PENN-sieve

This year my family once again made lists and requests for gifts they would like to receive for Christmas. Things on my list included: gift certificates for Eddie Bauer, Catchphrase the game, a wire whisk, and other such things. It's a nice normal list with a little variety.

My brother and sister-in-law would like a gift certificate to Wal-Mart. *moan* I don't like Wal-Mart and haven't shopped there but for a handful of times since January. My mom does not understand why I won't buy my brother a Wal-Mart gift certificate since it is all that he wants but here is my little analogy to help you all understand why my brother will have to do without.

I don't like crack and I don't support people who use it. I think crack use is bad for the person who uses it, their family, and the entire world around them. If my brother was a crack addict and just wanted some crack for Christmas, I wouldn't buy it for him. Oh, crack is illegal you say so this argument is not applicable?! Well, my step-mother's sister-in-law was an alcoholic (ended up drinking herself to death). I certainly would not give her a bottle of wine as a present. Wine is legal and I like wine but sometimes the people around you don't know what is good for them.

Some would say Wal-Mart is an addiction. How many times do you go there to grab a couple things and end up with a basket full of junk because it was a good bargain? I can honestly say that I am better able to manage my budget when I avoid the "Always Low Prices" (and always low quality). Wal-Mart is detrimental to what I envision as the American way and I refuse to enable my brother (and the rest of the world's) addiction.