're in that Christmas mood for love
and compassion?
Why can't we buy a living tree and enjoy the thought of planting it in
the spring, for the planet as well as for all of us to enjoy?
Why haven't we taught our children that Christmas is not about presents
and going into debt or outdoing the neighbours?
Why? When? Why not????
Merry Christmas to those of you who will save one animal, one tree and
(if in the mood for presents) spend a bit of money on giving a 'Really
Wild Gift' to be found at:
www.reallywildgifts.ca.
THAT"S what christmas should be about!!
Madelon Keij