It’s enough to make you think traditional America is alive and well.
A father takes his two daughters shopping at a mom and pop bookstore, One More Page Books in Arlington, Va, where they buy actual books for Christmas presents. He also just so happens to be the President, celebrating “small business Saturday.”
Watch here from the AP:
“President Barack Obama took his daughters, Sasha and Malia, to a bookstore in Arlington, Virginia on”small business Saturday” to encourage shoppers to patronize mom-and-pop businesses after Thanksgiving. (Nov. 24)”
The President has made shopping at non-franchise, independent bookstores with his daughters Sasha and Malia a tradition. American Express is the prime sponsor of small business Saturday, started in 2010 as a way of helping to drive up local economies. It’s been embraced by business organizations, politicians and the government.
The government offered small businesses free marketing for the event this year and the President encouraged his aides to shop at local businesses on Saturday.
Before conservatives get all jacked up over the potential offense to “traditional America” — aka, corporate America, small business Saturday is wedged between Black Friday and Cyber Monday for a reason. It’s not trying to “compete” (God forbid we have a free market for mom and pops) with corporations, but rather give small businesses their own day.
One of my favorite memories from childhood is my father taking me book shopping, often followed by a double scoop, ice cream extravaganza.
One might think these values represent traditional America, but I am assured they do not. Clearly I missed the warmth and meaning behind a Bill O’Reilly traditional America, in which we go to Walmart to fight over the latest smartphone until the police have to separate us from the idolized Corporate Stuff that proves God loves us best. Nothing says Christmas (insert holiday of choice) quite like a survival of the fittest fight for cheaply made goods.
Christmas shopping for books with dad at a mom and pop store? Where has traditional America gone!
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Beaglemom
Nov. 25th, 2012 at 7:22 pm
I have always liked the idea that President Obama takes his daughters Christmas shopping for books at a local independent bookstore and that it is a tradition for them. Books make the best gifts for anyone, any age!
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Kate Mc
Nov. 25th, 2012 at 8:11 pm
I just love our President and these little things he does to help the smallest businesses. It is so hard to find Independant bookstores anymore, but when I do I can spend hours there and always buy something
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Churchlady
Nov. 26th, 2012 at 10:41 am
I love Christmas. My parents kept it simple but fun. They did not believe it was meant to be a haul of high priced goodies. One year my mother gave my teen-aged brother a most coveted thing: two boxes of Post Toasties with dried fruit. She’d thought it too expensive for daily consumption, and for years the gift remained the source of laughs and good memories and good perspective on the value of things. (Yes – she did have another present for him, too!) We never got lots or anything very expensive, but books were top of the list for desired presents. Those were the gifts that kept on giving! A friend once got her daughter “Tumbling Tillie”, the hot-demand doll that just turned somersaults. Period. By the end of the day it was in a corner, never played with again. I wonder often whether most of the stuff we stand in line for hours to get is actually very appreciated months later? Hard to know. Most of my friends who got Wii and other such things a few years ago no longer even use them now.
Good for our president to know the value and meaning in books. They are with you always. And your small, local bookstore? A pearl beyond price. Nice job, Mr. President. Nice job.
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Kay Dennison
Nov. 26th, 2012 at 12:51 pm
I make an effort to shop at locally owned and operated businesses so I applaud the President’s shopping trip!!!! I wish we still had a bookstore like that!!!!!
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