Is it already time to shop for Christmas?

Promotional push for holiday already starting at some retailers

As we bid farewell to August, we welcome September with dreams of slightly cooler temperatures as our dreams of fall weather begin to become a reality.

We welcome the Labor Day break from school and work, and in the backs of our minds, we’re aware that Halloween will be here before we know it.

What we aren’t ready for, however, is the reminder that Christmas is rapidly approaching, too.

And yet this week, the sales campaigns have already begun, with Amazon offering up a sneak peek at the top 100 holiday toys. The retailer isn’t alone in their offering. We did a search on several national retailers’ websites and found Christmas stuff all over the place. Some offerings appeared to be new for the 2017 season, while some products were clearance from the previous year. Now, we will concede a few points. The first is the fact that shopping early for the holidays allows one to spread the costs out some, alleviating a shock to the wallet during the month of December. So retailers putting the information out early might help people plan, make lists, and start comparison shopping for the best deals.

And sometimes, looking at the products early allows one to dream a bit. Maybe this is the year to do new decorations on the outside of one’s home, or something of that nature.

And really, if you want to score cheap Christmas decorations, it makes sense to shop last year’s clearance and get the best prices.

But on the other hand … September is only just beginning!

It’s too soon to see the 100 top toys of the season, because the season isn’t here yet! What if something really cool comes out in, say, late October or November, when Christmas shopping is likely much more realistic?

There’s also something a little aggravating about the seasons merging together. It’s hard to be excited about Christmas shopping when our average daily high still tops out over 100 degrees. And what about Halloween and Thanksgiving? Each year, it seems that Christmas merchandise creeps ever closer on their shopping times.

What do you think, readers? Is there value to starting the Christmas push now, or should retailers wait until a later point?

Let us know. Share your thoughts online at www. YumaSun.com, or email us a Letter to the Editor at letters@yumasun.com.

Not being a large supporter of Mr. Trump nor Mrs. Clinton, I tend not to comment on what they do or say. Whomever we elect we need to support as our country has spoken, and all the trouble we fight about within makes us look bad to other countries.

In the recent Pardon of Sheriff Joe, I thank President Trump. Joe was reelected by the people time and time again and to throw him in jail with folks he put there would be ridiculous. He did all he could to enforce the law. Yes immigration is a federal matter, but so is bank robbery and kidnapping. Should local law enforcement ignore that also?

Profiling — isn’t that what all law enforcement does and should do? The government actually pays profilers to aid in catching the bad guys. I don’t know about Federal Judges running our country. Seems we vote on things like SB 1070 and after it passes into law a judge can stop it.

Should all laws have to be signed (after the governor) by a judge? I think Joe should have arrested the federal judges that have fought him and our state government for overthrowing state government. That’s the Supreme Court’s place to act if it’s unconstitutional.

I think the people of Arizona need to let our reps know we are tired of the feds’ interference. anthem.

Apparently, these players don’t know the words to the anthem. All they think they know is the black person is being oppressed and to get their point across is to protest and disrespect the national anthem, the flag and the men and women that fought and died for it.

These NFL football players have forgotten who pays their salaries. Of course, the team owner pays, but it’s the fans in the seats, fans at home that buy the merchandise. It’s the people. These NFL football players have forgotten that.

I don’t have any respect for the NFL players that sit during the anthem and I won’t watch that team on television.

Those NFL players that want to protest are using the wrong platform for their personal views. Only because of national television coverage they do this. I don’t see them at rallies or giving interviews stating their personal views so adamantly.

Team owners, coaches and fellow team players should not stand for the individual(s) to disrespect the country in that way. The team owners and coaches should make the players that want to protest in that way stay down in the locker room with no camera watching them and when they come back out onto the field, they are not to wear any clothing or make any signs as to a protest. If they do, they should be sat out of the game and fined.

Team owners, coaches and players need to stand up for America and what is right.

I will not be watching any teams that allow their players to protest the national anthem. I am a Vietnam veteran and Native American. I love my country with all my heart. It’s not perfect, but disrespecting America will not correct it.

These NFL players have money, use it to help better the country not just to buy big fancy homes, cars and jewelry.

Help the people of your choice. As the old saying goes, put your money where your mouth is. Make a difference that way, not disrespecting America and the men and women that have fought and died to keep you free.