More Than A Tragedy...A Horror Story

So many things are legendary about Black Friday in America--that day after Thanksgiving when retail stores offer bargains on just about everything to entice shoppers to part with their "green" to launch the official Christmas gift-buying season. Until yesterday, I was unsure as to why the day was referred to as "black," but after the animal-like behavior of November 27, 2008 in Long Island, New York, I fully understand and agree with the adjective.

A 34-year-old man whose job it was that day to unlock the doors at Wal-Mart to the crowd that had been gathering overnight, was trampled to death by shoppers who couldn't get inside the store fast enough. Although this happened at a Wal-Mart, it could have happened at any retail store that participates in the Black Friday "festivities."

It was so important to the people bent on not missing out on one single bargain that they walked over a human being lying on the floor, breaking the door on their way. These were not people famished from days of not eating who just wanted a loaf of bread, or even people ill with a deadly disease whose only cure lay beyond the doors of the store. These were people who just had to have a flat screen TV or Talking Elmo, or one of any other bargains of the day. They wanted these material things so badly that the bodily welfare of another human being meant nothing to them.

The senseless loss of life, such as in the terrorist standoff in Mumbai, India or the suicide bombings that occur almost daily in the Middle East--those are tragedies. Even though most of us don't agree with the motivation of the people who instigate such violence, somewhere in our minds we do understand that the folks who perpetrate such acts do it based on strongly-held beliefs. That doesn't condone their activities, but it does at least rationally explain them.

The Black Friday horror story of a man trampled to death by bargain hunters is just raw and inhuman. I don't know how any of the people involved in this senseless death are feeling a day later, but I would wager next month's wages that not just a few of them are defending their actions by "everyone else was doing it."

A man died doing his job. When a soldier, policeman, or fire fighter--people who took on their jobs understanding the inherent danger of the positions--lose their lives, towns and cities mourn--as they should. This man could not possibly have perceived the danger he faced that morning, and no matter how the story gets spun--that maybe some actions of the man might have contributed to the incident--he was NOT responsible for his death. The people who knocked him down and walked over him like so much rubble are; I wonder how fulfilling their shopping bargains seem now.

Oklahoma Legislator and Insurance Commissioner Band Together to Advocate "Punishment" for Those Without Health Insurance

Anyone who lives in Oklahoma would be hard-pressed to find a topic of more debate than the one about the potential for punishing Oklahomans who do not have health care coverage. Both Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland and State Representative Kris Steele advocated just such punishments as reported in the November 21, 2008 "The Oklahoman." (Click on blog title to access article.)

While it matters little what punishments are being considered, such "inducements" as Commissioner Holland calls them, are the typical example of putting the proverbial cart before the horse. Rather than first addressing the problem of making health care affordable to the residents of the state, immediately these two people who are in a position to at least begin such dialogue prefer to threaten people with loss of services/funds.

Commissioner Holland stated, "We have developed this culture over the years that some don't feel like they have to pay their medical bills." In truth, what we have are many residents who are unable to pay their medical bills, many of whom go without needed medical care for that very reason. It is a burden for any parent that is unable to provide health care coverage for their children because of an inability to afford such coverage--a burden to the parents' heart because their children don't get all the medical care they may need.

Representative Steele stated, "You need the carrot and the stick," referring to punishing those who don't have insurance and rewarding those who do. Since when do we want the government considering us jackasses, and treating us the same?

To give credit where it is due, Rep. Steele also stated that the place to start is to make health care affordable to state residents, then to look to create incentives.

I disagree that people need any incentive to have health care coverage other than the ability to maintain their health and to be able to obtain medical services when needed.

High Expectations

The voting public spoke loudly and clearly during the November 2008 election. After 8 years of a Republican administration and Republican-majority senate, the electorate chose to turn in the direction of the Democrats. This seems a clear message that change is wanted and expected.

It's heartening to note that president-elect Obama was ready-to-go with the necessary transition plans. Much is expected of the man who will become presisdent of the United States on January 20, 2009--both by the people who supported him with their votes and perhaps even more by those who voted for his opponent.

It isn't unusual that those who supported the defeated politician would have some "sour apple" feelings about the man who won. During this transition period from election day to inauguration day, everyone needs to remember that Obama is not yet president, but his actions, decisions, and words will be vital to note as they will begin to reveal the leader the man will shortly become.

Much is expected of the strongly Democratic congress that will convene in 2009 and perhaps even more of the man who will lead the nation. Obama's successes or failures will be the measure of many factors, but none of those factors have to do with his race--or the race of any American constituent.

Our new president and congress will need the input and support of the American people. None of our elected officials can guess what's on our minds or what action we wish them to take on issues if we don't make our thoughts known. Write or email your elected officials--not just on the national level, but also on the local level, or make phone calls. Most elected people want to hear from their constituents, and if yours doesn't, remember that come next election.

For now, take inventory of the issues which matter most to you and begin to make those issues known to the newly elected and the incumbents. And let's pray for the strength of our nation--no matter who our leaders are.