10 Ways we can save the world before Christmas

The roar and whistle of the Christmas Trains, bearing merchandise and new model year automobiles are keeping us awake at night in Foyil, again.

I can't help but think of the Will Rogers quote, "We are consumed by desires to buy things we don't need, with money we don't have, to impress people we don't like."

Cheap merchandise made by exploited labor will be dumped onto America's markets... and sadly, if we keep buying it we drive the exploitation.

Here are some ideas for making this Christmas different, none of which is original, but may give food for though:

1. For the children: Buy tools instead of toys. Children from a young age can begin learning useful skills, and "want to be big". Why give them computer games when we can give them child sized hammers, guitars and shovels?

2. Plan a simple Christmas now, before toxic madness starts. Set people free by allowing them to give gifts if that is their desire, but offering alternatives. We can say, "This year, our family will be... I hope you understand."

3. Refuse to participate in meaningless exchanges that are a hardship on others. Suggest the office party, Scout holiday gathering or church fellowship feature a simple luncheon and donations to a charity instead of an expensive spread with Secret Santa gifts.

4. Find a "Working Poor" family to assist, and help them get meaningful gifts with good play value instead of cheap trinkets. Between those who can afford Christmas, and those who qualify for "Toys for Tots" there is a swath of people who often overspend at the last minute using credit because they panic. A nice Lego block set will give many more hours of delight than this year's movie-themed action figures, and are often overlooked in the haste.

5. Invite international guests of our country for a special event, or to your family holiday meal. Get to know people from other nations. Prepare by reading cultural understanding books, such as "A Deadly Misunderstanding" (Siljander) "The Ugly American" (Burdick, Lederer) or The Faith Club (Idliby et al).

6. Read "Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television" and turn off Madison Avenue's version of reality. Recognize that the "advertising is the message, the show is the packaging".

7. Reduce the buying of cheap merchandise that draws people away from food production in their own lands, and into dead-end jobs in factories.

8. Buy fresh, buy local, buy real - not food grown by child labor and contaminated by the latest "Agent Orange" type of substance, but food grown by knowledgeable, caring farmers.

9. Give up recreational drugs. As long as our Billion$ fuel the machine, the drug lords will thirst for our blood.

10. Be thoughtful about those who will be forgotten this holiday season. Those who have lost loved ones in the past year, who have lost jobs, moved to a new community or been robbed may not feel much like celebrating but appreciate a small gesture that says, "I'm thinking of you."