Let's Bring Back Sunday Blue Laws

Sunday, February 12, 2012

I t was only a few nights ago that I was sleeping so soundly, the details of my dreams could not be described in mixed company. Yet, in the midst of my unconscious joy, I felt first a sharp "love tap" from my partner-for-life. It left only a minor bruise.

"You left the toilet seat up!" were the words slowly reaching the fog that was my now semi-conscious mind. "Who died and made you king?"

I rolled over in apathy, desperately trying to recover that small prurient pleasure that was my dream. But the more I tried, the more my political mind became obsessed with the prospect that my wife had placed before me: What if someone died and actually made me king?

I could lower taxes or simply eliminate every government department except Defense. I could make my megalomania a reality. But I could not settle for mediocrity. Besides, no one would allow my dynasty to last long enough for that to happen. I read "Macbeth." The king dies.

So what could I do to really change things for the better prior to my assassination? What could I do if I only had one law to hand down before my untimely death? I thought. I dreamed. I nursed my wound. Then I knew the answer: a "blue law." I would I call it the American Family Act, a law requiring that all nonessential businesses be closed on Sunday so that families could rediscover what is truly important in life.

Now, I have nothing against shopping. But if the world was created in six days, I can certainly buy my shirts and shoelaces before Sunday. Perhaps I might go to worship, but that has nothing to do with the law itself.

This is a law that could be appreciated by atheists and even polygamists who do not have enough time for family, whichever wife they choose. For me, I would simply have "Sunday dinner" with my daughter and that woman who gets her point across with those "love taps." Perhaps others would just go for a walk or even have a family chat.

In the past 50 years, we have all lost the idea of a day of rest. This has nothing to do with biblical commands. It really has to do with the social revolution that the term "sabbath" represents. It stands for the proposition that human beings ought not to be made to work seven days per week. Nor ought we make even "servants" work seven days per week. Nor should we allow the social pressures of buying that extra Xbox cause people to work without rest.

Family is so important to our society that one day per week needs to be devoted to it or devoted to interpersonal interaction that makes family possible.

Maybe my monarchy could make an exception for ball games and family restaurants, but surely beer sales could wait until Monday. I believe that most everything could wait until Monday if we truly used Sunday to discover ourselves and the ones we love.

Now, I am a conservative. I do not believe in big government. But I am not a libertarian. I am a "social conservative" who believes that government has its place to give us a society that can perpetuate itself as both a commercial and moral "shining city on a hill."

So I do believe that government has a right to prohibit abortion. Government has a role in the definition of marriage. And government should prohibit most commerce on Sunday to fulfill its role in creating a conducive environment for the success of the nuclear family, society's essential building block

Well, it was good to be "da king." But then, I rolled over again. Indeed, my wife was right. None had yet died. I was not king. So, I uttered the three most important words a husband can say: "I am sorry."

She had fallen back asleep. She did not hear me. But, as I nursed my sore at the site of my love tap, I smiled. Because, for a short while, I was king and I gave families a chance to survive a world moving all too fast. But that is why I moved my family to Moore County in the first place.

Robert M. Levy is chairman of the Moore County Republican Party. Contact him at Law52@prodigy.net.

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Yukonjohn 1 year, 3 months ago

I see my Levy, you are one of those Republicans that are for smaller govt. that stays out of our lives and business, well, unless it is in the bedroom, the living room or in our minds!!! You are the same type of Republican that are driving folks away from the party in droves!! I like the hypocritical way that these folks tell us that they want one thing, yet, they just want to make sure we are "living right". Sir, I do not need your morality or your watching over me and my family, making sure we are living as we should. I think this will be the eventual end of the Republican party as we know it. After the "botched" caucuses in Maine, come convention time, there will be a revolt in the party. Those libertarian Republicans are going to take their delegates and their support....most likely to a third party, and they will either bring in disgruntled Democrats and win, or it will ensure President Obama will have one more term, but it will be the end of the Republican party as we have come to know it!! Time will show us if this will happen, but it is becoming more and more appearant to me that this will be somewhat the case.

SH59 1 year, 3 months ago

No one is stopping you from having Sunday lunch with your daughter whether the stores are open or not. You and the Government can't make people what to be together. Live your life the way you want and let others choose what they want but to force false family time on everyone is in your dreams.

aleksandar 1 year, 3 months ago

Although what you are saying may seem like a good thing many have fluffed Bible prophecies unawares. For details read: http://adventtime.com/2011/10/06/mark-of-the-beast/ Exodus 20:8-11 “8Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.9Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:10But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” The forth commandment is really a repetition of Genesis 2:2-3 “2And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” Remember it is the seventh day, Saturday, that God blessed and sanctified. Just so there is no confusion Jesus said: Matthew 5:17 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” In other words He carried it to the full meaniing showing what it really mean to keep the commandments. This Jesus showed by saying: Matthew 5:28 “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Jesus was simply fulfilling the old testament prophecy: Isaiah 42:21 “The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honorable.” Sunday keeping came few centuries later with the nominal conversion of Constantine, the Roman emperor, who under the influence of the bishop of Rome made a first Sunday law. “On March 7, 321, Sunday was declared the official day of rest, on which markets were banned and public offices were closed, except for the purpose of freeing slaves.” MacMullen 1969; New Catholic Encyclopedia, 1908; Theodosian Code. In the Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, we read: Q. Which is the Sabbath day? A. Saturday is the Sabbath day. Q. Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday? A. We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church, in the Council of Laodicea, (AD 336) transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday…. Q. Why did the Catholic Church substitute Sunday for Saturday? A. The Church substituted Sunday for Saturday, because Christ rose from the dead on a Sunday, and the Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles on a Sunday. Q. By what authority did the Church substitute Sunday for Saturday? A. The Church substituted Sunday for Saturday by the plenitude of that divine power which Jesus Christ bestowed upon her! —Rev. Peter Geiermann, C.SS.R., (1946), p. 50. Hopefully this helps! Recomendation to read:http://www.sabbathtruth.com/

JimHeim 1 year, 3 months ago

Thanks, Bob, for saving us from making these difficult decisions. The government is much better able to decide when I shop or enjoy wine with a picnic.

And we really appreciate your deciding about women's health care. They shouldn't have to bother their pretty little heads about something like that. Those decisions are just too important to be left to the hormone-impaired.

But I'm still waiting for evidence that a government-imposed 'day off' will help the nuclear family. I wait with bated breath.

SH59 1 year, 3 months ago

Once again, if you want to observe your religion's teachings go right ahead. It's not the government's job to enforce them.

Toyboy52 1 year, 3 months ago

Many people around the world think a day of rest is a good idea.http://m.facebook.com/pages/Save-Our-Sundays/102221753225986?id=102221753225986&_rdr. This Facebook group from Nova Scotia has taken notice of this article.

Perhaps this is an idea which is ready to be considered again.

JimHeim 1 year, 3 months ago

Okay Toyboy, tell us. How does this work? What are the demonstrated benefits? Are there any drawbacks? Will the reduction in economic activity cost jobs? How will you fix that? Will people really spend time with their families? How will you mandate that? What about those without families? How will they fill their now-empty day? Will suicides increase?

If you think a day of rest is a good idea, take one. I can decide for myself. it's called freedom. Americans used to quest after it.

Bflat 1 year, 3 months ago

There might be some kind of "moral to the story." It was all the result of "a dream."

jimt 1 year, 3 months ago

Would this mean no NFL games on Sunday? If so, you've gone too far.

JER 1 year, 3 months ago

jimt brings up a good point. The malls are not the only place selling things on Sunday. All the sports franchises are selling their products, gas stations are selling fuel, airlines are selling flights, taxis are selling rides, hotels are selling rooms...well, you get the idea. Let's push for the Robert M Levy Dream Amendment to the Constitution and see how everyone likes having a day off. Perhaps after having been forced to change his name and move to another country, he will put a bit more thought into his dreamy ideas.

MooreNorth 1 year, 3 months ago

I'm glad the left is so open minded, fair, and understanding.

MooreNorth 1 year, 3 months ago

Forgot lighthearted, easy going, and compassionate. And Jim, quit eatin bait man. Wait with , oh let's say, Tic Tac breath. That's the ticket. You'll be waiting a long time with bait breath. I mean, dang man.

JimHeim 1 year, 3 months ago

MooreNorth, I assume English is a second language for you. Many of our colloquialisms can be confusing to those who don't speak it fluently.

Toyboy52 1 year, 3 months ago

@ jim and others: you say you have compassion for the poor and overworked but you create Sunday retail so they can slave at a second job or third job. If retail was closed on Sunday perhaps they might be paid a better wage Monday through Saturday And even the poor might be able to enjoy Sunday with family.

Why is it only limousine liberal lawyers and government workers who think freedom means that others work on Sunday so the lawyers and government workers can enjoy their weekend.?

Zippy 1 year, 3 months ago

I think that's a wonderful idea but will never happen again in our society because Business and Consumerism have the inner track on most of what happens in our society. I applaud someone talking about our loss of time for family in our pursuit of money and stuff we don't need, however the necessities are becoming more and more out of reach, thank the profit motive, and people and families are swamped by advertisers and corporations eyes on bottom lines to, one, fill our mind with desire for "stuff," and two charge as much as they can get. I'm not necessarily talking about "family values," a propagandist phrase used over and over politically but the real issue of living and breathing families decimated and broken daily by an out of control consumer imperative. Bob Katrin

Toyboy52 1 year, 3 months ago

This year the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game were on Monday because New Year's Day was on Sunday. If "heathen" money conscious California can show respect for a day of rest, the rest of us should take note

JimHeim 1 year, 3 months ago

Yeah, the NFL is on the same page.

You seem to think that people who work on Sundays don't have any days off. Where did you get such an idea? And if you don't want to work on Sunday, just tell your boss. He'll either give you Sundays off or everyday off. And aren't you ready to sacrifice for your beliefs? I'm sure you can get a job with Sunday's off in no time.

Yukonjohn 1 year, 3 months ago

To all of you that feel like Mr. Levy and Toyboy, by all means, do NOT open your store on sunday! Do NOT work somewhere else of sunday. Go to church and worship as you choose, then go home and nap till the night service, but how dare you tell me what I should do!! If I want to grocery shop, drink whiskey, go to the bar, go to the massage parlor, it is NONE of your business!! Again, this is the problem with the far right, and thus the Republican party. If you do not nominate Ron Paul, you are going to see a mass exodus from the party!!

MikeNC 1 year, 3 months ago

Sh 59, you indeed, need to revisit what you just said. "nor is it the Goverenmet's job to ram down their ideas on Religious beliefs. You must be a young wannabee lib. Diane

MikeNC 1 year, 3 months ago

Mr. Levy, as much as I have opposed the Liberals trying to make the Catholic Church bow to their health care expectations. I also oppose your proposal, that the Blue Law should be re imposed. I'm from Cleveland, Ohio. When my husband joined the military, guess what, we're down south and now exposed to Blue Law. Gotta say, it caught me off guard. I considered the law a major faith based religious ideaology imposing their views on me. No need for it, when a compromise could be arranged. First off, anyone who thought a store shouldn't be opened, need not go to the store. Secondly, the store could put forth to their employees, recruiting for employment on Sunday on a volunteer basis. Thirdly, take NYC, a Jew will swap his Jewish holiday with a Christian and VS. It works quite well. In other words the door swings both ways when it comes to separation of church and state. Ever lived in Europe? At 12 Noon, the doors of all small shops close until 3 PM. Government dictates it. On Sunday, the sidewalks roll up, period, except for a restaurant. Government dictates it. I worked many a Sunday in Sales, because I had to. But it was my choosing, because I love sales. My choice, not anyone elses. Diane

sos 1 year, 3 months ago

I agree with Robert Levy's article 100%. We need to return to the days when workers actually had choice to be home with there families. Retail workers are being forced to work on Sundays and are not given a choice. In Toronto, Canada there is a push to open up stores on Holidays also. If you give a finger expect to lose the whole arm. The article can be found here - http://www.saveoursundays.ca/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=198 . What's really sad about it , Sunday shopping was mentioned . Workers admit they were forced to work on Sundays and not given a choice. I personally tweeted to the Toronto city twitter account and there response to me was that we have all kinds of services 24/7. Oddly enough I'm sure that the councilors are not working on Sundays or Holidays for that matter. But lets look at this in a whole new perspective. If you buy a car, does it mean I should have to? Business and government officials love to play one occupation off against another. It's called Divide and conquer. When we fought Sunday shopping here in Nova Scotia, they used the argument that restaurants are open on Sundays. Tim hortons are open on Sundays. Movie theaters are open on Sundays. What makes retail workers any different. They harped at this over and over and the public was real sympathetic to there cause. Quite intelligent of them to play one occupation off against another. I wish what I know now, I knew back then. If you jump over a Bridge does it mean I have to? If one occupation choses not to work on Sundays, does it mean they should do it because other occupations do? Letter carriers are off on Sundays , does this mean they should work on Sundays because church ministers do? We have a want , want society and we do not realize the ramification's that Sunday shopping has caused. Families have lost time together. We have more traffic on our roads and prices have increased due to another day of Sunday shopping. Locally Valerie Payn's who is with the Chamber of Commerce admitted that there were no extra money being made by opening up on Sundays. You can read this here- http://www.saveoursundays.ca/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=196 This is a quote by Valerie Payn " Given that per capita expenditure (adjusted for inflation) has not increased it appears also that the opportunity to shop an extra day has not driven people to purchase what they don’t need any more than they did before, they can just do it at a time that is more convenient to them." So in other words, the consumers in Nova Scotia are paying more for food, hardware etc ,because people want to shop another day?

sos 1 year, 3 months ago

Contd - Low income and seniors are hit hard by this as costs are passed down to them. Our province was also hit by a 9.1 increase in our power rates. Now think hard about it. Who do you suppose picks up the cost for this? We do the consumers. If there is a snow storm or the power goes out, stores close. We have to start thinking beyond our want, want needs. Some things are meant to be better and it's called progress but it's not Sunday Shopping. We keep stepping backwards instead of realizing the mistakes we are making. If Sunday shopping was so great, Why did we have a recession? Mainly the recession was in the US but it has also effected Canada. I have not seen anything that Sunday shopping has done for any country, except taking away a day that families could spend together. We also have our environment to consider. lights are on in these stores 24/7. Cars are on our roads 24/7. How is this helping the environment? It's amazing how business's can program people into there way of thinking. Like buying reusable bags to save the environment, yet stores are open day and night with their lights on. We should be learning from this instead of taking steps backwards. Our families should come first not buying that electronic device or that sugar donut. All these things can be bought the day before. Far as these religious arguments, they were used to divide and conquer people to get what they want. How many millions of people are off on Sundays and Saturdays for that matter? Yet low income people making minimum wage are expected to baby sit people on Sundays. Banks are even getting in to the act in our country. People are not realizing that Sunday shopping has effected them also and that they will be forced to work it to. This is how these smart people bring in these things by bringing it in little by little. They want every one to work seven days a week. We are human beings and we need this down time. Not just for Sundays but Holidays as well. I applaud Robert Levy for writing this article. I truly hope it makes you think. What have we lost? We have lost a lot. Business's have control over you . They'll put that sugar donut on sale on Sunday, to get you in the store. While our kids are suffering for it. Our environment is also suffering. I invite you to visit our web site and listen to my radio interviews , our You tube video's and articles. It's time to bring back Sunday closures for today's families and our future families. http://www.saveoursundays.ca

LeeMcGraw 1 year, 3 months ago

It is simple. No laws needed on the topic. If you don't want to shop on sunday, don't shop. If enough don't want to shop, the owners will not open. Do you think the government should force them to open if they don't want to do so? Of course not, no more than they should ever tell owners when to close. Let the free market run, and it will. If you don't want to work on sunday, well, big hint...find a place to work that Does Not open on sunday.Whew! tough one. Glad it is solved.

Yukonjohn 1 year, 3 months ago

Lee McGraw, you nailed it. SOS, your opinion makes no sense to me whatsoever! I guess sometimes, my opinion makes no sense to others either. People are NOT forced to work on sunday though, they have the right to quit. And for the rest, as l said, Lee McGraw nailed it.

skylinefirepest 1 year, 3 months ago

Wdd, you're wasting strength in your typing fingers, bud! The harl doesn't come up with much except name calling and rarely speaks from a position of truth. And besides, I think that most of us would call him the same as you except, as you say, for our good manners.

sos 1 year, 3 months ago

@ LeeMcGraw Of course the government should tell business owners when to close. Just like them tell them to legislate a minimum wage or legislating a Holiday pay or legislating breaks and lunches. If we can tell a business owner how to spend his money that employee's earned for him, government can tell that owner to close. I have to laugh at that argument that was brainwashed into people so that business can have it's own way. Let the market decide? Really, i have to wonder if we decided we all want our groceries for free if we would get it? Should the free market decide that? I have to wonder would you tell a nurse or a doctor to quit there job if they don't like what's happening? Just a retail worker right? Retail workers have every right to fight for better working conditions and it isn't you're right to tell them to get another job. That's there choice and right to speak out. If That means having a legislated day of rest! We'll be better off in so many ways.

LeeMcGraw 1 year, 3 months ago

sos...Your argument makes no sense. None of the dots connect.On topic, take your day off. I do.

MooreNorth 1 year, 3 months ago

Jim~ You funny man. Make me laugh. Make me laugh hard. Me go now.

DaveyNC 1 year, 3 months ago

Mr. Levy, a thinly-veiled attempt to impose your own religious beliefs on the rest of us. Nothing wrong with a day of rest and nothing stopping anyone from using it for just that. But you cross the line when you want to shut down all "non-essential businesses" to bend to your beliefs. What if I consider it to be essential to be able to buy my clothes on Sunday because that is the day when I have the most time available to endure the pain of a trip to the mall? Are you going to appoint a Board of Essential Activities to decide what we can and can't do?

To the Left and to the Right: stay out of my life. Stop trying to force your morals and beliefs on the rest of us and stop building bureaucracies to do that for you. Let us go about our lives as we best see fit, so long as we are not harming others.

teufelhunden 1 year, 3 months ago

I am lovin the fact that Chikfila stays closed on Sunday. I'm glad they haven't let greed intrude upon their principles.

JimHeim 1 year, 3 months ago

Lee - Nicely said.

TreadLightly 1 year, 3 months ago

Too bad that everyone jumped on the Sunday issue. The wonderful part of this idea is more family time and interaction. I have often promoted the idea that every family routine should include the entire family putting their feet under the same table for one meal a day, minimum. (Not TV trays.) I could support my tea party brethren if they wanted Obama or a Republican government to legislate that.

It would be very difficult to prove Biblically that Sunday remains the “day of rest,” even though it is the day of worship. But without doubt, the Bible promotes the “day of rest.” Both body and soul need the rest!

The rest of this post will be trivia material for most people.

The first century church might have welcomed some Roman Blue Laws. Most Christians and slaves worked on Sundays and the church met at night.

Catholics changed the day of worship? I don't think so!

The change of covenants from the Old to the New changed the day of worship for Christians. Jews kept Sabbath worship to this very day. Seventh Day Adventist types are a throw-back to the first covenant, and they find traction by citing the life and worship of Jesus.

But Jesus lived his entire life under the Old Covenant, with all the sacrifices and Sabbath day worship that the old covenant prescribed. (Animal sacrifices, etc.) Search the Gospel of John carefully and you will find his trips to the Temple in Jerusalem for the Festivals and Passovers. [Chaps. 2, 5, 7, 10, 12]

Search the New Testament, after the Gospels (Old Covenant) for these words under the New Covenant. (If Old and New Covenants is a puzzle or problem, read Hebrews chaps. 8, 9, 10.)

"Sabbath" Acts, 9 times 1 verse, "Sabbath day's journey" 8 verses, Paul teaching in synagogues to make converts among Jews, the most likely prospects.

 Colossians 2:16, not a worship occasion.
 Hebrews 4:9, "a Sabbath-rest"

"First Day of the Week" after the Gospels

 Acts 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 16:2, worship situations.

Secular history and church fathers confirm that the church met on "the first day of the week," Sunday.

This is all lost on a generation that is increasingly neither resting nor going to church. But then again, the large crowd will always take the broad way, and few will find the straight and narrow.

JER 1 year, 3 months ago

I have to admire TreadLightly for his devotion to his beliefs. A lot of people on here go with the flow but he pretty much sticks to his guns. I even agree, in principle, with some of his ideas. I also would like to see the family unit return to the way it was back in my childhood days. My family ate the evening meal together almost every night. We had a "game night" every week where we played board games or cards. We sat around the radio (later the TV) in the evenings enjoying our favorite programs together. My parents were active in supporting my brother, sister and I in school and sports activities. We were more like Ozzy and Harriet than the Nelsons were. My point is that it does not matter if all the businesses are open 24/7, if you are a believer or an atheist, if you are a Democrat or a Republican. It is our responsibility to choose to live the life we want. Having a government or a church insisting that we do it their way only causes dissension.

Let's Bring Back Sunday Blue Laws

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