Wal-Mart incited this tragedy all on it's own by publicizing greedy deals and hyping the day after Thanksgiving as a "doorbuster" event.That is a fact.
You can't blame the stampede of customers any more than you can blame Damour for being there, making minimum wage or better as a security guard on black Friday.
We should start to remember this so-called "black Friday" for the dark and sad exhibit it has become. Why not call it what it usually turns out to be at big box retailers across the country: a chaotic and dangerous stampede of people that can lead to injury or death Friday.
The store closed, then opened less than 3 hours after the incident. Meanwhile, you probably heard about similar incidents, stampedes and even shootings at other store opening events across the country.
Police are looking over the store security tapes to see if they can identify the person who knocked down Damour. But what about the hundreds of people behind that suspect, pushing and walking over him? Are they not guilty?
Police wanting a suspect should look no further than the big blue sign on the front of the building where the mayhem took place.
Damour does not have to die in vein. And shopping for holiday gifts should never be dangerous. ...
A solution is simple. If this one important sales day is so precious and beloved, just keep your doors open all night. No stampedes. No 5 a.m. opening. No doors to be busted. No more holiday tragedy.
If Wal-Mart or other retailers want to sell off a limited supply of super-cheap merchandise to grab consumers' attention, hold a dang raffle! Or here's a brilliant idea: make the deals available online.
Busting doors is bad for business.


Comments: (172)
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By: jj on 12/01/2008 5:26PM
I AM SSHOCKED THAT PEOPLE OF AOL BLACK VOIOCES HAVENT FIGURED OUT A WAY TO MAKE THIS A RACE ISSUE YET... OH WAIT A MINUTE IC # 23 FIGURED OUT A BIZZARRE WAY TO MAKE IT HIS FAVORITE TOPIC< ROTTEN WHITE PEOPLE ARE BEHIND THIS TRADGEDY< LOLOL Cmon NOW Jessie ShARPTON Ic I feel your pain, but ca-mon! ca-mon!!! Use your head...Or maybe you REALLY can set the record straight and provide some proof that your white neighbors are greedier than you or anybody else... We ALL want some stuff, no shame in that. I am sure Jesus appreciated a nice pair of sandals...Your response is so dumb , it would be like me saying, black people are so dumb, so cheap , thats why he got trampled... Does this register to your brain?
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By: Yulanda on 12/01/2008 5:26PM
This story is so disturbing to me. How can people be so greedy, selfish unfeeling. This is what the Christmas season has become. ANYONE WHO WAS THERE AND DID NOTHING IS GUILTY OF THAT MAN'S DEATH. My God what has money done to this country??
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By: HEART BROKEN on 12/01/2008 5:27PM
MY HEART IS WITH THIS YOUNG MANS FAMILY AND FRIENDS!
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By: Yulanda on 12/01/2008 5:30PM
Oh!!! and there was a pregnant woman involved. Jesus!!! What kind of people would knock down a pregnant woman for sale at Walmart.
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By: jj on 12/01/2008 5:32PM
fELICIA # 27 YOU ARE RIGHT, UNFORTUNATELY THE STAMPEEDERS WONT PAY , WALMART WILL HAVE TO...
IT IS THE OBAMMA WAY, SHARE THE WEALTH..DO NOT HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE PLAN, IT WORKS WELL FOR THE PEOPLE WHO SEEK TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN GET EACH DAY, NOT WHAT THEY CAN ACCOMPLISH
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By: D Calhoun on 12/01/2008 5:49PM
VERY,VERY,VERY,SAD.THIS DIDN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN.THERE SHOULD BE SOME OTHER WAY TO HANDLE "BLACK FRIDAY".NO ONE SHOULD EVER BE PUT IN THIS SITUATION.
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By: jj on 12/01/2008 5:34PM
iF ANYONE DISSAGREES WITH MY VIEWS ON SHARING THE WEALTH, YOU MUST NOT PAY CHILD SUPPORT, IT IS THE EXACT SAME PRINCIPLE, THE HARDER YOU WORK , THE EASIER YOUR EX WILL HAVE IT...
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By: Dee Thomas on 12/02/2008 7:42AM
Until we learn that Christmas is not about the buying of gifts but the celebration of the birth of Christ, this will happen again and again and again. IT IS NOT ABOUT US BUT IT IS ALL ABOUT CHRIST. My prayers go out to the family.
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By: Big O on 12/01/2008 5:35PM
THIS IS ANOTHER CASE WHERE THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH SECURITY ON DUTY. THESE COMPANIES WANT TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY WHILE PAYING OUT AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE. CHEAP
LABOR. THERE WILL BE THOSE WHO COME FORWARD AND SAY I
TOLD THEM ONCE BEFORE THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN. NOW THEN
WHAT EVER MONEY THAT WAS SAVED ON CHEAP LABOR, UNDER -
STAFFING LESS TRAINING WILL COST MANY , MANY MORE TIMES THAN WHAT WAS SAVED VIA LITIGATION. SKIES THE LIMIT. THIS TYPE OF ACTION IS TAKING PLACE SOME PLACE ELSE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE SOMEONE WANTS ALL OF THE MONEY IN THE WORLD -- LET THIS BE A LESSON
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By: HEART BROKEN on 12/01/2008 5:37PM
FOR ALL OF YOU SO CALLED HUMAN'S THAT WALK OVER AND BESIDE THIS POOR HELPLESS MAN WHEN HE WAS LAYING ON THE FLOOR TAKING HIS LAST BREATH HAVE NO HEART AND SICKEN ME!!! S I C K E N ME!!
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