Tee-Shirts! $10!

by Micah Baldwin

"We will wear these shirts to honor our country on 9-11."

You see, the email was asking who wanted to spend ten bucks on a tee-shirt to commemorate the awful events of a year ago. Now, you will initially think my beef is with the ten bucks. Actually, it's with the sentiment.

We have become a country beset by attention deficit disorder in regards to the true meaning of our actions and loyalties. I mean does anyone wear a Santa hat beyond the one day?

"We will wear Santa hats to honor our gifts on 12-25."

Now that Christmas has become a green and red blinking monument to capitalism, we have forgotten the reason for the season. And no, its not gift getting.

In Berkeley, there is a program called Christmas in April, where a group of students and adults get together to help build something of meaning for the community. While many of the kids are there because it was part of their community service requirements for school, no one left without feeling good about each other. In truth, the proverbial Christmas spirit arrived several months in advance.

After all, Christmas is about celebrating each other and understanding ones place-and responsibilities-in the world. Thanksgiving is another such American holiday.

"We will eat turkey to honor ourselves on 11-27."

Why do we give thanks for our successes one time per year? Trust me, every day I give thanks for what I have accomplished and where I am in life. After all, I don't have to worry about (at least) the first four or five of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.

It is part of the American psyche to overdue everything for short periods of time. Beyond holidays, take drinking. Part of the college experience is binge drinking. For many Americans, this practice begins as early as fourteen, and continues well into their thirties. Obesity is rampant, since most Americans eat fat-free food like its air.

Just once, I would like to see someone in this country change their behavior over the long term. You want to celebrate Christmas, fine, just do something every day to help your fellow man. Want to eat turkey in November, fine, just give thanks every day for what you have. And, if you really want to honor the people who died in the terrorist attacks, then honor their memory by living the best life you can, and helping the people around you live the best lives they can. Make someone smile. Work everyday towards proving the world wrong about America. We are the greatest country in the world, we should be the greatest people, too.

Sorry, Pat, I honor our country every day by doing good. You can keep the shirt.