Reverend Billy and his gospel choir from the Church of Stop Shopping travel the country trying to spur awareness of consumerism around the holiday season. He parodies this consumerism and tries to get people to think about the real meaning of Christmas.
A non-religious film with a great deal of humor, the protest tactics of Reverend Billy frequently gander him the criticism of the police and a significant amount of interest to the media. Not only does the film show many of his stunts, he takes a look at how widespread consumerism is in both the youth and adults alike.
The reactions of the people interviewed in the film about consumerism is somewhat incredulous, but at the same time frankly captures many people’s view about the necessity to give expensive presents for the holiday season. As the film notes, many people find themselves so stressed out about gift giving that they are unhappy during a season that’s supposed to be an enjoyable season.
People are not finding happiness in the holiday season, they are just exchanging material gifts without meaning. Much of the happiness and family times that come from Christmas could be done without such wasteful consumption that is speeding up the destruction of our earth. Indeed, watching the film it’s amazing how much joy comes out of protesting consumerism — not just by the protesters but by the people witnessing them.
It is amazing to see how much joy comes from the song, dance, and acting by the Church of Stop Shopping. You will be laughing and finding much of the happiness that is now gone from our holiday season. After the film, you might just be feeling a lot happier and less stressed then when you where when you went in.
And no, I doubt Jesus would buy a Wii like the one kid said.
Unfortunately, unless you are in a few limited cities where it is playing, you will not be able to see it. The film only played during two showings in the Albany-area, at The Sanctuary for Independent Media. This venue while enjoyable is not on the radar of many people who would have otherwise gotten great joy from seeing this rather hilarious and enjoyable film.
Happy Thanksgiving! The Alice's Restaurant massacree took place a half century ago today, or so the song says. Don't get caught driving garbage around on this Thanksgiving, and certainly not dumping it over a cliff where you might get caught. This song is probably why they have large fences installed in Massachusetts near all of the highway rest areas, to discourage people from dumping garbage.
"Likely a corruption of English/French massacre, possibly from the Missouri French dialect. Originated in the Ozark Mountains, date unknown. Attested no later than 1967 in the song "Alice's Restaurant Massacree" by Arlo Guthrie."
I wonder if Arlo Guthrie would have ever thought that a half century later, radio stations across the would have regularly scheduled playings of Alice’s Restaurant on Thanksgiving.
“Old John Robertson he wore a Stetson hat
People everywhere would laugh behind his back
No one cared to take any time to find out
What he was all about, fear kept them out. “
“So the people of the valley
Sent a message up the hill,
Asking for the buried treasure
Tons of gold for which they’d kill.
Came the answer from the kingdom,
With our brothers we will share,
All the riches of the mountain,
All the treasure buried there.
Now the valley cried with anger,
Mount your horses, draw your swords
And they killed the mountain people,
So they won their just rewards
Now they stood before the treasure
On the mountain dark and red
Turned the stone and looked beneath it
Peace on earth, was all it said.
Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
Go ahead and cheat and friend,
Do it in the name of heaven,
You can justify it in the end.
There won’t be any trumpets blowing
Come the judgment day,
On the bloody morning after
One tin soldier rides away.”
