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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 25-Dec-2012
25-Dec-12 World View -- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Web Log - December, 2012

25-Dec-12 World View -- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Americans should thank 'Made in China' for a Merry Christmas

by John J. Xenakis

This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com

Americans should thank 'Made in China' for a Merry Christmas
Vatican displays a low-cost Nativity scene
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Americans should thank 'Made in China' for a Merry Christmas

According to People's Daily, if Americans have a Merry Christmas, then it's all thanks to China, particularly low-cost "Made in China" manufactured goods:

"However, facing a declining economic growth, ballooning deficit and looming "fiscal cliff", the Christmas season in the United States this year seems particularly chilly. Amid the current economic chill, some major American media outlets recently called on the American people to boycott the "Made in China Christmas gift" and revive the "Made in America Christmas". They spoke negatively about the quality of Chinese-made products and said "Made in China" has been controlling the American people and big businesses. ...
It is time to let the truth do the talking. Our American fellows deserve to know the truth, the stinging truth about how the ubiquitous "Made in China" has helped the US economy. .. "Made in China", with its fine quality and low price, has greatly improved the purchasing power of the American people. This was especially evident after the global financial crisis. During the financial winter, the number of one dollar stores sprang up. Among those in these shops, "Made in China" products accounted for a large percent. Based on Morgan Stanley's research report, in 2009 alone, approximately $100 billion in US consumer spending was saved by the "Chinese imports". ...
This Christmas morning, when you wake up and smell this couple of coffee, accept your gifts with gratitude."

People's Daily (Beijing)

Vatican displays a low-cost Nativity scene

Vatican Nativity scene, by Francesco Artese

Vatican Nativity scene, by Francesco Artese

In previous Christmas seasons, the Vatican displayed a Nativity scene that looked like an elaborate film set, decorated with larger-than-life-size models of Mary, Joseph and the Christ Child sculpted in wood and plaster more than a hundred years ago. In 2009, the cost of the Nativity scene was more than $700,000. However, with the financial crisis hitting Italy very hard this year, the Vatican had to cut costs, and almost had no Nativity scene at all. However, the remote southern town of Basilicata came to the rescue, and is supplying a Nativity scene as a gift to the Vatican, with the Christ Child lying in a manager in a miniature village made of polysterene. The scene was the work of 55-year-old Basilicata-born artist Francesco Artese. Total cost: Just $25,000. BBC

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

The song, "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas," has been changed in the last few decades into a cheerful little ditty. But in the 1944 movie, Meet me in St. Louis, it was a bitter, sad, angry song, sung beautifully by Judy Garland.

The daughter, played by Judy Garland, had just learned that this was her last Christmas with her lifelong friends in St. Louis. After the New Year, she and her family would be moving to New York. Although the plot of the movie takes place in 1904, this song was definitely in the spirit of 1944, when despair over torn families was at its deepest.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

YouTube - Judy Garland - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 25-Dec-12 World View -- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (25-Dec-2012) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 25-Dec-2012 25-Dec-12 World View -- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Americans should thank 'Made in China' for a Merry Christmas

Vatican displays a low-cost Nativity scene

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 25-Dec-2012
25-Dec-12 World View -- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas