The Spirit of Christmas -- Gift Exchange
Money by Edwin Walter Kemmerer,
Goods were exchanged long before money existed, and the origin of exchange was in gifts. One would make a present to another in the hope of obtaining a present in return. Our modern customs in regard to Christmas and birthday presents are reminiscent of these primitive forms of exchange.
Mammon by Robert Graves, Annual Oration,
Let us go back farther in ancient history, to the idea of barter; and beyond that to the idea of obligatory gift-exchanges; and beyond that, to the still purer idea of unconditional gift. What we now call ‘finance’ is an intellectual perversion of what began as warm human love.
A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn
Everyone could share the routine of necessary jobs for a few hours a day, and leave most of the time free for enjoyment, creativity, labors of love, and yet produce enough for an equal and ample distribution of goods.
Christ Climbed Down by Ferlinghetti
Holy Prepuce -- Calcata: Home to the Holy Prepuce
