Posted on 11/22/2012 2:16:10 PM PST by NYer
.- The expansion of Thanksgiving weekend shopping to the holiday itself has raised concerns among both workers and clergy who worry that the change puts family time at risk.
Father Sinclair Oubre, Spiritual Moderator of the Texas-based Catholic Labor Network, said the store openings are a “disturbing trend” that is “an assault on the family.”
“We have almost completed the evolutionary process of having two classes of workers: those who get holidays off, and can stay with their families, and those who are forced to work, so that those who have holidays off won't have to stay with their families,” Fr. Oubre said.
Retailers such as Sears, Wal-Mart, Target, Kmart, Toys “R” Us and Gap are increasingly opening their stores on Thanksgiving Day. The following day, known as Black Friday, is one of the most profitable shopping days of the year.
Business analysts cite increased competition from internet shopping and some customers’ desires to shop on Thanksgiving as motives to open stores on what is traditionally a day off, according to the Wall Street Journal.
In 2011, retailers who opened on Thanksgiving Day earned 22 percent more over the Thanksgiving Day weekend.
Two popular internet petitions on the Change.org website are protesting the changes.
Casey St. Clair, a Target employee of six years from Corona, Calif., organized one petition to “save Thanksgiving” that now has over 370,000 signatures.
She said Thanksgiving Day off “really does give me that one day to relax and visit family I otherwise have no time to see.”
Introducing more business hours on the evening of Thanksgiving Day means that employees need to arrive hours before the store opens, she explained.
Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York criticized the new phenomenon of Thanksgiving Day shopping in a Nov. 20 essay in the New York Post.
“The stores, we hear, will open on Thanksgiving. Isn’t that a sign of progress and liberation?” he asked. “Sorry, but no — it’s a sign of a further descent into a highly privatized, impersonal, keep-people-at-a-distance culture, one that values having stuff and doing things over just being with people whom we love, cherish and appreciate.”
The cardinal said he will pray this Thanksgiving that God preserve “a culture where personal friendship, genuine conversation and family unity can be a high priority.”
“I’ll beg God to keep those values constant in our society,” he said. “Why? Because I’m fearful they’re disappearing.”
What a good line, and absolutely true.
Remember, too, that the one thing Marx actually admired capitalism for, was that it was the most destructive machine the world had ever seen for crushing customary forms of social interaction, traditional communities, and cultural values.
What both libertarian capitalism and communism have in common is that they both view people as merely objects subject to an economic goal. They differ only in that the libertarian capitalist sees that goal as the good of the isolated individual and the communist sees that goal as the collective community. Both are willing to use the individual to advance their objectives.
The true conservative, on the other hand, sees one’s brother and recognizes the inherent dignity and worth of each person. The end does not justify the means and we cannot treat others as objects to advance the good of others, whether the individual or the collective. Conservatism in the West is actually the conservation of our Christian heritage, not the absolutizing of individual freedom. We are bound to treat others not merely with justice but also with charity, i.e. love. This charity would recognize that there are limits to what we are free to do in the pursuit of happiness.
Marxism, communism, socialism, “social justice” are reactions to abuses to human dignity caused by a pagan libertarian capitalism. They err in seeking a redress through government coercion. The conservative needs a limited government not because he cares not for his fellow man but because out of Christian charity he cares for them voluntarily. Take away this voluntary charity between men and those who become the objects of the greed of others will seek redress in the force of the state.
Daily Marriage Tip for November 23, 2012:
The simplicity movement promotes the day after Thanksgiving as Buy Nothing Day. Celebrate this day by playing games, telling stories, singing, etc. as a family. Even if you still buy stuff on other days, this is a way to honor the spirit of home-made entertainment.
Very nice! Like everyone’s my cousin day!
There have been Pro football games on Thanksgiving since the 1890s.
Marx didn’t hate Capitalism. He saw it as a once-progressive force which improved on what it replaced (Feudalism) and that it would naturally ‘give way’ to the next step in History (communism).
Of course Marx didn’t hate capitalism. He counted on it to fatally weaken the Family and the Church, thus preparing the way for his “next step”. It does seem to be working out that way.
Thanksgiving Day shopping called 'assault' on family life
Tenacity: A Thanksgiving Lesson
On The Grace of Gratitude – A Thanksgiving Meditation
Father Corapi: This Thanksgiving, Give Thanks For What You Have [blurry screen alert]
This Thanksgiving, Give Thanks For What You Have And For What You Have Lost!
[CATHOLIC/ORTHODOX CAUCUS] Prayer for the Church and for Civil Authorities
Giving Thanks for the Hard Things in Life
100 Reasons to be Thankful, Even in Hard Times
Let Us Give Thanks (even in these difficult times)
Thanksgiving Day
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.