Wal-Mart: the abomination of the ’Burg

Prophecy is being fulfilled! "His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation" (Daniel 11:31).

The abomination has been set up right here in our beautiful, beloved Harrisonburg. It is also present in neighboring Shenandoah Valley towns such as Winchester and Woodstock. The repugnant abuser is defiling the economy and cultural prism we like to call a good southern town. It is contributing to the oppressive wages belittled upon desperate peasants in Third World countries. Worst of all, the abomination is widely supported by many EMU students and staff, whether they’re part of a dialogue group opposing everything the Board of Trustees does or an active member in the Black Student Union, which has yet to actually go on strike.

Two such economically idolatrous figures have been erected in Harrisonburg: one on the south end of town on Route 42 and the other just off Route 33 on the other side of I-81. This new pagan idol has earned a place among the false gods of the past. Baal, Molech, Bel, Asherah; all of these idols are now piddly-squat compared to this new defiling boom: Wal-Mart! What started as a "good" store by Sam Walton has evolved into an obese plague eagerly devouring the culture of downtowns everywhere.

Winchester is an ideal example of the havoc wreaked upon what was once a very friendly town. In the days before the people of Winchester knew of the foreign idol, they thrived in a consumer-friendly, cultural downtown. Farmers would bring their merchandise into the downtown to sell, and small shops offering all of what you could possibly need could be found within two square miles. Around the downtown was a model residential circle.

Then one day, a foreign people entered the land and erected a Wal-Mart idol on the edge of the town. The country people who were coming into town couldn’t even reach the ring of houses before passing by this abomination. Curious, they began to engage in worship of the demon and support it economically. When the people living in the ring of houses discovered the country folks weren’t coming into the downtown, they also became curious and went slightly out of town to shop at this Wal-Mart.

Before long, Wal-Mart beat out the downtown businesses through unholy price "roll-backs." Then when the downtown had sufficiently suffocated, the Wal-Mart moved in for the kill by raising its prices back up to a level where it could suck the money out of unsuspecting residents and ship it to a far away place. They claim to be still "rolling back prices," but all they are doing is making YOU more dependent on their store. Winchester turned into a donut, downtown resembling more a ghost town than a hub of economic activity.

Here’s some "Wal-Mart: Tales from the Crypt" stories I’ve gotten from others of all places and ages first-hand:

-Of the Wal-Mart in Alexandria, VA: "They had to clear out a large trailer park to (build the Wal-Mart), displacing the people who lived there, some all of their lives. All they gave them was $800 each family. That was for their home, and money to find somewhere else to live! That wouldn't even begin to pay the rent for a single month on an apartment in that overpriced area."

-Of Wal-Mart’s influence in the Far East: "Most of the products from Wal-Mart also come from China as well as many Southeast Asian countries. It is well documented that the factories in many of these countries use children as young as nine years old. Many are forcefully taken from their homes. They are forced to work 12- to 16-hour days in brutal conditions and paid pocket change. They are housed in horrid/brutal conditions."

-Of Wal-Mart repackaging goods returned to the store: "We went there to buy some sleeping bags for camping only to get them home and find that had already been slept in ... at least a few times, because they sort of smelled of dirty feet, and one really smelled. We also bought a TV/VCR (for home schooling /educational purposes) only to get the box home and find someone's broken, used television set in the box."

-Of Wal-Mart’s treatment of employees: "I worked there, and they treat their employees horribly. I was forced to quit because they wouldn't let me take time off for my cousin's wedding and to finish my semester at college. I asked for the wedding off in the required two weeks prior notice, and I asked for time off to finish college a month in advance; both were turned down by the store manager. When I reported him to the general office, they said, “Well, he is manager and he has the right to say no.” What ever happened to their “family first” and “being flexible with their workers” mantra?

-Of Wal-Mart and firing employees: "They hired all these people and really encouraged them to work real hard for the company and do their "best" to make their opening day a success. So they hired all kinds of workers for the big day, and all the cash stands were full of employees and people were in every department. I sensed something was wrong though, and quit before opening day. I came back only to pick up my check, and I found the store nearly empty! I talked to one of the sales associates (who was still there) and she said, 'Oh you didn't miss a thing. Good for you that you left, because the day after opening day, they fired nearly everyone. It was horrible.’ Some of these people left stable jobs, only to be used by this big company for opening day, to make a good impression. She said everyone was shocked and crying; they fired everyone except a few people."

I hope the downtown map in this newspaper issue will encourage you to take advantage of the local shops Harrisonburg has to offer before driving all the way across town to go to Wal-Mart when you can get the same things downtown or even closer. Wal-Mart isn’t the only store that you need raise an eyebrow to: just look around at the stores that thrive off of the close vicinity of Wal-Mart and you’ll find some very similar practices. Please support your local stores and businesses such as the Red Front grocery, the Good and Hearty store, the Dayton’s Farmers Market, and any other stores that may not have the money to engage in advertising, but rely on you finding their stores and supporting them.