Black Friday or Buy Nothing Day?

After a very tiring Thanksgiving, I was not about to wake up at 4 in the morning just to get bargain prices at Macy's. I find Black Friday to be a huge waste of time, energy, and money (yes, money, because people are more likely to buy stuff they don't need if they think they are getting a good deal). This tradition highlights the biggest problems with American consumer culture; the obsession with getting the most stuff at the cheapest price, the every man for himself mentality about getting flat screen TVs, and our dependency on material objections. People are going to great lengths to get cheap electronics and clothes, meanwhile complaining about the stock market. It shows how spoiled of a country we are, that even while worrying about money, somewhere in the back of our mind we feel safe enough to shop this much.

On the other hand, Buy Nothing Day is just another extreme shopping based event. While it makes a stand for one day, someone cannot live a functioning life in America without at least buying food. Americans need to learn how to consume responsibly to reduce waste, help others, and save the planet.