Reflections on CBCP's urging people not to buy Angry Birds
"Giving of “angry toys” to children as Christmas presents is inconsistent with the season’s message of love and peace, a prominent Roman Catholic bishop said, apparently referring to the popular “angry birds” computer game that has inspired toy makers."
These are the words being said in a report telling the laity not to buy Angry Birds franchise in The Philippine Star made last December 22, 2011. And it somehow made others annoying as the church, through the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) made themselves acting as if affected as people buying toys based from that computer game.
But, as we look further unto it, isn't it weird enough as we think of it that they are just plain and simple toys while those wearing soutanes are acting like angry birds in the pulpit? Yes, they may have shown "violence" such as putting the pigs down out of the latter grabbing bird's eggs; but then it mirrors love of their kind by pursuing those who grab their precious ones in it-and the eggs? Somehow represents children as we know. And remember: Chickens=Chicks, Birds=Birdlings (sorry for the term) all hatched from eggs the pigs tend to grab it.
On the other hand, it is good that CBCP's Baylon suggested giving children books and other educational gifts this coming Christmas, yes, the event expressed a day of giving and sharing but why to exclude toys such as Angry Birds? For sure as of these days few wanted toy guns and swords as they favor plush-form birds such as a red one, or even a T-shirt featuring that same angry bird sacrificing its own against the pigs for their precious ones such as their eggs.
Once even think that in this matter that should be minor rather and never to think of seriously, why not for the church urging people to donate instead for the victims of Typhoon Sendong? That's the real spirit of Christmas as CBCP intended, but at first, why not prioritize the very essence of Christmas such as going to mass and atone for our sins and bring us to everlasting life as the scriptures intended?
Seems that the writer had gone religious in this writeup for now, but personally, Christmas aren't about gifts and charity as the media constantly speaks of all the time.
And as for the victims of Typhoon Sendong, help each other rebuild lives and communities the way most people are encouraged to give their belongings to theirs-and that is, somehow what Christmas would be.