I'm sure you've heard by now about the Black Friday deaths that occurred today: one employee was trampled to death by the crowd of people herding into a Wal-Mart; two people were shot in a Toys-R-Us. Read the whole sad story here: http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/11/28/black.friday.violence/
News items like these make me sick. They make me ashamed of America, to be honest. Are we really so consumed with material possessions that we'll stampede like a herd of cattle and actually trample a human being to death? Gosh, I sure hope those thousands of people got the "deal" that they just "had" to have!
As for the shooting, it hasn't been released as of right now if the men involved were in gangs or fighting over a toy. Honestly, we've all seen the incredible reports of road rage violence; it wouldn't surprise me if the shooting was over a toy (remember the Tickle-Me-Elmo craze?)
I had to go into a store today for the first time on a Black Friday since I worked at the mall when I was in high school. I went to see the doctor about a lingering sinus problem and she gave me a prescription, which required me to go to the Target pharmacy. Thankfully, there were not many other seeking medication on this Black Friday, so my wait was relatively short...but the line I passed on my way out was insane -- the end was at the freezer section at the end of the store.
What got me was how many people I overheard saying, "This is crazy! Look at this line!" I was thinking, "Do you hear yourself? Why are you here if it is crazy?"