An employee was trampled to death by over-zealous shoppers who literally broke down the doors at a Long Island Wal-Mart on "Black Friday," while four other shoppers were injured during the stampede and taken to the hospital.
According to news reports, shoppers screamed, shoved and jockeyed for position while waiting for the doors to open. As the part-time stock clerk approached the doors at 5 AM, the force of the crowd physically broke through the doors and mowed down the unfortunate man. Ignoring employee pleas to clear out and exit the store, shoppers rushed about, grabbing the most sought after items on their lists. Visibly upset employees described the scene as "chaotic" and shoppers as "savages".
I found myself very disturbed by this news report. Some questions immediately come to mind. I wonder, on Christmas morning, will the recipient of those highly sought, hard fought after Black Friday purchased Wal-Mart gifts, have a clue about their true cost? Will the giver of those gifts really feel good about giving them? And, what is 70% off a person's life worth?
Was this event just a fluke, an isolated incidence of unprepared employees and over-enthusiastic shoppers? Is Wal-Mart to blame for not having proper security measures in place? Or is this just the tip of the iceberg, suggesting something has gone seriously askew in our value system?
Competition is so endemic to our culture, consumption has become a competitive sport. We've become "guerilla" consumers, stalking our "prey," engaging in strange rituals that commence in the wee hours of the morning on the day after Thanksgiving. Some especially dedicated consumers actually cut short the time they spent with their families on Thanksgiving so they could be first in line when the doors opened at 5 AM.
Am I the only one who thinks something is out of whack here? Does anybody else feel seriously manipulated by the whole holiday shopping craziness? Remember the mortgage mess we're in? Remember how we all fell for the notion that real estate prices could only go up, so we'd better get in while we could no matter whether we could afford it or not? We could always refinance later. Look how that turned out.
I have a feeling those precious 50 inch flat-screen TV's will still be around next week or even after the holidays and probably at even more reduced prices. The Chinese are busy turning those puppies out as fast as we can consume them. I don't think we need to worry about a shortage of supply. But I do think this is an opportunity to reflect on the mindset that produced the kind of tragedy that happened last week.
What happened on Black Friday is a teachable moment for all of us. While those particular shoppers represent a tiny percent of consumers, let's imagine for a moment, they reflect some aspect of us all. Even if you observed Buy Nothing Day (see video below), even if you cannot identify with the crowd mentality on display, use this moment as an opportunity to examine the value system and consciousness you're bringing to your life and how you might use this experience to re-align yourself with the true spirit of the season.
Even before the episode at Wal-Mart, I'd already decided that this year my choice is to consume less, but give more. This holiday season, my emphasis will be on giving the gift of presence instead of gifting presents. The gifts I plan to give this year cannot be packaged and wrapped, they can only be experienced. Experiential gifts are absolutely the best in my book.
For starters, here are some experiential gifts you might consider giving this holiday:
1) Give an authentic acknowledgment to the people you love.
2) Look them in the eyes and tell them who they are for you.
3) Open up communication with someone with whom you've had a misunderstanding.
4) Apologize to someone you've unfairly judged.
5) Extend kindness to a stranger or offer support to someone and expect
nothing in return.
This, I believe is the true spirit of not only this time, but of these times. As never before, we are called to reconnect with what matters. Let this holiday season be a beckoning for you to summon up the "greater angels of your nature," to come forward with the gift of your authentic presence and offer yourself as the priceless gift you are. Presence is a "being" thing. No credit cards or cash required.
Lastly, there was another event that took place on Black Friday. It's called Buy Nothing Day. In case you weren't aware or missed it, here's a short video promo and a good reminder about what matters:
Consider how you might plan to Recognize, Rethink, Revolutionize and Restore the True Spirit of the Season to your observance of the holidays this year and be sure to let us in on your ideas.
Follow Dr. Judith Rich on Twitter: www.twitter.com/dr_judithrich
Merry Christmas.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/03/family-of-walmart-employe_n_148159.html
Make some popcorn, pull up a chair and give yourself 5 minutes to grok this. When you've finished watching it, send this link to everyone you know and make it required watching for them. This video nails it! It's called: The Good Consumer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_ut93YYZu8
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. The whole point of this discussion is about awareness, using discernment our consumption and not just mindlessly be buying things because the price has been artificially manipulated so we think we're getting a good deal or because we're motivated to acquire things just for the sake of having a lot of stuff.
It's about waking up to the thousands of ways that we, as consumers, have been conditioned by "the system", which actually, as the video portrays, depends on our continued consumption in order to survive.
So what's the balance? Of course, we need things. Look to see if you're focused on the "thing" or are you connected to the experience you want to create by using the thing.
I just purchased 1/4 cord of firewood and a new screen for my fireplace. I'm thrilled to be able to sit in front of a raging fire now, be reflective and feel peaceful. Not to mention cozy and warm and use it to heat my house. That's the experience I wanted to have and the purchases were a means to that end.
You want the fluffy pillows so you can read in bed and soothing colors around you to elevate your spirits. It's about "what's the experience you're looking to generate vs. is this just about looking good"?
Enjoy your pillows and don't you dare feel guilty about having purchased them! (Unless of course, they came from Wal-Mart).
Best wishes,
Judith
I explained to my son what was happening, that we were being manipulated, and that I was not willing to play along with it. He was disappointed, but he understood. And during the week following Christmas, suddenly the stores were flooded with the dolls, at a "sale" price.
The stores are quite literally killing people to make a buck. It's as simple as that. And we're stupid enough to play along.
Your comment just proves what we've suspected all along. We're like sheep being led to slaughter!
Thanks for this piece of "evidence". Forewarned is forearmed.
Best,
Judith
Instead we enjoy visiting with each other and consuming good food.
More people ought to try this--it's a much better (and healthier) place to be.
Secondly ... it's one of those awful human stories where people in a group become unmanageable because there are no controls in place. I am sure Walmart is going to have to pay out compensation of some sort. It's just a matter of how much.
Still how do these people keep shopping when there is a man down like that. THe store should have shut it down right then and there.
I understand civil authorities are looking a video to identify people in the crowd who did the trampling and prosecute them, but do they arrest everyone for depraved indifference? Perhaps Walmart should face legal sanction for the depraved indifference by which they promote the black Friday sale. It was only a matter of time before something like this would happen.
That doesn't make it right, but it's important to understand that one person, either the poor guard, or a good samaritan, could not have stopped that mob. Think of mobs at soccer stadiums, and concerts. The store's fault lies in lack of good security and lines. The people's fault lies in greediness.
What is just as astonishing as the death though, is that shoppers who trampled this man to death, presumably continued shopping after he died, and are seen carrying huge bargains out on carts and on foot to their cars, at the very moment the man was carried out on a stretcher. They didn't stop to see how he was. They just continued wheeling their purchases to their cars, without a worry in the world. Why, they had finished all their shopping in one day!
No, your are, most definately, not 'the only one.' Your article raises real, vital questions we should all be asking ourselves. What is important, after all? It seems the chief complaint, these days, in addition to the economy, is the distress people express about having too little time with loved ones. Making choices to leave family behind in order to join the parade of lemmings at Maul Mart before the doors open on Black Friday crushes the very Spirit out of what we are doing here, on Planet Earth.
Yes, Judith: teachable moments, indeed. I guess it all gets down to how we answer one crucial question: do we prefer to see ourselves as human beings, with an occasional once-in-awhile spiritual experience, if at all; or, do we see ourselves as Spiritual beings, here to have a human experience? I know where you and I line up.
Know that what you are writing makes a very real difference.
As we all head off to handle our own lists this year, let's think about that poor soul who lost his life at Wal-Mart. And, let's not forget about his family, in their grief of such a meaningless loss. May we each remember, when in any line, that there is nothing whatsoever in our cart that is worth harming another sentient being.
May we grow from this teachable moment, and your insightful words.
Love,
Cara
I have scoured the internet for information on New York tort law as it applies to this case, but have been unsuccessful in finding anything so far. If there are any New York premises liability attorneys in the house, we'd love to hear from you.
I did find the following from Michael Ehline, Los Angeles Injury Lawyer. This is in today's LA Times. Due to space considerations I have only included an excerpt of his statement.
"Since I am only a California lawyer, I will explore the issue as if it had occurred in California. Here, the case would be filed as a workers compensation case on behalf of the estate of the decedent Wal-Mart employee, as against Wal-Mart, and there could be more money available if the acts of failing to protect the employees, or have proper security to keep out the mongrel hordes, for example.
There is also the issue of the patrons who actually killed the man. It seems like there is a murder case against all of them, since they all apparently caused and contributed to the death of the Wal-Mart Employee. The civil cases for tort would probably be the same.
It could be a tough case. But it is worth a try. But as you can see, there are many considerations in bringing a lawsuit in a case such as this, requiring a highly experienced tort law firm."
No -- and bless you for speaking up.
There is so much stress associated with Christmas gift giving, even among family members who seem to have UPC scanners programmed into their eyeballs.
I don't (read can't) keep up with my family 'Jones' because I flat out can't afford them if I want to live within my means.
Thanks.
I feel better after reading your post.
(BTW some camcorders are pretty cheap these days.. it's never to late to start! )