Monday, December 1, 2008

death by consumerism

When parents teach children to become responsible and respectful adults, the principles of sharing and courtesy are high on the list. If your elementary school buddy has a fire truck in their hand, you are taught to be patient and not grab the toy from their hand.

Thus… do we need to teach this philosophy to adults… again? Why is it that on Black Friday adults reverted back to childhood before rules and laws were implemented?

I awoke early on Friday morning, and drove to Wal-Mart to pick up bed sheets that were too irresistible to pass up. What I witnessed were adults grabbing and fighting over items, people shoving carts into shins and ankles, and impatient parents. There was not a kid to be found, but the adults had the behaviors and manners of 3 year olds in the peak of a temper tantrum. I witnessed women grabbing sheets out of people’s hands, and people raising voices in traffic jams.

After my near breakdown in the parking lot at Wal-Mart, my sister informed me that a temporary worker was stampeded to death over an electronic device. Where did the humanity go, and where are we going?