A few weeks ago, I took note of this news article about how two women were camping out in front of a Beaumont, California, Best Buy 22 days before Black Friday “in hopes of landing the best deals for the infamous ‘first come, first served’ Thanksgiving night rush.” This isn’t a one-time event for these women, either. Apparently, they do it every year. This time they’re looking to “land a good deal on a television.”
Three weeks of camping on a sidewalk. Away from their families. Through a major holiday. All to save a couple hundred dollars on a television. What kind of hourly wage does that come to? Oh wait, they’re clearly not working during those 22 days. What’s wrong with this picture?
“Some people say we’re crazy,” said one of the women, adding that such comments don’t bother her in the least. Good thing, because I’m afraid I must agree with “some people.” That’s crazy.
Sadly, though, these women aren’t alone. On the morning of Friday Nov. 28, I logged onto my computer and saw these news headlines from both America and England:
- Fights break out after shoppers queue all night for bargains
- Black Friday chaos hits social media
- Girls brawl in U.K. mall over cheap panties
- Black Friday problems hit Britain
- 2 Women fight at Norwalk Wal-Mart over Barbie doll
- Black Friday shopping leads to scuffles, fights
- Shoppers fight over Wal-Mart deals in Michigan City
- Watch Wal-Mart shoppers fight over gadgets on Thanksgiving
And of course:
Camping. Grabbing. Scuffles. Fighting. Trampling. Stealing. For stuff. Useless stuff that will probably be broken or discarded or obsolete by this time next year. In 2008 at a Long Island Wal-Mart an employee was trampled to death. Would this have happened during the days of our parents? Our grandparents? Is it just me, or does it seem morality disappears during this season of good tidings of great joy?
With every passing year, I find myself less and less tolerant of the animalistic stupidity associated with Black Friday. I do not object to the giving of Christmas gifts and in fact take great pleasure in participating; but it seems too many people forget the lovely impulse behind gifts and instead push and shove, trample and snatch, fight and even kill – for stuff. And it’s usually stuff that they’ll end up keeping for themselves rather than give to a beloved friend or family member, so even the altruistic justification is gone. Instead formerly civilized people become pack animals on the hunt, fighting and trampling over coveted merchandise. Why? Can anyone tell me why?
Please don’t misunderstand, I have no objection to consumerism, the free market, or capitalism. I also understand that most people participate in Black Friday events with a spirit of good-natured fun and adventure.
But at what point does it cross the line from fun to predatory? Where does good-natured bargain-hunting end and vicious greed begin? Offer a consumer bargain, and suddenly some people become feral and primal – a veritable pack of wolves – in order to buy unnecessary stuff. The contrast between the reverent thankfulness of Thanksgiving and the rampant greed of the day after gets worse every year.
I see Black Friday mayhem as a symptom of a deeper and more disturbing trend among people, namely the steady erosion of national morality. Most of the time, a lack of self-control occurs when there are no consequences to one’s actions. When we remove consequences – when no one has to feel the repercussions of bad behavior or bad choices – then no one is motivated to change his behavior or make better choices.
These problems start young. Parents who do not require self-control and moral behavior in young children (“But his tantrums are so cute!“) have a harder time instilling it in older children (“He’s just expressing himself – what’s your problem?”). They are reinforced in government schools where children are allowed to misbehave with little or no consequences for their bad behavior. And because God is no longer part of the national conscience, there is no higher authority to set the ultimate limits. By the time kids hit their teenage years, a lack of societal regulation can often result in highly destructive behaviors such as sexual activity, drinking and drug use. Black Friday chaos is just a symptom of what happens to adults with no self-control.
So am I making too big a deal over a few stampedes, a few fistfights and a few people being trampled over cheap merchandise? Maybe. But tell me, what would happen if it wasn’t cheap merchandise people were fighting over, but the last gallon of milk or loaf of bread, the last gallon of gas or bottle of water?
A few years ago in the wake of Japan’s horrific earthquake and tsunami, the world watched in stunned amazement at the self-control the Japanese people exhibited in the face of the severest deprivation. With few exceptions, there was very little looting, theft, or mayhem. Yet all it takes is flat-screen televisions to go on sale at Wal-Mart, and Americans are ready to kill.
What will happen to America if we are faced with a widespread calamity that rivals Japan’s earthquake? Will we pull together in mutual assistance or rampage in destruction? I think I know the answer. If you are honest with yourself, you know, too.
When people are not capable of controlling themselves, government will step in and assume and enforce control, often at the point of a gun.
Since it is a major contributor toward removing morality from individuals, the government’s purpose in enforcing control will not be altruistic. The government will expect payback, and that payback is likely to come at a huge cost, both monetarily and with regards to our freedoms.
All for a lack of personal morality … and self-control. Something to think about next time televisions go on sale at Wal-Mart.
Media wishing to interview Patrice Lewis, please contact [email protected].
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