It's Queen's Birthday weekend here in New Zealand. Perhaps because the Queen has so many birthdays every year, she probably wont mind this one being taken over by atheists and liberals. And it has been. It's a weekend where the shops are going to be open from dawn to dusk, discounts and specials on offer like some mid year boxing day sale.
No Christians to lament that low paid shop assistants are bring forced to work rather than worship. Barely a murmur from the unions, who have already negotiated penalty rates and time in lieu. Not to mention 4 weeks annual leave, not three as it was a few months ago.
Nope, if atheists and liberals wanted their own religious holiday, with freedom to worship on the alter of the cash register, with permission to succumb to the temptation of brunch at a cafe, followed by penance of towels and underwear purchased at 30% discount, then surely, Queens Birthday weekend is their day?
Full on shopping, and no-one and no-thing standing in people's way. Well, apart from the queues for parking perhaps.
The only ironic thing I've noticed is that my good and dear acquaintance, David Farrar at Kiwiblog, who has been somewhat a champion for shopping through public holidays, has for some strange reason, locked himself away on a deserted (mall-wise) island for the next few days.
Maybe this whole freedom to shop thing only matters when it's a Christian holiday?
If the thought of having a few days off, and away from it all - away from 24/7 shopping, emails and mobile phones - seems like a really good idea after all, perhaps we could work out a way that others, such as shop workers, have the same opportunity to do this without the big expense of foreign travel.
Hey, I have an idea. Maybe we could make like 3 days a year where the shops don't open? That would do the trick. Family time, kick back and relax, optionally Church - no shopping, no materialism, no pressure to find the perfect shoe. Just 100% down time. Is that brilliant, or what? Don't answer - I'm not suggesting for a moment that we use the sacred "Queens Birthday". I've got a couple of other days in mind.
Anyway - enjoy this long week-end if you are one of the fortunate who don't need to work. The next official holiday doesn't come to October - Labour Day. Unless you are a banker, then you get a day in august I believe. I said banker. But speaking of Labour - when's the election? There's a couple of political parties facing long holidays. They could be starting from around Labour Day.
Which could mean an early Christmas for us all.
Related Link: Holidays are for serving others
No Christians to lament that low paid shop assistants are bring forced to work rather than worship. Barely a murmur from the unions, who have already negotiated penalty rates and time in lieu. Not to mention 4 weeks annual leave, not three as it was a few months ago.
Nope, if atheists and liberals wanted their own religious holiday, with freedom to worship on the alter of the cash register, with permission to succumb to the temptation of brunch at a cafe, followed by penance of towels and underwear purchased at 30% discount, then surely, Queens Birthday weekend is their day?
Full on shopping, and no-one and no-thing standing in people's way. Well, apart from the queues for parking perhaps.
The only ironic thing I've noticed is that my good and dear acquaintance, David Farrar at Kiwiblog, who has been somewhat a champion for shopping through public holidays, has for some strange reason, locked himself away on a deserted (mall-wise) island for the next few days.
Maybe this whole freedom to shop thing only matters when it's a Christian holiday?
If the thought of having a few days off, and away from it all - away from 24/7 shopping, emails and mobile phones - seems like a really good idea after all, perhaps we could work out a way that others, such as shop workers, have the same opportunity to do this without the big expense of foreign travel.
Hey, I have an idea. Maybe we could make like 3 days a year where the shops don't open? That would do the trick. Family time, kick back and relax, optionally Church - no shopping, no materialism, no pressure to find the perfect shoe. Just 100% down time. Is that brilliant, or what? Don't answer - I'm not suggesting for a moment that we use the sacred "Queens Birthday". I've got a couple of other days in mind.
Anyway - enjoy this long week-end if you are one of the fortunate who don't need to work. The next official holiday doesn't come to October - Labour Day. Unless you are a banker, then you get a day in august I believe. I said banker. But speaking of Labour - when's the election? There's a couple of political parties facing long holidays. They could be starting from around Labour Day.
Which could mean an early Christmas for us all.
Related Link: Holidays are for serving others