Nevertheless, context matters. The supposed Black Friday "orgy of materialism" comes immediately after Americans gather with family to celebrate and give thanks for their blessings. Moreover, most of the ensuing seasonal spending is intended to provide Christmas gifts for family and friends, with children to be especially laden with gifts. Are these really so bad as national observances and traditions?
As for China, most of the ambitious and the wealthy there would prefer to emigrate and take US residence and citizenship if they could. As it is, with personal rights and property insecure in China, hundreds of billions of dollars in cash is sent abroad every year. China has a host of problems that diminish its attractiveness as a place to live and cloud its future.
Among the Chinese business elite, American made goods and the lifestyle that they signify are in great demand. A relative who does business in China tells me of associates who proudly keep and display American price tags and "Made in America" tags on home furnishings and clothing. They regard American made items as having better quality and design than Chinese counterparts.
There are entire residential real estate developments in China that attempt to replicate American style subdivisions and commercial space with Western and cowboy themes and street signage in English. For the Chinese, America means freedom -- and that is something we ought to keep in mind, including when a few Americans go overboard on Black Friday.