Wal-Mart death a tragedy for all
By Nadine Kam
PhotoluluTV video
Been thinking over the past couple of days about the Black Friday tragedy of a temp employees’ death at a Long Island Wal-Mart, as well as the mob scene at our own Honolulu Wal-Mart as captured in a YouTube video from www.photolulu.com
It was sad all around. Bad behavior on the part of those who were there, and equally bad behavior on the part of video commentators rich enough to smugly avoid such scenes while shaking their heads and passing judgment on people, some of whom, wanting to have a good Christmas, have little choice but to slavishly show up at times designated by retailers who are being cruel when they set such tight buying windows, knowing the frenzy that will ensue when there’s demand for certain goods.
It was depressing to me because, given the shape of the economy, I thought this might be a saner holiday season, with people finally waking up from their shopping feeding frenzy and cutting back in response to the new economic reality.
For many of my friends and me, this has meant curtailing the annual gift exchange and new pacts to get together for brunches and dinners to simply enjoy one another’s company, starting with a recent birthday three-fer. Where once we might have headed for the most expensive new restaurant in town, accompanied by massive gift exchange, this time we made a trip to Cholo’s in Haleiwa, followed by dessert at Higher Ground in Wahiawa — with the birthday girls, me included, paying their own way — ending at one’s home for friendly rounds of “Guitar Hero” and a whole batch of Wii games during which we beat each other to a pulp and were dying laughing while boxing.
I have to admit that, writing about fashion, shopping and the latest trends probably doesn’t help the situation. But, in doing my job, I assume the understanding that we’re all adults who can figure out many of these things are nice to have IF we have the money. That’s a bif IF, and it’s sad that so many have forgotten the last part of the equation and now feel entitled to all the things they think everyone else has.
Maybe they’d be surprised to find others actually live with less than they appear because of trade-offs.
I like to own clothes, so while I might like to own an iPod, an iPhone, and my own Wii system, “Guitar Hero” and “Rock Band,” I have written them off as luxuries I can’t afford to have. I’d probably be a better musician if I practiced on my real drum kit anyway.
I don’t even have a good TV. I lived with sound flitting in and out for about a year, and when a friend’s brother was replacing his 20-year-old, 19-inch TV, I got it. It feels like the Stone Ages, but so what? I would hate feeling my life revolved around TV.
Do I miss having these things I don’t have? Not at all. It’s OK with me because I pretty much grew up with Great Depression values passed on by grandparents to my parents and down to me. It wasn’t until I got to college that I met up with a new bunch of people whose life’s mantra was, “The person who dies with the most toys wins.” I see signs of that kind of thinking everywhere, from Wall Street on down, and we’re experiencing the fallout of greed and me-thinking.
In the local Wal-Mart video, the crowd is clamoring for portable DVD players. It’s sad to see what people had to go through to get them, but it’s sadder to think about the values they’re passing onto their children. While they could use the current economic downturn to teach them about the real meaning of Christmas, and that living with less isn’t the end of the world, instead they’re showing them that getting a DVD player, cheap, is worth the cost of human dignity.
December 4th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Excellent post, Nadine.
I watched the YouTube video of Honolulu folk going mad at Wal-Mart.
I couldn’t spot a single smiling customer or chipper employee. Rather, all I saw was looks of desperation, gimmie-gimmie mentality running rampant, and a couple of miserable employees caught in the center of a retail mosh pit.
Desperate times come with like actions. Yet a lot of consumers haven’t been acting as though the U.S. economy is in an official recession. Consumer spending, according to some retailers, is greater this year than in previous years thanks to better-than-normal slash in prices. Consumers will argue that the savings are smart. But are consumers really being smart when they purchase a NON-ESSENTIAL $200.00 electronic gadget simply because $75.00 was taken off the price tag?
It may sound cliche, but it certainly makes sense–now more than ever–to celebrate the season without much retail hurrah. As Nadine says, go to a brunch or dinner. Unlike the electronic gadget, meals are essential and, hey, spending time with friends and family is far more valuable than dropping off a wrapped gift (again, cliche but so true).
And Nadine is right in that now is a great time to stress values and the true meaning of Christmas. One thing is for sure: Values will certainly outlive that DVD player.
December 4th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
A beautiful post, Nadine, especially from someone who makes her living in fashion and shopping. So often that area seems to be superficial and image- and status-oriented, and it’s great to hear from someone so level-headed. As I have lived my 54 years outside of New York City, I have seen values become more and more materialistic, and it’s good to remember, especially during the holidays, that needs and wants are different, and that “stuff” does not equal happiness. Enjoy your scaled-down luxuries, share when you can with those less fortunate (or at least, as you suggest, don’t condemn them for being so), and remember that there will always be a new technology, but good times (especially in hard economic times) and the memories they create are truly priceless.
December 4th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
All of the confusion in people’s lives comes from not being proactive with their media choices.
Most of it is product placement and conditioning. THX1138 style.
I realized news wasn’t entertainment during 9-11-01.
I got rid of my tv and replaced it with an Imac added to my pc tower routed to the cable modem I don’t watch movies on. My favorite movies are all on dvd or vhs. Have a great holiday!
December 5th, 2008 at 10:02 am
I will never forgot reading this article in one of our local newspapers years ago about one of my favorite English professors at UH. He and his family and friends rented cabins at Polipoli on Maui and spent Christmas there. They created their own Christmas tree ornaments and decorated a live pine tree. They did not exchange gifts but their true gift was fellowship and spending time together. Every Christmas I think about my ex-professor believing that they truely embraced the true spirit of this special time of year.
December 6th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Well said! I too thought that this year people would rethink the meaning of Christmas. In times like this you would think people would take a minute to check their spending habits and start spending more time with family and friends. I always tell my mom not to get me birthday or Christmas presents because it’s so unnecessary when she already does so much for me… And I also thought retailers would be more sensitive to the economic situation and advertise their merchandise as something meaningful (without lame incentives and bull shit), rather than slashed prices that create frenzies. I thought Sears ‘grant a wish’ commercials were the best I’ve seen. Oh, and I saw you at Pearl last night, but didn’t want to bother you because you were filming behind the bar.
December 6th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Thanks all for the comments.
Hey Katlin, anxious to hear your thoughts on the local competition. Will you be posting anything to your blog?