IMAGINE A WORLD OF GIVERS

(condensed)

Our culture of greed has transformed the holidays into a shopping-obsessed season of gluttony. In a world torn apart by hunger and war, the perfect salve might be charity.

Cal Thomas is a conservative columnist. Bob Beckel is a liberal Democratic strategist. But as longtime friends, they can find common ground on issues that lawmakers in Washington cannot. Today: Giving and the holiday season.

Bob: ‘Tis the season, Cal. Decorations went up in stores before Thanksgiving and in some places, before Halloween. I heard Christmas carols on the radio in late October. And then there’s Sony’s latest video game player, PlayStation 3 which has just gone on sale. In Wisconsin, a man was hurt in a shopping stampede. Another man in Putnam, Conn., was shot as he waited to buy a PlayStation 3. In California, cops had to close a Wal-Mart as crowds overwhelmed the store. Here’s the sad part: Sony initially provided only 400,000 units at $500 each, and panic buying ensued. Of course, millions of these units will reach the market soon enough. But I don’t think holiday merchandising could get any crasser.

Cal: I am old enough to remember the time when we valued people more than things, Bob. The rush at this time of year to buy things we don’t need with money we don’t have comes partly from the guilt many of us feel for having neglected our children all year long. Some think they can “buy” the love of their kids. Others are afraid to say “no” to anything their children ask for. They might fear disapproval, not only from them, but from their neighbours who practice holiday giving with the same competitiveness they treat everything else.

Bob: What this reflects is a culture of greed that is affecting more than just holiday shopping. I can’t take my son to a Washington Redskins game (with good seats) for less than $300. In America’s selective affluence, rich kids get hundreds of things they don’t need, while poor kids can’t get their basic needs met. The value of extended families coming together to celebrate Christ’s birth is over-shadowed by the value of the presents the family member bring to the festivities.

Cal: The Department of Commerce reported retail sales in the fourth quarter of the year at $960.3 billion. And according to the American Research Group, Americans plan to spend on average $942 per family on holiday gifts. That’s more than the annual gross national income per capita of each of the 54 countries the World Bank categorizes as having “low-income economies.” With millions starving to death and afflicted with disease all over the world, this is obscene.

Bob: Like any other parent, I love to see the excitement in the eyes of my kids on Christmas morning. I also overdo decorating inside, and out and in the process award my electric company with a big bonus. But it seems, not only the meaning of the holidays fades more and more each year, but so does the spirit. I don’t mean holiday spirit, but the spirit of a family together; the spirit of reaching out to those who are alone during the holidays and bringing them into our homes; the spirit that comes with collecting toys for poor children, or playing Santa at a nursing home and not charging a fee. Those are the gifts of the human spirit, and they are priceless!

Cal: I have rarely agreed on anything with you as much as this, Bob. Last winter, I discovered an intriguing program run by the humanitarian agency World Vision (www.worldvisiongifts.org). For small amounts of money, you can buy a goat ($75) for a man in a poor African country that will allow him to sustain his family. Or, you can pay for a sewing machine and lessons ($270) for a woman living in a Third World country to help her feed and clothe her kids. A fishing kit for a hungry family. This is the kind of thing all of us should be doing. It blesses the giver even more than the receiver. Helping poor people get on their feet in this way beats wasteful welfare programs of the government.

Bob: And for people who are wary of charities or don’t know where to start, the website Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org) is smart starting point. You can choose your cause and make sure that your hard-earned cash is put to good use.

Cal: Excellent idea, Bob. When the “Founder” of Christmas said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” He meant that giving to others – especially those who cannot give back – does something in our hearts and spirits. Our culture doesn’t adequately celebrate this kind of giving. We celebrate celebrities.

Bob: That’s why now we are getting out of the Christmas spirit.

Cal: We need to think differently about what matters most in life. And this is not a $500 PlayStation 3 which will be outdated as soon as Sony makes a more advanced model. It is about changing another life for the better. This isn’t charity. It is an investment in other lives that will pay dividends for them, for their nation and improve the prospects of peace. You won’t get that from a video game. That is truly a gift that will keep on giving.

Bob: I just wish we were able to deliver that gift.

(from editirialpage.usatoday.com)

Text 5