It's Friday morning. "Black Friday" is a display of idiocy that has been created and perpetuated by the media. It got me to thinking about our society. It is truly sad that more and more retailers stayed open on Thanksgiving this year. My own sister was unable to enjoy any kind of time with friends and family, and I know personally several other folks that had to work yesterday. Really? Have we as a people forgotten what is really important in life? My fear is, yes.
I can't remember the days of the blue laws. I can only rely on the information shared with me from older generations. No stores open on Sundays or holidays, unless you were a corner store or a mom and pop. I don't know your thoughts, but I believe that break in the week is a wonderful concept. A day to slow down, unwind, reflect and recharge. The 24/7 multitude we have become is, well, unbecoming. No stores needed to be open on Thanksgiving. Was it convenient? I guess it depends who you ask. For the moron that didn't properly plan(me), it was great. For the poor people working ALL DAY LONG, it was ridiculous. I felt genuinely bad that these workers, who aren't paid a great deal, had to forego what is truly important so I could buy a can of black olives. If I didn't have the option of going there, it wouldn't have been the end of the world.
Our corporate culture needs to re-evaluate what's what. While the bottom line is important, it shouldn't come at the expense of morale and tradition.
I'm old enough to remember
I'm old enough to remember blue laws and the only store open on Sunday in Batavia was the drug store. There also was a tradition in town for many businesses to close on noon on Wednesdays to give workers and their families a mid-week break.
For me, today I'm honoring "Buy Nothing Day."
http://www.buynothingday.org/
America needs to find a way to jump off this hamster wheel.