Marxist alienation

I'm really feeling the Marxist alienation today, as I get ready to go to work, aggravating my carpal tunnel and repeating the same ten words over and over again (Yes, I'm sorry, the office is closed for the weekend.) in order to earn money to buy crap I've been living fine without so far.

And I peruse the news and see this.

NEW YORK – A Wal-Mart worker was killed Friday after an "out of control" throng of shoppers eager for post-Thanksgiving bargains broke down the doors at a suburban store and knocked him to the ground, police said.

At least four other people, including a woman eight months pregnant, were taken to hospitals for observation or minor injuries, and the store in Valley Stream on Long Island closed for several hours before reopening.

This is a sick culture, sometimes.

And then I find myself wondering, which is worse? Killing each other on purpose, for made-up religious differences? Or on accident, to be the first of many to get a common, cheap crappy DVD player for 60 percent off? I'm not so sure which horrifies and shames me more.

This day after Thanksgiving, I'm thankful to have had the privilege to grow up in a family that taught me (sometimes, despite themselves) to be tolerant of others and to be grateful for what I have. I should be more grateful than I am, actually.

That sounds a little snobbish, I know. I don't care.