| It's Christmas time here in Mazatlan, Mexico. | | | | groups protesting the availability and |
| I can tell by the Coca-Cola Christmas tree in the | | | | promotion of Coke products in our kids' |
| plaza facing the cathedral.In fact, last Friday must | | | | school lunch rooms. We railed against |
| have been St. Coca-Cola | | | | the corporate irresponsibility of a company |
| Day or something. At sunset, we heard a | | | | so clearly contributing to the increased |
| commotion. Nothing too unusual about that-- | | | | rates of diabetes and obesity in children.But here, |
| there's always some sort of celebration going on. | | | | it's just another reason to celebrate. |
| | | | If Coke wants to sponsor a parade and a |
| I figured it was part of the presentation of the | | | | fireworks display, that seems perfectly fine |
| Carnaval princesses going on in the other local | | | | with people here. They'll dance to whatever's |
| plaza.We went to the roof to look down the | | | | playing and enjoy it without getting too hung |
| street | | | | up on the politics.I had to check my cynicism at |
| and saw a procession of red vehicles of various | | | | the door. That's |
| sizes emblazoned with the Coca-Cola logo. From | | | | mindfulness in action--recognizing our |
| convertibles and the backs of pick-ups, lovely | | | | knee-jerk reactions as simply choices we make |
| misses dressed as Santa's helpers waved | | | | about responding in a certain way. We can |
| to passersby. The thumping bass reverberated | | | | choose to respond differently, but first we |
| off store windows along the street. A blaring | | | | need to SEE our conditioned response.Hmmm. |
| loudspeaker invited everyone to follow the | | | | Fire up my outrage or ooh and aah |
| parade to the Coca-Cola Christmas | | | | at the fireworks? I get to choose.I can be |
| celebration.The final fire-engine red vehicle carried | | | | offended. Or, I can just take |
| Santa | | | | it as another absurdity in my day and smile at |
| himself, who was perched merrily on several | | | | the kids belting out ballads on the stage and the |
| cases of--what else?--Coca-Cola.A visit to the | | | | parents dancing with toddlers in the plaza.It might |
| plaza later revealed a 30-foot | | | | be "wrong" to enjoy a Coca-Cola parade |
| artificial tree all dressed up for a Coca-Cola | | | | or celebrate singing children on a Coca-Cola |
| Christmas. The ornaments consisted of glittery | | | | stage, but from where I sit, it doesn't feel like |
| round disks with the familiar logo. A few | | | | blatant commercialism as much as it feels like |
| six-foot-tall inflatable Coca-Cola cans flanked | | | | a spontaneous party.Sure, it's tacky. But it's also |
| a red-bannered stage where ten-year-olds took | | | | surprisingly joyful. |
| turns singing pop favorites.Everyone was bopping | | | | Those smiles were not the result of Coca-Cola-- |
| and enjoying the | | | | they were just an expression of happiness |
| festivities which concluded with the | | | | prompted by an unexpected celebration.And |
| Coca-Cola Christmas fireworks display.Now, back | | | | that's the real thing.Maya Talisman Frost has |
| in the States, this type of blatant | | | | taught thousands of people how to pay attention. |
| commercialism of Christmas would bring jeers | | | | Her playful, eyes-wide-open approach to |
| and eye-rolling and perhaps even a few | | | | everyday mindfulness has been featured in over |
| demonstrators. After all, we parents formed | | | | 150 publications worldwide. |