by Bendrr 18 Replies latest jw friends
Good points !
I hate Sunday trading laws.
In the UK the law (thought not applied) states that you cannot buy Bibles or Baby Milk. Pornography and Liquer is allowed though.
We have the religious do-gooders here wanted to impose their silly lifestyle on everyone else as well.
Simon, what's the reason for not being able to buy a Bible on a Sunday? That doesn't make much sense. And why not baby milk?
Mike.
Great commentary. You may want to add this line of reasoning. The Churches have little or no influence on non members. So their reasons for continuing the ban must be because they fear their members will be weak and succumb to the evils of drink on Sundays. This law is enforce to prevent their members from misbehaving. Maybe they have little faith in their own members ability to follow Church ways. After all, the Church leadership is setting the example by misappyling scripture and using the worldly government to force everyone to follow their own brand of righteousness. Are they so poor at teaching their membership and providing solid moral guidence that they need the government to hold their hands? Maverick
Rayzor:
Here is a little fact that may surprize you. Up until Oct 23, the city of Steinbach Manitoba (population 8213) had a ban on all alcohol sales in restaurants within city limits. The old "dry" law fell with a resounding 50.9% of the popular vote. Steinbach had been dry for 30 years.
I wonder if there are any other Canadian towns with this bylaw.
And, in Saskatchewan, bars cannot have strippers if they serve alcohol. So, there is a place where you can go to see naked women and drink coke, but it doesn't go over too well. For some reason, you are not allowed to mix your vices in Saskatchewan. Go figure.
19 maximum age in most provinces (all other provinces/territories): 18 minimum age (Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta).
Here in the US the age is 21. I don't understand why a person can be sent off to war and risk being killed at age 18 but is not allowed to take a drink. Most kids who are under age find a way to drink anyway.
When I was 18 it was the legal age and you didn't see as many teens drinking. IMO, the only reason they like it so much now is because they think they are getting away with something.
Totally on target, Mike....Blue Laws are an infringement on the Constitutional right to life, liberty and the pursuit of hapiness....it's like saying we can have that right....every day except Sunday in a certain place, which is exempt from the Constitution because a lunatic fringe has declared it to be.
Frannie B
Wow Bendrr..
A very well thought out and written letter.
It was clear, nice flow, it made sense..
very well done.
I might have to get you to write some letters for me....
sincerely
Special K
Thanks everyone for the props!
Maverick:
Great commentary. You may want to add this line of reasoning. The Churches have little or no influence on non members. So their reasons for continuing the ban must be because they fear their members will be weak and succumb to the evils of drink on Sundays. This law is enforce to prevent their members from misbehaving. Maybe they have little faith in their own members ability to follow Church ways. After all, the Church leadership is setting the example by misappyling scripture and using the worldly government to force everyone to follow their own brand of righteousness. Are they so poor at teaching their membership and providing solid moral guidence that they need the government to hold their hands? MaverickI'm going to save that for future use if you don't mind. (I'll work in a credit for you when I use it) When writing the letter the thought did cross my mind about the strength of their faith considering the outcry that comes whenever someone tries to change the blue laws. I wrote in to the paper about this before. In the first letter I pointed out that everyone is free to not buy and consume on Sundays or any other day, and everyone is also free to not do business with a store or restaurant that sells on Sundays. Just because it's there doesn't mean you have to partake. Thanks for the thoughts. Mike.
You know something else?
This situation serves as an example that it ain't just the Empire that wants to control peoples' lives. And I don't mean to lump religion in general into this description, but all too often the Bible is turned into a tool to wield power. "Man has led man to his ruin" I think the scripture goes.
I actually re-wrote a couple of parts of my letter to "tone down" a little. When I said how the statement about the clerics doing what they were called to do made me uncomfortable, I originally included with the Inquisition the fact that others believed "God" had "called" them to be suicide bombers or to fly aircraft into buildings. But that was just a little too harsh even if applicable.
I'll be sure to post responses. I'm sure y'all will get a kick out of some of them. Last battle I fought in the paper over this, well I was called immoral among other things. But it was fun and I've had a lot of local folks tell me they agree with me and enjoy reading what I write.
Almost every time I've written in to the paper, they print what I write. I've actually had people I know ask me what my next letter will be about and when they can read it!
Mike.
