In the movie, “A Christmas Story,” Ralphie Parker desperately wants a an official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model air rifle for Christmas, but every time he hints that he wants this item, someone tells him he’ll shoot his eye out and dismisses him. Then one day his teacher gives the class an assignment. They are to write an essay entitled, “What I Want for Christmas.” Ralphie is very excited about this because he finally has a chance to explain in detail why he wants what he wants. Well here is What I Want for Christmas:
I want:
1. …people to realize once and for all that good food isn’t necessarily supposed to be dirt cheap. Most people don’t think about how the conventional food system in this country is set up via government subsidies to agribusiness, nor perhaps do they care. I want people to make the connection between diet and health and make running to the doctor the exception rather than the rule because they are living the “food is medicine” lifestyle.
2. …people/states/governments to stop thinking in terms of burning things to produce electricity i.e. “clean” coal plants and biomass energy plants. I know we need electricity and lots of it, but as I understand it, we’re already way past the limit of permissible CO2 in the atmosphere so why would we even consider pumping out tons more of it so we can keep running our air conditioners and plasma TVs?
3. …the women in Afghanistan to have equal rights and not be forced to marry young and to be allowed to go to school and to not have to cover themselves from head to foot. I want them to be able to pursue their dreams like women in the West can, and to not be subjected to any kind of violence.
4. …Americans to rise up and revolt the continued use of GMOs. I want them to refuse to buy GMO products and to take a stand for the health of our planet. I want them to understand how they have been manipulated into believing that GMOs are a good thing.
5. … things to be built to last because I’m tired of throwing things away when I’m faced with the choice of fixing something, which costs a lot, versus buying a new one, the cheaper option. I want single-use plastic and foam items to be outlawed.
6. …high schools to teach students things like how to start and maintain a fire, how to preserve food, how to hand-write a letter, how to grow potatoes, how to make bread, and other practical skills that they may need someday.
7. …people who drive SUVs not to tailgate me and for all drivers to use their turn signals consistently so I know what their intentions are.
8. …people standing near me to cover their mouths when they start sneezing and hacking because I know how far the droplets from a sneeze can travel.
9. …a new pair of winter boots and a digital camera.
Ralphie got his wish in the end, although he broke his glasses the first time he used the rifle and then lied to his mother about how the glasses got broken. My list is a little more extensive than Ralphie’s but there’s no harm in asking for what you want, especially if you ask nicely.
