A Commercialized Christmas While North Korea Weeps

We don't get the opportunity to cover hot-button issues facing the world or nation, as we are localized to Kalkaska, so to blog on nationally topical matters is a great way to broaden our reach -- and we shall do so from time-to-time. And there's no time like the present.

BLACK FRIDAY: A PRELUDE TO CHRISTMAS?

Christmas is four days away, but don't jump up, get your car keys and head out to the busy stores just yet.

While it has become trite for columnists and news correspondents around the country to preach about how commercialized Christmas has been, for so many years now, it truly is evident in every way: retailers have turned a religious, family holiday into one when people trample each other, pepper spray innocent strangers and cause intense traffic jams for nothing more than to save a few bucks on trivial items.

Despite that fact, I joined the masses on Black Friday this year, and last.

Even so, I consider myself  a man apart from those searching for the lowest prices on the lowest products of importance, because I, perhaps selfishly, merely bought things for... myself (and my spouse). Not items to gift-wrap and save for Christmas, more like items to use immediately: new bed sheet-set with comforter, a couple sale-priced DVDs, and a microwave.

To me, it was simply another day of shopping, though the surroundings were vastly different.

I meandered quietly into a brawling, vicious department store and slowly perused items for purchase, as I would anytime during the year. AND, I didn't rush out my door -- this year people begin at 11 p.m. Thursday evening -- to stand, half-frozen, waiting to grab something worthless. My purchases, which I neither trampled nor pepper-sprayed to obtain, were items useful to me and purchased much later in the day.

Nah, my Christmas shopping has yet to be completed. No worries.

So, Christmas as a commercial ploy nowadays? You bet. But those out there, I'm sure, still recognize the significance of Christmas, regarding its religious aspect. Everyone loves gifts, but, as a 24-year-old, it's a shame even I've noticed people are going much, much too far off the True Meaning of Christmas path. Let's hope future generations -- as trends unfortunately seem to follow -- doesn't progress even further away from Christmas's true meaning. Be with family, friends and surround yourself with warmth, comfort and love. Include some gifts, a midnight mass (if you so choose), an appropriate dinner (or brunch), and that's a well-rounded Christmas.

Even if you're not a religious person, Christmas should have a special meaning to everyone who celebrates the holiday, but, excluding small children, it shouldn't revolve solely around materialism.

One place Christmas is most certainly not celebrated is North Korea.

On Saturday, one of the world's most-feared leaders died, at 69 years old: Kim Jong Il, after nearly 18 years as Supreme Leader of North Korea.

Still considered a country relatively few Americans know beyond media depiction, despite journalist Diane Sawyer's well-rounded, exploratory journey in and around the secretive country a few years ago, Kim was a figure of absolute power to his people and many in the West deemed his "teachings" and style of ruling as brainwashing.

In the desolate country, there is a sort of tyrannical repression, with relatively no public freedoms as the government has mostly complete control over all aspects of life.

Kim's son, Kim Jong Un, was immediately announced as "The Great Successor," during the announcement of his father's death, which was reportedly caused by a massive heart attack while Kim was traveling outside Pyongyang via train.

Though peace should be a requisite for the world, it is famously seldom obtained. The death and subsequent transfer of power to Kim's son could mean a positive change for the blind-followers of North Korean government. But, as the saying goes, like father, like son.

See you soon. 

Bryce Martin - Leader & Kalkaskian Editor