Yesterday a board meeting finished early (it had already been a 9-hour day anyhow), and I decided to give myself a little vacation. Instead of going back to my office, I came home and turned on the television. I happened across the home shopping network, and watched with some fascination for a while. It was like watching a good-looking train wreck.The host was using the word "important." This design is "important" these days. Notice these "important" metal studs on this purse. The cutouts on these strappy shoes give them an "important" look. Methinks she was protesting a bit much. And it struck me as rather odd.
Who cares if there are metal studs on a purse? People's houses have been burning down in California. And to bring it closer to home, I have two friends fighting with late-stage cancer, the son of another with leukemia, another just had a brain tumor removed, and another one died in the last month. How important are metal studs, did you say?
Who cares if these platforms on the shoes make them more sturdy so you can wear them all day? There are so many people around the world without shoes. A friend of mine, paralyzed by an infection in the spine last year, can't walk at all.
Who cares if the sheen of the handbag changes color as you turn it in the light? More than half the world can't even begin to believe it when you say a $99 purse is bargain basement. They could eat for three months on that cost. More and more children are going hungry right here in America, and you believe that twisty-belted dress that slims you is "important?"
It struck me as watching idolatry. You "have to" love a certain blouse because it's loose enough that people won't see your "love handles." You "can't resist" these shoes because they have buckle ankle straps that show off the skinny model's legs (and of course yours will look that lovely, as well). This purse--trust us, ladies--is the latest style, and of course it's crucial to completing your classy look from the tip of your head all the way down to your toes. Forget Gucci, Anna Sui and Chanel; "Miss Tina" has exactly the style to make you perfect, and all at this special low, low price.
This is ridiculous.
God did not intend, I think, for us to admire Things or to buy, buy, buy with that frantic, hungry glint in our eye.
Be it the Home Shopping Network, Publisher's Clearing House and their alluring promises and order forms, or all those catalogs coming to your house about this time of year, I believe it all preys upon our human penchant for idolatry (I challenge you to identify what the idol is). And if I remember correctly, idolatry was the first thing we are instructed to put away when God said "thou shalt not...."
Ginger
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for writing this.
Our consumerism is really exemplified by watching buying shows on tv...crazy, just crazy isn't it?I feel the same way.
Mim
I know of someone who went through all his money and had a $40,000 credit card debt when he died in his 50s. He bought from the Shopping Channel all the time and had 2oo pens, large amounts of jewellery and many other unused items he couldn't resist purchasing. His father is one of my patients... so sad. His case is extreme but there are people who believe the word "Important" too much.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, nice use of a Shakespeare quote. :) (See, that education paid off!)
ReplyDeleteSecondly, I hate the HSN. I don't even get far enough into it to think about what they're saying...it's HOW they're saying it that drives me crazy as soon as the channel comes on.
And you have an excellent point about the word "important."