The day after Thanksgiving commerce returns with a vengeance as the Christmas shopping period begins in earnest. The day is known as Black Friday. It is spreading to the UK, although the date is meaningless there. The term comes from Philadelphia, where it was used to describe the first day in the year where stores made a profit - having been in the red since the beginning of the year. Now it heralds fantastic deals, at least enough to draw people in. In some places it starts the previous day, and people queue outside from a ridiculous time to pick up a bargain.
For us it was a day of recovery. We breakfasted at Hardee's quite late in the morning. Friday is normally a fasting day for me, but that is always suspended when I'm away on holiday.
Later we went to look at the house that Karen & Robert are thinking of buying. It is split level - the type of house I've always wanted, but never managed to find. It will also need lots of work if they choose to go ahead.
There was a small amount of shopping to do, after that we played couch potatoes for a while.
Problems with the American dream
I mentioned yesterday that I have some problems with the American dream. The main problem is that the pursuit of happiness can never achieve its goal. It is a hard task-master and will grind you into the ground. Happiness is found in other ways, these normally involve selfless acts of service.
Inalienable rights leads down the much discredited European road, where the Human Rights Convention constantly throws up conflicts (because the declared rights are not hierarchical), it also leads to the selfish act of demanding 'my rights'. The Bible shows a better way. Jesus said "love your neighbour as yourself", if we can"t get to that then let's try the golden rule - "do to others as you would have them do to you" and if we can't get to there at least let's talk about our responsibilities.
Finally, one persons attempts to achieve the dream cannot be allowed to inhibit others, this is a very difficult balance to find.
For us it was a day of recovery. We breakfasted at Hardee's quite late in the morning. Friday is normally a fasting day for me, but that is always suspended when I'm away on holiday.
Later we went to look at the house that Karen & Robert are thinking of buying. It is split level - the type of house I've always wanted, but never managed to find. It will also need lots of work if they choose to go ahead.
There was a small amount of shopping to do, after that we played couch potatoes for a while.
Problems with the American dream
I mentioned yesterday that I have some problems with the American dream. The main problem is that the pursuit of happiness can never achieve its goal. It is a hard task-master and will grind you into the ground. Happiness is found in other ways, these normally involve selfless acts of service.
Inalienable rights leads down the much discredited European road, where the Human Rights Convention constantly throws up conflicts (because the declared rights are not hierarchical), it also leads to the selfish act of demanding 'my rights'. The Bible shows a better way. Jesus said "love your neighbour as yourself", if we can"t get to that then let's try the golden rule - "do to others as you would have them do to you" and if we can't get to there at least let's talk about our responsibilities.
Finally, one persons attempts to achieve the dream cannot be allowed to inhibit others, this is a very difficult balance to find.
posted from Bloggeroid
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