Shopping to die for

WTF? Less than 5 minutes into the celebrated "Black Friday" and the body count started. Some poor Wal Mart temp was trampled and suffered a fatal heart attack. Reportedly the shoppers were upset later when they had to close the store for a short time to remove his body. "I've been in line since yesterday" was all that shoppers had to say in response to the poor man's death.

So tell me folks, have we gotten that depraved over material goods that we have no regard for the loss of a man's life...as long as we get that deal on the plasma TV or that designer handbag we couldn't afford before (and will probably be empty because we spent the last of our money on it...but hey, we'll look good). Is it really worth it to stomp the life out of a man just to be first in the door to get that GI Joe doll with the Kung Fu grip? (ok, that was a flashback to my childhood, but you feel me). Where along the way did the Wii, Xbox and Blu Ray Disc player, become more important than respect for human life?

Friends asked me, "ABM did you get some good deals on Black Friday?", my response was "Hell no, you couldn't pay me to go into a mall on the day after Thanksgiving". One day after giving thanks for all we have been blessed with, we're ready to choke the living shit out of that $%^% who cut in front of us at the cash register!

Well I stopped truly enjoying Christmas years ago, when it went so commercial that most people couldn't recall the true meaning of the holiday. I prefer Thanksgiving when all I have to do is make sure everyone is well-fed and it's all good. I prefer to do my shopping online and plan to do as much as possible online this year. My ultimate dream is to one day go through an entire Christmas season without setting foot once in a mall.

Guess you can't blame a man for dreaming, huh?

Idiot of the Week

Ok, I'm starting a new feature entitled "Idiot of the Week". This award will be bestowed upon the individual who most conspicuously embodies the concept of Capital Stupidity (rising to the level of punishment by death so that they don't further infect the gene pool)by word, deed, or both. In some weeks there may not be an award if no one really qualifies...this award is not given lightly, so the individual really must "earn" it.

That said, it gives me great displeasure to present the inaugural ABM's Idiot of the Week Award to Plaxico Burress, wide receiver and idiot extraordinaire for shooting himself in the leg with his own gun in a nightclub on Friday night. Now folks, it takes a real special variety of idiot to exhibit stupidity to this degree. Plaxico is unable to accept this award in person because he's not getting around to well.

We wish him a speedy recovery and a big fine for being such a dumbass. Few things piss the ABM off more than a spoiled assed overpaid man-child who cannot grow the hell up and represent the organization and fans that are paying him millions of dollars to simply play a game and keep his ass out of trouble. How difficult is that...?

Well stay tuned because given his previous track record, Plaxico stands a good chance to win future IoW (Idiot of the Week) Awards, though Pacman Jones has been quiet for about a month, which means he's overdue for doing something incredibly stupid any minute.

ABM will accept nominations for IoW from readers. Just email me at bew795@yahoo.com and I will gladly consider all nominees.

Catharsis...

That's what Aristotle called the reaction that his contemporaries experienced when viewing Greek tragedy plays. This process which involves the release of pent up emotion or energy is exactly what Black Americans (and many others too) experienced on the night of November 4th as America elected its first Black president. I took an informal survey of at least 50 Black friends, colleagues, aquaintances, etc. and there was only one (Mike...I know your ass is lying) who said they did not shed tears at this historic event. Though it meant many different things to different people, the election of Barack Hussein Obama as the 44th President struck a chord within the hearts of many.

Some have wondered where I have been in the last month, well to be honest...I have literally been speechless. I guess I am still processing what this historic moment means to me individualy and corporately as part of American society. For the first time in several years, I am optimistic about America again.

So does this me the ABM isn't angry anymore? Hell no, there's still enough injustice, insensitivity and stupidity for me to write about for the rest of my days. There are still many ironies in our society and I will continue to point them out.

No the ABM hasn't gone soft just because we elected Obama...there's still a lot of work for us all to do and the ABM is rolling up his sleeves and doing my part to rebuild the America I love.

Stay tuned...