It’s great when capitalism works with holidays, so that we can, for instance, spend money on Christmas gifts and help the economy at the same time. Nevertheless, it’s leading to trouble when capitalism works against holidays and the family. And that’s exactly what it is doing, now that such mega-retailers as Wal-Mart are opening their doors for Christmas shopping, in an event known as “Black Friday,” as early as during the Thanksgiving feast on Thursday.
Those who want to be competitive for Christmas shopping are thus faced with a choice: should I abandon my family on Thanksgiving, a day of gratitude for the American nation and what it offers, in order to make my next major holiday, Christmas, all the better? If big-business entities such as Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Target, and Macy’s weren’t so tempted to make extra money at the cost of principle, there would be no tension, and our cherished holidays would not be undermined by corporate greed.
The question isn’t whether they can make more money this way, though that will eventually pan out as well to their disadvantage, but how they are making money. They are in effect making money by attacking one of America’s most cherished holidays. This sort of business practice will not go unpunished.
“We saw even in the last two years, when stores were opening Thursday, they weren’t necessarily kicking off their promotions on Thursday – the best deals wouldn’t necessarily start at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.,” said online deal expert Brad Wilson, Founder of deal analysis website BradsDeals.com, and as reported by USA Today. “This really shifts the focus.”
Yes, it shifts the focus, but it is a disappointment that money was put before family, and profit above togetherness. Nobody who loves their family should participate in this latest slick scheme to turn a profit by Wal-Mart and the other mega-chains.