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October 01, 2004

"Archaic Laws" May Not Be All Bad

This was one of those weeks. Everyone looked tired here at Belmont University. The students looked tired, the staff looked tired and the faculty looked tired.

When I asked my students about their weekend plans, I hoped (as a parent of two college age children) that I would hear them tell me that they were going to rest this weekend. They all were dragging so much this week. Who could blame them with the first round of tests and papers for the semester just getting over and their jobs, and their businesses, and their sports practices, etc., etc. But what I heard from each was a weekend that sounded even more hectic than the past week.

This got me thinking about an article in Inc.com I read during this past summer. It was about an effort in Virginia to once and forever "rid the state's code of 'blue laws,' or laws intended to restrict activities and commerce on Sundays." But, in a legislative snafu "Virginia legislators accidentally repealed exceptions to the archaic laws." There would actually be two weeks of even stricter "Blue Laws" due to this oversight.

Now as I read this article, I was struck by the author's choice of language. Rid is a word that often is used to describe the process of casting out something undesirable, bad or even evil. Archaic, well let's be honest, it's a word that refers to anything that predates the Internet, CDs, and unleaded gasoline.

But, what's wrong with a culture that decides to rest for one day? God even rested on the seventh day, after all. Maybe this isn't something we need the legislature to force upon us, but is it a bad thing?

When I grew up, Sunday was just accepted as a different day than the rest. Most of us would get up more leisurely, have a nice family breakfast and go to church. Then we'd go home, spend time with our families and neighbors and have a nice family supper. We didn't do yard work, as that was what Saturday was for. We didn't clean the house and do laundry, as those tasks were taken care of during the week. We didn't shop, as very few, if any, stores were even open. We just enjoyed each other (OK, so my brothers and I still fussed at each other a bit even on Sundays), praised God, and just slowed down.

Now Sunday is a day to catch up on work. It is for many, their day to gain a competitive advantage in their businesses.

When my wife and I first moved to Kentucky, Blue Laws were still in effect. Our Sundays had already gotten more like any other day by this time in our lives. The shock of the "Blue Laws" was immediate. What, no Mall shopping on Sundays?!? I remember that I had the same reaction that the author of the article in Inc had to this aspect of Kentucky culture. This was archaic!!

Looking back, however, I now see the wisdom in the old ways of treating Sunday as something different in our week. A day of rest. A day of praise. Do I follow the old ways? Sadly not really. Should the old Blue Laws be brought back? Probably not, since we don't need government fooling around with anything more in our lives.

But, as I read about the pace of our lives today, the stress we create for ourselves, and the alienation we have from our families and neighbors, I can't help but wonder. Maybe there was some wisdom in our old ways. I am tired. My weekend will be at least as busy as this past week was for me. And then I go back to work....

Posted October 1, 2004 06:25 AM

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» Sunday Shopping from Truck and Barter
A limited number of blue laws still prevent Americans from specific economic exchanges on Sunday--especially liquor purchases. In Virginia, the General Assembly accidentally removed exemptions from the "day of rest" blue law for 12 days this year; also... [Read More]

Tracked on November 18, 2004 11:37 AM

Comments

Wow! I started thinking about this, and I first thought that yeah, that would be great to rest on Sundays but who in the world has time to do that? Especially, what MBA student has time for that? After all we’re going to work 40+ hours/week and then sitting in class at least 6 hours/week and trying to fit studying and group projects in there as well. Seems like we barely have time to tell our loved ones hello each day, let alone sit down and have time to visit with them.
But what if we did take the time out each Sunday (or day of your choice) to really focus on what matters most? It’s a matter of priorities in one’s life. Too often we get caught up in “things” rather than people. It’s sad to think that the government has to shut down stores in order for people to stay at home with their families, but maybe that’s what we need more of. After all, laws are in place to help us.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that you have to make a conscience effort to prioritize your life. Too often we try to control everything and therefore try to do everything. We have to realize that one thing we have no control over is time. So cherish every moment you have and try to remember that if you don’t get one thing finished on your “to-do” list this week, it won’t be the end of the world.

Posted by: Melissa Greene at October 5, 2004 12:47 PM

This is actually something I've been thinking about this week because this was the best week I've had in a while, even though it was really busy. I got to go home to Georgia last weekend for the first time since the beginning of August, and spent time with my mom and sister. In ways I attribute my better week to being because I actually got to stop and breathe and spend quality time with special people. I wonder if all of my weeks would be better if I really stopped and took a rest for one day a week. But, sadly, I don't usually have time to do that. I'm hoping that some day when I'm out in the 'real world', finally settled in my career, that I will actually be able to do this, rest for one day. I certainly do not disagree with the 'old ways', but they're not practical for the crazy lives that a lot of Americans lead today.

Posted by: Shelley Rich at October 8, 2004 06:14 PM

I certainly agree with the post by Melissa, we have to make choices for ourselves and not allow government to dictate our lives. I spent several of my early years in south Mississippi where Blue Laws brought Sunday activity to a slow crawl. Looking back on those years I realize how difficult things were for my mother. She was a single mother who operated her own construction company. Weekends were her time to catch up on domestic items. Unfortunately, Sunday closings hindered her efforts to keep things in order both at home and work. I realize that government dictated much of what we did (or did not do) on Sundays. Now that Blue Laws have been repealed, Sundays are fair game for any business. It is simply a matter of priorities. I admire companies like Chick-Fil-a (sp) who choose to close their doors on Sunday and forego the profits by doing so. But that is their CHOICE, not a dictation by the government. We as MBA students choose to attend school and work simultaneously and must prioritize our lives accordingly. Sometimes that proves more challenging than others but once again that is our CHOICE. Finally, as Melissa points out, we can honor Sundays if we choose to forego a few of the endless items on our "to-do" lists. But we need to make those choices, not the government!

Posted by: Rebecca Burcham at October 9, 2004 08:40 AM

Personally I think that everyone should take a day to unwind. I agree with Rebecca, that this should no be the decision of the government, but of the individual or company whether or not to do so.

Posted by: George Ward at October 11, 2004 06:07 PM

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