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I was not one of the 172 million shoppers on Black Friday, which was part of my ‘Buy Nothing Day’ pledge. Consumerism has gotten out of control, even in a time when a lot of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Sure, the commercials leading up to the day after Thanksgiving were tempting – but tempting for me – not for those I still need to buy gifts for. In my experience, the people who roll out of bed before the sun don’t hit the stores to find bargains for those on their holiday shopping list, but discount items they want for themselves. I am all about helping the economy and finding good prices, but at what cost?
On Friday, I spent the morning with my family watching MSNBC trying to figure out what the heck was going on in Mumbai. We now know the tragedy that occurred and the number of casualties that were a result of the terrorist attack. But as we were watch burning buildings and terrified Americans, the news ticker at the bottom alerted us to another tragedy – a NY Wal-Mart employee was trampled by customers rushing the door when the store opened. Even now, I am still shocked, saddened and appalled on so many levels.
What kind of people TRAMPLE a man and not stop to help him up? Are they in such a hurry to get a discounted TV or the newest game console they can’t pause to help a human? I imagine a good number of people witnessed this and did nothing. Thankfully, a glass company replaced the doors at Wal-Mart that became UNHINGED by these frantic shoppers. According to www.newsday.com, ‘In the melee, shoppers had pushed glass sliding doors to the ground, bending their aluminum frames like an accordion. The stampede resulted in the death of [Jdimytai] Damour, who was in the front vestibule helping to open the store for the morning.’ As I write this I am becoming more and more disgusted.
We are humans, not animals. We do not need to be busting doors and trampling people to save a buck or two. This season is not about ‘things’, but about giving back, reminding others how important they are to us, and helping those who are less fortunate. You don’t need money to do those things. And you certainly don’t need to be up at 2AM to do it.
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Login or register to post a commentBoth events are utterly
Both events are utterly horrifying.
Totally totally agree. It's
Totally totally agree. It's is sick and disgusting.
"Speak not in the ears of a fool: for she will despise the wisdom of thy
words."
Proverbs 23:9
When will we learn? Here in
When will we learn?
Here in California there was a woman who camped out in front of a Coach store with her two sons on Thanksgiving. When a reporter covering this madness asked what she ate for Thanksgiving dinner the woman replied that she and her kids went to Panda Express so "mommy could get her new Coach purse." The kids were just there looking at the camera almost as if they knew how stupid their mother was, more than she did.
It was such a disturbing thing to watch. It reminded me of when 9/11 hit and shortly after GW urged Americans to show the terrorists what we're made of by going out and buying shit. I remember thinking then, hmmm, this is strange...terrorists strike, I go shopping???
Consumerism is such idol in this country. A few months ago when the new iphones came out, and gas prices here were almost $5 a gallon, people were on the news crying about how expensive everything was. Do you think that stopped the steady stream of hundreds of people lined outside the apple store for days? People who were willing to pay $400 or more on a damn phone???
We are not learning our lesson.
"Speak not in the ears of a fool: for she will despise the wisdom of thy
words."
Proverbs 23:9
I am glad I am not the only
I am glad I am not the only one. I bit my tounge when my friends told me they were going shopping on Friday.
I just can't get over the whole idea of camping out, bum rushing doors and buying things for yourself a month before the holidays, the day after Thanksgiving and during a terrorist attack. Yes, buy things, the world shouldn't stop. But let's not get stupid, selfish and indulgent.
As usual, GW misspoke and
BeautyMark, As usual, GW misspoke and was misunderstood. The fear after 9/11 was that the economy would sink into a recession. Business fears were enormous. The airlines were in trouble. By telling people to go out and spend, he meant people should go about business as usual and not be afraid.
George Bush would have served himself and the country much better if he'd made the mental effort to be clear in his pronouncements. His missteps in that arena were and are annoying.
Yes, I agree about consumerism. I've been interested to see on a number of blogs that people are reacting to this potential depression by saying they'll postpone purchases of ipods. They'd be better off going back and reading a little about the causes of the Great Depression and why it was so prolonged.
Great post Norma. I think we
Great post Norma. I think we will only hurt ourselves if we don't live life how we normally would. Albeit, in this economy, on tighter budgets. If we stop spending completely everyone will hurt. It will be a domino effect as we are seeing right now with major companies like Circuit City and others. Even The Gap is having financial issues and might very well be going under soon. Although The Gaps problem was more along the lines that it stopped listening to the consumer. Even after they have relaunched a new product line after extensive research, it still isn't achieving profits.
I don't understand or get what motivates people to get up at 3 in the morning and wait in line for a TV or a purse or whatever. I don't and won't ever get that. Further, being able to stomp or walk over someone is beyond me.
Freda
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Good comment Freda. I don't
Good comment Freda. I don't know what motivates people to stand in line all night for a deep discount. I do understand that for some people it's tradition and a social event, but I hope those people aren't trampling poor employees who are forced to be at work before the sun.
My sister in law is a Black Friday shopper with her friends, but she does it for the social aspect - not the 'oh my gosh have to get it cheap' shopper. Last year she was working at the outlets and they opened at MIDNIGHT. She, as an employee, had to be in at 11PM and work until dawn. Which means after eating a huge meal with family and friends having to leave early to take a nap. Doesn't quite seem fair does it.
Thanks Norma. While I do
Thanks Norma. While I do think that GW presented his suggestions with a lack of clarity, I still understood that this motivations were rooted in keeping the economy afloat. The problem that I had with the whole idea is that the economic philosophy of keeping the economy afloat by urging people to spend money that many don't have, seemed (and continues to seem) like flawed logic that would come back to bite us in the ass. We are not learning how to shop, produce, and exist in an economic or environmental way. That is what I have the biggest problem with.
It will be a cold day in hell before I stop spending money, but I make every effort to do so in a way that supports local businesses, the planet, and my own financial well being. I refuse to by a $500 television because it normally goes for $1000, when $500 is still over my budget. Americans think that a half off sale justifies over spending. In the end our economy can't possibly benefit from people being over extended, and that is what I don't think people are getting.
"Speak not in the ears of a fool: for she will despise the wisdom of thy
words."
Proverbs 23:9
It was horrifying when I saw
It was horrifying when I saw that video on facebook. I reposted it to my facebook as well. How sad. It was his first week on the job and it was only a part-time job.
What is wrong with people? Since they have all those people on camera trampling over him without stopping, will they prosecute? I heard that people were shopping even after they discovered he was dead, like nothing happened. This is disturbing.
It goes beyond consumerism. It is utter selfishness. The epitome of being self absorbed. We place such a high value on material things and little value on relationships and people. When you are so focused on keeping up with everyone else you lose site of what really matters.
Freda
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