We did it, America. A person is dead because of the consumer’s greed to get the best deal. In New Jersey, a Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death by a mob of people who ripped down the doors and flooded into the store looking for those holiday discounts. Congratulations, we have hit an all time low.
Thank God this was an isolated incident, but this reflects on our society as a whole. The rest of the world is seeing this headline. To them, America has gone mad with materialism. Waking up at odd hours to stand in line and rush to get the new hot item at 20 percent off, what a way to kick off the holiday season.
A season that is supposed to be about family and friends has transformed gift givers into ravenous Mongol Hoards searching for those perfect gifts at the perfect price. Black Friday has turned into the sickest tradition America has, and sadly it has turned deadly.
If I’m not mistaken, the holiday season is not about gifts and soon we will learn that. Most families have already felt the pinch of the failing economy, making those great deals sweeter than candy canes. But if the economy is heading where the experts say, this mess is only going to get worse. By next Holiday season, we may see those lines outside of department stores shrink because a lot of us will not be able to afford much of anything.
Now is the time to get back to basics. We have to remember the Christmas spirit being abut loved ones and happiness. Skip the gifts, spread the cheer. That is a quality in America that we should be projecting, our ability to unite in hard times. Instead of fighting for silly things, let us reject the commercialization that has taken over this holiday that was once thick with tradition.
Cozy up next to the fire. Listen to the old carols that brought smiles to our faces as kids. If you are still in the gift giving mood, make something. Knit everyone scarves, blankets or hats. Carve things out of wood. Who cares if it is good? Isn’t it still the though that counts?
It is time to shake off the stress that is now associated with the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping. Shake off the worry of debt. It is time to get out of the materialistic slump that we have gotten used while we had money.
We, as a nation, are going to learn many great lessons from the economic downfall. We will learn how we have been living outside of our limits and how important our friends and family are. These lessons will be come prevalent and obvious through the holiday seasons. If this is the next Great Depression, then we will all learn how to be humble and grateful for every little thing in our lives.