ON THE STREET

This week the Southeast Missourian asked, "Do you think Christmas has become too commercialized?"

Doug Hileman, Cape Girardeau

"Yes, I think Christmas has become too commercialized. I think people have kind of forgotten the true meaning of it. It's always how much money you spend on somebody and not on the true love of the season."

Michael Garrett, Cape Girardeau

"It certainly has. Used to, they started at Thanksgiving putting out their Christmas stuff. Now it's two or three weeks before Thanksgiving. It just seem that all they care about is pushing all their junk. They're losing the spirit."

Dorothy Barker, Cape Girardeau

"Yes. They start way back in the summer putting everything out and it just gets to where you are tired of it by the time December gets here."

Edith Eeftink, Scott City

"There's too much emphasis put on getting that special gift...you know, the Tickle Me Elmo kind of thing and all those other things we've been doing now. It seems like we worry too much about getting that special thing and forget about the family aspect and how much time we spend together."

Barbara Krebs, Cape Girardeau

"I do. That's what I don't like about it is they start too early. They started in October. It seems like you've got to buy too many gifts. It's just gifts, gifts, gifts. Some people can afford it and some can't."