The commercialism applied and irrevecobly linked with Christmas these days has really been getting me down. My love of Christmas has faded more and more every year since I was little. This year is particularly depressing what with the seperation of my church and minister due to the church's lack of funds. The Christmas season, a season for giving, is a weird time to have so much being taken by everyone. So much of our culture is about taking, even giving is about taking it seems, since so many people seem centered on themselves and how their "image" looks to others. Some people only give to be SEEN giving and this completely defeats the purpose of giving anything.
It is easy to forget the world we live in when we become entrenched in our comfortable lives. We live i.n a world fraught with anger and hate and greed, so it is important to remember, not just at Christmas, but every day, love and kindness and selflessness.
I read an article today about seven Mountain Gorillas who were shot in the Congo last spring. There are only 270 of these amazing creatures left in the world, and seven were brutally shot in cold blood. Why? Most probably to implicate a man trying to end the corruption surrounding the charcoal mafia in the Congo which is destroying the forests and the people in the region. He has not given up though, and the park rangers along with the UN are working harder than ever despite the extreme danger of the job. Over 110 rangers were killed in a span of months.
The sheer desperation of the people made me feel... terrible. These magnificent animals were shot and killed seemingly for no reason, just so a few people could continue to lead their lives stealing money, comfortable with the people dying all around them. The leaders have blood on their hands, but are able to continue with their lives, seen giving to others, merely to be seen giving, drawing more and more support day by day.
