Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.PCS 1/10/84; site ahuta.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!houxm!ahuta!ecl From: ecl@ahuta.UUCP (e.leeper) Newsgroups: net.social Subject: Re: XMAS PRESENTS AND .... Message-ID: <198@ahuta.UUCP> Date: Tue, 11-Dec-84 13:46:03 EST Article-I.D.: ahuta.198 Posted: Tue Dec 11 13:46:03 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 12-Dec-84 05:31:38 EST References: <1747@wateng.UUCP>, <1576@drutx.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Information Systems Labs, Holmdel NJ Lines: 26 REFERENCES: <1747@wateng.UUCP>, <1576@drutx.UUCP> I've thought about this (and I don't even celebrate Christmas!), and have come up with the following: Since Jews do not send flowers for funerals (flowers being a "happy" symbol, people send donations in the name of the deceased to some charity, which in turn sends a card saying "A donation was made in the name/memory of so-and-so." Why not send your family members cards saying that you have decided to take the money that would be used on frivolous gifts and instead donate it to some worthy cause in their name, and what's more, you would like them to do the same. (The amount is not mentioned by the charity, so you won't have any of those "I gave you more than you gave me" arguments either.) It's even more meaningful if you ask them to name the charity that they want "their" gift to go to. If they are short of ideas, Ethiopean relief would be one suggestion. (Also, Amnesty International or International Recsue Committee.) There are also lots of church-related organizations which should be chosen individually. (Next year I may even take my own advice. Unfortunately, I thought of it too late this year.) Evelyn C. Leeper ==> Note new net address: ...ihnp4!ahuta!ecl (Mail sent to my old address will be forwarded temporarily.)