When will enough be enough?

OK, this does it. This more than takes the cake. This is more than pathetic.

This is downright insane.

News reports began circulating from Long Island over the weekend that a Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death on Black Friday while customers rushed to gobble up a sale item like pigs scurrying to the trough. It leaves you speechless, stymied, unable to put into words what this says about our society's priorities.

I've never once felt the urge to venture out to the stores the day after Thanksgiving. For one thing, I'm usually working. For another, there's nothing I possibly need that's going to get me out of bed and to the store by 5 a.m.

I don't begrudge those who get their jollies participating in this kind of thing. I do draw the line when sales clerks end up dying because of somebody else's greed.

The Christmas season has been hijacked by profiteers. The holiday should be a religious observance, if you're of a certain persuasion, or at the very least a time to give and be nice to others for a few fleeting moments.

The madness starts way too early anymore. The wreath went up at the Ace Hardware in Halls weeks before the last Thursday in November. Stores began playing holiday songs before the turkey and dressing were even sold.

Now we're killing store clerks the day after Thanksgiving.

When will enough be enough, you ask? I'm starting to wonder...