Christmas in November

Something's been bothering me for quite a number of weeks now, but I've kept my mouth shut. I felt there were more relevant issues to write about, but now I find myself with nothing to rant about except the general state of the world. I don't have to go very far as Nassau Street embodies one of the biggest problems the world has to offer for critique at present. I'm talking about the Christmas decorations.

It all started the first week of November. I'd been away for Halloween, but arrived back the day afterwards. I passed CVS and to my horror saw not day old Halloween decorations or even turkeys and pilgrims (which still would have been three weeks early) but instead Christmas lights and bows!

Christmas was more than 50 days away. What in the world were they doing? I was angry and decided to boycott CVS and pay higher prices at the U-store rather than support such ridiculous crap. I firmly believe in my right to see Thanksgiving decorations rather than Christmas bows for the weeks preceding Thanksgiving.

Less than two weeks later, however, giving in seemed inescapable. I walked into Starbucks to discover that they too had thrown up Christmas decorations obscenely early. Even the two women working behind the counter were wearing Christmas themed attire, and the coffee bean containers were outfitted with red and green packaging.

I couldn't keep my mouth shut. As the sales girl passed me my hot tea, I asked, "Aren't you guys kind of early for Christmas?"

"Oh but I like it. It makes me happy."

"Aren't you afraid of burning out? Christmas is more than six weeks away."

No response. Just a blank stare. A smile. A small amount of discomfort that I would question corporate policy. It was inherently silly of me to even ask. It's just the way they do things. There's no point in questioning what they do. We're just the little people. They're, well, Starbucks — they practically decide when to hold Christmas, right?

Worse still, as far as I'm concerned, is the attitude I found so popular among my peers. When I mentioned these outrages, just about everyone shrugged them off.

"Oh, it's just how they make money. The earlier they start decorating, the earlier they start selling." This was the closest I got to an apology, and everyone seemed to deem it an acceptable one. Why shouldn't corporate America be allowed to tug on some of the few sentimental weaknesses I have left? After all, as an American I am first and foremost a consumer, right? It's my patriotic duty to shop till I drop.

I'm sure we all know that these businesses decorated so early to jump start their biggest shopping season as early as possible. I know they're all hurting from a slowing economy. I know they need to make money. However, I'm not sure they really need to make this much. I'm decidedly sure that we don't need to facilitate them in favor of our own priorities.

We're people, not corporate conveniences. I think we remember this when it comes to issues like human rights and environmentalism. At least then students often enough come out against the idea of doing anything to make a profit. Yet, this is an issue closer to home, and it represents the same mindset of corporate America. If we can't deal with small infractions like these, how are we ever going to legitimately tackle bigger issues? Aileen Nielsen is a sophomore from Upper Black Eddy, Pa. She can be reached at anielsen@princeton.edu.