I’m bad at coming up with titles
By Carl Staab

Ahhh, Christmas.  When I think of Christmas, I think of love.  And presents.  And religion.  And presents.  And family.  And presents.  And old classics like A Christmas Carol.  With the Spirit of Christmas Present.
	Around this time of year, it’s easy to fall into a one-track mindset.  I’m not saying that we always do, but there’s certainly the opportunity.  After all, television advertising is much less diverse than my opening paragraph; it’s all about the presents.  The problem with Christmas nowadays is that it’s just too commercialized.
	If you’re still reading after I unloaded the biggest cliché of all Christmas editorials, thank you.  Everyone says that Christmas is becoming too commercialized.  There are too many toys and not enough love on the airwaves, too much money and certainly not enough moderation.  Right?
	Business is business.  Christmas is the best selling time of the year for most retailers; of course they’re going to run advertisements.  Businesses are out to make a profit; as long as they don’t take advantage of a customer, that’s fine.  Companies are justified in doing anything they want that isn’t actually immoral.  If they use a few seconds of their paid commercial time to sincerely say “Merry Christmas,” that’s even better.
	Whose fault is it then?  Well, if Christmas advertisements didn’t work, businesses wouldn’t run them.  It’s people who let this holiday become such a commercial event.  People decide how their Christmas should be, and the companies only respond to demand.  Christmas advertisements will only hurt your holiday season if you let them, just like any other commercials.
I plan to have a relaxing break from school, a fun time with my family, and some laughs seeing How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  (Both versions, hopefully.)  Sure, I’ll give presents, and I’ll get them, and I really enjoy that.  It’s part of Christmas.  But if I forget the other things that Christmas means to me, it will be no one’s fault but my own.
	So, make sure that you have a happy New Year (the first of the new millennium by our calendar), enjoy the break from school, catch up on your sleep, and, most of all, have a merry Christmas.