Emily: Remember when today used to be known as, "the Friday after Thanksgiving"? Just a regular old Friday. A day off from school. A four-day weekend. Now we call it "Black Friday". It's become part of our vernacular. It doesn't belong to us. I (like most things) blame the media. They're the ones who start most things.
This was the term used by retailers, not consumers, to describe the day. Then the media picked up on it and now it's used by everyone.
Remember the Elmo doll? Only because the media said there weren't enough of them, or that they were going to be the hottest item, did people go all bonkers. It was just a toy.
Now stores are staying open. First, they were opening early, like 6am. Then it went to opening at midnight. Now, Old Navy was actually open on Thanksgiving. We're boycotting them. And Kohl's (because they used that awful song).
What happens to the people who work retail? Bill and I both know. But working at those odd hours? No one gets a holiday anymore. The American Consumerism (and media) have gone too far. What's wrong with offering these great deals at "normal" store hours? You know, 9am-noon?
Last year (and a couple years ago) I went out at 3pm on Friday. Stores were mostly empty, looking as though tornadoes had swept through them. There has not been anything I have ever wanted enough to warrant standing in line. I know, it's fun for a lot of our friends. But having been on the retail side, it's not fun for the people who have to work. Maybe I'm just being a downer.
Bill: no, you're right. I watched the news this afternoon and there was a man who was missing Thanksgiving dinner with his family. He said something to the effect of, "I can have dinner any time... This TV will last longer than some dinner." Sad. Especially because the man revealed it was his birthday. I can't imagine how his kids are translating the fact that Daddy would rather spend time in a line waiting for a piece of junk TV than spend time with them on Thanksgiving.
As I write this, the NBC news is doing its piece on violence throughout the U.S. All for cheap, poorly made 'things" that we could all live without.
The retailers have done a great job of both convincing us we need these things and that now is the best time, the only time, to buy.
Who do we have to convince us that time with our families and time in thanks of all our country's bounty is truly the most important thing in the world. But, since we have already accepted that there is only one day per year where we need to be actively thankful, I guess I am old fashioned and way too late to change the way things are.
Happy Holidays, indeed.
