Go ahead, call me a curmudgeon.
I caught a bit of the most obnoxious HGTV program ever, last night, and that's saying something, because I love watching HGTV. This one was a new program featuring backyard makeovers by Disney imagineers.
Please understand that I'm really glad that the world has had Disneyland, Disney movies, and Disney stories. I'm glad that there's a "happiest place on earth" where you can put your imagination to work and have a great time with your family (at the cost of your next two months' grocery bill, an amount with which you could feed an orphanage full of kids in India).
But in your backyard? With fake stations and a little train that your family can ride around in, stopping at your mother-in-law's house next door? You've got to be kidding!
For me this symbolizes one of the things that has gotten Americans in trouble, and continues to get them in trouble: the feeling that you can have everything, that if you believe it you'll receive it, that everyone can have a palace, a swimming pool and the latest fashions regardless of income level. Everyone gets lucky in this country, everyone can act like a princess or a rock star, and we all can have, buy, play and indulge without having to pay the piper.
Somehow we've got to deal with reality. Budgets are limited, rainy days do come and you need to save for them, what you put into your body affects your quality of life, you can't get something for nothing, dreams for the most part don't come true (thank goodness), risky behaviors will eventually get you in trouble, you do need to get a job and go to work for a number of hours each week, lies will always come back to bite you in the butt, believing in yourself is not the Greatest Good in life, getting awards and titles is not a measure of your worth, true love requires strength and hard choices, and you do have a moral obligation to help those who are poorer than you.
The sooner our children learn those things in our homes and in our backyards, the better off they'll be.
Can I hear an AMEN! :c) Indeed... extravagance to the nauseating extreme.
ReplyDeleteSure wouldn't fit in my backyard.
ReplyDeleteWell said. Suze Orman would be proud!
ReplyDeleteSad to say, a church in our area built a million dollar Disney theme playground in their children's wing. I will refrain from further comments about it...
ReplyDeleteGinger, your comment about feeding an orphanage of children in India really got to me! We Klooster-style folk would never have anyone leave our tables hungry! But, kids grow up faster than a Disney theme park in any backyard. Is that expense worth it? Nope. I feel so badly for: the Joplin, MO. victims, the Katrina folk without a home STILL, the Tennessee folk who are flooded out, the tornado struck MA folk! And this is only in the USA. What about the floods in China, the lack of power in Japan and the war torn Middle East and on and on. How do we help? NOT with backyard Disney theme parks! Read 'The Postmistress' for further examination of feelings. Cousin Karen S.
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