Holiday shopping death in the United States, while we decry mob terrorism in other countries

I was sickened after seeing that Crunchy Con linked to this story:

A worker died after being trampled by a throng of unruly shoppers when a suburban Wal-Mart opened for the holiday sales rush Friday, authorities said.

At least three other people were injured.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., in Bentonville, Ark., would not confirm the reports of a stampede but said a "medical emergency" had caused the company to close the store, which is in Valley Stream on Long Island.

Here's Rod Dreher's reaction:

Note well that these weren't starving masses desperate for bread. These were suburban jackasses who wanted TVs and consumer crap. What sick, wicked culture produced such people? Food riots, I understand. Nintendo riots? Sign of the times.

And there was almost a second death:

A 28-year-old pregnant woman was knocked to the floor during the mad rush. She was hospitalized for observation, police said. Early witness accounts that the woman suffered a miscarriage were unfounded, police said.

More on the man, who so far has not been identified:

The 34-year-old worker, employed as an overnight stock clerk, tried to hold back the unruly crowds just after the Valley Stream store opened at 5 a.m.

Witnesses said the surging throngs of shoppers knocked the man down. He fell and was stepped on. As he gasped for air, shoppers ran over and around him.

"He was bum-rushed by 200 people," said Jimmy Overby, 43, a co-worker. "They took the doors off the hinges. He was trampled and killed in front of me. They took me down too...I literally had to fight people off my back."

The unidentified victim was rushed to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:03 a.m., police said....

Before police shut down the store, eager shoppers streamed past emergency crews as they worked furiously to save the store clerk's life.

"They were working on him, but you could see he was dead, said Halcyon Alexander, 29. "People were still coming through."

Only a few stopped.

"They're savages," said shopper Kimberly Cribbs, 27. "It's sad. It's terrible."

Well, that puts another story into perspective. At least one blogger has referred to the terrorists in Mumbai as "savages":

Savages Strike Mumbai
Submitted by Jonathan Wilde on Thu, 2008-11-27 00:28.

If there was any doubt left that militant Islam is a threat to civilization, the events of yesterday should wipe away those last shreds.

Well, before we get on our high horse and condemn the "savage" Muslim people in faraway India, we need to remember that we are all savage, including those of us in the good old U.S.A.

And for those who argue that tne crowds in this country weren't carrying guns, I submit that the result is the same - someone is dead.

Sphere: Related Content