All I Want for Christmas is
You may have seen this WestJet Christmas Miracle video. Santa asks boarding passengers “What do you want for Christmas this year?” A kid says he wants a train set. His dad laughs and says he wants a big TV. Their Christmas requests are secretly being transmitted to corporate headquarters, and as the plane takes off, dozens of WestJet employees scamper off with checklists and credit cards to make these holiday wishes come true. Two hours later, when the passengers land, what should appear at baggage claim but every item every passenger had requested?
About 35 million people have watched the video. Most people found it “heartwarming,” “brilliant,” or “awesome.” One commenter opined, “FANTASTIC! LIKE LIKE LIKE UNTIL DEATH :)))”
I found it totally depressing, how conditioned we are to articulate our desires in terms of stuff.
At 3:44, a woman unwraps a Samsung Galaxy. At 3:57, a dude gets the socks and underwear he asked for. He’s undoubtedly kicking himself for not asking for an Android Tablet, which a grinning kid walks away with at 4:03.
Then the camera pulls back, the music swells, there’s a dramatic pause, and out of the luggage carousel comes…wait for it…the climax of the video… Read more…