New York City is portrayed as
what many would call “The Jingle Bell City” through many movies and shows
relating to Christmas and other end of the year celebrations. Living in New
York City during winter can be grueling with strong freezing winds and snow
that looks like charcoal, but there’s one thing not even the Grinch can deny,
the beauty of New York City during Christmas time. As I was walking out of
Fordham Lincoln Center today, I noticed a beautiful Nativity Scene displayed
right in the Main entrance to campus.
Looking at this gorgeous yet humble piece made me realize
the humble reasons why we celebrate this glorious holiday. On December 25th
billions of people across the world gather up with their families and relatives
to celebrate the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ. Christmas is a time of
family reunion, a time where Christians come together to celebrate what can be
seen as the start of their religion, the start of their calendar. This isn’t the
case in many Christmas celebrations we see today. Capitalism has changed the
reasons why people celebrate Christmas. People aren’t celebrating the birth of
our savior, but the expensive gifts they are being given. Capitalism is ruining
Christmas. The overwhelming majority of people spend thousands of dollars
decorating houses and public spaces and not for a second think why they’re
actually doing it. In the cab ride home I kept thinking about this issue and I couldn’t
stop thinking about Dorothy day and her critiques against capitalism and over
extravagant lifestyles.
Dorothy Day
as we all know left a life full of luxuries and riches to one with the bear
minimum, in order to suffer and help others. She devoted her life to the idea
that everyone should be equal and no one should live a life of un-necessary
luxuries. As we drove down 5th avenue I kept noticing how this once
humble celebration. I kept asking my-self why has capitalism attacked such a holly
holiday. As I was pulling into my building I noticed this huge Christmas tree
decorated in fine arrangements. I normally would’ve walked right by it, maybe
think to my-self: “oh this is nice.” And carry on with my day, but today I
stopped and thought, do people even know why we celebrate this holiday. Is
capitalism the only reason why this tree looks so grand or is it truly the community’s love for Jesus?
Judging
from what I know about my fellow neighbors, I think this tree looks like this
because of the fancier is better mindset a lot of them have. This tree doesn’t celebrate
our Saviors birth in any way nor does it tie back with the religion. It’s the cause
of a capitalistic, money hungry society that will exploit everything including
the birth of our Savior. Though it is grand and luxurious, it is empty, and
holds no merit. As Dorothy Day felt when she was living her extravagant life.
The humble nativity scene truly represents Christmas and what Christmas is all
about. Thanks to this course I am able to automatically address these issues
and truly understand why things are how they are. It has given me background in
order to analyze this current situation in real life.
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