I give Benzion Klatzko credit for his unpopular remarks in a recent talk entitled "The Grinch that Stole Purim." For those not up on their Dr. Seuss, it's a take-off on a story about a grumpy creature that makes plans to deprive the Whos of their holiday presents, dinners, and decorations.
Klatzko laments the wet-rag attitude towards Purim by those who seek to minimize (or eliminate) noise-making at the mention of Haman's name, minimize shalach-manos giving, minimize (or eliminate) drinking, and say you're too old to dress up. He thinks they're a bunch of spoil-sports and are taking Purim away from us, and he's got a good point!
Does drinking get out of hand? Sometimes. Does shalach manos giving get out of hand? Sometimes. But when we hear too much about things getting out of hand, then the mussar-giving is out of hand!
Actually, I think year round eating and enticements to eat with increasingly lurid advertisements and cookbooks has gotten out of hand in the frum world. This affects us every day of the year, not just one, and it affects the health of men, women and children, not just men. So rather than harping on excessive Purim mitzva and minhag observance, I'd like to hear more from our leaders about excessive non-mitzva and minhag eating indulging.
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Personally, the excitement of Purim is money well spent. Children will not stay from from their memories of Tisha b'Av but they will not forget the excitement of the costumes, the parties, the baskets, and the unending nosh that they can eat as much as they want of.
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