I REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE!
In my opinion "Black Friday" has become exactly that: black! As black as the depravity of man's heart.
How can any material thing be more important than a human life? One greeter at a Walmart won't be celebrating the season with his family. Instead his family is planning his funeral. The masses broke the doors down and trampled him underfoot as they madly rushed to get those iPods or xboxes or gps or... How can this happen?
Nicole works at Walmart in Troy. Thankfully, she didn't have to work till afternoon. She came home last night and told us about a man who punched a lady and her daughter because they took the last xbox off the shelf!!
A couple years ago, Jerald & I decided to get up in the middle of the night and go to a Best Buy for something ( I don't even remember what it was anymore). We stood in a line that went across the front, down the side and half way around the back of the store. Even after the store opened, the line barely moved. We decided it wasn't worth the ridiculous wait, so we went home. Jerald went online and got the same exact item for the same exact price with no shipping.
How can we go from spending one day in thanksgiving with our families to spending the very next day in a lustful, mad pursuit of stuff? It's like something (or someone) temporarily takes up residence in the heart and causes actions and attitudes that are insane.
For shame America!
8 years ago
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9 comments:
Amen Amen, Margaret honey.
It was so sad to hear about that Walmart employee. Just an awful reminder of what's become "important" to Americans. Apparently getting in the door to that store was more important than anything else in that moment. Sad.
I also REFUSE to participate in the madness and have not yet EVER gone out on black Friday. Don't plan to either.
Amen to you both!
Marilyn (Charity's mom)
that was horrible....
However, in the defense of 'black friday'.....
it is sooo fun to get up in the dark and head out on an adventure! For me it isn't about getting stuff...i usually don't have much shopping left to do, but it's just a fun day with my girls!
i, too, am sickened by the madness that takes over questionably sound minds on black friday. i never venture out until late morning (if at all) and only if it appears it will really be worth the time spent in lines. most of the time traffic is light by then, and sales are extended until early afternoon, so there is no great rush. i don't always get the best bargains, but at least i don't lose my mind by the end of the day either.
i was pleasantly surprised yesterday when, as i was looking in vain for an empty seat to eat my chick-fil-a nuggets (i'd wandered around the food court AND all the way over to one of the large department stores searching), a lady who was sitting with a friend jumped up and offered me her seat. she said she was done and didn't mind waiting on her feet while her friend finished up. it was a little awkward, but i accepted her gift with gratitude. kindness still exists, even on that day....
There is a high majority of people that do have selfish and anger issues on this day. But, I have to say that Cleyo and I have braved the ruthless people for the last couple of years, and the few items that we get, are usually worth it. Also, I don't pursue the "stuff" in a feisty way, if it is there when I get there, then great! But I will not camp out all night, or run someone down for an item. Although I did get cussed at in Walmart by a lady whom I barely bumped her cart. It has also been my experience that most of the people during the month of December, are ruthless and pushy in most stores.
But, like Cleyo said ; what about the people who set a good example by opening doors and letting others go before us. I just hope for those of us who claim Christ as our Lord, and choose to venture out on days like these, or are even put in a predicament that we did not see coming, that we would choose to let our light shine.
My heart does break for the family of the man at Walmart, it was just senseless, but God works all things for His Glory, and we may never know this side of heaven what the purpose of that situation was.
It is sad, but not surprising, to hear accounts like that one. It reminds me of Lord of the Flies - the natural human tendency, without Christ, is to promote ourselves and our needs above the needs of others.
But I have to agree with Janal on this one. There is a thrill, for me, in rising early and finding great bargains for my family for Christmas. This year, I went straight to the items I wanted, made a beeline for the checkout and was out of there before the madness really even got started. I also stock up on toys for birthday parties during the year. It requires a lot of combing through ads in advance, but in my opinion, the savings are well worth the trouble. I will say that black Friday isn't quite as bad as the Eddie Bauer rummage sale I used to go to when we lived in Cols. . .
I absolutely agree, Janal; people don't HAVE to act badly and it is a good witness to portray Christ if one must shop on that day.
BUT...I'm still not convinced that the deals on that day are any better than at other times throughout the year. At least in my experience, they are not. I combed the ads this year, but found nothing that was a really great buy. I think the retail media would like us to THINK that we MUST shop on that day.
Anyway...I guess I must not be a shopper by nature, cause none of it sounds the least bit fun to me. So for those of you who can't resist, don't forget to let your Light shine. :)
I would rather brave the Black Friday crowds than go camping....:0)
chris- you are hilarious! you better stick with what you do best...stuffing sausages into casings! :)
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