Black Friday: What Would Jesus Buy?

Hi. My name is Olivia. I'm a recovering shopaholic. I used to work in the corporate headquarters of a massive retailer. The mall was my spot, shopping a leisure sport, weekends an all out paycheck-annihilating bender; birthdays and Christmas justified a binge. This Friday is going to be especially difficult for me. It's Black Friday, also known as "the day after Thanksgiving," or "the biggest shopping day of the year." I'm scared.

Yes, this Friday malls across America will open at 5 AM to crowds of deal-hungry, coupon-carrying, insatiable holiday shoppers. For the first time since I can remember, I will not be joining the consumer feeding frenzy. Instead, I will be participating in Buy Nothing Day, a 24-hour shopping fast in celebration of the fact that we (the all-inclusive consumer) don't need more sh*t.

Buy Nothing Day is an informal day of protest against consumerism organized by Adbusters, a not-for-profit global anti-consumerist organization. The international shopping moratorium has started to gain mainstream recognition as people, my shopaholic self included, realize unrestrained consumption is a major contributor to environmental catastrophe.

Adbusters

All over the world people are taking on the 24-hour shopping detox. In Japan, a group called Zenta Claus will lead, "stop-shopping meditations." In London, the Forest Recycling Project will hold a bric-a-brac exchange. In the US, partakers from North Dakota to Texas, plan to use the rare day off to spend more time with their families and less time at the mall.

In New York City, Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping will gather in the busiest of shopping areas to preach against the commercialization of Christmas. Singing anti-consumer carols and asking the question, "What would Jesus buy?" Reverend Billy believes a "shopocalypse" is upon us if we do not confront the empty promises of commercialism.

While critics of the day charge that Buy Nothing Day simply causes participants to buy the next day, Adbusters' president and founder, Kalle Lasn, states that it "isn't just about changing your habits for one day," but "about starting a lasting lifestyle commitment to consuming less and producing less waste. Driving hybrid cars and limiting industrial emissions is great‚ but they are band-aid solutions if we don't address the core problem, consumption."

Lasn believes that while most participants used to see the day simply as an escape from the marketing mind games and frantic consumerism that have come to characterize modern life, the focus has since shifted in light of the new political mood surrounding climate change.

Bottom line: as consumers we need to question the products we buy and challenge the companies who produce them. We need to ask, what are the true risks to the environment and developing countries?

Although it looks like a lot of fun, I don't plan to join Reverend Billy's brigade this Friday. I'm just going to challenge myself to chill out, enjoy the day with my family, and as corny as it sounds, switch off from shopping and tune into life (wow, that was really corny). Join me as I spend a day without spending, participating by not participating, indulging by not indulging. Come on, doesn't free time away from long lines and panic-inducing crowds sound nice?

Adbusters

Follow Olivia Zaleski on Twitter: www.twitter.com/oliviazaleski

Comments

[ShootFirstInc]

I'm surprised the writer failed to mention the hilarious and compelling documentary that has just been released under the same name, WHAT WOULD JESUS BUY? Produced by "Super Size Me"s Morgan Spurlock, featuring Rev. Billy (in and out of his satirical character)

http://www.wwjbmovie.com/

A great film, terrific fun, and eye-opening expose on America's addiction to consumerism.

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

What would Jesus buy? New sandals? OK, I just had to say it. Seriously now, recognizing consumerism as a toxic force is a first step to a better life; one with more integrity in our material existence.
Five years ago as I sat reflecting on life, prior to bypass surgery, I saw in stark relief that a shroud has no pockets and all is maya, a lesser reality. Live for worthwhile things.

[NealMaffei]

I live in NY...I see the Rev. Billy around town.. It isn't a real church. It is a performance art troupe. They use performance art to make a point about the stupidity of so many of our consuming habits. Those of you who believe that this is some sort or anti-capitalist cult have it all wrong..

[whitewaterwillie]

WWJB? He wouldn't.

[OhgReaTone]

Two ends of teh spectrum - shopaholics and dumpster divingaholics. Where is a good 12 step program when you need it?
Ohg
http://thefiresidepost.com/2007/11/21/dumpster-diving-to-save-the-world/

[helonias]

Jesus?

The guy who said do not amass worldly things?

[thesimulacra]

I find it stunning that while we make ridiculous amounts of money (especially since the average home has two sources of income), still we complain about how much we're suffering every time the economy takes a tiny downturn. Those who come here to complain about such an effect fail to recognize the catch-22 of that mentality - they say people will lose jobs if people stop buying things, but people wouldn't need to get paid so much if they didn't think they needed so much money to buy shit that they don't need. I live right next to the projects in DC, and I see these kids driving around in 10 year old Lexus's and Infinitis, when for the same money they could have gotten a 3 year old like-new Hyundai hatchback that will last them 5 times as long with fewer money needed to be spent on repairs. But, like the middle class families who need two SUVs and a giant house in the exceedingly expensive suburbs, an HDTV, Digital Cable with DVR, three computers and a pool, they chose opulence over common sense, and now are stuck in the credit trap. If you live simply and live well, you can support yourself even in times of economic hardship, as our parents and grandparents did over the last 100 years. But because we decided that American salvation lies in the pursuit of a consumer wonderland, full of instant gratification, we would rather dig ourselves in deeper than take the chance on climbing out.

[hope4theflowers]

I dont "buy" the bullshit that we "must" spend money at Christmas because it fuels our? economy and pays some else's salary.Wake up sheep..youre being scammed again.It isnt OUR problem if OTHER people depend on Americans being hypocritical and materialistic to make a living.Capitalism was never meant to be fair.And the poor people who work in sweatshops to make your CRAP certainly aren't feeling the Christmas spirit.

[expatstudent]

This is a link to the entry on this very site which contains video of Oprah Winfrey's audience reacting to the news that they are in the "Favorite Things 2007" audience.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/11/20/oprahs-favorite-things-_n_73588.html

Observe the woman with her hand in the air at :23 or so. Look at the tears, the prayers...

THIS is what Rev Billy is protesting against. He's not advocating communism. He's pointing out the idolatry of Things and the chains of credit card debt and the notion that the only way we have of conceiving to help a neighbour or build community is to buy something either from them or for them. The religious guise reminds us that our attitude towards capitalism, in the de-Christianized language of Paul Tillich, has become the American's "ultimate concern." The perpetuation of a consumer system replaces God or whatever other entity we know to as a road to justice and freedom. But rampant consumerism ends up providing neither.

[Macready]

this is so weird . . . the Rev Billy . . . and what would jesus buy??? how much cash is this weirdo raking in????

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm . . . never thought I would read something like this ever . . . so know it is jesus freaks and shopping???

[eddiestardust]

Pretty short sighted I'm afraid...

You see it's NOT that simple.

Do you think it's "Space Aliens" who run department stores or even toy stores?

Nope, it's not.

It's your next door neighbor or someone you may not know across town.

Let's say that you did have a day that no one bought anything?

What does that prove?

Not much.

Indeed it's a false sort of idea because it hurts people.

Someone who works in a department store may be single or may have a family with children.

Those dollars that you spend at that store pay that person's salary. It pays in part for the rental of the location and of course the electricity/gas etc in the building. It pays the company the outlay for the merchendise it sells.

Taken together, all the purchasing power we as Americans have amounts to 2/3 of the economy.

When times are tough and there has been a good Christmas season for retailers, it boosts the economy.

And that means jobs for people. It means being able to pay your rent and put food on the table and to take care of your children.

Sounds to me as if the author here is trying to play "Mr. Scrooge" and hasn't yet learned how to "Keep Christmas".

[Portnoy]

Right...because by not spending money, we fuel the ecomony. /sarcasm

Instead, why not go out an buy something for someone who is hard hit by the downturn in some economic markets?

[maddogbitesback]

The government also has to realize it has to fund birth control clinics and abortion in the thrid world. People there are not shopaholics. They live with nothing and the children they have have nothing. Yet the world's population rises fastest where there are many poor people. Funding education for girls as Oprah did goes a long way to reducing population growth and ensures girls do not marry at twelve or thirteen.