We may think we invented Christmas but the Chinese are doing a darned good job of celebrating in the capitalist tradition. Americans and Chinese alike pour onto the street in shopping and partying over-drive during the December holidays resulting in a predictable increase in vehicular homicide. Here’s a brief account from the China Daily:
Roads swollen with tourist traffic resulted in at least 10 major accidents, claiming at least five lives each, during the week-long National Day holiday, according to official figures.
Since China adopted “golden week” holidays in 1999 for May Day, National Day and Spring Festival, many urban Chinese have used the time-off as an opportunity to travel, testing the nation’s massive transport infrastructure.
Statistics suggest the holiday scheme, initiated to boost the economy, has fulfilled its mission.
Sound familiar? Looks like the Chinese are just as good at spending money for the sake of the economy and getting killed in the name of holiday fun as we are. What am I going to do about it? I’m joining the Christmas Resistance and keep myself off the streets!
