Black Friday is one of the busiest shopping days of the year. It's a day where many retailers slash prices and offer unheard of door buster deals to kick off the holiday shopping season. The commercialization of the Christmas holiday is not new, however, after reading two articles about events that occurred yesterday shows that the Christmas holiday season has lost its true meaning.
I am sure that everyone has heard about the incident at New York area Wal-Mart where a temporary employee was killed after being trampled by hundreds of shoppers trying to rush into the store to get a good deal (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081129/ap_on_re_us/wal_mart_death;_ylt=AkRgsbifyvHEwV4iR085405vzwcF). Then there is the double murder at a California area Toys R Us (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/28/national/main4637468.shtml?source=RSSattr=HOME_4637468) where two women started fighting and then their mates pulled out guns and shot and killed each other. In addition to these acts of violence, there are numerous articles of people getting arrested, bloody fights breaking out and for what...a toy?
Is buying a 50" Plasma for $799 worth killing someone over? Is it worth losing your freedom over if you are caught, arrested and charged for their murder? Is it worth for the lack of piece of mind, because we know there are going to be some who are going to have nightmares about their foot stepping on something that felt like a human. I understand that we want to spoil our loved ones and want to make sure the kids (for those that have them) have a special memory of Christmas, but what it's not worth getting arrested or even killed over? The reason for this holiday is not about the gifts solely, but about celebration of the Birth of Christ. This is a season where one is to help the less fortunate, enjoy and reflect on the past year, embrace family and togetherness. Its not all about the shopping and toys; it's not about what can I get and what can I get for the next person. The holiday shopping rage is completely out of hand and if someone doesn't agree with me then you are part of the problem.
In light of these tragedies, let's do something different from this point forward. Still do your Christmas shopping, but stop being a maniac about it; if you don't get that Elmo kitchen with the dancing Elmo next to it, it will not kill your child. Heck I am sure if you get the kid a few other things he/she will be excited still, but if they aren't, then hey maybe you should look in the mirror and ask yourself "am I raising my child up on a value based system that will not make them a rude, obnoxious ass or am I teaching them the correct principles?" If they are upset and spoiled then hey we know which is the correct answer. Seriously, to those people in New York that trampled someone who was trying to work probably to raise more money to ensure his family had a great holiday as well, will never get that chance; when you are sitting there on Christmas morning watching your kids and loved ones open those presents which you got as a result of killing someone, ask yourself... "Was it worth it?".
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