Dear editor:

On Black Friday each year, hundreds of great deals are released to the public, causing over 216 million people to flock to nearby stores. The day after Thanksgiving has become the epitome of American greed and consumerism, reflecting the growing emphasis on self.

It is true that the American economy is built upon spending, and Black Friday represents one of the year?s most popular times for purchases, but often, such spending leads consumers deeper into debt. People are led to believe that true happiness comes from buying.

Additionally, as more and more people gather at stores waiting for the grand opening, violence increases. Mobs of people storm through stores, hoping to purchase products before they run out. This year, one woman used pepper spray to make her way to a crate of Xboxes. Sometimes people are trampled, and many come out with scrapes and bruises, making Black Friday a dangerous event.

Black Friday is even less of a deal for consumers than it is a huge money making scheme for the retailers, making up to $52.4 billion from purchases on a single weekend. The greed of the corporations only increases on Cyber Monday, when $1.25 billion is spent online. With the against consumerism Occupy Movements, many Americans seem hypocritical, as spending on Black Friday reached a record amount.

The holiday sale may not be the cause, but it shows the growing focus on self and consumerism in America. This holiday season, as you enjoy a nice meal with your family, admiring your new big screen TV, I ask you to count your blessings more often than the number of items left on your Christmas list.

For more opinions about Black Friday, read the Dec. 2 article, Control consumerism, commit to sacrificial giving.