It seems like every day when you turn on the news or open a newspaper, every story includes something about the economic turmoil in which we currently find ourselves.

I have however, in my leisurely perusal of the newspaper, found a beacon of hope that proves that American consumerism is still alive and well, despite the greatest fears of so-called experts.

This story of triumph over economic crisis comes to us from the heartland of America, New York City and the most hideously American of retailers, Wal-Mart.

On the morning of Black Friday, ravenous shoppers desperate to stimulate the economy while buying high quality merchandise at low, low prices actually trampled an employee who came to open the door at 5 a.m. Most impressively, when the shoppers who were responsible for the man’s death were told that the store was closing due to the death, they were so committed to maintaining their efforts at economic stimulus that some of the shoppers booed, complained and actually continued shopping as long as they could.

This story just proves that despite everything that has been happening to the American economy lately, there are still heroes willing to sacrifice everything. And by everything, I mean their eternal souls and the lives of 34-year-old maintenance workers who are just trying to do their jobs and get home to their families — all given freely for the chance to save a few pennies when buying the latest Hannah Montana gear.

It’s a refreshing change to see Americans working together for a change. After so much division over the election and the economy, it is a pleasure to see citizens brought so closely together that they become an unbreakable mob-force which was so beautifully united that anyone not joining the throng was trampled to death without mercy. Now that’s change we can all believe in.

Hopefully, if you have made it this far, you have realized that there is a fair amount of sarcasm in play here and that this death was tragic and embarrassing for the United States. In a time where everyone is so obscenely proud of themselves for all of this magnificent change we are making, it’s sad to see that in fact Americans are still just as heartless and self-centered as the rest of the world thinks we are.

It really kills one’s holiday spirit to think that even after they realized a man died so they could enjoy the thrill of bargain shopping in the wee hours of the morning, many of the shoppers were unwilling to leave the store and were angry at being forced to leave. Then again, in this brave new world, perhaps holiday spirit will have to get tougher to compete with the blind need to spend and consume regardless of the horrible consequences. In the meantime, bah humbug.

Tell Kate what you think about the commercialization of the holidays at letters@technicianonline.com