From the vault – December 12, 2013 (revised):
A response to Donna Crane’s column of December 19, 2019, Unplugging one day each week a salute for stress 24/6.
Once upon a time, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas were separate events. Now, however, they are connected to each other by an economic umbilical cord which increasingly seems hard to cut. Now, we live in a 24/7 society in which the stores seldom close; they just increase the number of shifts. The blandishments to buy, buy, buy, are relentless and have overwhelmed us. No sooner have the decorations for one event been taken down than the decorations for the next event are put up.
Few stores close on the event day, but, rather remain open in order to improve the bottom line. We’ve read news reports about franchise operators rebelling against corporate orders to keep the doors open and being fired for giving their employees the day off so that they may celebrate with their families and friends. Further, employees have been threatened with dismissal if they fail to show up for work.
It never used to be that way. The Chas remembers the so-called “blue laws” which were in place in his youth. These laws forbade any retail activity on Sunday in order to allow workers to attend to their religious obligations, if they had any. As the 20th Century advanced, Americans’ attitudes toward retail activity changed or, more precisely, were changed by incessant advertising blitzes. One by one, the “blue laws” fell by the wayside, and Americans were free to buy, buy, buy, whenever they chose to buy.
Imagine, if you will, dear reader, a 24-hour period, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a Sunday, without any economic activity whatsoever. Let’s call it “Tranquility Day,” shall we?
The following would be affected: Retail and wholesale outlets; factories and warehouses; restaurants, mobile vendors, and taverns; financial institutions; stock markets and commodity and currency exchanges; gas stations and repair shops; delivery vehicles; aircraft; trains; water craft, marinas and seaports; radio and TV broadcasting; newspaper and magazine publications; sports arenas; and the internet, yes, the internet!
Exempted would be hospitals and clinics, schools, houses of worship, food banks, emergency shelters, libraries, museums and zoos, but not their concession stands, taxis, and all government agencies.
So, dear reader, what would you do to occupy yourself if you had none of these intrusions for a day?
Ah, well, consider:
• Reading those books you’ve been meaning to read once you found the time;
• Better yet, reading books to your children/grandchildren;
• Attending to those projects around the house your spouses have been nagging you to do;
• Taking long walks, bicycling, swimming, sledding, boating, depending on the season, or hiking on a nature trail;
• Visiting a park, forest preserve, museum, or zoo;
• Going on a picnic;
• Gathering a group of family or friends and playing flag football, volleyball, soccer, softball, basketball, or golf, depending on the season;
• Visiting family members or friends you haven’t seen for a while.
Do you think it’s un-American not to go shopping 24/7? Or not spending your time glued to a TV/computer? Corporate America wants to numb you to the real world and keep you quiescent so that your minds can be filled with endless advertising and their coffers filled with your dollars.
Rage against the machine, dear reader. Fight the future. Know again what it means to be human rather than a robot.
Just a thought.