Black Friday

"They took me out and they arrested me for nothing in my opinion"

The day after Thanksgiving has become the most absurd example of American consumerism while completely depicting our quick and utter descent in to decadence and an absolute removal of moral value's along with consideration for our neighbors.  It is the grossest aspects of our society getting together to save $30 on a TV at 5 in the morning.  Me personally, I'd rather spend an extra $30 as to not be in Walmart at 5AM.  Those who do decide to take part in such a pathetic attempt to save a couple bucks get what they deserve when stampeding crowds crush them to the ground and single mothers punch them in the face for the last Tickle Me Elmo on the shelves.

With that said a story coming out of a Florida Walmart early this morning concerning a woman arrested for trying to cut the check out line was almost to absurd for me to comment on.  The more I thought about it though the more it became apparent that this ladies situation was at least worth mentioning.  According to the story this Black Friday shopper was attempting to cut the line, when two police officers told her to back up.  She did not listen, became unruly and ended up being tackled to the ground and handcuffed.  According to the Huffington Post, Samantha Chavez had this to say of the situation.

Though police say she was trying to cut the lines, Chavez told Central Florida News 13 that she was just trying to find her sister-in-law in the crowded store.

"I came back and the lines kind of moved and I couldn’t find her. Her cellphone wasn’t working, the battery had died. This cop’s in front of me and he’s like 'no you can’t go, you need to go the other way,'” Chavez told Central Florida News 13. “I’m like 'I’m just looking for my sister' and he’s like ‘no you have to go that way’ I’m like ‘but she’s here, I need to find her.’”

I'm not sure why she was tackled, or who is telling the truth here, all I know is that the police should have much better things to do then make sure people aren't cutting lines at Walmart.  Seriously, two officers to subdue one small woman for cutting a line?!  Pathetic.  Should school children be concerned that next time they cut the lunch line a security guard is going to take them to the ground and bring them in to the principals office?  

Then there's this story about a man in Texas who also had an issue with a line cutter.  In this case the customer pulled his gun on another man trying to cut the line.  The guy with the gun was not charged with anything as the police claim he was well within his rights.... WHAT?!  According to MySanAntonio.com:

Roger Rivera, who was shopping in the Sears, said Salame was punched then pulled a gun. Everyone scattered, "tumbling over things, dropping boxes," Rivera said. The man who was trying to cut in line ran and hid behind a refrigerator before he fled the store. "It kind of went a little crazy in there," Carey said.

Meanwhile the masses who overrun store security and staff are not only allowed, but encouraged to maul each other over discounted cell phones with absolutely no repercussions.   

While the extreme violence erupts inside the stores, outside of a California Walmart the LA Times reports that nearly a dozen peaceful protesters were arrested, they refused to take part in the insanity that is Black Friday and wanted to show their support for workers rights.  They weren't there to spend money so just throw them in jail for the day.  The American Way!