self-absorbed country ever! America's idea of "breaking news" is "Brad Pitt divorces Aniston," when natural disasters happen everywhere worldwide; some people in this country don't know what goes on in other places and some people didn't even know where in the world Iraq was situated until they went to war there, but what shocks me the most is that they start celebrating christmas way b4 advent even starts. Christmas starts the night before christmas; it will make sense if people started getting into it two weeks before the occasion (like most other countries do) instead of getting into it right after thanksgiving, when advent is still weeks ahead.Some people don't even know what advent is, yet, they celebrate christmas. So my question: why do americans start celebrating christmas a month before the church (who came up with the idea of the occasion) starts celebrating it? (I have traveled d world & only in america have i witnessed such behaviour. no offence usa, i love u just the same)
2006-12-04 05:07:52 · 17 answers · asked by Bubbles 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Unfortunately you are right in some cases.
Breaking news are hardly news at all, and they are rarely breaking. The whole CNN/NBC/MSNBC media is catering to the average "customer." While in other countries the news agencies actually inform the customers, here in the us it tells them what they want to hear.
In US the customer(public) is the person who controls the content. The customer "votes" on what they want to hear and what they want to have, and so on. But since the average customer is not very sophisticated, it can be manipulated with very dumb marketing. US does not celebrate Christmas early, it just prepares the mood earlier, maybe because the stores realized that if people start earlier they spend more.
Some argue that because the culture is based so much on consumption the people are very materialistic and lack emotional ties. This is not true. The fact that people spend so much on Christmas is the proof that they do want to provide happiness to their loved ones.
The problem is that people share their emotions very materialistically. This is partly a problem, but a smaller one than it might appear, but I won't go into it here.
In other countries media, art, science is controlled by a central power, this is being avoided in US. This might cause some problems, but they should be dealt with through education, and not by a central power.
2006-12-04 12:59:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi Chris,
First let me just say that I know you meant advent not event some Americans also try to look intelligent and correct people when they should really just shut up. Now, the reason that the season starts so early here is that the majority are not celebrating the birth of Christ. Unfortunately we have forgotten what Christmas is really all about. It has become all about Santa and the elves and the North Pole. It has become all about the biggest and the best gifts. It should be about the best gift, the gift that God gave us when he sent us his son Jesus Christ. We lit the first candle on the advent wreath at church yesterday morning. The sermon was on hope as that is what the first candle stands for.
As for Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie, etc...... this is one American who couldn't care less or be less impressed with bored movie stars and their lives if I tried.
As to Iraq and what's happening there. Some of us are fully aware of what's going on. I hope all the folks over here who are upset about the war on terror and the part we are playing in it feel the same way when they are overthrown by some govt. like Iraq's. I promise, the ones that are crying foul now will be crying even louder when they have no freedom and all the Toys R Us stores are closed and Christmas is no more.
2006-12-04 07:08:10 · answer #2 · answered by Only hell mama ever raised 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
No offense taken - we support freedom of speech. I think it has become an important part of our economy. The percentage of sales during the so-called "Christmas season" (which actually starts early November just after Halloween and doesn't really end until mid January when people are done returning and exchanging gifts) are larger than the entire rest of the year combined. This is unfortunate, but we are free to resist. I have always believed that free-market capitalism was a pillar of democracy, but after working in retail for more than a decade, I find myself offended by the vulgar displays of commercialism - it really goes against the true spirit and meaning of the holidays.
So the short answer to your question is that the season is really a 10 week long boot-camp to teach our children to become greedy consumers who think that happiness is rooted in getting something their parents can't afford. How else do you explain why so many Americans are in debt?
2006-12-04 05:26:01 · answer #3 · answered by my sign 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It's true,It's true,It's true...Americans worry more about Britt';s underwear than she does. But also I do have to say this America will come to anyone's aid the minute of natural or man made disaster. We also are very generous without ever expecting anything in return. We are the greatest nation in the world.Thanks be to a gracious and loving God.
2006-12-04 05:44:20 · answer #4 · answered by B"Quotes 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
no offense taken.. you are right, but this society is very commercialized. the challenge here is that we have many different cultures coming together as well as their faiths, so to cover all of them, we found their one common factor: gift giving.
and since we are all consumers and want to give nice gifts to our loved ones, we have inched our chirstmas holiday closer to thanksgiving to allow time to get all of our shopping done. the retailers have figured this out and have exploited it.
in my native country as in most of latin america, the gift exchange is on jan. 6th, when the wise men reached our saviour.
but now, even that is changing.
i personally keep tradition alive and do not start until advent and we keep this a religious holiday season and i make sure that my son understands it as well.
whatever your holiday spirit, i hope you remember to share the gift of peace.
2006-12-04 05:50:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
First.....I believe you mean event (not advent) and Christmas is not just just an event its a season. We start celebrating the arrival of X-mas early to get everyone in good spirits, this way they spend more money shopping for gifts. Ever notice the music, it always puts people in a relaxing, happy mood. Making people happy to spend money in the joy of gift giving.
2006-12-04 05:16:09 · answer #6 · answered by drockfreak 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
America are consumers, Christmas has become little more than a commodity for most in the USA. Nothing more than an excuse to over indulge in food and drink, spend money and receive gifts.
Welcome to commercialism.
2006-12-04 05:14:04 · answer #7 · answered by smedrik 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
And who is forcing you to stay?
Go back to the place you left.
And don't start a question with "no offense" when that is exactly what you meant to do.
If decorating is celebrating then my goodness put us out to pasture and make us suffer.
LOL I'm sorry but you really need to THINK before you SPEAK.
2006-12-04 05:27:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
well the christmas thing is money motivated. but my mother loves christmas- the lights, tree, music, ect- she's put the x-mas stuff up in July if I din't stop her.
americansdon't have royalty like some countries do. we have celeberties. look how england always talks about the prince's love life- actors and rocks stars our are princes.
and stuff like that takes our mind off unplesant things and the gov likes that we don't always think about their mistakes so they keep things like that going.
it also keeps us happy to know that that the people we idolize have problems to
2006-12-04 05:16:38 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Go back to wherever you came from then! I disagree with your entire statement! If you think all those negative things about us and our country, you do not belong here!
2006-12-04 07:24:27 · answer #10 · answered by Starla_C 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋