Holiday Concert
You know, I really don't care that public schools call it "Winter Break" and the December concert a "Holiday Concert." I really don't. In fact I'm rather pleased that my kids have come home from school with a vague awareness of who Antiochus IV is because they've gone over the story of Hanukkah in school (though I kinda choke when I get told that Hanakkah isn't a religious holiday - as it's about the rededication of the Temple). It's important to understand that there are multiple holidays being celebrated at this time of year - even though the focus of our faith is preparing for the celebration of the Incarnation.
The content of the "Holiday Concert," however, left me a bit freaked out. Most of the songs were typical, "Awww aren't they cute" fare. It ranged from the slightly odd (like a hip-hopized version of "Frosty The Snow Man") to the slightly disturbing ("Hey kids, Santa's going to kidnap you and take you to a awesome dance wtith all the Reindeer"). One song, however, actually left me thinking, "This may actually be doing long-term psychological harm to these kids." What's worse is that the parents loved it. What was this offending song? "Shop 'Til You Drop."
If there ever was a hymn to consumerism, this song was it. I sat there, with my jaw dropped, as one first grade class proudly shouted lines like:
"I was born to shop, shop, shop."
"I'll max out all my credit cards."
"Deck that halls with all my money."
And what did the parents do? Did they cringe as their kids boldly declared that their highest calling in life was to consume, consume, consume? Nope - they cheered. I mean, cheered. Their kids were reciting the creed correctly (and with gusto), and it made them cheer. In fact, it was the topic of conversation as we waited for school to be dismissed.
Sigh. The world ends with applause.
The content of the "Holiday Concert," however, left me a bit freaked out. Most of the songs were typical, "Awww aren't they cute" fare. It ranged from the slightly odd (like a hip-hopized version of "Frosty The Snow Man") to the slightly disturbing ("Hey kids, Santa's going to kidnap you and take you to a awesome dance wtith all the Reindeer"). One song, however, actually left me thinking, "This may actually be doing long-term psychological harm to these kids." What's worse is that the parents loved it. What was this offending song? "Shop 'Til You Drop."
If there ever was a hymn to consumerism, this song was it. I sat there, with my jaw dropped, as one first grade class proudly shouted lines like:
"I was born to shop, shop, shop."
"I'll max out all my credit cards."
"Deck that halls with all my money."
And what did the parents do? Did they cringe as their kids boldly declared that their highest calling in life was to consume, consume, consume? Nope - they cheered. I mean, cheered. Their kids were reciting the creed correctly (and with gusto), and it made them cheer. In fact, it was the topic of conversation as we waited for school to be dismissed.
Sigh. The world ends with applause.
Comments
The more stitches, the less riches.
The more stitches, the less riches.