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"Christian" Tyranny in Georgia

By
Real Estate Agent with Retired

Georgia is one of the only three states that does not allow the saleof alchohol in stores on Sunday. The previous governor, Sonny Perdue, threatened a veto every time a bill was proposed to allow local voting on the option. The current governor, while a teetotaler, stated that it is up to the local people to determine whether or not they wanted it in their community and would sign such legislation.

Up pops groups such as the Christian Coalition and other organizations and churches in opposition to the bill. They are putting pressure on legislatures, with threats of cuts in donations or campaigning against them, if they vote to allow the sale of alchohol on Sunday's. OK, I admit, that is their right, to make their feelings known.

However, it is not their right to impose their beliefs and practices on everyone else. Especially with the reasons they give.

Alchohol can already be purchased 6 days a week. They don't need a 7th.

People can already go to a restaurant and drink on Sunday, they don't need to get it in a store. (Stupid logic. Drinking at a restaurant increases the potential for a dui, and for hurting someone else. However, picking up a six pack to take home, or a bottle of wine, does not).

What's wrong with those statements? The word "need". Its true, nobody needs to purchase alchohol on Sunday. But its not an issue of need. The restaurants around here get crowded on Sundays after service. Why, because the churchgoers go out to eat on Sunday's. They don't need to, they have 6 other days to go out and eat.

The supermarkets here get crowded on Sundays. Why? Because after the churchgoes eat, they go shopping in their Sunday finest. They don't need to, they have 6 other days a week to shop. (And it wasn't that long ago when stores and restaurants had to close on Sundays, but obviously, these same people pressured to get the laws changed).

Yet this minority wants to impose their practice on others, while they practice what they will. I bet there are even a bunch that work on Sunday, or go hunting, or to the movies.

Will this new legislation change my life? Probably not. I don't drink on Sunday, but that is for dietary reasons. But, if I had unexpected visitors and wanted to purchase a bottle of wine on Sunday, I should be able to.

It is this imposition of their will upon others that make me ashamed, sometimes, to call myself a Christian, this and many of the prejudices that they exhibit. And, its not a political thing, there are plenty of Christian Democrats and Republicans down here so either neither or both parties are to blame.

So, Christian Coalition, etc., just like I say to the government, get out of my life. Do not impose your values, practices, etc. upon me, or anyone else for that matter.

William J. Archambault, Jr.
The Real Estate Investment Institute - Houston, TX

"Christian Tyranny" is absurd, but nothing compared to PC Tyranny!

There is more logic to restricting alcohol sales than to "global warning!"

Bill

Feb 16, 2011 02:17 AM
Morris Massre
Pembroke Pines, FL
Real Estate Instructor Broward County Florida

I am from South Carolina and we had the same problem, which is another reason I've moved on.  This is nothing more than religious zealots imposing their will on the public.  What they didn't realize was that it really hurt tourism too because they would go to NC on Sundays.

Feb 16, 2011 03:47 AM
Barb & Sal Dragotta
Macomb, MI
Macomb County Michigan

Mike...will date myself with this comment; but I do remember a moment in time when Michigan utilized the "Blue Law" approach to not only sales of liquor on Sunday, but also no stores opened either. 
What chuckles me about all of this is that anyone who desires to drink liquor on Sundays simply can load up their carts on Saturday evening--the 'day' should not be the reason.  

Barb
 

Feb 16, 2011 07:36 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Buying alcohol on Sunday's will not change consumption much.  Right now a lot of people run to the store on friday and saturday BECAUSE it isn't available on Sunday.  Sunday sales are mearly a convenience.

Feb 16, 2011 08:39 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Bill - there is not difference, and certainly no more logic for restricting Sunday sales than there is for supporting a belief in global warming

Morris - it is no different than any other group trying to impose their, they don't need it, rules on any one else.

Barb - absolutley no logical reason for this

William - in reality, it will probably have little effect on consumption, with perhaps a slight increase. I agree that it is a convenience but there is no reason to have the inconvenience.

Feb 16, 2011 09:58 AM
Kevin Robinson
Twin Falls, ID
Fractional Developer

Mike- Come join your brethren here in Idaho. We are a pretty Christian state and our blue laws are slowly being repealed. You can pretty much buy alcohol 7 days a week now.

Feb 17, 2011 01:48 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

And its pretty darn cold in spots. Now Couer d' Laine is ok.

Feb 17, 2011 08:29 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I never buy alcohol on Sunday.  Actually I never buy alcohol, or even drink it.  And I don't shop on Sunday either, ever.  Do I impose those beliefs on anyone else?  No, but I think they should be everyone's values!

Maybe one day...

Tyanny is a pretty strong word!  A noun 1) cruel and oppressive government or rule  2) cruel and arbitrary exercise of power or control.

Cruel?

Feb 17, 2011 09:47 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Jay - tyranny is also defined as an arbitrary or unrestrained abuse of power. In this case the Christian Coalition is excercising an unrestrained abuse of power with its influence over a few key representatives to not allow a democratic process in this case. And I do believe that threats are a form of cruelty.

Feb 17, 2011 10:00 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I knew that would rile you Mike! 

Are Blue Laws arbitrary (personal whim) in their founding?  Hardly.  They are laws founded in principle.

What if you are able to collect your food, for free, every day.  But the food collected would only last one day.  If it wasn't eaten and lasted longer than that and it would rot.  One day a week, the day before the Sabbath, you could collect a portion enough for two days.  It would last two days, but rot on the third.  You cannot collect food on the Sabbath - there is none available!

You learn the rules by doing, or not doing, as you are told.  If you disobey the rules, there are consequences.

Was that free food provided, and the rules therein, arbitrary (personal whim)?  Were they cruel or democratic?  Restrained?

The Blue Laws, historically, were founded in principle.

The principle?  The Christian (not "Christian") principle of keeping the Sabbath day holy.

Archaic?  To some, obviously!  But founded in principle.

Arbitrary?  To some, obviously!

Do you know the meaning of the Hebrew word "manna?"  It means, literally, "what is it?"

What manna was was a loving lesson in obedience, intending to bring a people from lesser to higher laws.

Those higher laws?  Joyful obedience, not forced obedience.  The intent was to get them moving from a lesser Mosaic law to a higher one based in Christ-like principles (hence the name christian).

Is our society "beyond" that now?  Yes!  Does our society consider the principle stupid?  Yes!

But not all of us!  I for one am not beyond it yet...  Do I impose that "tyranny" on another?  No.

But not being able to buy alcohol on Sunday is a really, really niche position, don't you agree?

There, that is my holy kiss for the day!

 

 

 

Feb 17, 2011 10:59 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Jay - Blue Laws, in the U.S. are the arbitrary imposition of a set of rules based upon a belief system onto the entire population or country, state, county, municipality. In this case, blue laws and principles are redundant, since principles are a set of rules to be followed, in both cases, a code of conduct. Blue laws were primarily based upon religious beliefs, although for the life of me I cannot see why auto sales are prohibited on Sunday's in some states (how does that set in your captialist craw?.^) 

What do you mean its a niche position? Does that mean because it doesn't affect you that its ok for this rule, this code, this blue law, to be inflicted upon another because of someone's or some groups religious regimen. If Sunday is a niche, why not Monday? Or Tuesday? Oh wait, everyday was for awhile, it was called prohibition.

And you know what, I have been in areas of the world where the food had to be collected or procured everyday, because if it weren't and wasn't consumed, some of it would rot. Its called heat, humidity, etc. But guess what, someone invented refrigerators and freezers, and canning, and other means of preservation including jerking and salting, etc. so the food lasts longer. And guess what, even in the holy land it lasts, I know, I have been there on the Sabbath and guess what, I had food to eat, fresh, cold, hot, etc. Of course I wasn't allowed to punch my own elevator button on the Sabbath, I had to stop on every floor.

Niche or not, it is just another area where government is intruding upon both the free enterprise system as well as trying to legislate one groups morality, principles (rules/laws) through codification and regulation. There is no benefit from the regulation, it should not be there. And, for someone who wants a less expensive government, enforcement of blue laws of any type are a capricous waste of taxpayer dollars.

Feb 17, 2011 11:59 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Your position is that gubment cannot, and should not, impose "obedience," religious or otherwise, onto its populace.  I agree.  But that's what it does!  A no smoking in restaurants law is a niche position.  Not riding your horse on a cobblestone street in Alexandria VA before 7am (still in force, by the way) is a niche position.  Gubment employees taking Easter Monday off from work is a niche position.  Not praying in schools, even a private moment of silence, is a niche position.  Not buying alcohol on Sunday is a niche position. Those are all imposed by gubment.

The opposite of all those laws is ALSO a niche position!

What I am saying is that Blue Laws had their foundation not in gubment, but in religion.  They are a hold over from another era in which the two intermingled.  Many laws do!  That in itself is another debate.

As to buying and selling on Sunday, it IS different than Monday or Tuesday, because christians consider it the Sabbath.  As to anyone's position on what Sabbath activity should or should not include, well, that is up to them.  Not the gubment!

I, however, will continue to be a "christian" (the " " is a wink for you) and try to keep my Sabbath day holy.  By my definition, however...

We could go a different direction and say that ALL laws are based in religious morality!  Now THAT would get some people going!

 

P.s.  Your buying food every day in hot humidity was a rule imposed by natural law, not gubment.  And my mother was very upset with those mean people who invented refrigeration.   As a little girl she wanted to be an "ice man" when she grew up.  The ice man would come every few days and put a big block of ice in the ice box.  She thought that was the greatest job in the world.  Technology canned her future... or put it on ice... or came about by thinking outside the box...  geez, I can't get away from the cliches.

Because I grew up with my grandmother, I still refer to the fridge as the "ice box."

 

I love you Mike.  Keep the blogs coming!

Feb 17, 2011 06:32 PM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Jay - but religion does not belong in government, not in the U.S., not in the middle east.

Feb 17, 2011 11:29 PM