Report from the Frontline in the War on Retail
As we have been hearing for the past couple of days, there were a few injuries last Friday as many Americans fought bravely on the frontline in the War on Retail. We saw numerous pictures of shoppers camping out, sleeping on the sidewalk and waiting for the stores to open. They were doing this so they could punch and pull themselves to the counter to pay half price for something that will inevitably become landfill in the not too distant future. What courage they displayed.
Meanwhile, also worth mentioning, in the news was the fact that our soldiers are fighting and dying in Iraq for some drummed up reason, yet to be discovered. Also hundreds of Iraqis have met their death as well.
Perhaps the civilian retail soldiers who are willing to sacrifice so much personal time for a half-priced game, or whatever, could show the same level of sacrifice for their country if they truly support this war in Iraq and the man who sent our troops there.
The national news networks actually showed the hell that has become Iraq and then followed that story with the coverage of Americans fighting and pushing one another to cash in on the Black Friday sales. I don’t think they recognized the irony in putting the two stories back to back.
If people in other countries saw these reports, there is only one conclusion they could draw. They must see us as selfish, greedy, mean people who have no true heart or conscience. Maybe they’re right.
Meanwhile, also worth mentioning, in the news was the fact that our soldiers are fighting and dying in Iraq for some drummed up reason, yet to be discovered. Also hundreds of Iraqis have met their death as well.
Perhaps the civilian retail soldiers who are willing to sacrifice so much personal time for a half-priced game, or whatever, could show the same level of sacrifice for their country if they truly support this war in Iraq and the man who sent our troops there.
The national news networks actually showed the hell that has become Iraq and then followed that story with the coverage of Americans fighting and pushing one another to cash in on the Black Friday sales. I don’t think they recognized the irony in putting the two stories back to back.
If people in other countries saw these reports, there is only one conclusion they could draw. They must see us as selfish, greedy, mean people who have no true heart or conscience. Maybe they’re right.
posted by pissed off patricia at 1:31 AM
35 Comments:
"The ingenuity of our marketing, combined with the ignorance of our voters, made this all possible."
Bill Mahar, referring to Bush and his war policies, appearing on Jay Leno
I also addressed this less than proud part of our heritage. Not only, as you say, will the items probably appear in a landfill soon, the purchase of them made an economy in other than America grow, and America's shrink yet further.
The "big ticket" stores are assuredly owned by Republicans. That they would knowingly create a situation in which American's die, for their profits, yet keep their children from the armed forces soley because their parents are rich, stinks to the high heavens. Much worse, it speaks to the very core of our national soul.
But consumers must be held accountable as well. Nobody forced them to flock to those stores. And - these people might actually VOTE!! Can you just imagine what an informed, rational voter THAT must be!...(:
That the news always "blow-up" the amount of shoppers and what they spent,
is always a sad day when you know how many people go without so many of
lifes real needs ; (
And is it really news???? Yikes ; (
The irony is all this greed and selfishness is carried out in the name of Jesus, the Christian celebration of his birth. It's like all the Iraqis we have killed and tortured in the name of liberty and democracy. Unlike the troops in Iraq however, these shoppers have an exit strategy and somewhat attainable goals.
I will never understand what can motivate someone to arise in the pre-dawn hours to stand in line in the cold for a chance to stampede into some dreary, cavernous megastore and be gouged. I just don't get it. Never have. Never will.
I'm sure people in other countries saw the reports you reference... and I'm certain they contribute to our glowing global reputation!
The irony of these two wars really is astounding, placed side-by-side like this.
No question about it, this is in many ways one sick country with no real spiritual values in it.
But I'm done with my Christmas shopping, I've bought zilch, and that is all I'm spending.
Well, I did buy a new camera.
Drop PS3's on Iraq!!! [/snark]
I have a little post up on a similar topic...involves a phrase many have seemed to have forgotten, something along the line of, “ask not what your Country can do for you, but what you can do for your Country.”
I just don't see how anything can be business as usual given all the calamities going on in the world. Let's hope enough people will wake up to change our direction. In fact, I am sure there are many more who are aware of the problems now than before.
They see it and it just adds to the lack of respect they feel for most Americans. We are looked upon as very poorly by most other civilized societies.
aren't we the materialistic bunch? 'tis shameful.
Are you people crazy? How could you not go out and buy a bunch of bullshit you'll never have any use for the day after you're supposed to have made a complete friggin' pig of yourselves in appropriate preparation for the futbol game crammed like a turkey's backside with all those glorious corporate ads? Don't you remember what God's other son, George Bush the Lesser, said following 9/11? "Go out and shop." Wal-Marts don't exist so you can be fiscally responsible, you know. Buy, buy, buy!
Because if we can't defend our shallow, superficial, and selfish vices, then the terrorists have won...
bbmfrYes, I saw those reports. Those kind of reports will keep me from shopping at all during this "season". It's so disturbing and shameful. Black Friday is aptly named, its from the dark side.
I don't want or need "stuff" or "things". Just a generous helping of World Peace, and end to our materialistic greed. Everyone I work with is telling their shopping stories and how much stuff they bought. I just cringe.
We are a sick society.
The choppers rushed to Wal-Mart and gobbled up, totally bought out all the specials. Then they headed to Target and shopped the whole store.
The bitter taste of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of cheap price has gone. Wal-Mart has bargins and then they have a lot of cheap stuff at sweet price. - the voice of experience.
The real example of the greed and shameless direction the holidays have taken, was with the playstations and people camping out to get them. I could not find one damn story about it without people saying they were getting it to sell on Ebay!! That's every story I saw on the web. I could not find just one without the mention of the $1,550 or $1,600 to be made on Ebay by at least a few in line. SICK!!
Excellent point, POP. Perhaps they ARE right, and perhaps I am ashamed of what our country has become.
Last year I melted down in the store: Could not remember who I had to buy for, and couldn't for the life of me figure out why anyone would want all that crap. I shopped at the bank: crisp $10 bills for all the nieces and nephews, gift cards for everyone else.
This year I see even less to buy. humbug.
If I hadn't decided long ago that giving to charity in someone else's name was tacky, I'd just send some serious bucks down Katrina way...
Are we the only country that engages in self-flagellation about our supposed "sins" of gluttony, greed, &etc?
Why should I feel guilty about sending something that has meaning to a family member or an otherwise loved one at the "holidays"?
Why should I have to feel guilty about having a ONE DAY special meal with those I love that is overblown? Can't I spend one nice long weekend with friends and/or family and not be pestered about how terrible of a person I am for only caring about the hungry and homeless 51 weekends a year?
Granted, there are rude, obnoxious people the world over. Some men murder their daughters for "family honor". Some women murder their infants by throwing them in trash dumpsters.
Occasionally at a "football" (Soccer) game in Europe, the fans become rioters and stampeed and murder each other.
The human race, in general, sucks ass. Deal with it.
Stop trying to make the few POSITIVE things into negative things just so we feel guilty more often - heaven knows, that 52nd weekend is SOOOOOOOO farking important and all that....
I think I'm gonna bake me another pumpkin pie.
I find it very disturbing that people will camp out for the deal of the year only to find the market and proce for such items drop to breathable limits in a month or so. I find it sad and it is certainly a lesson for the children; camp out, fight, gouge your way to the front and get your materialistic prize! Come on, kids! This country needs you to shop till ya drop, someone else, of course. Get the shiny object with all the bells and whistles! Gotta have it! Gotta get it! Willing to die- ummm- kill for it! Hell ya! Capatilism must thrive, kill or die!
Amen.
The MSM will never see the irony of anything they do. They studiously avoid even mentioned the words "Civil War" in Iraq. Pathetic.
maybe they are right...we are selfish..we can't give up cable tv, food we throw away..i could go on but it sickens me
black friday is a day i spend praying for peace..and this year i took my grandson to the park and we had a blast for hours...he's worth more than a million plasma screens!
We are a selfish, greedy, egotistical, superpower. We prove it everyday.
Why do we wonder why the rest of the world hates us?
Why do we want to force that character of capitalistic, democracy on the rest of the world?
Can we not see why the rest of the world do not want to end up like us, selfish, greedy, egotistical?
Is the world wrong about us? Take the blinders off!
Yes its' awful disgusting. I NEVER ever venture out of the house on Black Friday.
And entire theory that it is to get *prices so low - ya'll never see such deals* again. Yeah... Riiight! Not until Dec 26th at the post holiday SALES events.
Blech!
For what it's worth, I did my own private boycott of Black Friday. Partly selfish; I don't want to get trampled or sit outside a store at 11:00 p.m. waiting for it to open in the a.m.
Mostly because I think it symbolizes greed; both on the part of the store and the shoppers.
I'll boycott December 26th as well.
Thanks for your comment. I try to get over here as often as possible even as a lurker but life has been hectic lately and dumb Blogger doesn't help.
I haven't switched to Beta. We can't on either blog because granny and is america burning are both "team" blogs and Blogger is discriminating against us.
I'm just as glad.
Well let me see, I would bet that there was more than a few veterans in those lines, and certainly there was more than one family trying to stretch their dollars to provide a nice holiday for their family.
I was in the military and I never once expected the world to stop because of war, in fact I still wanted the best normal life in abnormal circumstances for my loved ones. Yes we are greedy, we expect handouts from government, from employers, the list may be long. But I have news for you, the developing countries are in the process of doing the same thing and they will reach what we are and were. I won't stand in lines, maybe you won't, but that doesn't mean it is wrong for everyone. Christ went out of christmas a long time ago!
I just read some of your other comments. I don't feel guilty at all about enjoying cooking for my kids and extended family one special day a year. It wouldn't even have to be Thanksgiving; that's just the time when most people are available.
I don't think that's wrong at all. It's the hype surrounding all the holidays that bothers me. Christmas started before Halloween here. Insane.
We don't celebrate Christmas. So the whole buying frenzy just passes us by. It does look awful when we see it on TV. Yes, the juxtaposition with the images from Iraq makes for a horrible and tragic pairing. The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is a weird departure from reality, like everyone believes in the sugar plum fairies, and the world is winter wonderland with cheap toys. It's a national koolaid that everyone seems to drink. Weird weird weird.
Sadly, many Murkins are selfish and greedy.
Please write, Patricia.
I hope some Iraqis read this.
Although, I am not sure if they would laugh or cry or both.
Has the War on Christmas started yet? Time for me to sharpen up my snark for the coming O'Reilly War...
As a British observer of the American way of life, having lived in this country four years, I find it sad that America portrays such an attitude to the rest of the world. It's not the mass of ordinary, good-hearted, Americans who are responsible. It's your politicians, who try to run the world; your corporations, who try to buy the world, and your media who broadcast to the world just how superior America is to every other nation of the world. Queuing for hours in the cold for a bargain is not an American trait, it's a human trait. It happens throughout the world, wherever human beings have money to spare. It is true that Americans are seen by others as being "....selfish, greedy, mean people who have no true heart or conscience....", but that is a reflection of corporate and political greed and corruption, rather than the behavior of individual Americans, who in truth are not really very different from anyone else, whether British, French or Iraqi.
I like your name and I hope you stay pissed off and I hope everyone else does too because it's the only way anything is ever going to get done, by staying focused.
Total moral breakdown in this country, and that's why their winning, because we've let them win.
Americans have just sat back year after year and just watched and then we allow this LUNATIC to tell every other country how moral they should live?!?!?!
This Administration needs to be burned at the stake!!
NAH, I think just send them over to the Iragi's and tie them to a post in downtown Baghdad and let them be stoned; let them know what 'high & dry' really means!!!!
"They were doing this so they could punch and pull themselves to the counter to pay half price for something that will inevitably become landfill in the not too distant future."
I'm working my way toward "minimalist" in lifestyle. I too cannot fathom why we need all this "stuff". I have a post in mind regarding a sign I saw the other day which read,
"The most important things are not things"
Anon.
We don't need all this stuff. We do need more people to stand against Bush's empire. We do need peace. We do need love, and acts of loving kindness. We need to spend time with people we care about; visit the sick; feed the needy; care for the environment. We need to do this, in a hurry.
I've never understood those rushes. I mean, the stuff they don't need is cheaper than it was yesterday, and more expensive than after xmas.
Some people seem to slide all the way down the evolutionary ladder and become total herd animals. Why push & shove to get 20% off something you simply don't need? Why behave like an animal over junk?
bah. sheeple.
You made The Blog Round Up at Crooks and Liars
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