Welcome to indulgence, baby. In a week that combines Thanksgiving smorgasbords, marathon shopping on Black Friday, and one of Hollywood's most lucrative box-office weekends, all signs point to gluttony.
This is unfortunate when you consider that the sentiments behind Thanksgiving are about being grateful for what you have, not for what you can get at 40 percent off the regular retail price.
It is for this reason that I encourage everyone to celebrate another holiday this weekend -- International Buy Nothing Day on Friday, November 23rd.
Buy Nothing Day is an annual event sponsored by Adbusters that calls for a 24-hour consumer fast on Black Friday. The purpose of the event is not to spite the employees of retail stores who will be opening their boutiques at the crack of dawn, but rather to encourage people around the world to send a message to the corporate world. The ubiquity of advertising is a given these days, and BND give consumers an opportunity to say "We see your advertising, and we realize that shopping is a choice, not a necessity."
And yes, this little holiday from consumerism includes dining out, movie tickets, and gift certificates, which are also heavily tied in to advertising.
To fly in the face of our quotidian consumerism has never been a popular idea -- it is safe to say that most people are not aware of the existence of BND. But this year, the Adbusters' campaign is in for an even more difficult time as we continue to feel repercussions from Sept. 11. At a time when our national leaders are telling us to buy to help slow the economic recession we are facing, the idea of refusing to spend money seems to approach the heretical.
However, your decision not to shop this Friday is actually a very patriotic and even -- gasp! -- conservative thing to do!
That's right kids, for the 24-hour period of November 23rd, I want all of you liberal types to go against your better judgement and embrace your right-wing side. You see, BND is, as I understand conservatism to be, about the triumph of the individual. Corporate advertising is reaching levels approximating the socialist paradigm of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.
Walking through the mall, you can almost hear the hypnopaedia chanting "Ending is better than mending" beneath the seasonal jingles.
Participating in the consumer fast is your declaration that you are not part of the corporate machine, and that when you shop, you shop consciously.
This is not Communism. This is a de facto check on capitalism, ensuring that the good people of America and the global marketplace have not fallen under the tyranny of the corporations. What could be more patriotic than that?
Now, I know that for some of us, this idea sounds downright obscene. That's okay.
From time to time, all of us suffer from the condition known as "affluenza," bred of America's disproportionate consumption of global resources. Telling some people not to shop on Black Friday is tantamount to killing Christmas in their eyes. For these reluctant souls, may I propose a compromise?
If you are not ready to give up the mall cold turkey before the turkey is even cold, at least flex your mental muscle and shop smart this holiday season. Adbusters provides lots of helpful tips on their Web site (www.adbusters.org), including this list of questions to ask yourself before you make a purchase:
-- Do I need it?
-- How many do I already have?
-- How much will I use it?
-- How long will it last?
-- Could I borrow it from a friend or family member?
-- Can I do without it?
-- Am I able to clean and/or maintain it myself?
-- Am I willing to?
-- Will I be able to repair it?
-- How will I dispose of it when I'm done using it?
-- Have I researched it to get the best quality for the best price?
-- Are the resources that went into it renewable or nonrenewable?
-- Is it made or recycled materials, and is it recyclable?
-- Is there anything that I already own that I could substitute for it?
While you're at it, you could be super-conscientious and shop for only cruelty-free products (not tested on animals), which, of course, includes anything made from an animal, as well as animals themselves. (Yes, I too saw the Harry Potter movie, and while having an owl would be just plain cool, it would probably not be so good for the owl. Also, wouldn't it be kind of hypocritical to be eating one bird while you're playing with another?)
Of course, if you don't buy anything at all, then you've saved yourself the trouble . . . not to mention a trip to the mall. Happy Thanksgiving.
