Friday, November 28, 2008

Death at Walmart--So Senseless!

What have we come to? Stores open at 4 or 5 o’clock in the morning; only stocking 6 to 8 of the “bargains” advertised in the flyer—then we are SHOCKED when 2000 people await the opportunity to buy a big screen television at a bargain basement price, but what is the cost??—a human life??? How insane is that? Surely these people at Walmart feel all kinds of remorse – the kind that doesn’t allow you to sleep or even get through the day, but alas that isn't even the case. This Walmart worker was someone’s son—perhaps someone’s husband or someone’s father. What is WRONG with our society that someTHING is worth the price of some ONE?
USA TODAY ARTICLE

6 comments:

Maisy said...

It's so sad that our "civilised" society has come to this. Another person's life is less important than a bargain priced thing.

I've been thinking about the excess of Christmas and how we spend more and more lavishly because it's so hard to make this celebration special because we live so well all year round. The death of this young man is a dreadful reminder of how materialistic we are.

Ali

Marsha said...

Ali,
I, too, have been thinking about this. My dilemma is that I want my children to think about it also. Finding ways for us to give this Christmas to overshadow our "wants" is my goal. Any ideas?
Marsha

Anonymous said...

I am still having trouble with this whole idea. I. Just. Don't. Get. It.

I have been in rejection mode on the whole consumerist, acquisition of stuff idea for quite a while.

I have been "planning" to start making gifts (in my woodshop) for some time now, yet have never followed through.

This year will be a first for actually doing that, though, as I'm fully committed to building a dollhouse for someone for Christmas this year.

Ali's comment about the difficulty in making the celebration special because we live so well all year round has provided me one of those "Oh. Yeah." moments. Very well stated.

Anonymous said...

PS.

Marsha,

I've been remiss in providing you with an explanation of/apology for increased traffic you've had on an older post of yours this past week.

However, I think you're acquainted with the reason. Hopefully it has not caused you any undue aggravation.

Belated Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours as well.

Rob

Anonymous said...

We were listening to a discussion about this on CNN this morning as we were, ironically, heading to the town's Santa Parade.

Someone in the crowd took off the hinges of the door and the worker didn't have a chance. And it is so wrong for Wal-Mart, or any store, to promote this kind of lunacy year after year. I wonder what other tragedies will result as our society has less and less money to spend and retailers pull more and more stunts to try to get "their share".

Marsha said...

No worries Rob---it is what it is... sometimes it saddens me that hurt yields hurt instead of hurt yielding support...

Annie--I have never been more enlightened of MY responsibility in facilitating such "craziness" as I am now. I chose NOT to shop on Friday--I know it is small, but that's all I can do. I don't need ANYTHING that desperately.