In the spirit of my previous announcement, I am passing this on. A friend sent it to me this morning and it totally mirrors my thoughts about the Christmas Gift situation. Thank you Susan!
Birth
of a New
Tradition
As the
holidays
approach, the
giant Asian
factories are
kicking into
high gear to
provide
Americans with
monstrous
piles of
cheaply
produced goods
-- merchandise
that has been
produced at
the expense of
American
labor.
This
year will be
different.
This year
Americans will
give the gift
of genuine
concern for
other
Americans.
There is no
longer an
excuse that,
at gift giving
time, nothing
can be found
that is
produced by
American
hands. Oh....
Yes there is!
It is time to
think outside
the box,
people. Who
says a gift
needs to fit
in a shirt
box, wrapped
in Chinese
produced
wrapping
paper?
Everyone
-- yes
EVERYONE gets
their hair
cut. How about
gift
certificates
from your
local American
hair salon or
barber?
Gym
membership?
It's
appropriate
for all ages
who are
thinking about
some health
improvement.
Who
wouldn't
appreciate
getting their
car detailed?
Small,
American owned
detail shops
and car washes
would love to
sell you a
gift
certificate or
a book of gift
certificates.
Are you
one of those
extravagant
givers who
think nothing
of plunking
down the
Benjamins on a
Chinese-made
flat-screen
TV? Perhaps
that grateful
gift receiver
would like his
driveway
sealed, or
lawn mowed for
the summer, or
driveway
plowed all
winter, or
games at the
local golf
course.
There
are a
gazillion
owner-run
restaurants --
all offering
gift
certificates.
And, if your
intended isn't
the fancy
eatery sort,
what about a
half dozen
breakfasts at
the local
breakfast
joint.
Remember,
folks this
isn't about
big National
chains -- this
is about
supporting
your home town
Americans with
their
financial
lives on the
line to keep
their doors
open.
How
many people
couldn't use
an oil change
for their car,
truck or
motorcycle,
done at a shop
run by the
American
working guy?
Thinking
about a
heartfelt gift
for mom? Mom
would LOVE the
services of a
local cleaning
lady for a
day.
My
computer could
use a tune-up,
and I KNOW I
can find some
young guy who
is struggling
to get his
repair
business up
and running.
OK, you
were looking
for something
more personal.
Local crafts
people spin
their own wool
and knit them
into scarves.
They make
jewelry, and
pottery and
beautiful
wooden boxes.
Plan
your holiday
outings at
local, owner
operated
restaurants
and leave your
server a nice
tip.
And,
how about
going out to
see a play or
ballet at your
hometown
theatre.
Musicians need
love too, so
find a venue
showcasing
local bands.
Honestly
people, do you
REALLY need to
buy another
ten thousand
Chinese lights
for the house?
When you buy a
five dollar
string of
light, about
fifty cents
stays in the
community.
If you
have those
kinds of bucks
to burn, leave
the mailman,
trash guy or
babysitter a
nice BIG tip.
You
see, Christmas
is no longer
about draining
American
pockets so
that China can
build another
glittering
city.
Christmas is
now about
caring about
US (We the
People),
encouraging
American small
businesses to
keep plugging
away to follow
their dreams.
And, when we
care about
other
Americans, we
care about our
communities,
and the
benefits come
back to us in
ways we could
not imagine.
THIS is
the new
American
Christmas
tradition!!
Please
pass this
around. We can
make a
difference.
Can't we?
Comments
Blessings,
Jeanneke.