Wal-Mart has once again become the symbol of our nations over-zealous consumerism. The BlackFriday death of Jdimytai Damour is tragic and my heart goes out to his family. Many words have been written and spoken about this event. Brian Ojanpa of the Mankato Free Press writes about the event in his column, Black Friday finally claims a life.
Ojanpa writes:
“The safety of our customers and associates is our top priority,” Wal-Mart lawyerly intoned post-stampede.
OK, then, prove it by doing this: No more whipping waiting mobs into a shark frenzy by teasing them with pulse-quickening prices on purposely rationed items.
Go read the rest of his opinion piece here
The death of this worker was preventable. The barbaric crowd bears some responsibility for this death but the police in Long Island will find it difficult to bring criminal charges against anyone. Wal-Mart, on the other hand, has a legal responsibility to provide a safe workplace and failed dismally in this case.
CNN reports that UFCW Local 1500 President Bruce Both has called Wal-Mart’s actions, “blatant irresponsibility”.
This incident reminded me of a song I downloaded a few years back by MC Lars called Wal-Mart Nation.
Peace & solidarity,
CHC
I don’t know if you can put the blame on Wal-Mart for this… I’m not saying they shouldn’t be held accountable. But the whole premise of this massive shopping day just provokes the darkest side of consumerism.
This tragedy could have just as easily befallen any other company. However, it is suiting that it is Wal-Mart I suppose. The grotesque giant of retail.
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Let’s don’t blame the stores. It is the self-centered, greedy person who is to blame. I think this Black Friday hype should be unlawful.
I find it disgusting (beyond the obvious about this situation) that Walmart reopened AT ALL that day. My God, this company sure doesn’t give a damn about humanity at all, do they? The bottom line for Walmart matters more than respecting this man who died on their property as well as all the other workers who had to go on checking out the savages who are the direct cause of his death.
Let’s blame consumers (that’s us) for being savagely selfish, and let’s blame the stores for stoking our worst impulses to boost their profits.
Though sad it was Jdimytai Damour’s time to die; it was the will of God. The crowd was just the instrument through which He worked. Nothing more or less. One cannot delay their death anymore than they can know the Mind of God.
I wonder how much money walmart lost through simple retail theft of people who seemed to sneak away goods and use the large numbers as an advantage
People can’t even be compared to animals. Animals are decent, caring creatures, who care, and will do ANYTHING to protect their pact. This is just disgusting. Just what Cristmas is all about eh? Isn’t this why Jesus went to the temle, and threw out the money changers? Let’s make Sants skinny, and buy presents til we kill.
Wal-Mart, aka China, Inc. Has long made it’s business model to attract the less intelligent of our population by selling them cheap crap. So, should we be surprised that their customers got out of control and acted like idiots? Wal-mart is a blight on America. It is responsible for putting more people out of work than any other comp[any in our history. We can do without them and, were we to decide to do so, we could start our own businesses and trade with our friends and neighbors. Some of you may remember this quaint custom; it was once called a community.
I think it’s unfair to blame to blame Walmart. It’s the people. They should have rounded them up and charged them with manslaughter…they have the camera for evidence…
I do not like Black Friday and do not go out on Black Friday. The deals aren’t usually that good and the rude, irresposible consumers out during this shopping day aren’t worth my dirty socks. (not all Black Friday consumers are in this category – so if you aren’t one of these nasty, bad attitude carrying, irrational, rude folks I am not talking about you)
This tragedy is the fault of those who trampled another human being for the sheer purpose of buying a piece of junk. This death hangs on all those who were in the mob that trampled this poor man. He was a father and you took that from him because you just had to have the “perfect” gift for as little money as possible. You took from him the one thing that is most precious. Life.
I believe Walmart should have left their doors open as usual but in the end it is the mobs fault. They trampled a man to death over Christmas presents. I don’t know any child who has died because he/she didn’t get the perfect present for Christmas.
God Bless Jdimytai Damour and his family during this horrific time. My prayers go out to them.
Not everthing at Wal-Mart is cheap crap. I like Wal-Mart. It think paying 17 dollars for a dress at Wa-Mart for a 3 month old is high. Without Wal-Mart I would hate to think what it would cost.