Do You Consume?

I just watched one of the most wonderfully fun, strange, enticing calls to political action I've ever seen. Reverend Billy (and the Church of Stop Shopping) is an artist, musician, and social activist. He and his choir have done many political actions and "guerilla-style" performances throughout the U.S. Their specific target is our most consumption-based holiday, Christmas. Reverend Billy says,

"Make time to spend with your loved ones that doesn't involve shopping or corporations or logos," he said. "It's like getting off alcohol and noticing that you're not drunk anymore when you stop letting a corporation direct your desires." - Source

What Would Jesus Buy?
Watch a preview of the film:



Back in the 1980s, like so many other Americans in their mid-twenties I was trying to get my career going. I had worked for a decade in the fashion industry doing a wide variety of jobs from retail to wholesale and even manufacturing. Right at that time, the de-regulation Reagan era, all the American apparel companies were beginning to off-shore their production to Asia. At that time the unions still had some clout in the U.S. and the best way for corporations to avoid paying their workers decent salaries and benefits was to off-shore to countries with very weak worker's rights. Viola, thank you Mr. Laissez-faire.

Today, we are painfully aware of the results of this greedy mentality. Chances are your own town is fighting off another Starbucks or Walmart? Does it even have a unique "Main Street" area anymore? The Church of Stop Shopping has something to say about that...

Here are the lyrics to "Pushback!" a song about the homogenization of the America landscape:

Pushback!

Who are these developers? Have you ever seen one live?
They gotta live in Westchester, not in Queens or Bed-Stuy.
When one of them knocks on your door, the Shopocalypse is here.
We’re gentrified. It’s getting weird.
Pushback
Homogenizing in this big box.
Pushback
Defend what’s left, save the small shops.
Pushback
Chain stores give us migraines.
Pushback
Where is Ginsberg? Where is Coltrane?

This town ain’t no super
This town ain’t no super
This town ain’t no supermall

Who are these politicos? Have you ever seen one live?
They gotta live uptown, somewhere where they can hide.
Who buys them all that TV time? He’s the one who broke your lease.
Officials slick their palms with grease.

Pushback
Stop that Starbucks not another.
Pushback
No your latte’s not my lover.
Pushback
Don’t take slavery in my coffee.
Pushback
We like Fair Trade - it’s so tasty.

This town ain’t no super
This town ain’t no super
This town ain’t no supermall

Pushback
If you’re rich your view is scenic
Pushback
If you’re poor you better dream it
Pushback
Transnationals have their targets
Pushback
The working, poor the artists.

This town ain’t no super
This town ain’t no super
This town ain’t no supermall
words: bill talen music: julio herrera

Listen to the choir sing,"Stop Shopping" HERE

And watch a truly original way to teach the 1st Amendment:



WOW! I would love to go to one of Reverend Billy's revival meetings. Although the trappings of fundamentalist religion give me the creeps, using it as a medium for progressive social justice is simply genius! What better way to stop the circle of destructive consumption than by following this message:

Statement of Belief: Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Gospel Choir believe that Consumerism is overwhelming our lives. The corporations want us to have experiences only through their products. Our neighborhoods, "commons" places like stoops and parks and streets and libraries, are disappearing into the corporatized world of big boxes and chain stores. But if we "back away from the product" - even a little bit, well then we Put The Odd Back In God! The supermodels fly away and we're left with our original sensuality. So we are singing and preaching for local economies and real -- not mediated through products -- experience. We like independent shops where you know the person behind the counter or at least - you like them enough to share a story.We ask that local activists who are defending themselves against supermalls, nuke plants, gentrification -- call us and we'll come and put on our "Fabulous Worship!" Remember children... Love is a Gift Economy! — The Rev

Read More about Reverend Billy

SEE THE FILM!