In the bah-humbug beginning of Christmas shopping, how can we put an end to the obscene, early opening of stores on the day after Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving was once a wonderful family holiday, when families and friends opened their hearts and homes to eat, to rest, to eat again and then to nap. Instead, the corporate folks have pushed greed to a new level that might shock Scrooge and the Grinch! Stores opening at midnight on Black Friday? Stores opening at 4 a.m. or 5:55 a.m.?
What a nightmare for retail clerks, human beings with families, sleep needs and the right to enjoy an American holiday unlike any other. Instead, many retail clerks were out the door in the dark of night before the leftovers on the table were put away or the dishes were done.
The media, in desperate need and greed of money, convince consumers to leave their happy homes, sit in a parking lot or in cars idling and inching for space on all roads heading to malls.
Living with a free-market believer, I understand that no one is forcing anyone to shop.
However, television and newspapers featured folks, eager to be first in line for a bargain, sleeping in front of electronics stores across America. No one seemed to care that children were seen accompanying their parents on this adult adventure and learning by doing. Is this a mild case of child abuse or just the American way?
Who speaks up for the underrepresented, the retail clerk, not high on the corporate ladder rung but deserving some support? Ask the young, vibrant sales clerk at Sears UTC, who was all business and charm in her job, what it was like to get ready for Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving, stores do 40 percent of their yearly sales to put them into the black and make up for the gray Fridays and rest of the days of the week when sales are weak. This clerk confessed she had to get up at 2:30 a.m., get to work at 4:30 a.m. and get ready for the 5 a.m. opening when throngs of shoppers stampeded up the escalator until management shut it down. This gal was too young to remember when stores kept regular hours on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
Talk about taking the joy out of “Joy to the World.” In Macy’s, the salespeople ” many middle-aged women on their feet serving long lines ” showed great respect and restraint when shoppers negotiated coupon after coupon, credit card after credit card, seeking a better than best deal. Yeah, the free market makes sense, but so does being rational about store hours. What do we Americans look like to the world: saying grace in front of a turkey one day and looking like a turkey in disgrace the next day?
Instead of Black Friday in 2008, maybe we could promote Green Friday or Red Friday after Thanksgiving. Green Friday would have us quit driving for one day, helping fight global warming and rising gas prices. Red Friday would be donating blood or serving the Red Cross or needy neighbors.
This week the media have reported brisk sales on the Friday after T-Day. There is no doubt the marketing ploy worked, so we will see more stores open earlier and earlier next year unless we mobilize ourselves and tell the media to quit manipulating us. Are we puppets in the hands of corporate puppeteers promoting greed? Should we throw support to retail clerks? Is the answer in just staying home?
The holidays do hold some special moments that don’t involve greed. On Dec. 7 at 6:30 p.m., Judy Bethel, Mary Ann Guerra and Darlene Ventimiglia of University City Community Association have prepared a wonderful family tree-lighting ceremony at Standley Park, 3585 Governor Drive. Thanks to this trio of ladies and their committee, the night will include music and entertainment, with cookies and hot chocolate compliments of Westfield Shopping Town at UTC, a visit from Santa Claus and the lighting of the Christmas tree donated by Miramar Wholesale Nursery. This event has become a beautiful tradition in U.C.
The following weekend will see Santa’s Breakfast on Saturday, Dec. 15, at Standley Park also. Check with the recreation center for reservations by calling (858) 552-1652. Tickets are $5 for children and $7 for adults. The event is another tradition provided by the Standley Park recreation staff and rec council.