I would like to open this entry with wishing everyone a happy holiday season and fabulous New Year!
This time of year should be a time for family and friends--irregardless of ones religious affiliations as we have statutory holidays. This one day, December 25, should bring everyone together. We will probably never see complete world peace, but we can definitely do everything in our power to encourage it. Many gays and lesbians are alienated from their families year round due to homophobia. Some people talk of something called Christmas spirit where one is caring of others, giving, and jolly--oh how far from this we are as a society.
Through my own experiences volunteering at a GLBT centre and other non-profits I've witnessed and heard of so many heart breaking stories. Many of these stories become realities as a result of ignorance, hate, and discrimination. The injustices in this world really weigh me down sometimes. I fight with feelings of wishing for apathy and a happily ignorant life and wanting to go out in the world and change it for the better. Thank goodness its always the latter which occurs.
Walking around stores before Christmas is really eye opening as to how many of us in the West live. People bitch and complain about not having much money to spend on gifts, especially this year with the economic shit hitting the fan. Others complain about travelling during the holidays. What most people have in common is selfishness. Hundreds of people toting bags full of crap hurry by canvassers for humanitarianism. Frankly, many of these people just don't give a rats ass about anyone else but themselves, maybe their families, and probably loved ones. Its sad.
People in our own communities are hungry, have no shelter, face abuse at home, and have no gifts for Christmas. Across the world people die of things like diarrhea, malaria, cholera, and child birth. All of these plights can be easily remedied. Ten to twenty five cents can save a life by curing diarrhea or cholera. Re-directing three days of global military spending would put every child on earth in school. If every privileged person donated even two percent of their income to worthy causes our world would be very different. But wait, the new iPod just came out.
I'm guilty of being somewhat materialistic (I lloovvee my iPhone). However, I'm a regular volunteer and supporter of charities. For Christmas this year I wanted to get something meaningful for my boyfriend and I but we don't really need anything. So while everyone else was too busy lugging their shopping bags full of shit past the canvassers I stopped and sponsored a child from Malawi. His name is Noel. Helping change someone's life is an amazing feeling and the best gift I've ever gotten or given. One doesn't need to live a life completely devoid of luxuries, one just needs to think and care for others too. Its really not that hard. Sponsor a child or donate to a charity every month and eat out one or two times less per month. Volunteer for a couple hours a month. Smile, say thank you, and be friendly.
We have it really fucking good here in Canada. Lets be mindful and helpful to those who are less fortunate.
A holiday greeting from my partner and I.
Disclaimer: I am an atheist. Christmas for me has NO religious/spiritual significance. Its about family, friends, and love.
Posts
