Like many American's, I am alarmed, dismayed, and angry at the way this country is run and the direction it is heading in.  Every day we read about the soaring divorce rate, rising crime, rising gasoline prices (and every other price associated with them), and the complete disregard that people show one another.  We have abandoned our children and elderly in pursuit of money.  We've become lost.  We are confused.  We have mixed up what we need with what we want.  We need to find our way back to our families and core values.  I think it's time to take back America and our families.  Lets start a revolution!  A peaceful revolution, no bullets involved. 

This is what I propose:  Stop Shopping on Sundays and Holidays!

Ludicrous you say?!  Let's look at this a moment. Not so long ago, nothing was open on a Sunday or Holiday.  We had what were called blue laws.  It was against the law to conduct business on Sundays and National Holidays.  Some businesses today are still bound by those laws.  Depending on the state you live in, you cannot buy alcohol on Sunday.  When is the last time you bought a car on Sunday?  You can look at the cars, you may even be able to prepare the paperwork to purchase the car, but who has driven their new, or used car off the lot on a Sunday or Holiday?

What are some of your sweetest childhood memories?  Mine involve going to Grandma's on Sunday for dinner while Daddy cut her grass.  Visiting with Aunts and Uncles, and playing with my cousins was a great way to spend a day.  I remember camping and fishing.  But some of the best times were sharing a bowl of popcorn and watching Walt Disney, and Wild Kingdom.  Holidays were about the yummy food, and seeing our out of town relatives, and simply being together.  I don't remember the gifts involved with a lot of the holidays because, while it seemed in my young mind that those things were important at that time, with age it has become the time spent together with the people that I loved that was important and special.

Now many of you are saying, "but I don't work on Sunday or Holidays already."  I say great!  This is a good start.  Now what I am asking of you is to extend that privilege to everyone around you.  Stop for a moment and think of the last time your teenage son or daughter couldn't come to your holiday party because they had to work.  Or maybe it was a friend or another family member you were deprived of seeing because of a conflicting work schedule.  It's painful, because the more I think about it, the more I can remember it happening.  Holidays aren't something we look forward to anymore they have become another "sales opportunity."

Now think some more.  Every time you or I have walked through the door of some store on a Sunday or Holiday we have contributed to someone else having to work that day for our convenience.  Ouch!  I don't want to be the cause of someone elses discomfort.  So now you are thinking "but they need the job, I'm helping them to have a place to work by shopping here.  Why would they feel discomfort?"  Let's face it, most of America is still on a Monday through Friday schedule.  So our children go to school Monday through Friday.  Most of our spouses still work Monday through Friday.  But for parents, or spouses, or children who have to work Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays they have to leave their family members.  I can remember the disappointment on the faces of my parents, spouse or child when they knew I wouldn't be with them because of a job.  Can you?

So that being said, people will not lose their jobs because we stop shopping on Sundays and Holidays.  It is actually a very simple choice that we all can make.  A small adjustment in the way we do things.  I'm not asking you to stop spending money.  I'm asking you to spend it on another day.  We will make an adjustment.  Stores, small and large, will make an adjustment.  They will shift their workforce to the days that we do shop.  It is that simple.  The revolution has just started.  You CAN do this!

Now you say, "I don't have time for this."  I'm not asking you to pick up a placard in protest, or to picket stores that are open on Sundays and Holidays.  This is a very quiet revolution.  Just stay home with your loved ones and give them your attention on Sundays and Holidays.  You'll be happy, they'll be happy.  Fit your trip to the grocery store on your way home from work one night.  Same with the bank.  Same with the drugstore.  We all know most stores don't close at 5 P.M. Monday through Friday.  Everyone has extended hours for our convenience.  Our adjustment will not stop the world from spinning.

Now before those of you who do work on Sundays and Holidays barge into the bosses office demanding those days off or telling them you aren't coming in those days, Don't Do It!  Businesses will have to adjust their hours to the demand of the customer.  But this will take time. 

Our most vulnerable citizens are being held hostage by employers who dictate when they should work and how much they will make.  They cannot raise their families correctly if they aren't there when they are needed.  Where do we learn our values, our rights and wrongs, or any of the things that matter in life if not from our parents and elders?  There are children running the streets without any direction from the people that make a difference in their life and they in turn are having children that they don't know how to raise.  People have turned to drugs and alcohol because they are lost and hopeless.  I know what I propose will not cure all the worlds ills, but I believe it's a step in the right direction.  Get families home together so they can teach the important lessons to each other.  Family is important.  That strong secure families are what America is about.  That we are not all ruled by a dollar.  Take back the American Family!

Store owners and Employers are going to resist the revolution.  They are going to lure you to shop on Sundays and Holidays with "Special Sales".  Resist the temptation to save a buck.  If they can offer these "specials" on Sundays and Holidays, they can do it on other days when we, the consumer, the ultimate economy driver, are willing to spend.  Doesn't the power just make you giddy?  Employers are going to entice the employees to work with offers of time and a half, or double time.  If you have a choice, don't take the offer.  If you don't have a choice, go to work.  Don't jeopardize your job.  Then, in your spare time, spread the word to those around you. 

If you want to help make the change and reclaim the time with your loved ones, all you have to do is spread the word and stop shopping Sundays and Holidays.  Support the stores that respect their employees and their families by giving them Sundays and Holidays to be with their loved ones.  Let everyone in your life know your wishes for them to stop shopping Sundays and Holidays.  Send an e-mail to everyone on your mailing list.  Direct them to this site:   http://savetheamericanfamily.blog-city.com   or copy this article and poke it in the elderly neighbor's door.  (don't put it in the mailbox without postage, that's a no no)  The more who know and can participate, the faster the change will be.

Or here is a sample note you can leave with a store owner or manager:  Dear Sir or Madam, while I do enjoy shopping and supporting your organization, I would support it that much more if you would give your employees Sunday's and Holiday's to be with their families.  I believe those days are essential to making American Families and therefore America stronger, and healthier.  I will not shop here on Sundays and Holidays.  Signed, your loyal customer.

All questions, coments, or helpful hints are appreciated!

tags: holidays  america families  revolution  the revolution begins  

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