[mhking]

Individually we can retreat to our homes and hold our own beliefs, but our cultural recognition of the day as special and set apart would be gone.

No, I'm not saying that. But what I am saying is that as long as we, collectively, hold to those beliefs, and that includes staying out of those stores that open on Christmas Day, then the specialness will not be gone -- not only that, but Safeway will recognize that it is not in their best interest, finacially or as a "good neighbor", to open then, and the madness will end.

But you cannot compromise YOUR values and what you hold sacred just because someone else does.

[Nuzcruizer]

"But what I am saying is that as long as we, collectively, hold to those beliefs, and that includes staying out of those stores that open on Christmas Day, then the specialness will not be gone -- not only that, but Safeway will recognize that it is not in their best interest, finacially or as a "good neighbor", to open then, and the madness will end." Wishfull thinking. That's what we said when stores began to open sundays. Now it's just another day. Actually here, stores can only open from 12-5 on Sundays, and not even Safeway can open Christmas day. Not this state. About 20 years ago, Jewish store owners always closed on Mondays. You don't see that happen anymore either. Some still close for some Hanika days.