There is a bumper-sticker reportedly promoted by Wal-Mart that says:”Outta my way, I’m shopping at Wal-Mart”. That certainly was the case a couple of days ago at the Wal=Mart store in Brick Township. There was literally blood on the floor when overly-stimulated Wal-Mart shoppers responded to a balloon grab set up by store manager Joe Herron. A couple hundred typical Wal-Mart shoppers showed up to pop the falling balloons and claim their cash, gift certificates and other prizes. Apparently young kids and adults began to mix it up struggling for the balloons, and the event turned into what Reuters called “a stampede”. One adult was kicked in the stomach, and seven Wal-Mart kiddie shoppers ended up being treated in the local hospital. The grand prize, of course, was a two minute free shopping spree in the store. Wow: 120 seconds to grab anything you want in a Wal-Mart. Is there anything closer to happiness this side of retail heaven? After the blood was spilled, and the injuries cleared away, manager Joe Herron was reflective about the whole thing. “Some unruly adults ruined it.”
Joe: It’s all about greed. Two minutes, or two millenium of greed. You folks at Wal-Mart help us tap into our greed. Our need to buy cheap underwear made in Mexico, or placemats from Korea, or shoes from Brazil. What do you expect from Wal-Martian shoppers? Give us half a chance and we’ll step on kids to get our $2 certificate for Good Old Boy dog food. Do you imagine that Wal-Mart will pick up the tab for the hospital treatment? Outta my way, I was trampled at Wal-Mart!
