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Children are our future
The New York Times' Metropolitan Diary can be pretty cloying at times, but today they seem to have really outdone themselves, snobbery-wise:
Dear Diary:
On a Sunday afternoon recently, I was walking down Fifth Avenue right next to a man and his daughter, who was about 6. As we passed Cartier, the girl asked, “What is Cartier?”
He said. “It’s the American Girl Place for big girls” (American Girl Place is that upscale doll store), and I burst out laughing.
So he laughed and said, “Isn’t it?” and I said, “Oh, you are teaching her early.”
He smiled and I said, “Why not!”
I can think of a few reasons...
Posted by Damian on 11/28/2006 | Permalink
Comments
Thanks for the links, very informative/depressing. "Why not!", indeed.
Posted by: Margot | Nov 28, 2006 4:14:17 PM
What do any of your links have to do with Cartier or the kid in this story? Global warming!? I mean, honestly.
If you're trying to make some larger point about money being bad or fancy jewelry being the root of all evil, go ahead and make it. I'm sure you love the dough just as much as anyone, just felt like pointing fingers.
Posted by: Karol | Dec 5, 2006 5:57:06 PM
Karol, you're completely correct. Global warming (if it even exists, right?) has absolutely nothing to do with perpetuating a shopping culture which consumes massive amounts of energy and resources. What was I thinking?
And really, as one American to another, "why not" teach our kids early to buy as much stuff as they can? After all, another generation of "shopaholics" will continue to drive the global economy and continue to improve our environment. Just ask the Chinese!
And finally you're quite right on another point: I do earn and use money myself. It was hypocritical of me to suggest that teaching materialism as a value is anything less than our birthright, and I apologize for that.
Posted by: Damian Chadwick | Dec 6, 2006 9:51:21 AM
Thank you for being so forthright with your apology. I accept.
Posted by: Karol | Dec 7, 2006 12:14:49 AM
Oooh! I think I just saw sparks fly!
Now kiss, Karol and Damian.
cue Theme from Titanic.
Posted by: matchmaker | Dec 10, 2006 7:33:49 PM
