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Many merchants breath a sign of relief today NOVA SCOTIA SAID NO! GrassRoutes would like to acknowledge the efforts of Tony Lohnes who for the past few years has launched an internet campaign to "Save Our Sundays". I think time will prove Tony ( and the majority of Nova Scotia's) to be correct, and we may even see some other provinces back track and "Dare to be different", though now they will not have to be quite so different. Say no to Sunday Shopping? If you are looking for answers, truth or wisdom in this article maybe you should stop reading now. If not ..Hi The most durable method of storing data was to carve it in rock. Things have gone downhill since then until we came to digital data storage which is the most fragile of all methods ever invented. When this civilization passes, as it surely will, records of our demise will be the least well documented of all that proceeded it. What has this got to do with Sunday shopping, probably nothing. It is said that in the past that some ancients carved in stone a warning that "Sunday" should be set aside for rest. This has been passed down as an article of faith in some religions, notably the faith of that society that is debating Sunday shopping. When the scientist stands up as says evolution is a fact it really did happen {Carl Sagen) Is he telling a lie? Evolution is a theory, it is not a fact, it is excepted in faith by the 1% who believe it, and the other 99% who believe it, do so because they were told it was the truth. When the minister stands up on the pulpit and says that their is a God is he telling a lie? No one has seen God. It is a theory that Faith makes real. This is not to say that their is no God or that Evolution is not true, but both must be accepted on faith. Faith in God? Faith in Chance? Faith in Mankind? You choose. And, what has this got to do with Sunday Shopping....?? Why do we want to shop on Sunday. Obviously it is totally unnecessary, but it is convenient. Their is no more money to go around, however the direction that money travels can change. Therefore the imputes behind shopping seven days a week is probably coming from those who will be harvesting that money. And, the cost of item "x" will probably be, initially, cheaper then it presently is, where harvesting is allowed on Sunday. However we will all change our shopping habits. Soon the debate will be forgotten and we will all get in line and be good little organized consumers and the world will proceeded on it's marry little way. The abnormal will become normal. It is a bit haunting though as to why someone would have taken the trouble to carve into stone "Remember to Keep Holy the Lords Day". Well maybe that it is not exactly how it was carved but the gist of it's message has been passed for thousands of years and our society is testing the valid of this statement as did other civilizations in the past. I think there were nine other items on the list and their validity is also being tested. It is really interesting how a whole society can be molded and shaped by media, and those who control the media. Actually it is not so much controlling the media as much as it is the using of media, and it may be as simple a s marketing a box of cereal or molding the attitude of a whole nation. Most of us are so wrapped up in what is happening that we cannot objectively evaluate what or where or community is heading, and the fact of the matter is few even care. As Malcolm Muggeridge said "we are going to hell in a hand basket". However we now have more then we had when this statement was made, so we had best be taking a shopping cart. In the small community where I grew up 50 plus years ago there was a code that was preached, no abortions, no homosexuality etc., etc,etc.... These things probably went on, the only difference to day is that the code is gone. Society has lost it's ability to evaluate many moral decisions. What has this got to do with Sunday shopping? Maybe nothing, maybe everything. Bob Dylan: The Times They Are A-Changin'. We have all watched the demise of old values as they are replaced with conduct we once considered criminal, amoral or sinful. Values that we now accept as part of our world. There is probably no going back. I hope the eternal solution is not to "format", as I reluctantly do with my computer when cluttered with useless data and viruses. I get a picture of some guys in the clouds saying: I guess it's time to format. While the guy on his right says just delete the junk. The big guy says but there is to much junk. The little guy: If their were 10 good programs would you delete rather then format ? Listen, if you can find just one good program I will not format. A few minutes later .... yeah I guess you may as well format. Our society cannot continue at this rate, fuel consumption and pollution have their limits. Increased activity on Sunday can only speed up this process. Many people live under the allusion that science will find and answer, others that God will intervene, most don't know or care. Maybe there should be a law that, except for emergencies, everyone is to stay home on Sunday. This would reduce pollution, fuel consumption, couple this with only minimal use of electricity and appliances. This would buy us some time and it would be just like what happens when the power goes out. We gather around the kitchen table by candle light, and for a few hours we actually become a real family. But this will not happen because we have to "Feed the Greed" The final question, even though we have not resolved the Sunday shopping issue is: Why would someone take the trouble to carve into stone rules or values that they believed a Society must follow? Else they said, that society would not last. If these rules came from a supreme being or just some enlightened ancients, it does not matter. We are testing the validity of those 10 rules that were so important that they were called not just laws but laws for God.. I guess you might be saying that there is no proof it was ever carved in stone, or that they came from God. That maybe so, but this code has been an intricate part of society for over 2000 years. It has got to make you a bit apprehensive about making the change. If you have doubts vote no to Sunday shopping as there will probably be no turning back, and things function reasonably well with limited Sunday shopping. Vote No! You can always vote yes next time. If you think all businesses are in favour of Sunday Shopping then why are their signes in some stores asking you to say no to Sunday Shopping? Ex: Home Hardware
Well their I have rambled on about something I know very little about. Next time I will deal with a much easier topic. The Purpose of Existence. So please drop back. gj leblanc
If you are interested in more information on Sunday Shopping try the following links Halifax Herald:
The guy with the site below {save Our Sunday's} has spent several years
trying to stop Sunday shopping.
Hello Everyone,
A good morning to you all. I have had a number of people ask me if they
vote NO on the ballot do they have to answer the last two questions, and
if they do not answer the last two questions will the ballot be spoiled?
The answer is "NO". You only need to answer the first question. Please
tell everyone you know thats all we have to do. Pass this email on to everyone
you know...we do not want a No person voting for Sundays six weeks prior
to Christmas because they think this. Secondly , On the Dare to be different
web site comments can be left on the issue... to sign up and leave a comment
please fill out the forum -
I do thank everyone for their support. We have Dare to be different flyers that we are giving out to people and they are copying them to give to others. As we do not have the money,so we have to work through the grass routes and hope that others will help us. Have a GREAT day and remember VOTE NO on October 16th! Sincerely,
Re: Sunday Shopping Oct 16/04 In my view, I find it so hypocritical of those that want this day to not have shops open on Sundays. Since I have had jobs that life depended on the people that need to work Sundays-- I found that THOSE that want this as a “Holy Day” (in their limited understanding) did not volunteer to let me get it as such. So, because I am the type that will be polite in allowing this to happen to me till I found it coming to a ridiculous point. Those will only have that day “Holy” will only think of themselves and want to impose lifestyles on others without thinking. I was able to have it a Holy day if I worked or not. Work for some is like a pain, for me it’s a pleasure to help others. I ask this of you ‘Holier ones then the rest’ (that like to dictate how others should vote): ---since some will have to work regardless of Sunday shopping since other places have to be open (or maybe you would like to vote to close them too?) --what difference does it make if some shops want to be open? Why do those that want Sunday to be Holy not spend their time more wisely and with more substance in life then telling others how to vote? Go and volunteer and allow others to get a break or make someone else’s Sunday a more pleasant day to enjoy. Many years ago, my area was this same way of having to deal with people (waste local money on referendums time after time) that wanted the no Sunday shopping. And, because we live near the USA border and in those days it was not unusual to find these hypocrites shopping there. WHY? Does it make it right if they are out of the area to do exactly what they tell others NOT to do?…did they not see that economy in their own area was suffering because even tourists did not enjoy staying if they cannot find a shop open on Sunday? Sunday shopping now in our area is an excellent choice for those that want to get on with life when they maybe cannot go shopping any other day. Tourism has increased. It’s true democracy to have a choice and not be dictated to of how a Holy Day is to be spent. Since I am writing this as the vote is yet not known. If Sunday shopping would be yes…then those that wanted NO should maybe not ever go to the hospital or restaurant on Sunday or any place that others have to work that day to make your life more livable. Think about it. May Abbotsford, BC
Wednesday October 27, 2004 High River Times — Ahhh, Nova Scotia! Finally a part of Canada has come to grips with what has become a plague. Some people believe we are caught up in “cradle-to-grave” marketing. Physicist Brian Swimme, Ph. D., in his book The Hidden Heart of the Cosmos states, “Consumerism has become the dominant world faith.” Nova Scotians have voted against Sunday shopping. After meetings and debates they reacted like the down-to-earth people they are. They reasoned that they already have all day and night shopping - that’s enough! They voted to keep Sunday for themselves to worship and enjoy life as families. Anyone who has visited Nova Scotia knows that the relaxed approach to living is one of the many things that makes it appealing. This laid-back approach is often the envy of tourists who arrive from gung-ho places seeking change. I thought about this as I read Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier’s victory statement “Fasten your seat-belts, this city is on the move!” As if Calgarians haven’t already experienced a roller-coaster ride in the past five years dealing with the huge population increase and the current traffic and infrastructure problems. Surely what Calgarians are experiencing can’t
be considered a good lifestyle. Lives seem all about earning more money
to get ‘stuff’ which accumulates in a rat race. A New Yorker magazine critic,
David Denby, refers to meaningless plastic things for the home and for
our children as “an avalanche of crud” that is burying modern children.
I know there are arguments against Sunday closure and I’ve heard them all
before, but compared to successfully fighting for Sunday peace of mind,
there is no contest. Nova Scotians have done what we failed to do - set
one day aside completely - only one out of seven, mind you (“The Lord’s
Day,” remember?) - for quality time with their families.
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