Page 4
— SPOKE, Dec.
7,
1998
COMMENTARY
Commercializing Christmas a crime P
erhaps
being broke or the stress of even being
at
latest
The
stores, Furby.
that
a mall
looks
like
Gizmo
towards
warm,
course not. They are just rushing
afternoon has
me
made bitter
the
shar-
caring,
stores en
ing holiday of Christmas, that has
a
into
turned
commercial
bloodbath.
masse because
it
is
children.
twist,
A couple of months before Christmas it was already stated that Furby would be the hit of the season, before it even reached the stores, and the public bought
was a toy
right into
important,
spend some time with parents. But in the same of thought, perhaps the to
over-worked parent of the ’90s
from
feels that if they get the right toy
,
on a Saturday
ease their guilt about not having the time to spend with their
their
vain
stuffed animal,
Gremlins is the latest virtual pet that can talk and be trained to do tricks. Has anyone stopped to look at the appeal of this toy and why consumers want it so bad? Of
As soon as it came out, parents were lined up at 6 a.m. to get into Toys ’R’ Us and other large toy stores to get their hands on a Furby. Instead, they were handed tickets so there would be no fist fighting in the line. In an ironic
want
one example of this is the craze sweeping the toy
Just
it
will
the
toy to get their kid this season.
Studies on child rearing have shown that many children just
it.
I
family spending time with each other that makes the holidays a special time of year for adults and
children alike.
So, as you push through the hordes of shoppers while doing shopping just holiday your
remember
read somewhere that there store that was giving a
gift
was Tickle
Me
is
not
toy
the it
that
parents
is
that
The
can never be bought or sold and will be treasured forever unlike the Furby from Christmas past.
so
is
gift
present.
family and friends because that
Elmo,
the gift craze purchase of 1996. It
the
present that you are spending with
free gift for purchases over $100,
and the
the
isn’t
it
but
counts
and
bjELCome. P\U_
STUDOTT5
Remembering
Will the
W
descriptions you can get a good
Region
idea about violence in our region.
all
be
massacre
memories
aterloo
should proud of It’s
the Montreal
This look
at those incidents isn’t
and the
article
many
acts of
itself.
very
about
itself stresses that
scientific,
[
during emotional times like the point of separating, or while exchanging custody of the kids.
When you standard,
us
affect think
repetitive,
Some women charges
or
love, betrayal, desperation, fear,
Two
stories
least
half
the listing averages out to about
consider the other side of the story.
of the violence
one act of violence every two
around here between is who people know each other.
hours.
There we are sitting safe and sound on our side of the print
killed
On
Nov.
28,
was
for 26 accounts 34 per cent. This does not include the 15 incidents, or 20 per cent, which involved ex’s and incidents, or
Record
the
list
Barrick didn’t say
family
members
of the 76 violent acts that were reported to the police during the region’s “Week without Violence.” Writer Frances
published a
between
Violence
if
the listing
typical, or exceptional in
any
way, but to read through the brief
former boy/girl friends. Together, 41 incidents of they total violence between people who know each other, and have even loved each other. Some of the incidents occurred
also
clippings
whatever. “Yeah, Another domestic.” The other side of the print is where the story came from. This is not about wanting thfeir names in the paper. They are not going to thinking,
cut
this
out
The people think
about
for
the
poor
some time on remember the women little
man
Montreal. Look around.
We
sad, hateful,
don’t have to look that far
away
to
find something to feel bad about.
Good that.
beginning to think you should
in these stories also
those
in
to
by a
other
other
women. police officers are included
count of 25 male victims, and there were seven kids under in the
Look down the street. Look at the faces of the people you work with. Maybe even look at the bruise on your wife’s cheek. You know, the one you don’t remember how she got. The neighbors are
fridge.
people who get abused. thing our life isn’t as bad as
Sunday
30 were women, which were assaulted by
the victims,
about these
and hope. People took
at
Of
five of
violence go unreported.
newspaper,
those faulty steps.
husbands, but be careful about judging that decision. It’s about
and
still,
refused to press abusive their
against
violence,
Even
home?
at
fix
1
2 assaulted.
The rest of the victims are unknown, but if you like you can imagine the faces of people you know, and family you love. These people are particularly worrisome, because without a face, they
became anyone. Pick up this
article.
Read
it.
Talk
your family about it. It’s the diary of our beautiful city, and to turn a blind eye to it does more than ignore it encourages it. to
—
September to May by the Doon The views and opinions expressed
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Keeping Conestoga College connected
Student Association (DSA).
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endorsed by the
SPOKE
is
published and produced weekly by the journalism students of Conestoga College.
Editor: Melanie Spencer;
News
Editor: Jaime Clark; Student Life Editor: Lisa Wilhelm;
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