Did wii get up in the cold and wii hours just to line up to get one?
Did wii wrestle with people physically or verbally just to get our hands on the last one?
Did wii suffer water intoxication and die just to try to win one?
How much do we want something and what are we willing to do to get it? Our culture is fast becoming one of quick 'fixes', materialism and conformity. Are we not cool or special unless we get something ahead of most people? And once everyone has it, where do our feelings of being special go? I guess it's gone until we find the latest and greatest to own ahead of everyone else again. Is that what it's all about?
It's so sad that Jennifer Strange in Rancho Cordova, California died trying to win a Wii for her children. Even sadder that a radio station, very much aware of the dangers and possible fatal results of water intoxication, still held the water-drinking and pee-holding contest to lure listeners and of course, advertisers. I don't blame her for trying to win one because of all the hype and over-inflated prices. It's heartbreaking that she felt she needed to do this to fulfill her kids' wishes.
Parents, we know we love our kids and would do almost anything to give them what they want - but have we carefully thought of the message that we send our children when they see us willing to fight anyone or do whatever it takes just to get our hands on a friggin' toy? We are telling them that having those material things matter more than patience, frugality, civility and life itself - that we're not good enough if we don't have the latest thing that everyone else has or wants. Is that where we really want our children to draw their self-esteem from?
What happened to teaching the value and wisdom of-
-being our own selves and not having to be like everyone else and give in to peer pressure?
-delayed gratification?
-having the patience to wait for a good thing?
-working hard to save up for something we want?
-building our self-esteem on more lasting things like character?
Oh, I enjoy playing the Wii when my nephew brings his over. I think it's a great videogame as it really gets us off our lazy butts. But, waiting to get something is good, too. If we still want it in a couple of months, then it just might be worth spending for because then we know it's just not going to be a very expensive passing fancy. If not, then that's hundreds of dollars more for our savings. And that can probably buy us something more lasting in the future - like maybe a good education for our children.
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1 comment:
I think we'll all go through an initial feeling of surprise and anger for what she did to her kids, unwillingly. I'm pretty sure that those feelings will give way to sadness, because we all know parents that are guilty of feeling this urge to provide for their kids.
It's just sad that in our society, good parenting sometimes can't compete against the pressures created by the media's marketing media monster.
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