Return to Video

In Defense of Humbug

  • 0:03 - 0:03
    HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!
  • 0:03 - 0:04
    Happy Holiday!
  • 0:04 - 0:05
    Happily Holiday!
  • 0:05 - 0:07
    We're a good 6 weeks deep now
  • 0:07 - 0:10
    into the telling everybody to have a happy holiday season,
  • 0:10 - 0:12
    and the closer we get to the end of that season,
  • 0:12 - 0:13
    the more urgent the need becomes
  • 0:13 - 0:15
    to tell everyone everywhere
  • 0:15 - 0:17
    to have a happy holiday.
  • 0:17 - 0:18
    Even though at this point in the year
  • 0:18 - 0:21
    that's probably the least useful thing you could say
  • 0:21 - 0:22
    to anybody.
  • 0:22 - 0:24
    Pretty much anyone you run into this week,
  • 0:24 - 0:27
    you can be confident they already know there's a holiday taking place,
  • 0:27 - 0:30
    and that they're expected to be happy when this occurs.
  • 0:30 - 0:33
    So instead of me telling you to have a happy holiday
  • 0:33 - 0:36
    for the fortyleventhmilliontheighthundredmillionth time,
  • 0:36 - 0:37
    I'd rather take a minute to acknowledge
  • 0:37 - 0:40
    everyone out there who's not having a happy holiday.
  • 0:40 - 0:43
    Everyone who can't be with the family that they love,
  • 0:43 - 0:46
    everyone who has to be with the family that they hate,
  • 0:46 - 0:48
    everyone who can't afford to express their love
  • 0:48 - 0:51
    through the season's mandatory rituals of crass consumerism.
  • 0:51 - 0:52
    I see you,
  • 0:52 - 0:53
    I know that you're out there.
  • 0:53 - 0:55
    I know that this is the most stressful,
  • 0:55 - 0:58
    most depressing, most unhappiest time of year
  • 0:58 - 0:59
    for millions of people.
  • 0:59 - 1:03
    And I know that if you're one of those people who's already unhappy,
  • 1:03 - 1:05
    and then you gotta spend 6 weeks having everyone else come up to you like
  • 1:05 - 1:07
    "Hey! Have a happy holiday!"
  • 1:07 - 1:08
    "I hope you're having a happy one!"
  • 1:08 - 1:10
    "Don't you go wearing a frown!"
  • 1:10 - 1:12
    "What are you? Some kind of Scrooge? Is something wrong with you?!
  • 1:12 - 1:15
    Society demands that you be happy!!!"
  • 1:15 - 1:17
    If I'm one of those people who's already unhappy,
  • 1:17 - 1:19
    that is not helpful.
  • 1:19 - 1:20
    That makes it worse.
  • 1:20 - 1:21
    If I'm not having a happy holiday,
  • 1:21 - 1:24
    it isn't because I forgot to do it.
  • 1:24 - 1:25
    I don't need you to remind me.
  • 1:25 - 1:29
    I'm already accutely aware of my failure to be happy.
  • 1:29 - 1:31
    And well, let me just pause for a minute and say
  • 1:31 - 1:34
    I'm not mad at people who say "happy holidays".
  • 1:34 - 1:36
    I say it, we all have good intentions when we say it.
  • 1:36 - 1:38
    But I also know that for a whole lot of people
  • 1:38 - 1:40
    this holiday season is like a little box
  • 1:40 - 1:42
    that you know everyone's supposed to fit into,
  • 1:42 - 1:44
    and you wish that you could fit into the box too,
  • 1:44 - 1:46
    but you just can't fit in the box.
  • 1:46 - 1:48
    And when you can't fit in that box,
  • 1:48 - 1:51
    it makes you feel like the whole purpose of this holiday season
  • 1:51 - 1:54
    is to remind you that there's something wrong with you.
  • 1:54 - 1:55
    So I just wanna say to everyone out there:
  • 1:55 - 1:57
    No matter how you spend this holiday,
  • 1:57 - 1:59
    there's nothing wrong with you doing that.
  • 1:59 - 2:01
    And give a little love to both sides of that holiday divide.
  • 2:01 - 2:04
    For everyone out there who is able to have a happy holiday,
  • 2:04 - 2:05
    good for you!
  • 2:05 - 2:07
    I'm sure you're already on top of it.
  • 2:07 - 2:08
    Keep up the good work.
  • 2:08 - 2:09
    And to everyone else out there
  • 2:09 - 2:11
    who's not fitting into that happy holiday box,
  • 2:11 - 2:13
    I especially want to send this out to you,
  • 2:13 - 2:15
    and let you know I see you,
  • 2:15 - 2:16
    there's lots of people right there with you,
  • 2:16 - 2:17
    I've been there,
  • 2:17 - 2:18
    and you're not alone.
  • 2:18 - 2:20
    Basically I just want to say that wherever you are,
  • 2:20 - 2:21
    whoever you're with,
  • 2:21 - 2:23
    whatever your circumstances,
  • 2:23 - 2:24
    happy holidays!
  • 2:24 - 2:26
    are optional.
  • 2:26 - 2:27
    If you're into that kind of thing.
Title:
In Defense of Humbug
Description:

http://twitter.com/jsmooth995

A shoutout to everyone for whom this season brings nothing but cold and isolation.
more » « less
Video Language:
English
Duration:
02:33
Radical Access Mapping Project added a translation

English subtitles

Revisions

Our website uses cookies for analysis purposes.