Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Holiday Rhetoric

Both found on google images.
During Christmas you always hear the phrase "joy to the world", rather it be said or found in a song sung at church. According to Webster, the word joy means an emotion evoked by well being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of processing what one desires. So why do we chose to say this just around Christmas time? Around the holidays everyone wants to be seen as this perfect family, as Arola talks about in her video. She talks about how everyone gathers around the tree trying to look happy for that brief moment while a photo is being taken. Is our joy brief too? When I think of joy to the world I think of world piece, and happiness. Most people would agree that we could use this all year round and not just on Christmas right? But who I am kidding, no one goes around in the middle of May saying joy to the world, that is unless it is a teenager getting out of high school for summer break. 

I think people have this false thought that everyone should be happy and perfect during this season because of all the stories and shows we see on tv. Let's face it, when we were young we learned about Jesus being born, and how everyone was grateful and happy to be around their family. If anyone, I think my family is a prime example that this is not what really happens behind the Christmas photo. Two or three years ago, my grandpa and my uncle were messing with his guns, and identically shot a whole through the wall the had barley missed my aunt's arm leaving a scrape. Luckily, no one was seriously injured. Joy to the world? I do believe that familys can and should be happy around this time, but why do we chose to try and over do it and seem perfect to everyone around us? Although the saying joy to the world will always be around, we should make it something and bring back the meaning. Let us actually be joyous, and be who we are. Maybe that is what we need to make the world a better place. In this day and age, it all seems to be based of the saying fake it till you make it.
-Karah
word count 388

1 comment:

  1. Karah choosing Joy To The World was a great choice. You hear this phrase so many times throughout the holiday season, either it being in a song or it either being on a Christmas decoration. I agree with you when i think of this phrase i automatically think of peace of earth, and all thats good coming to the world. I'm also curious as to why this phrase is normally only said around the Christmas season. "Is the joy too brief?" Thats a very good question. I'm assuming it is considering we only talk about this one season of the year. I love the little part of your blog when you talk about a teenager saying it in the middle of may. There is a picture in everyone's heads that shows us what a normal family is to look like around the holidays, but we all know that this is not the case for everyone. I love how you included your story of your family, to show proof.

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