A letter to my family: the true meaning of thanks and giving
Editor, The Times:
I sent the following note to my family, and I am pleased that they have responded enthusiastically:
Dear family,
After considerable thought, I have decided to take a different approach for this Christmas. I am mindful that it is stressful for many of our fellow citizens, especially those who are unemployed, during these difficult economic times.
I have been supporting the Lake City Food Bank, and I just received a letter from them that they are very short of turkeys for Thanksgiving and are asking for help.
I have decided to confine my gift-giving at Christmas to the grandkids and use the money that I would normally spend on adult gifts to contribute to charity instead. I just made an arrangement with Safeway to buy two dozen or more turkeys to contribute to the food bank, and I plan other contributions as well.
I trust no one will be offended my decision.
I love you all dearly, but we all are so fortunate that I don’t feel right without helping others in greater need. I, of course, do not expect any presents and I urge you all to consider some similar giving.
During the holidays, and at other times, my greatest joy is to spend quality time with each of you. I hope that we can find more occasions to connect, and have the benefit of each other’s company.
With much love to all,
Dad
— Stanley Graves, Lake Forest Park
China: the real location of Santa’s workshop
As Christmas draws closer, we are bombarded with advertisements for new toys and armed with our children’s wish lists [“Charming, cheap toys are holiday must-haves,” Business, Nov. 21].
Before you buy, please stop to consider the real cost behind these toys. An estimated 70 percent of the world’s toys are made in China, but those of us buying these toys know very little — if anything — about the conditions under which they are produced.
The fact is, the migrant workers in China’s southern provinces who labor over these toys are underpaid, overworked and underrepresented. They work 16-hour shifts, seven days a week for weeks at a time. They handle toxic chemicals, glues, paints and solvents with shoddy equipment and lax safety regulations inside a factory where temperatures push 100 degrees.
Labor laws are routinely violated and poorly enforced.
Also, the Chinese government prohibits the formation of independent trade unions, so these workers have no representation to discuss labor violations. They are paid wages as little as 13 cents an hour.
We all deserve to make a living wage, work in a safe environment and be treated with fairness and dignity. Please help advocate for, and defend, the human rights of factory workers in China.
This season, shop responsibly.
— Kari Solberg, Seattle
Deck the halls with patience, courtesy and a smile?
In this holiday shopping season, let’s all be kind to each other [“For retailers, it’s a make-or-break season: What holiday shoppers can expect,” page one, Nov. 12].
Please be understanding when I ask you to check in when you enter my store. I have been instructed to do this, not with the goal of being intrusive, but of making your shopping experience as smooth as possible.
After all, you are likely used to checking in at most restaurants.
As for those who are fortunate to be working at any store or public establishment, remember that you have a job, and the person you are helping may not or may be worried about where the money is going to come from this year.
Let’s all just take a second and put ourselves in each other’s shoes.
Finally, on a busy day I easily greet more than 100 people. I am so grateful to those who stop on their way out to thank me for my assistance.
You have no idea how that really makes my day.
— Barb Paxhia, Renton
Fed up with the politically correct holiday tree? Join the club
I recently saw the picture of a holiday tree that will be on display in Seattle [“Dwarfed by neighbor,” NWSaturday, Nov. 14], and I could no longer keep quiet about this ridiculous situation.
Will somebody please explain to me why we can no longer celebrate Christmas because it is not politically correct?
For hundreds of years we celebrated Christmas, and others celebrated Hanukkah or whatever religious festivals they wished, without any of this nonsense. Let’s be honest: We have St. Patrick’s Day and St. Valentine’s Day, which believe it or not are religious, and even Easter.
I came to this country as an immigrant more than 40 years ago, with the belief that this was a free country, and I am disgusted that a small group of people have imposed their will on the majority.
I will be celebrating Christmas, with a Christmas tree, Christmas presents, Christmas decorations and sending Christmas cards to family and friends. I will also go to church and not insist that everyone has the same religion, so I will respect other people’s beliefs, which I feel is only right.
Let us accept the fact that we are all different, but let’s stop this nonsense of the minority imposing their will on the majority.
By the way, I will also be wishing my family and friends Merry Christmas, and not happy holidays.
— Janina Sierakowska, Bothell
State Liquor Board staying warm, jolly this holiday season
While reading about the State Liquor Control Board wanting to experiment with seasonal gift stores [“Holiday spirits with a twist: Malls to host liquor stores,” page one, Oct. 16], I was filled with irritation and mystification.
I, myself, am a firm believer of family traditions, gift-giving, white Christmases and holiday toasting to kick off the season. But, I must ask, has our society reached a point where we throw out the thoughtful gift-giving and settle for a fancy, overpriced bottle of wine?
An increase of $3.8 million over two years is quite a lot of money to be spending on alcohol. I am well-informed that the United States economy is in poor shape, however, is constructing holiday spirits stores really the answer to pulling our state out of a huge budget deficit?
I find it really odd to have the state be the liquor retailer; what kind of environment is this creating?
Many people in my family suffer from alcoholism, and the addition of liquor stores, all the while encouraging to make things Irish, isn’t helping. Christmas time is not specifically the time to uncork your best wine and nothing else.
There are other ways to be jolly throughout the Christmas season, without the consumption of alcohol.
— Liz Rodriques, Kirkland