Black Friday

Just how far do we have to come as a society that people are trampled to death by mobs in pursuit of STUFF on sale for Christmas? Just more stuff to fill the voids in our lives and any extra space in our storage units. That's right, spaces we actually pay for to hold all the stuff we've bought, but don't need. Our unique relationship to the stuff that fills our lives is ironic enough that it can be comical, but when our obsession for material goods actually results in the horrific death of a store employee, we've gone WAY beyond crossing a line. Is that really what the holidays are all about?

An exerpt from the NY Times article:
"Some shoppers who had seen the stampede said they were shocked. One of them, Kimberly Cribbs of Queens, said the crowd had acted like “savages.” Shoppers behaved badly even as the store was being cleared, she recalled.

“When they were saying they had to leave, that an employee got killed, people were yelling, ‘I’ve been on line since yesterday morning,’ ” Ms. Cribbs told The Associated Press. “They kept shopping.” "

The beauty of the whole situation is that nobody has to take responsibility for that man from Long Island's death. Everyone can point to the person behind him or the person behind HIM or the frenzy created by a mob of emotionally charged individuals. The Midwesterners can point their fingers and decry those crazed New Yorkers, the New Yorkers can say "it wasn't MY fault." But it was their fault. It is all of our fault. Our fault for letting consumerism replace rational thinking and a sound perspective on what we TRULY need to be happy and fulfilled.

America, you should be ashamed of yourself.

Sadness, remorse, sympathies and prayers for the spirit and family of Jdimytai Damour who was trampled to death yesterday in honor of Black Friday. Black, indeed.