Just don’t believe all that recession hype
NOW THAT WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF the holidays, let the shopping begin, the anger at the stupidity of other drivers, the parking lot brain death, and the joy of the season ring out across the land. ’Tis the season for shopping, and with that comes the inevitable — parking chaos. Traffic officers are sprouting all across our fair city. Fourth Street is awash in traffic cones, meter maids writing tickets as quickly as their little printers can print, all the while accompanied by the symphony of frustrated drivers honking at someone who is desperate to get that “good” parking spot on the first level, while causing traffic to back up onto the street for a block.
The good news is that the heavier the traffic, the better our economy must be doing, both locally and nationally. While on the one hand, the political pundits are prep-ping the country for a recession, with their talk of continued depressed real estate prices and higher joblessness, the shops and malls are telling another tale.
I went this past Sunday to pick up a gift for a friends’ birthday, she asked for iTunes, so I had to go to the Apple Store on the promenade.As I came up Fourth Street, each of the three parking structures were near full and had lines of cars honking their way in and causing general mayhem.
Coming down Second Street was no better. Those lots were packed and had streams of cars also trying to get a spot. Thanks to a lucky break on my part, I was able to find a spot on the street, as someone was just leaving. I grabbed my dog, and we began the trek along the promenade, and it was like something just short of a teen pop idol concert. The mall was jammed with people.
There was the usual congregation of listeners as a group of carolers performed near Wilshire, lending a festive air to the whole experience. I was jostled by many folks who were running with packages and bags filled with gifts for their loved ones.
The Apple Store was a hub of shoppers whipping out their credit cards to make Steve Jobs a richer man. Every seat was taken at the pub I was going to stop in and get a warming cup of joe.
“Revenue reduction.” — Making a christmas tree a is as pointless dou-blespeak as calling a tax cut a
“Holiday tree”
The promenade looks great this year. The “wintery” feel of the displays, however, are reminders that there are those who want to abolish all symbols of the holidays, or rename them into linguistic nonsense. Making a Christmas tree a “holiday tree” is as pointless doublespeak as calling a tax cut a “revenue reduction.” No one wants to rename a menorah a “holiday candle holder.” That would be stupid. It is what it is.
I love this time of year: It creates a wonderful space for us to express how we feel about each other; it is a time to share more than the crass commercialization of the season; and it is a time to share more than our individual religious differences. It is a time that should make us go beyond our differences and share in our humanity.
As a society, we change our focus at this time of year. The message from the marketers is one of consumption, but the charities are out loud and proud about helping others, for me, it is a welcome respite from the constant drum of “buy this to be happy” and “you’re not enough unless you look like this,” as much as I disagree with much of what the Salvation Army does, at this time of year, their message of love and helping others, rings out like their volunteers who ring their bells, seeking our change.
This year, when clearly the economy is doing better than the pundits would have us believe, take a break from the shopping and go do something that makes a difference in the lives of those who have less than you. It doesn’t have to be a major event, just something small like go help out at a shelter,or make some sandwiches and give them out to people who have less than you, you’ll find them on the promenade or at the freeway entrances and exits.
You won’t solve the problems of this world alone, but you can contribute to the solutions. When there is so much bad news in the air, and so many things wrong with the planet, it is tempting to escape into a frenzy of shopping and forget the things of real value.
It will be a great day when the charities have to turn people away who wanted to help, instead of those who needed help.
DAVID PISARRA is a family law attorney in the Santa Monica firm of Pisarra & Grist. He or (310) 664-9969.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 18, 2007. Read the original PDF.