If It Has To be Christmas, Make It Safe and Thoughtful

As a preface to this blog, I must warn you that I’ve been accused by those close to me of being a scrooge on more than one occasion.  Not that I’m cheap; spending has never been a problem for me.  But the whole annual insanity that takes over people as an excuse to consume too much - gifts, food, drinks, whatever - has lost its charm after 50-plus years. 

The appearance of Christmas items in stores sets in a certain dread, as does the proliferation of advertisements, soppy holiday TV shows, and those stupid, stupid, stupid blow up creatures.  I’ve threatened for years to drive around town with a BB gun and assassinate them all.  That has tickled my daughter for years.

Thing One:  I’m an atheist, so the religious context of Christmas doesn’t play with me.  I won’t go into this here out of respect for those who hold some faith, except to say that admitting to atheism is one of the last “outings” of our culture.  So there, I’m out.  And anyway, as far as I can see, Christmas has little to do with Christianity; it’s paganism (which is a bit more palatable, anyway).

Thing Two:  Christmas (or “Holiday Season” as it is PC-ly now called) is an  environmental mine field.  Despite yearly disclosures of toys with high levels of harmful chemicals in them, many are still on the market.  The Consumer Product  Safety Commission and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) have, in 2011, found unacceptably high levels of lead and cadmium in children’s toys, books, or jewelry sold through some of our local store chains.  Lead typically shows up in paint, which is regulated in the U.S. but not in some other countries, like China, where many children’s toys are manufactured.  Lead is also an unregulated component of plastic, and can be released from plastic when exposed to air, sunlight, or detergent.  Lead can cause IQ deficits, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and deficits in vocabulary, fine motor skills, reaction time, and hand-eye coordination (US PIRG 2011).  Lead exposure is not a joke.

Once use of lead was restricted in the U.S., manufacturers started using cadmium in children’s jewelry as a substitute.  While not as overt of a poison as lead, cadmium can delay brain development in young children, cause learning disabilities, and is a carcinogen.  In the recent past, some tested children’s jewelry was found to contain extraordinarily high concentrations of cadmium (like 80 percent).  This finding, and some law suits, led to the development of a voluntary standard for cadmium in toys by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).  Since the standard is voluntary, its use is hit or miss.  Several states have moved to ban the use of cadmium in children’s toys; Rhode Island is not one of them

There are other chemicals of concern in children’s toys and clothing, such as phthalates, BPA, and flame-retardant chemicals like polybrominated diphenyl ethers.  Unfortunately, it is difficult to know when these chemicals are present since disclosure is typically not required.  Parents need to do their homework to make sure the toys they buy are not harmful.

Thing Three: The lights.  Oh, the amount of electricity that is wasted on lights, inside and out.  I’ll admit a few external lights look festive, but some of the over-the-top displays that I have seen this week are just gaudy.  More is NOT better.  I encourage everyone to tone down on the lights to aim for a “visibly silent” night.  And if you are lighting, please use low energy LED lights.  I limit myself to a simple wreath on the door (which has yet to be put up), and that’s about as much exterior decorating as I care to do.  And that is primarily a nod to social pressure.  I could forego any decorating (this includes Halloween) and not lose any sleep over it.  I am not a sentimental sort.

And Thing Four (yeah, I know I’m stretching this Seuss reference): The waste in gift wrapping.  Most gift wrapping paper and ribbons are not recyclable, due to non-paper additives, such as gold and silver coloring, foil, glitter, and plastics.  That makes for a lot of one-time use material that ends up in the landfill.  Options?  The comics section of the Sunday newspaper, plain paper onto which designs are  stamped or drawn, old maps, magazines, or book pages, all of which can be recycled.  These are far more creative and interesting than schmaltzy glittering santas or snowmen.  Or don't wrap at all.  Instead of throwaway ribbons, use cloth ribbons that are saved and reused, or twine, sisal, or hemp that can be composted.  Make this a year to consciously choose wrapping material that isn’t a burden on the environment.

Lastly, overt consumption.  We are hypnotized into buying, buying, and buying more.  One commercial I saw even referred to this time as the “Shopping Season.”  Not even subtle.  Take time to consider what gifts you are giving - are you caving into the “more is better” mindset?  Are you equating love and caring with abundance?  Perhaps, instead, give non-tangible gifts such as lessons or travel.  Make something with your own hands.  Give a family gift to a charity or aid organization to help someone who is less fortunate than you (your gift in return? Soul satisfaction).  Most of us in Barrington have what we need and more; in a real show of holiday spirit, give to those in need.

I appreciate that this season is a welcome distraction from routine hardships, and there is something therapeutic in ignoring economic and environmental impacts for a few weeks.  But we have to live with our decisions.  It would be worthy of celebration if everyone would think a little harder about their holiday habits to make this a safe and thoughtful season.