As Thanksgiving transitions into the official Christmas shopping season (Yes I still say Christmas, even though the politically correct word these days seems to be "Holiday."),  I watch with interest how the shopping trend will play out this year. After the significant downturns in the economy, this Christmas season should be an indication of how we will now choose to spend our money and indirectly how or if our priorities will change.

Over the past few years as consumer spending, the escalation of image consciousness and the desire for creature comforts increased to a fever pitch, shallowness, greed and disrespect of anything resembling restraint or common decency eroded the last vestiges of our nation's character.   So if anything good comes from the losses and hard times brought on by this economy, may it be that we are forced to reevaluate our priorities, values and lifestyles...and grow up and get real. In the process may it be a step to bringing back virtues like "responsibility" and "respect."