WAL-MART Nation: Irony of Ironies - Democratic Underground

messiah2012

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Tue Jul-24-07 05:29 PM
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WAL-MART Nation: Irony of Ironies

Edited on Tue Jul-24-07 05:31 PM by messiah2012

I was just out running some errands, grocery shopping, post office, etc. I was waiting at the one hour photo place to get some photos developed when the guy behind the counter tells me that it is going to take longer than expected. No worries, I decide to go over to Wal-Mart and get a phone card. Walking up to the enormous big box store I notice an interesting photo opportunity.

There is a flag pole bolted to the side of the building, flying the American flag, of course. It was windy so the flag was fully unfurled and flapping in the breeze. Just below the flag are two security cameras aimed at different directions. I mean the cameras look like they are bolted to the flag pole. I thought it was an interesting juxtaposition. Can you see where this story is going?

So I grab my camera and start popping off pictures. In the mean time there are customers corralling themselves into the Wal-Mart. About five minutes later a young female clerk comes out of the store with a little walkie-talkie. See says, "Sir, excuse me, what are you doing?" Not even looking at her, I say, "Isn't it obvious? I'm taking pictures."

Her, "Sir, what are you taking pictures of?" I say, "Well, I was walking into your store here and saw the American flag flapping in the wind, I thought it looked interesting so I decided to take a picture of it. You know America?"

She says, "Umm, sir, Wal-Mart does not allow picture taking or any recording devices of any kind on it's property." I say, "Hmmm, you're kidding me? I can't take a picture of the American flag on this property?" Her, "No sir, you can not."

By this time the next level supervisor comes out and starts questioning me and a another junior supervisor comes out a little later. Same questions from the head supervisor lady. Then she says, "Yeah, we have had several customers come in warning us that some guy was out taking pictures of the building. They thought you were taking pictures of the cameras." Not admitting that I was in fact taking pictures of the cameras and knowing that the irony of the situation would be lost on this dumb hick, I simply repeat what I said before about the flag and then add, "You know, America?"

The situation is defused, and I leave after sheepishly telling them that "Oh, I didn't know I was doing anything wrong." Etc., etc. In actuality it had crossed my mind that somebody might say something to me about this.

The whole thing left me feeling a bit sick about this country.

One, that people were so scared and terrorized into being fearful by this Bush administration that they would turn in somebody for taking a picture. I was in fact exercising my first amendment rights to freely express myself.

Two, and this didn't settle in until I was driving home, Wal-Mart sent out three unarmed minimum wage workers to confront somebody that the store themselves deemed could be potentially dangerous. Fuck you, Wal-Mart. Profit above workers? Go fuck yourselves Wal-Mart corporation. Sick, sick, country we live in.