FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2013 THE NEW MEXICAN SECTION D
gen e
Time Out D-2
n o i t ra
for and by teens
From left, Isaiah Anaya, Alex George and Jonothan Anaya do some shopping.
Season of giving or buying? As commercialism permeates holiday season, teens find ways to give back
MOVIES Holiday movie magic By Emily Davis
Story and photo by Elizabeth Sanchez Generation Next
“iTouch and iTouch and iTouch/because in a world/where there are voices that are only read/and laughter is never heard/ or I’m so desperate to feel/that I hope the Technologic can never reverse the universe/so the screen can touch me back/ and maybe it will/When our technologic is advanced enough … to make us human again.” — Marshall Davis Jones, “Touchscreen” poken word poet Marshall Davis Jones is not alone in his belief that technology has expanded over most First World countries — and particularly among youth. Commercialism today is often tied to increased need for hip clothing and the newest version of iPhones or Xboxes, among other technology — particularly during the holiday season. And it really begins when Black Friday encroaches onto Thanksgiving Day, as it did this year, when stores began opening around 8 p.m. Thursday. Not all teens embrace that idea. As Capital High School student Isaiah Anaya said, “I don’t really like it. Thanksgiving is about being thankful for what you have.” Instead of spending the entire day with family, he noted, “people are leaving at 6 p.m. to go to Black Friday shopping.” His brother, Jonothan Anaya, agreed: “That’s all they have during the holidays — just shopping.” The brothers, along with their friend Alex George, a Highlands University student, agree that such commercialism is a positive for
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business growth and jobs. Still, George said, it also creates “impulse buying,” deprecating the human capacities of emotion and understanding as phones grow more important than faceto-face interaction and school work. Jonothan Anaya clarified this when he said, “Teens just want to go get stuff. They don’t really care about sharing. They want it for them[selves].” Dolores Vigil, a Catholic religious education instructor who has worked with teens, said that children learn by example from a young age. “Many parents do not make quality time with their children a way of life and instead may compensate time with ‘things,’ ” she said. This can develop into the appeal of advertisements promoting self-centered actions. “It’s all about how you can feel and look better,” she said. “I rarely see anything that encourages doing for others.” Vigil said holiday-related creations such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Polar Express and the many alterations of St. Nicholas are an attempt to “sell a childhood.” Commercialism drives yearly purchases as these and other copyrighted images flash on the television and computer screen and sit on the shelves every holiday season. Vigil believes that companies find profit margins more enticing than the moral values of consumers and that the true meaning of Christmas gets lost along the way. Vigil cites a lack of parental and church involvement in teens’ lives as playing a role in this issue. Not everyone feels this way, of course. “I don’t think that teens are becoming more selfish because there are so many ways to donate during the holiday season and I feel that a lot of teens do donate food, time and toys to
What is the best or worst ornament you ever saw?
Alistair Fene, New Mexico School for the Arts “The ugliest ornament was a trash can.”
Maggie Bennet, Academy for Technology and the Classics “The prettiest was a glass snowflake.”
Lizzy Hypes, Los Alamos High School “[The prettiest] was a pure crystal ornament in Vienna and it lit up when the lights hit it.”
Dacien Villa, Santa Fe High “The ugliest is my treetop star.”
those in need,” said St. Michael’s High School student Valerie Angel, who was a Black Friday shopper this year. Others, such as Liz Hands, a team-leader assistant at the Interfaith Community Shelter in Santa Fe, take a more impartial stance on the subject. She does agree that commercials encourage everyone to “buy, buy, buy” via constant advertisements that have become a “major part of our culture.” But Hinds believes many teens are unaffected by such ads, and many donate to the shelter’s Community Closet, which supplies articles of clothing for the needy. She said many teens and youth groups play a role in running the shelter. Tom Ortiz, a former board member and regular volunteer at the shelter, said that becoming directly involved with the less fortunate “teaches compassion more than just donating goods and money.” So perhaps there is hope. According to Dolores Vigil, if children are influenced by adults to help someone with even a simple task — walking the dog or washing the dishes — they may be more likely to understand the importance of other human beings. “When children are taught to give back, they will learn the spiritual and personal value of community service,” she said. The world can progress from this standpoint; it may just be a matter of education through human interaction. Teen volunteers are proof that an answer may be waiting at the front door — it’s just up to each individual to risk peeking outside. Elizabeth Sanchez is a junior at Santa Fe High. Contact her at elizabethann97@hotmail.com.
SPEAK OUT Louise Browne, New Mexico School for the Arts “The prettiest ornament I’ve ever seen would have to be something I made in kindergarten.”
COMPILED BY RAINA WELLMAN
Emi Trujillo “The prettiest ornament I’ve ever seen is a Pokeball.”
Laura Garett, Santa Fe Prep “The prettiest ornament I’ve ever seen is a glass blue bird. Blue birds always remind my mom of her grandmother. After my grandmother died, my mom would go outside and always find a bluebird feather.”
My View: This Christmas, save the elves! By Aaron Stevens Generation Next
Since the settlement of the Jamestown colony some four centuries back, human beings have sought to improve their working conditions while laboring in a variety of fields, including indentured servitude, tailoring, mining, law-enforcement, public transportation and professional sports. These workers have used time-honored tactics to get what they want: striking, rioting and fighting management. While this may have been an uphill battle for both the working man and working woman, today, labor laws worldwide are infinitely more labor-friendly than they were in the 1600s. Yet in a travesty still ignored by the media, a handful of humanoid workers continue to toil in near slavery. I’m talking about the elves of the North Pole, a group heralded by small children, Christmas carolers, Will Ferrell and apparently no one else. For centuries they have built toys for good children and mined coal for bad ones without any payment, vacation time,
injury compensation or civil rights. A number of unique factors have prevented elfin liberation. First and foremost, the North Pole’s status as a noncountry means there are no labor laws and no legislative body to create them. Santa Claus has no apparent desire to change the status quo, either. Another key factor is the widely held misconception that elves are fictitious. This has stymied attempts by elfin leaders to bring Santa Claus to justice in international courts. In 1996, then United Nations Secretary-General Boutrous Boutrous-Ghali reportedly asked member nations to “quit prank-calling [him] about elves,” which was a stinging blow to elfin labor leader Boridrhen Hoffa. An alleged attempt to bring Santa to trial in International Criminal Court was ruled out of order by Judge Jakob Cuno Tarfusser because “crimes against elfinity” was not a charge recognized by the ICC. From what I can tell, direct negotiations with Santa Claus have been equally fruitless. The North Pole is a de facto dictatorship, one
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The Santa Fe Concert Association presents
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so leader-obsessed and hermetic that it rivals North Korea, though Santa Claus looks more like an ancient, obese Fidel Castro than Kim Jong Un. Unlike Hugo Chávez, Robert Mugabe or any number of well-known dictators, Santa Claus remains a beloved figure whose personality cult is worshipped worldwide. Few international observers can see the other side of Claus — the unsaintly Nick whose abuse of elf workers make the labor practices found in Chinese iPhone factories seem downright progressive in comparison. Yet Claus remains immortal and continues to be successful in sweeping his unfair labor practices under the rug. Quite simply, North Pole elves have become victims of an archaic, oppressive system for far too long. The world cannot continue to support Santa Claus’ twisted agenda, even if we do like the shiny new gifts he drops down our chimneys every Dec. 25. Aaron Stevens is a junior at Santa Fe Prep. Contact him at aaronbstevens1@gmail.com.
Generation Next
Christmas is right around the corner, and thus ’tis the season for hot chocolate, snowmen, caroling, open fires — and holiday films. With nothing to do but count the sleeps until those tempting presents will finally be yours, what better way to celebrate this time of year than a marathon of Christmas movies? You might feel paralyzed with indecision at the dozens (if not hundreds) of wintry film options out there, but never fear: These five wellknown Christmas films are centered completely on the holiday and can be enjoyed by anyone wanting something to watch on a snowy (or not) evening. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946, pictured) Acclaimed actor James Stewart plays George Bailey, a man who continually sacrifices his dreams to help others attain their dreams in the small town of Bedford Falls. His desperate contemplation of a Christmas Eve suicide summons his guardian angel Clarence (Henry Travers), who helps George realize how much good he has done in the world and how rich he is in friendship and love. Though this film performed poorly at the box office when it was first released, it has become a Christmas staple for its heartwarming message about the importance of humility and affection. Miracle on 34th Street (1947) Is Santa Claus a real figure or just a fairy-tale character designed to enchant children? When Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) takes on the job of department store Santa at Macy’s, he claims to be the real thing, igniting disbelief in practical-thinking store employee Doris Walker (Maureen O’Hara) and wonder in Doris’ daughter Susan (Natalie Wood). When the dispute becomes a nationwide controversy, Doris and Susan must decide whether they have the courage and faith to truly believe. With its gentle humor and heartfelt emoting, this film reminds us never to lose our childlike innocence and Christmas faith. White Christmas (1954) Two World War II veterans (played by Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye) become famous entertainers and come across the lovely Haynes sisters (played by Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen). A Christmas retreat to a failing Vermont inn, run by the former general of the boys’ military unit, sparks an elaborate plan to attract sorely needed guests. With this, of course, comes romance and misunderstandings galore, as well as a generous helping of warm holiday spirit. The movie comes complete with a wide variety of musical numbers, including Irving Berlin’s beloved “White Christmas.” A Christmas Story (1983) This nowclassic comedy follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker, who desperately wants a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas, circa 1940. Though he dreams up many hilarious schemes to procure one, he is constantly thwarted by boring adults who warn him, “You’ll shoot your eye out.” Ralphie is persistent, and he hangs onto his wish through terrifying encounters with the school bully, overturned Christmas turkeys, the nonsensical rages of his old man and more. A Christmas Story remains a truthful and humorous depiction of an ordinary family and the amusement the holidays bring to domestic life. The Polar Express (2002) Yes, it is an animated movie, but it’s one that Christmas enthusiasts of all ages can enjoy. One Christmas Eve, a young boy who is unsure of the existence of Santa Claus is picked up by the magical Polar Express and taken for a ride to the North Pole. Along the way he meets a horde of other hopeful children, a ghostly hobo who lives on top of the train, tiny elves, restless reindeer, and — possibly — Santa Claus himself. With its welldrawn characters and lush animation, The Polar Express is a cheering reminder of the Christmas spirit that lives within all of us. Emily Davis is a junior at Santa Fe Prep.
CHRISTMAS SFCA ORCHESTRA
Caroline Goulding, violin soloist Joseph Illick, conductor Shcolnik March and Fugue Beethoven Symphony No. 4 Beethoven Violin Concerto in D Major
EVE CONCERT December 24, 5:00pm Lensic