Now, with that said, let me list a few of the reasons that have stopped me from engaging in this chaotic, commercialized “tradition” that seems to be sucking the morals out of every American.
1. Violence.
Obviously, I realize that not everyone who enters the mall to find that huge bargain deal will end up getting stabbed or trampled. But, it has happened far too many times over the years for me to feel comfortable with venturing out into the wee hours of the morning to join the masses in the shopping stampede.
This year alone, I read in the news about a man pulling a gun on a fellow shopper in a San Antonio Mall, about two people who were shot and wounded at a Walmart in Tallahassee, about two people were ran over in a Walmart parking lot in Washington andabout a teenage boy who was robbed of his purchases in Maryland. Numerous deaths and injuries have been reported over the years as the “holiday” has become increasingly more violent. Am I willing to risk that to save a couple hundred bucks on a jumbo TV? No, I’m not.
2. Selfishness.
I saw a meme recently that I feel summed up my feelings about the irony of Black Friday. It stated, “Black Friday: Because only in America do people trample others for cheap goods mere hours after being thankful for what they already have.” People are becoming increasingly more selfish from all the consumerism and commercialization that is promoted in America and Black Friday only fuels that billowing fire. Black Friday brings out the worst in people and makes it socially acceptable to completely disrespect people in order to save a few dollars. The civility and good-naturedness of individuals are stripped away in an instant, leaving them to behave as mere animals.
My husband has a friend who got cited for disorderly conduct for snatching a DVD out of a woman’s hand. This person could potentially end up spending $100 on a citation for trying to save $10 on that DVD. That, my friends, is not sound logic. Would he have ever acted like that on a normal day? And would society have tolerated that any other day of the year? I think not. But, for whatever reason, it is acceptable for people to let their selfishness and immaturity run rampant on Black Friday. Our society is becoming consumed with greed and “keeping up with the Joneses” and it is making us lose our civility.
In conclusion, I feel that Black Friday is only adding to the many mounting problems that our society is facing. The morals and values are slowly, but surely, decaying and I feel that Black Friday is doing nothing but quickening that process.
Faith Heaton Jolley is currently attending UVU. Contact her at faithmjm5@gmail.com
