I was sitting around today, recovering from Thanksgiving, which was quite good, by the way. The news came on and a story was breaking.
A Walmart store in Valley Stream, NY was the scene of the latest piece of evidence showing the demise of civilization as we know it. To leave me speechless, you know something has to be pretty awful.
A crowd waiting for the 5 AM opening of Walmart on "Black Friday" decided 5 AM wasn't early enough, I guess. They ripped the doors of the store off the hinges and a stampede ensued. The herd didn't even stop to look at the man as they rumbled along in their pursuit of the prey otherwise known as "Christmas presents". And what's worse is, one of the people interviewed after insinuated that this was somehow the fault of the store.
So you trample a man to death, and get your booty. How precious that moment will be, Christmas morning, when one presents a gift to a loved one, knowing that, in order to actually get that gift, you had to help stomp the life out of an innocent man.
So if someone has the audacity to hang a "Christmas" decoration, or display a Nativity scene on public property, you can hear the screaming of the morally outraged for miles. I just wonder if people will decry this act of Christmas spirit as loudly?
Isn't that just awful?! We here in California had two men shot dead in a Toys R Us, in an apparent confrontation today over bargains! I would NEVER try to shop on a day like today when the stupid merchandisers put out 4 loss leader items for 5000 people to fight over! Ridiculous! And people are dying for it? Brings new meaning to the name "Black Friday" huh! I am sooooo glad I don't do crowds! Hope you have a peaceful weekend! Lisa
ReplyDeleteThere are no words to describe the horrific measures some people will go thru to save a couple of nickles. In my 50 years, I have never shopped on Black Friday. If I have to kill a man to give my family a cheap gift then I'm afraid they don't need it.
ReplyDeleteI suppose this year is even worse than most. I've never understood the concept to begin with, just not worth the hassle generally speaking - what happend today is just unbelievable!
ReplyDeleteI JUST CAN NOT FIND ANY WORDS FOR THIS. I READ ABIOUT IT EARLIER AND IT MADE ME SICK TO KNOW THAT THIS PERSON LOST HIS LIFE...FOR SOME IDIOT TO BE ABLE TO BUY A TV OR SUCH ON 'SALE'. I SAY BAN THE DAY AFTER TG SALES.
ReplyDeleteThis is so sad. It's times like this I say out loud, "WHAT the hell?" Anne
ReplyDeleteJimmy, Please shoot me an email with your address. I want to send you a Christmas card. Anne (ksquester@aol.com
ReplyDeleteYes, I saw that. And right down the road from where we used to live too. Horrific. Sure takes the "merry" out of it all, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteI try and focus on the poor folks freezing as they ring the Salvation Army bells, or the lady behind me in line at Target who was buying gifts to give away to kids she doesn't know. Let's hope there's more good in this crazy world than bad.
LY
I didn't see this on tv but I am totally appaled at the way some people act in regards to the sales. I do shop on Black Friday and I have never seen anything even remotely close to this, I have never even seen a argument over something, although I know it happens all the time. Very sad that people have to act in this manner.
ReplyDeleteI saw that and was disgusted.... totally disgusted. Brings back to memory the days cabbage patch kids came out. I was in retail then.. it was a mob scene for a 29$ doll.... go figure.
ReplyDeletehugs
The whole situation is just very very sad. I went shopping ONCE years ago on Black Friday ... and never ever again.
ReplyDeleteI do it from the curtesy of my home ... in my pjs ... online. :o)
LORI
I refuse to be part of that mob mentality on Black Friday. My heart hurt for that poor man and his family. The rudeness, lack of compassion...all of it is surreal. Just to save a few bucks... None of it will ever be worth that man's life. I seriously hope they can identify some of those people and bring criminal charges up against them. NY I expected more of you, than this....(Hugs)Indigo
ReplyDeleteThis kind of stuff only happens at Walmart, seriously. (Same thing happened two years ago in another city--no one died, but people were taken to the hospital.) There's something about Walmart shoppers. I do Black Friday every year--staying clear of Walmart--and many stores have the opposite shoppers. Instead of profanities and elbows, you hear "Oh, excuse me" or "I'm sorry....." No material object is worth losing your sense of civility and/or kindness.
ReplyDeleteTragic incident indeed. I hope they find the jerk(s) ultimately responsible. Leave it to the shoppers to blame the store for this disaster. Just goes to show the kind of low-lifes these ravages are.
There were more reports coming in this morning about dying for deals. I watched the terror in Bombay and realized that if we were attacked it would damage what hope we have left. Would they kick US when were down, you bet! It makes me sick!
ReplyDeleteBTW the cabbage plant is called "Kale."
Jimmy this is unbelievable ~ I was going to say these people are animals ~ but animals don't behave like they did ~ Ally x
ReplyDeleteThis was sickening to hear...truly tragic. I really don't understand the mentality of what goes through their minds as they're trying to push and shove through the door just for a 'door buster' price.
ReplyDeleteI just don't get it.
Michele
Just makes me sick. The herd of sheep phenomenon is such a dangerous thing in humanity.
ReplyDeleteDisgusting doesn't even begin to cover the Walmart fiasco. That word doesn't even do it justice. Rather, the Walmart INJUSTICE to that poor man.
ReplyDeleteNo sale is worth a life! I think it's just horrible. I heard the police are going over the security tapes and plan on arresting those who broke through the doors and stampled the poor guy!
ReplyDeleteMan's inhumanity to man is horrible. No deal is worth a human life. Ever!
ReplyDeleteSam
My heart goes out to that poor mans' family. How are these things allowed to happen, surely there needs to be more policing or maybe Walmart should be forced to provide many more security guards for the day to ensure this never happens again. There's a lot wrong with our modern society, greed seems to have taken over from manners. Jeannette xx
ReplyDeleteIt's horrible. I'm absolutely disgusted that this happened.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Lippy.
ReplyDeleteI read about this in our local paper and was absolutely sickened. All that for a present which will promptly be forgotten after it's ripped open on Christmas morning.
It's awful.
This is exactly why I don't do Black Friday shopping. People are psycho.
XOXO
I'm disgusted by the selfish greedy pigs who were in that line, they should all go to jail for murder. This just places the stamp on Christmas, it truly is no longer about Jesus and love. Sad times. Cass
ReplyDeleteI'd heard about this after it happened and it disgusted me. I am actually very disturbed by the video too, that someone even thought they had a RIGHT to video tape (had to stop watching it personally). WM has security camera's and I hope they had them directed at the doors, find every single individual who helped murder this man and they charge them with murder. How in the world anyone feels justified to behave this way is beyond me.
ReplyDeleteAs far as your one commenter saying it's only a WalMart thing, absolutely untrue...there was a shooting at I believe TRU. WM does need a different way about this though, numbers like Best Buy or something, because this is just unacceptable. I know there's already talk of charging WalMart, and to a degree they are responsible, but not fully by any means, the people who trampled this man are at 100% fault and should be charged.
I've shopped on Black Friday, but normally I just enjoy my sleep far more than any bargain. When I have went out shopping it was never bad though.
Just sad, disgusting, and so disturbing.
AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!! Absolutely unimaginable.
ReplyDelete