Holidays are commercially tainted

editorial cartoon by Natalie Fowle
editorial cartoon by Natalie Fowle

As a result of all of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, one would think that this holiday season would be one filled with genuine holiday spirit. Think again.

Once again, commercialism has taken over. Parents and kids are swept into the fiendish arms of sales, stores and so-called bargains. This should be the year that stores and companies did not try to take advantage of consumers’ pocketbooks claiming that it is the public’s patriotic duty to stimulate the economy.

One way business owners are doing this is by marketing patriotism to the general public, like a duty to buy red, white and blue or be labeled unpatriotic.

Everything from Christmas lights to pins and ornaments have undertaken a patriotic look in the hopes that shoppers will feel a tug at their hearts and buy something that represents America. Why? Not to spread the “Spirit of America” but to rake in dollars.

In the zeal to become more patriotic, the public is losing sight of the real question: Where is the money going? The answer to that question would be to a company with visions of dollar signs dancing in its head.

Some businesses claim that a portion of the proceeds benefit organizations supporting all those involved with Sept. 11, but how much of these proceeds really do go to charities?

An unsuspecting public will undoubtedly buy into the idea of helping out the victims of Sept. 11 without doing homework to find out if the claims are true.

Still other businesses do not even bother giving a portion of their “patriotic proceeds” to a charity.

Instead of buying holiday paraphernalia decorated in stars and stripes, consumers need to be prudent shoppers. Holiday shoppers should give direct donations to charities this holiday season instead of funding big businesses with their patriotic purchases.

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Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Campus Times Editorial Board.

Natalie Fowle, Photography Editor
Natalie Fowle
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