Path: utzoo!censor!geac!alias!kpicott%alias@csri.utoronto.ca
From: kpicott%alias@csri.utoronto.ca (Socrates)
Newsgroups: ont.general
Subject: Re: Sunday shopping
Message-ID: <688@alias.UUCP>
Date: 21 Dec 89 17:50:56 GMT
References: <1989Dec20.175658.10717@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca>
Sender: kpicott@alias.UUCP
Reply-To: kpicott%alias@csri.utoronto.ca (Socrates)
Distribution: ont
Organization: Alias Research Inc.
Lines: 48

In article <1989Dec20.175658.10717@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca> golchowy@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca (Gerald Olchowy) writes:
>Sunday shopping does not force anyone to work on Sunday who doesn't
>want to work on Sunday.
>
Forgive my cynicism but this seems very naive.

>The law prohibiting Sunday shopping
>discriminates on the basis of religion and that is why it should
>be eliminated.
>

I don't know about anyone else but I have seen a noticeable lack of the word
"religion" mentioned in the Sunday shopping stories.  This is not really a
religion issue anymore (although it originally was).  The media seems to be
treating it solely as a legal issue, but this is really about values.  What
do we value more, making a few extra bucks or spending some time with those
that we love?  Everyone needs balance in their life and the possession-
conscious society we live in doesn't afford that much time for taking a step
back to look at ourselves from a more objective perspective.

>It also violates what should be my individual right
>to work and earn a living in anyway I see fit (as long as it 
>doesn't interfere with the rights of others).  A store opening on
>Sunday does not interfere with the rights of anyone else.
>
Neither is this issue about rights.  Certainly you should have the right to
earn a living as you see fit, as long as it doesn't interfere with the
rights of others.  But what if it interferes with the enjoyment of life?
Do I have the right to run my electric lawn mower at 5am Sunday morning,
even though I know my neighbour likes to sleep late?  Certainly.  But it's
not very sociable.

There is always a dividing line between one's rights and one's
responsibilities.  Some people don't even recognize the latter if it
interferes with something they want.  I believe we have a responsibility to
ourselves to not let the ratrace run our lives.  The best way to do that is
to allow ourselves time to step away from it.  This responsibility extends
to our fellow man as well.  I will support Sunday shopping when somebody
convinces me that there is a better reason for doing it than simply adding
another day to the worship of consumerism, or when I am convinced that
nobody will be forced to work a Sunday they don't want to, through direct or
indirect pressures.  (That's a nicely phrased way of saying when h*ll
freezes over.)

--
 Kevin Picott   aka   Socrates   aka   kpicott%alias@csri.toronto.edu
 Alias Research Inc.  R+D          Toronto, Ontario... like, downtown
 "There can be no offense where none is taken" - Japanese proverb