Marion County Letters to the Editor

Sounding off on Blue Laws

Dear Editor,

Sunday shopping ... should be banned! It’s not all about religion and if it is, why doesn’t all of government open on Sunday? Why are schools not open on Sunday, if it’s just another day? Families need time to spend together. We also have the environment to worry about. With the increase in traffic, there are more emissions going into our atmosphere, because of another day of shopping. We can not only help our families out, but our environment as well! Far as legislating to businesses when they can open and when they can’t — we tell them that they have to pay a minimum wage, vacation pay and holiday pay, pensions etc. Telling them when to close is no different. A government’s job is to govern and look after the people. 

Tony Lohnes

Dear Editor,

I enjoyed the article, and want to come down on the side of the Blue Laws. Here in Daytona Beach, Sunday is a madhouse, and it sure sounds like we would benefit from having Blue Laws!

James Wanliss

Group thanks employers for support of Guardsmen, Reservists

Dear Editor,

Several area businesses, organizations and individuals have signed a Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve. The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, announced that they signed the statement to encourage South Carolina employers to support their Guard and Reserve employees:

Those signing the statement are The City of Marion, The City of Mullins, the Marion County Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Mullins Chamber of Commerce, Sen. Kent Williams, SOPAKCO Packaging, JD Norman Inc., ArvinMeritor, Precision Southeast Inc., Blumenthal Mills Inc., Beneteau Inc., AVM Industries, Marion Regional Healthcare System, The Town of Nichols, The Town of Sellers, and Rep. James “Jim” Battle.

Since the terrorist attacks on the United States, the onset of “Operation Enduring Freedom,” and the activation of thousands of National Guard and Reserve troops, employers are playing a critical role in national defense. One way in which employers can publicly demonstrate their support for their National Guard and Reserve employees is by signing a Statement of Support.

Nationwide, 1.3 million Americans serve in the Reserve Forces-Army Reserve, Army National Guard, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Air Guard-and make up more than half the national defense strength.

According to Dr. Gordon Sumner, Executive Director for the National Committee for ESGR, “We are asking employers to go out of their way for their employees who serve by signing a Statement of Support. A Statement of Support serves two very vital functions: First of all, it demonstrates the strong level of support for our Guard and Reserve which is important during this critical time, and secondly, it sends a clear message to the service members that while they’re serving their country, they do not have to worry about their civilian jobs.”

“These employers have taken the lead by demonstrating their commitment to our Reserve Forces and to winning the war on terrorism,” Dr. Sumner added, “By encouraging district businesses to sign Statement of Support, they are making a valuable contribution to the quality of life of South Carolina Guardsmen and Reservists and to our national defense effort.”

Submitted by e-mail from SC ESGR, (803) 667-2219, and NCESGR: www.esgr.org.

Helping give thanks

On Nov. 22, 2007 Mobile Medical Care and Shepherd Care Hospice served Thanksgiving dinners to approximately 450 residents. Without help from each of the many individuals who donated, helped prepare, cook and serve this event would not have been possible. We would like to send a BIG Thank You to those who helped support this event:

The City of Mullins-Building (Old Brick Warehouse), Mayor George Hardwick, Straightway Ministries, Bravo’s Restaurant, Pastor and Mrs. Turner of Mullins Church of God, Mullins Methodist Church, Robert Stetson, Advanced and Barmer, Coca Cola Company, as well as everyone in the community! We appreciate the kindness and generosity we experienced in your community and we love being your neighbors.

God Bless,

Shepherd Care Hospice

This past week we presented on our editorial page and on our Web site, the opportunity for you to sound off about the Blue Laws. The following are some of those responses...

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to the Thursday, Dec. 13 post on South Carolina’s blue laws. The author’s comments about limited government and restricting the State’s interference in commerce and other arenas of personal life are very welcome to this writer. The remarks repudiating South Carolina’s blue laws, however, fell desperately short of being persuasive. Figuring largely in the debate is the question of where the line should be drawn for the State.

We all agree that the government has a role in maintaining law and order, though some of us would like to see that role drastically reduced to what it was at the time of the American founding. The crux of the matter is that personal freedom stops and State restrictions begin at a well defined line — and this writer is prepared to defend that divine law is the only standard for determining that line. By divine law I refer exclusively to the law of God as defined in the Christian religion by the Ten Commandments.

Is it lawful to steal something you want, or is this an area the State should restrict? Is it lawful for you to kill someone who angers you? The moral fabric of this country is not ultimately based on getting to do whatever you want whenever you want. I realize that this is not a popular notion for some, but the only adequate moral underpinning for South Carolina is what it has been since colonial days.

Liberal revisionists cannot permanently erase the fact that the Christian religion and the Ten Commandments were that standard. As repulsive and dogmatic as it may sound to some, I make no apologies in saying that the blue laws must be maintained and stores ought to be closed on Sundays in South Carolina because the Triune God of the Bible says so ... God’s Law ought to be upheld because it is right. If God’s Law is not maintained, then we will also learn that it is painful to spurn it. Rejecting our own mercies is folly.  

Robert McCurley

Greenville, South Carolina  

Dear Editor,

In the body of your piece you stated “ America was founded on the premise of freedom from religious oppression” ... I could not agree with you more. When laws are made to impose religious convictions on society as a whole, it breeds intolerance and tyranny. We need only look at the reasons the early pilgrims fled Europe in the first place, to escape such intolerance and tyranny.

Blue laws are not new, similar laws were instituted under Emperor Constantine in the 4th century AD and what were the results? Confiscation of private property, imprisonment and penalties of death by a church-state government. The beginnings of what became known as the Inquisition and the Crusades.

The deaths of millions who wanted to worship as their conscience dictated and refused to be dictated to. We always end up repeating history because we foolishly think we are more enlightened they those of previous ages. The efforts that seek to enforce the so-called “Blue Laws” shows how unenlightened society really is.

There are those who would say “The Lord’s Day....[is] ..trodden under foot” and “God’s laws are timeless”, should really go back and study their bible some more. God’s ten commandments enjoins the rest of the seventh da ... Saturday, not Sunday. It’s strange how people who claim to be Christians will promote a day of rest that is not called sanctified, holy or set apart anywhere in the bible, yet when the bible day of rest is quoted they will say “there is no law.”

Even though Saturday is the true Sabbath Rest of those who want to obey the Bible, no religion should be legislated upon the citizens of the United States of America. If a person wants to rest on a particular day or work or open up for business, that is truly their own personal conviction and nobody has the right to seek to stifle freedom of conscience. They did those things during the Dark ages and in communist and socialist countries today. These things have no place in America.

Todd Glasco

Dear Editor,

Your view regarding Blue Laws fails to take in consideration that the civil government has a responsibility before God to keep the Lord’s Day as well. The Fourth Commandment  was given along with the Fifth Commandment, which teaches that authorities have moral responsibilities to the governed. A government that will not enforce both tables of the law, (not “in sacra”, but “circa sacra”) violates its responsibility to God, by whom it bears rule (Rom. 13).

Just because some voters wish to violate the Fourth Commandment does not obligate office-holders to promote and uphold those atheistic desires. The Blue Laws were enacted by or Puritan forefathers who understood these principles well. The trend against these today is not based upon any superior reasoning or theology, just the base desire to throw restraints the Lord has already given.

It is no wonder the Blue Laws are opposed, since there are few left who are acquainted with Biblical Christianity anymore, much less those who are interested in practicing it. 

Those who are so quick to complain ought to observe how Muslims enforce their laws, and upon what principles they are based. Upholding the Moral Law might not seem so bad, considering what alternatives are at work to influence civil power now.

Sincerely,

Brad Freeman

So, again, have an opinion? Got something to say? Let us know at starandenterprise@scnow.com.