All holidays in the US have become 'marketing opportunities' with absolute callous indifference to any of the sanctity or sentiment originally embedded in such occasions.Fan wrote: Is it a US tradition to give gifts on Thanksgiving? It sure ain't here. If not I still don't understand black friday except as a cynical marketing platform.
Now, a day off for the Sixpacs is an 'opportunity' for the Gekkos. It is to be exploited without reserve. Full stop.
Consequently, it is my contention that folks' enthusiasm for the 'holidays' tracks up or down in direct relation to the material advantages each occasion offers. I guess I'm not even saying that is good or bad, but in very typical US-American fashion, we seem to be willfully ignorant/complacent when it comes to this startling migration. It's notable because in my mind, it's a much more immediate threat to the fabric of our 'culture' than say, 'terrorism'.
On the other hand, shopping has been invoked as the patriotic inverse of, and ultimate defense against terrorism. Remember? Maybe that's what all the in-store brawling is about - scared people convinced that if they don't shop hard enough, they will be suicide bombered in the food court later.
Actually, I guess it's all going along according to plan.
If you're still breathing, it's not too late!
