Critique of Stuff Is Not Salvation

precious Possessions vs. Insignifi beart Desires Anna Quindlen, a novelist, social critic, and journalist wrote an intriguing essay replete is Not Salvation about the addiction of the Statesns, who splurge on materialistic items that start out no real meaning. The ability to obtain credit is matchless of the main reasons to blame for societys consumption epidemic. However, Quindlen feels the economic twilight due to credit card debt is insignificant compared to the underlying issues of the Statesns binging problems.Quindlens essay gives excellent points regarding the differences in Americas distinctive shop habits. Additionally, she mentions how slew take up all this farce but search to never transact, why did I get this? (501). Quindlen launchs her audience visualize a world where we acquire our needs versus our meaningless desires. Yet, she fails to mention people who could pass a life of happiness through the have gotions they acquire. In summary, Quindlen supports he r point of locating with examples of American spending habits in the past decades of depression compared to now.She mentions Black Friday and how people become enthralled by cheap bargains (Quindlen 500-501). In Quindlens essay, she refers to an casualty in which a worker at Walmart was trampled to death by a mob of shoppers and despite the horrific incident people kept shopping (500). With the U. S. depression, Black Friday brings hopes of more m unmatchedy spent, then a rise in the markets. The dream of an uplifted economy became unrealistic as people began to realize they could not afford their desir fits, not even at a miserable cost.Today, Americans have an exorbitant amount of credit debt so they can acquire items that they want, without actually paying for them outright, for example, the Chatty Cathy doll Quindlen wanted in her childishness compared to the orange her dad received that had to be paid for (500-501). According to Quindlen, a family having less means they ca n appreciate possessions more and what they possess therefore has real meaning (502). Quindlens essay gives strong points about Americas addiction to consumption, the economic decline, and the necessities of life.There are plenty of examples that Quindlen gives to make her point across, that Americans spend coin unwisely. For instance, in one of the examples, she mentions how every 16 months a person replaces a cell rally because its not as new anymore, and how toys are forgotten that finally end up being junk (501). Quindlen then states the obvious throw does not bring salvation (501). However, she lacks examples of cases where peoples wants actually depart the happiness they usually expect.Rich people, for example, have an extra sense of tribute because the worry and stress that belong to the poor is something the rich dont have and dont want. Plus, who wouldnt want to afford desires such(prenominal) as not living pay apprehension to pay check or putting their kid(s) throug h college? Some beats not being able to afford these items can bring on depression or literal abuse into a home. The readers would have a infract understanding of the essay if she included some of these situations.Overall, Quindlen portrays her idea of happiness not being the materialistic things in life, but by the things that have legitimate meaning. By true meaning, I believe she means items such as photographs that have a significant memory attached to it. She jokingly states, film people what they would grab if their hearth were on fire, the way our national house is on fire right now. No one ever says its the tricked-up microwave they got at Wal-Mart (502).She brings her essay together nicely by asseverate examples from her childhood, the U. S. depression, and a family that is happy with what little they have. The essay brings belief to the reader that in todays society many people spend money on things that end up being junk and take for allow the needs they should pos sess. People make investments that they later come to realize have lost their value because they did not really need it. Even though she made some valuable points in her essay, more than likely America will still make unnecessary expenditures.Therefore, with Quindlens idea that stuff is not salvation, there needs to be more examples shown of people who can afford their wants and with that they are still able to obtain happiness (501). She does moreover prove her point that the items we possess should have more of a valuable value rather than items we could live without. If stuff is not salvation why do so many of us seek more income to possess more items? This question is simple to answer with more research on people that dont have the worries of the less-fortunate.Again, while we shouldnt be materialistic, we shouldnt just settle for less, nor should we be greedy and keep abstracted more. Quindlens views made me reevaluate my spending habits and hopefully the next time I purchase something I can answer the question why did I get this? (501). Ultimately, Quindlens essay is interesting and worth the read. member COUNT 865 Work Cited Quindlen, Anna. Stuff is Not Salvation. Perspectives on Contemporary Issues Readings crossways the Disciplines. 6th ed. Ed. Katherine Anne Ackley. Boston Wadsworth/Cengage Learning, 2012. 500-02. Print.