The purpose of this law is to return the holidays to the people. Of the years, corporations have bit by bit taken more and more time from the people. Some of the first to fall were holidays, followed by the repeal of blue laws across the country. You now can go shopping seven days a week. Of course, someone has to man that cash register and stock those shelves. Holidays have all fallen too. Even July 4th has fallen to the greed of corporate America. Kmart attempted to open on Christmas one year, but backtracked after a huge backlash.
Growing up, we had the blue laws. They basically said that businesses could not open on Sundays, except for bars, restaurants, theaters, convenience stores, and gas stations. Of course, hospitals, police, and fire were also on duty. All companies, factories, retail outlets, etc, were closed. Families got together on Sunday for dinner. I can remember the smell in the kitchen as my grandfather cooked a smoked shoulder for the family. We could all get together and spend the day.
Holidays were looked forward to. Picnics, barbeques, and trips were planned. I can remember the clamboils or bakes. We would all get together on the 4th and go to the parade in Bristol, RI, that is if we weren't marching in it. Afterwards, a big cookout and then fireworks at night.
Now if you try to plan anything, you have to work around schedules as many have to work on the holiday. This is especially so if you are in retail. The funny thing is that the people who got rid of the blue laws so that everyone is forced to work on holidays, have all the holidays off. There are ten federally recognized holidays. They are:
New Year’s Day
Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Washington’s Birthday
Memorial Day Monday
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
Why is it that the people we elect, get all these holidays off, not to mention liberal vacation time, and we the people are compelled to work? (For clarification, I do get most of these holidays off, but many of my relatives do not.) If these are indeed federally recognized holidays, then why not make them so. Close all the stores and factories and let the people be with their families.
I brought this up one time on Kohl's Facebook page when they announced they were open New Years. I got slammed for being un-American. I was told that I was deliberately trying to destroy the economy. I was told by one woman straight out that the stores needed to be open because all the guys were watching football and she was bored. So all those retail workers have to go in when some would like to be at a cookout or party with their families because they were bored??? As to the economy, I think it was a lot more robust back in the days of the blue laws. Isn't that what the Tea Party keep telling us, they want America back? So why not take us back to the blue laws days? Reinstitute the laws so families can be together again. Republicans used to espouse family values. I used to ask whose? Theirs? Maybe if families had the time to get together again, they might just be able to form the memories like I have of throwing horseshoes at my grandmothers while the clamboil was cooking. Following that up with Cousin Gilly pulling out his guitar and my aunts coming together in perfect harmony singing old Andrew Sister songs. Or being with my grandfather and our "parade" up to Deccy's to get penny candys. Or the cookout when everyone was shocked to see my grandmother show up in hot pants.
So what I propose is that at minimum, there be six federally recognized holidays where the country shuts down for real. Trust me, we won't go broke and the economy will not crash. Of course, in a perfect world we could have all ten that our Congressmen enjoy, plus Sundays. That would be taking it back like the Tea Party wants.
Just throwing it out there. If I get enough positive feedback, maybe I will submit this to Barnie Frank, Scott Brown and John Kerry. What do you think?
My heart to your heart, one heart, one spirit.
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