Opinion

Be charitable after the holiday's been spent

Shireen Connor
Opinion Columnist

Although I am not Christian, I still celebrate Christmas every year, but not on the some grand scale. I don't buy my own tree, but I really like exchanging gifts with my friends and seeing everyone smile. It is just a pleasant time of year; families get together to eat great food, pretty lights are everywhere and everyone seems joyful. Who can resist?

But what bothers me about the holiday season is how the Christmas spirit always seems to magically die after Dec. 26. Most people mail out holiday cards with messages of peace, but I will tell you this much, those little pieces of paper won't come true unless we also do something about it. New Year's Day is just a few days afterward but the giving and loving spirits never appear to be able to make it that far. After all, most New Year's resolutions are typically about improving one's own life, and not somebody else's, like losing weight, studying more or eating more vegetables.

Why can't the resolutions be more about improving others' lives just as much as your own? For example, giving more to charity, volunteering at a school or being a nice person?

Of course we all know that nine times out of 10 we don't keep our silly resolutions anyway. Poor children want donated food and toys just as badly in April as they do in January. People love to see smiling, happy faces all year round, not just in the dead of winter.

This is a serious problem. How can people be nice for just a few weeks out of the year? Since they do so, it is obviously an ability we all possess. It's also an ability people enjoy -- especially during the holidays -- so why is it so rare? This is a question everyone should ponder.

This year everyone will still be desperately figuring out the best gifts for their best friends and family. Although it seems cheesy, it is true that the best gift we all could get is to live in a happier and safer world. It is also the cheapest gift we could give.

I am not perfect, and I have to admit that I am not the nicest person every day of the year. I will try to change this but I need some help. So after you unwrap all of your presents this year, try not to throw away all of your generosity and compassion in the trash with your crumpled wrapping paper. I'll need it. 

Connor, a senior psychology major,
can be reached at moxiegirl22@hotmail.com.