LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Need for a reality check in wake of death

Michael Pravica, Henderson

Monday, Dec. 1, 2008 | 2:04 a.m.

As one who used to live on Long Island, I was horrified to read about the tragic and wholly unnecessary death of a Wal-Mart worker there, and I extend my heart felt sympathies to his suffering family. It appears that many of us need a reality check to remember that the sanctity of irreplaceable and priceless life far outweighs the momentary benefits associated with garnering cheap “made in China” toys and other gizmos that will end up in the trash heap some months later.

Though blame for this tragic and literal “doorbuster” incident rests primarily upon the barbarians who “rushed the gate” like a herd of cattle, corporate America must shoulder some blame for creating the fanatical hype surrounding “Black Friday” that causes some aggressive and nasty people to do horrible things. Having (for example) “limited quantities” (which means only 10 or so) of “deeply discounted” items “in stock” when over 1,000 people come to purchase this same item only aids and abets the desperate hysteria and poisoned competitive/”dog-eat-dog” atmosphere.

All Americans need to reflect on this tragedy as we approach the season of “good will to all” and ensure that it never happens again.

Discussion: 4 comments so far…

By DonKeyPunCh

12/1/08 at 3:43 p.m.

Suggest removal

I have to differ.
Walmart has been doing early door buster sales long enough to know that this can occur.
Nobody showed up with intent to trample somebody to death. If you have ever been in a large crowd
that is trying to move through a doorway then you would know that you have no control over the situation as an individual.
It's all about wal-mart's ridiculously stupid marketing ideas of cheap loss leaders to generate traffic. irresponsible.
100 percent blame goes to the idiots at walmart.
On a side note they opened the store at 1:30
that afternoon, that was real big of them, a few hours of mourning for one of their very own.
By Alicein

12/2/08 at 2:33 a.m.

Suggest removal

I am confused as to why everyone was "horrified". This type of behavior has been promoted and gloried ever since the Cabbage Patch Theory was set into place. The news media is there to tape people crashing through doors and throw more fuel on the fire by showing people leaving with bags and bags full of junk that will be forgotten about a week after Christmas as people cringe when the charge card bill arrives. The mind control has worked quite well. Large corporations rake in BILLIONS in profits while people suffer unspeakable hell in sweatshops working for pennies a DAY so we can have "stuff". They watch in glee as the herds of morons crash into their stores to spend themselves into terrible debt. The blood of this man is not only on Wal Mart's hands. It is on the hands of ALL corporations that condone the Black Friday Insanity AND those consumers who participate. And like I always say, if people will act like this over some plastic junk, what will they be like when we run out of food and water?
Ezekel 19: 30-32
By alicia_milo_StSimeon

12/2/08 at 7:52 p.m.

Suggest removal

Isn't it always the media who hype up everything? From court cases of Plaxico shooting himself, to Britney shaving her head, to "pet" names for celebrity couples, to the hype of black friday every year. It's definately the media to blame as well. I agree it's a tragic death, but someone always gets the unfortunate notoriety of being the one trampled for the shopping year. It shouldn't have to happen though. My sympathies as well to the family. I also agree with Dr. Pravica, that there should be more than 10 "discounted items" or "limited supplies" in the store. I once worked in the TARGET toy section over the christmas holidays, and they almost always had more of the toy in the back, but we were told to put so many out every night (to stock the shelves). This way, we could put products on the shelves at night, so it didn't look empty.

Corporate america...
By pravica

12/3/08 at 8:52 a.m.

Suggest removal

To Alicia_milo:

With the exception of increasingly rare independent newspapers and other media outlets such as the Las Vegas Sun, the mainstream media in this country IS corporate-controlled. Thus, when we are looking at media-generated hype surrounding Black Friday and our media-chosen Golden calf "heroes" such as Britanny Spears and Paris Hilton, it has been paid for and dictated by our omnipotent corporations. Sadly, they are one and the same in today's America. Thanks for your comments.