Black Friday

In the car yesterday, dad, Pegler, and myself were discussing how awful the American consumer culture has become. Look at how it goes straight from Halloween (buy candy and costumes!) to Christmas (buy EV-RY-THING), completely skipping Thanksgiving because, *gasp*, there's nothing with which to market it. Yes, the stores can encourage people to go out and buy food, but at least that's a necessity and not a material possession. So Turkey Day may be getting neglected, but at least it's staying pure.

After seeing the headlines today, perhaps I was wrong.

This Black Friday stuff is out of control. People are anticipating Thanksgiving nowadays so they can eat, sleep, and then jump up at midnight to wait in lines until 5am in order to ravage through stores to get a few bargains. Even worse, this year a number of stores started early by opening up yesterday evening for those who couldn't wait. What happened to spending time with family? Says one woman who was interviewed, "I'd prefer to do it on Thanksgiving so I can get my Christmas shopping out of the way and avoid the crowds." I have news for you lady: Christmas is on the 25th of December, not November. What's the immediate rush when you still have over a month to go? What can't you take some time to give thanks before being quick to give cash?

So that's that--Thanksgiving HAS been tainted. Instead of being that one holiday that has us reflect on our lives and is free of the grasp of commercialism, it is now being viewed at the official kickoff to the ever profitable "Holiday Season." Be thankful for a few hours and then spend spend spend to show how much you appreciate corporate America! Wahoo!

So how long before Black Friday becomes the official holiday?

Sincerely,
Angry Old Guy