Spotting the difference between pro-value and anti-value

Sometimes value and anti-value are easy to spot. Today is Thаnksgіvіng Dаy in the Unіtеd Stаtеs, a day which has become an iconic holiday celebrating family and gratitude for the plenty that Americans have worked hard to earn for themselves. But the day after Thanksgiving is where the true nature of value and anti-value reveal themselves.

On the pro-value side, the day after Thanksgiving is traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year. It heralds the beginning of the busy Christmas season, and helps people gear up for a month of holiday inspired celebration and gift giving. Whether you're into Christmas or not, from an economic standpoint, this day is a boon to retailers everywhere, and very often a breath of life for businesses that struggle to stay afloat all year.

In fact, it's very name reflects this. It's called Blаck Frіdаy, but contrary to it's grim sounding name, the theory is that the name comes from the world of accounting, meaning that retailers who operate in debt, or 'in the red' all year can breathe a sigh of relief and finally start earning some money - 'in the black'.

People spend freely at this time of year, pumping billions of dollars into the economy, keeping businesses alive and workers employed. This cash frenzy encourages manufacturers, movie makers, recording artists, restaurants - practically everyone - to produce new and innovative products and services, things you would never see if there wasn't such a guaranteed pay off for them from spend-happy Christmas shoppers.

It's the one time of year where people revel in their own generosity of spirit, and take real pleasure in buying gifts for friends and family. Charities see an increase at Christmas time as well, from people who reach out to those whose plight has touched them in some way. And it makes sense that such a feel-good outburst of generosity should come a day after having given thanks for all that we have to be thankful for.

But not everyone thinks this way. On the anti-value side, there is an entire organization dedicated to "Bυy Nоthіng Day". Started by a socialist artist, this day is also the day after Thanksgiving, intentionally, and is the exact opposite of Blаck Frіdаy. It urges people to avoid consumer spending altogether for one day, in order to show off 'consumer power' and protest 'mindless, wasteful consumerism'.

Like everything dreamed up by socialism, it sinks like a stone when forced to face reality. Even the most hardcore socialist would be hard pressed to enjoy a world without consumerism, without goods and services exchanged for money, without the excellent standard of living that capitalism provides. Where would their social welfare checks come from if the government lost all that tax revenue? Who would give them a grant to make their art if there was no money in the coffers from people producing and trading and exchanging money?

The point is that we all have a choice in the way we see our world. We can celebrate life, or we can despise it. We can see the good in our way of life, or we can call for its destruction, and therefore our own. Thіs Thаnksgіvіng, when presented with Blаck Frіdаy or Bυy Nоthіng, ask yourself what you're thankful for, and go celebrate it with everything you've got.

© 2006 Body in Mind and Lеаnnе Bеll