Boycott Thanksgiving Day Shopping
I’ve never been the type of person who understood Black Friday.
My Black Friday has always been spent with my family, cleaning up from Thanksgiving dinner the night before, eating leftover turkey sandwiches, playing board games, and watching Christmas movies.
But, for others the day is about finding the latest “steals,” collecting giveaways, and shopping until you drop…or until you are carried away by an ambulance. I just find the whole idea of Black Friday obscenely and distastefully materialistic. Nothing is more grotesque than watching grown adults trample each other, and sometimes small children, to buy discounted goods.
So, you can imagine my disgust in recent years seeing so many stores open their doors a day early, aka on Thanksgiving Day.
Do you realize what that means? That means that other people have to leave their home on a holiday to go work because you wanted to get into a fist fight over a Tickle Me Elmo and a toaster.
Think of all the fun those workers will never have with their families on Thanksgiving because you made the decision to shop. They won’t watch the parade on TV with the little ones. They won’t help mom and grandma prepare the meal or set the table. They won’t break the wishbone with their cousins. They won’t lounge around eating pie and talking about memories. Think of all those precious little moments you’re stealing from them.
And maybe someone doesn’t have family, but rather they’ve created their own family through friendship with others. Maybe they take part in a potluck meal or a pick-up game of football at the park. Think of the sense of community and togetherness you’re disrupting and stealing from them.
This year there seems to be a glimmer of hope in regards to “Black Thursday” shopping.
Many stores have announced recently that they will not be open on Thanksgiving.
Places like: REI, American Girl, Barnes and Noble, Costco, DSW, Gamestop, H&M, Half Price Books, JoAnn Fabrics, Lowe’s, Nordstrom, Patagonia, Staples, and Sur La Table
These businesses aren’t dictating their actions based upon greed and capitalism, but rather what’s best for their workers. They’re showing the world what their priorities and values truly are. And I am just writing to say: Thank you.
If you have Thanksgiving Day off, don’t go out and participate in the madness. Don’t buy things that you don’t really need, things that will be forgotten about in a year, things that will end up trashed in a landfill polluting the earth. Spend time with family and friends. Sit back and be grateful for all that you have.
And, if you are looking to do some holiday shopping for your loved ones, might I suggest making a difference in our world and contributing to local businesses on Small Business Saturday.
Boycott Black Thursday and together we can let big business know we support people, not corporate avarice.
