Only in America... do we set aside the fourth Thursday in November for the sole purpose of getting together with family and friends to give thanks for the many blessings in our lives. A wonderful day of reflection, family and traditions. And, on the very next day, we put all that aside to get up before dawn for the pure excitement of finding the best deals on new stuff... and God help those who get in our way. Here are a couple videos of this fun-filled day to get you in the Christmas spirit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O6IMYSSs7c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=mnu6yZKo7u8&NR=1 (first 30 sec)
What started out as a day to mark the beginning of the shopping season for Christmas has turned into a day of greed, frenzy and bad behavior. We can partly blame this behavior on stores that advertise an $800 TV on sale for $250, but then only stocks three of them. Companies advertise like this to entice people to choose their store over another store and they only stock a few because it is a terrible business plan. The store loses money on the first few customers, but makes money on the next 2 Gazillion shoppers who are in the shopping mood.
Author's Point #1: Ten years ago a few stores opened up at 5 a.m. to jump start this big day of shopping. Two years ago many stores opened at midnight. This year many stores opened at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving. Restaurants are also opening at similar hours to accommodate shoppers. Because companies see more opportunity for making a buck, hundreds of thousands of store employees are no longer able to enjoy their Thanksgiving holiday. Do you think any of them are able to request the busiest day of the year off? Is anyone thinking about the workers who have no say in the matter of when the stores open? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwJWe_DMfGc
Author's Point #2: After watching the videos above (and hundreds others like it), I am wondering if this is what Abraham Lincoln had in mind when he declared Thanksgiving a national holiday: people camping out in lines for a week to get a good spot in line, people stampeding in stores like cattle to save a few dollars (a Wal-Mart Employee was killed in 2008 after being trampled by customers - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqeY7j5TuuE) and people getting into fist fights over merchandise.
Maybe it's just me, but we might want to turn the clocks back on this one. I think 5 a.m. on Black Friday is early enough. Let's value the traditions of Thanksgiving and the lives of store employees over our need to buy more stuff. After all, Cyber-Monday provides the same deals with no lines. I would like to add that as a last-minute shopper, stores continue sales well into December - no joke!
Your Turn:
1) What is your opinion?
2) It's possible that I am wrong on this. After all, three NFL football games were played on Thanksgiving this year. If football is okay, shouldn't shopping be okay?
3) I wouldn't end tailgating at football games because 5% of the fans get too drunk and act like complete idiots. So, why pick on Black Friday because 5% of these shoppers cause trouble?
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Friday, November 9, 2012
Leaders Acting Like Leaders: How Refreshing
For those who don't know, Chris Christie is the Governor of New Jersey. Early in 2012, republicans literally begged Christie to run for President of the United States. He repeatedly refused, saying that he was not ready to be president and he did not want to abandon his state of New Jersey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W24-CB6nn2k.
He gave the opening keynote address at the Republican Convention and basically slammed President Obama for 30 or so minutes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWICurHafqE. It should be noted that President Obama doesn't have any real affinity for Governor Christie either.
However, a week before the election, Hurricane Sandy hit the Northeast coast of of the United States and devastated Christie's home state of New Jersey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mZPuTOkmiA.
To their credit, these two individuals put party politics aside and joined forces to provide the people of New Jersey the best possible state and federal resources. It impresses me that two individuals could work together for the greater good and openly praise each other in press conferences www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ssl1R7oXpg4. However, there are some that believe Christie's praise of Obama was the final nail in the coffin for the Republican candidate, Mitt Romney http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-7Foalz5Qs&feature=relmfu.
Author's Perspective: I have long believed that the problem with America is the divisiveness of the two party system. When the Democrats try to do something, the Republicans stand in their way, and viceverse. Gridlock. Good 'ol fashion party politics. So, it is refreshing to see two strong leaders combine forces to serve the people. Not only did these two men work together toward a common goal, they acted the ways leaders should act...like..well...leaders.
Your Turn:
1) Two men working toward a common goal might sound easy, but think of the person who you hate the most - perhaps someone who has been your biggest critic and called you names. Could you overcome your feelings and work toward a common goal? Could you praise your enemy in public?
2) Why do you think Republicans and Democrats have such an issue working together for the good of the country?
He gave the opening keynote address at the Republican Convention and basically slammed President Obama for 30 or so minutes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWICurHafqE. It should be noted that President Obama doesn't have any real affinity for Governor Christie either.
However, a week before the election, Hurricane Sandy hit the Northeast coast of of the United States and devastated Christie's home state of New Jersey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mZPuTOkmiA.
To their credit, these two individuals put party politics aside and joined forces to provide the people of New Jersey the best possible state and federal resources. It impresses me that two individuals could work together for the greater good and openly praise each other in press conferences www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ssl1R7oXpg4. However, there are some that believe Christie's praise of Obama was the final nail in the coffin for the Republican candidate, Mitt Romney http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-7Foalz5Qs&feature=relmfu.
Author's Perspective: I have long believed that the problem with America is the divisiveness of the two party system. When the Democrats try to do something, the Republicans stand in their way, and viceverse. Gridlock. Good 'ol fashion party politics. So, it is refreshing to see two strong leaders combine forces to serve the people. Not only did these two men work together toward a common goal, they acted the ways leaders should act...like..well...leaders.
Your Turn:
1) Two men working toward a common goal might sound easy, but think of the person who you hate the most - perhaps someone who has been your biggest critic and called you names. Could you overcome your feelings and work toward a common goal? Could you praise your enemy in public?
2) Why do you think Republicans and Democrats have such an issue working together for the good of the country?
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