We are over the lunacy that hits Christmas shoppers on Black Friday, which this year included one shooting and one pepper spray incident, not to mention a lot of pushing, shoving, and name calling.
Thank goodness no one was seriously injured.
You would think storeowners would have enough sense to regulate the hordes of bargain hunters entering their stores by developing security and safety plans ahead of time, but that apparently is not the case.
After so many years of watching mobs of shoppers enter retail stores in search of huge discounts, particularly on big ticket items, we’ve come to the conclusion that store proprietors and managers enjoy the pandemonium, seeing the early mad rush to buy as a good sign that consumers are willing to spend. It seems the excitement is one they relish, even if the rest of the shopping season turns bad.
As for the parents who took their children to Black Friday before dawn openings, we can’t help but wonder how much common sense they have.
In comparison, the late Tuesday night eviction of Occupy Los Angeles’ City Hall encampment went relatively well, with only a few incidents of trouble to report.
Parents with children had sense enough to leave the area ahead of the forced police eviction.
It seems to us that the members of the Occupy Movement and the Los Angeles Police Department practiced more civility and restraint than those shopping for gifts for the season of Peace, Joy and Giving we’re supposed to be celebrating.
Let’s hope the rest of the season is more in tune with the reason for the season.
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