Desperate for a bargain

Our deteriorating economy gives reason to bargain shop. We all want to find good deals to save money, but it seems like some are taking it too far. That desperation for a deal, which manifested itself this past Black Friday, became deadly at a Long Island Wal-Mart when an employee was trampled to death by a frantic mob of shoppers. Jdimytai Damour, 34, was killed while trying to restrain the crazed barganeers.

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Photo: Crazed shoppers wait anxiously for Wal-Mart to open. Picture courtesy of the New York Daily News.

Crazed shoppers wait anxiously for Wal-Mart to open. Picture courtesy of the New York Daily News.

I do not think anyone, especially the employees of that Wal-Mart in Long Island could have come close to expecting such an incident. Black Friday has always been a day of madness. Oftentimes people wake up extremely early in order to get a good deal, and while slightly extreme, is understandable. Forming a mob at 6 a.m. outside of a Wal-Mart and then - literally - breaking the door down, is just ridiculous.

This tragedy is as perplexing as it is just plain sad. Apparently, shoppers had knocked over multiple employees and other customers in pursuit of good deals. How could no one have been aware that they were stepping all over someone? Is $4.50 off of a sweater worth that? The New York Daily News reported accounts of employees who legitimately feared for their lives as 200 people stampeded through the front doors of the Wal-Mart. My heart goes out to Mr. Damour's family, whom I am sure are outraged and disheartened by the appalling behavior of those Wal-Mart customers.

The complete disregard for others and their well-being makes me cringe, especially during something so trivial as shopping. Even a pregnant woman was severely injured during the madness at Wal-Mart, leading to initial reports that she miscarried. Though this proved wrong, it's disgusting to think that this was even a remote possibility. What's worse is that this is not the first time that Black Friday became so grim. There are countless videos on YouTube of shoppers battling for the last of the Tickle-Me-Elmos. This savage behavior is prehistoric and shameful.

The lowering of prices shouldn't mean the lowering of civility.