Blacker Friday

The flat screens at that loom over the exercise machines were filled with people venting their anger about the extended shopping hours of some store over the Thanksgiving holiday. The ire spilled over into the gym. “When they told my son he’s working, he was about ready to tell them to stuff the job along with their turkeys,” related Clem.

“Yeah, well Tyrone ought to be giving thanks that Walmart has standards low enough to employ his stupid butt. They’re probably the only ones who would,” replied Bob (Clem’s brother, I should add).

“Maybe so. But that doesn’t make him less pissed about being pulled away from his family in the middle of a holiday.”

“You mean, pulled away from the food and football games,” came back Bob, again.

I looked at the angry faces of the people being interviewed on television and listened to the tone of their voices. There was something else in there. Something that really galled them.

For decades, I’ve watched interviews with firefighters, nurses, utility workers and other who had to work holidays. Disappointment? Maybe. Outrage? No. If anything, there was some pride in that they were so essential, the world couldn’t keep spinning without them at their stations. I expressed this observation.

“So what you’re saying,” said Clem, “is that there was a good reason for them to be on the job. But, for those employed by some of the retail sweat shops, there’s no good reason for their butts to get dragged in, except the owners want to make a few more bucks.”

“And what really frosts them,” added Bob, “is that those owners are sitting at home, stuffing their faces.”

Close, but no cigar. What I hear in those voices is the anger of being deemed a commodity. They are being accorded no more respect, regard or value than the fry grease at McDonalds. They are used, replaced or discarded with little or no thought.

My opinion is that the conflict originates deeper than this latest decision. If they were esteemed by the management, some of them would be happy to take one for the team and make a few extra bucks, to boot.