commentary on the meaning of christmas

I've talked about how I like CNN's Roland Martin before. Even though he tends to lean left on social stuff, he appears to be a smart guy who isn't afraid to call out nonsense wherever he sees it. His most recent commentary on CNN.com is further proof of that. In particular, check out this paragraph:

What if families decided to forgo gifts, and instead, used their shopping days giving back to those in need? What if more of us went into our closets, grabbed old toys and clothes, repackaged them, and provided them as gifts to those without? Instead of gorging on food, what if we used some of the dough to feed those who are in need? What if we blew off those gift cards to electronic retailers and signed up with Networkforgood.org, and gave someone a gift card to their favorite charity?

That's a heck of a good idea. Just make Christmas giving about giving gifts to those who need some real help and not just more excess, even if we don't know who those people are. (By the way, should it say anything about us if we can think long and hard and yet not come up with a single person we know who might fit that description?) Anyone care to hold their breath until that happens on more than a miniscule scale in America?