We went to Columbia's annual Symphony of Lights display last night and loved it. Both of the kids are old enough to ooh and ahh as appropriate, and since we were able to allow each of them to bring a friend. That was cool too; it's something we're excited we have car space to do.
And I must say, with all the negative hype in the news about the mall not having its usual poinsettia tree, I was eager to see how the Symphony of Lights committee used the display. They've turned it into a huge, gorgeous, green-glowing tree with red splashed in here and there. It was truly breathtaking. OAO and I commented on its beauty and wondered if the latest acquisition for the annual fund raiser will appear next year. Since the mall management has decided to return the poinsettia tree to its decorations for Christmas season 2008, I wonder if it means they need to ask for the structure that will hold 750 plants to be returned.
I hope not. While I'm glad that the folks who protested will see their wishes come tru next year, I'm a little sad that it may mean a larger number of others may suffer. I would guess the average poinsettia costs about $11. If the mall purchases 750 plants per year, that's about $8300. This year, the money was donated to Habitat for Humanity. That money will go a long way to help a family who needs a place to live. Will the mall be able to donate the same amount next year? Sure, the mall people also bought the big Santastic display too. (Personally, I thought it was cute, and enjoyed watching the kids get into the magic of it all. Yes, it's another marketing ploy to get you to buy cute pictures of your kids. But, no one has to buy anything... not even the picture of the kids with Santa. So really, if you think about it, it's a place for your kids to be entertained while they wait to sit on Santa's lap). But, those pieces can be stored reused every year, probably with minimal money spent for cleaning and upkeep.
I'm not a Columbia native, so I'm not attached to the poinsettia tree. But, I understand how hard it is when our traditions are taken away from us: I'm still not over the fact that when my family moved to Maryland in 1986, the only box of our belongings that went MIA was the one that had all of our family's Christmas tree ornaments... the ones I was supposed to be able to take with me when I moved out on my own... the ones I made as a kid or were given to me by loved ones. So really, I get the heartbreak involved in someone taking away your favorite holiday memories.
At the same time, it makes me sad to think that the bigger picture seems forgotten or easily dropped in the name of tradition.
I have an idea - why not allow individual families to purchase the poinsettias each year in honor of or remembrance of loved ones. The mall can still contribute to a greater cause and people can value and love the holiday display that much more.
Just a thought.
1 comments:
Great way to see the other side of the issue. I don't read the local papers as much as I wish I had time to. I would like to know what's going on locally, but once I catch up on what's going on nationwide and what's associated with the industry in which I work all day in Virginia, I get home each evening and am too pooped to get much further, information-wise. So I did not hear about the poinsettia tree debate.
Thanks for really shining the light of perspective on what's important. I went through the Symphony of Lights display with my sweetie, even though we don't have kids. I thought it was gorgeous and such a creative fun way to earn money for such a much deserving cause.
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