Another nail in the coffin of a unique culture?

i too see this as a backward step, especially with a government that seems intent on defending non british cultures so aggressively. all in the interest of '' multi culturism ''
 
Listening to the interview with some of the Islanders this morning made me realise that they are little more than out dated religious fundamentalists. One of them was saying that not only did they want to observe their sabbath, but that they also wanted to see the mainland doing the same.

If they want to observe their Sundays, fine. It's when they want to impose it on others that I see red. A bit like the cranks from the Lords Day Observance society. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
I'm in agreement with Sgeir.

I choose what I do on a Sunday, DV. I'm certainly not in favour of imposing a different way of life on a community which has voted for their preferred way - and been ignored. Their expressed wishes should be respected. This ferry decision has been foisted on the locals due to commercial lobbying, not because of any local need or want. It should be reversed.

/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
look, ma shun, if ah wint a nip an a hauf orra duck & duck wi oot youse happy clappy crowd telling me ah shouldnae, then up yers, ah say .... !
 
I am glad someone dragged our culture forward from the stoneage/medieval age/ middle ages/ etc.

And if the culture in question is complaining on RELIGIOUS grounds, then hammer that last nail in the coffin, hermatically seal it, and then burn the damn thing.
 
I am a self confessed athiest married into an Irish Catholic church going family so I've heard this type of discussion many times before.

I think that one of the downsides of Sunday opening is that Sunday becomes just another day for many, not a special or family day. Unless you count dragging round the temple of Mammon, otherwise known as the shopping centre, as a family leisure activity.

Aso, it has messed about the staff of the shops considerably. I work shifts and most weekends so know what a pain it can be, even though I'm reasonably well paid for it. Shop staff are amongst the lowest paid in the country and have no effective union to protect them. Lets face it, I can't be a very fullfiling job.

I have heard that some big chain stores took 7 day opening as an oppurtunity to chang to employing mainly part time staff rather that full time on a shift system, which can't have been good for the previous full time staff.

Conveinient for the rest of us, though.

BTW, I dropped into Tesco on the way to work today to get some teabags. It was so busy that it took 15 minutes!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I think that one of the downsides of Sunday opening is that Sunday becomes just another day for many, not a special or family day.

[/ QUOTE ]

Surely it's up to the individual? If somebody wants to observe whatever Sabbath they have, or to keep one day for the family, then all they need to do is just get on with it. They don't HAVE to go shopping.

With regards the question of retail staff being required to work on Sundays I don't think that this is an issue these days. With Working Time Directives and numerous other pieces of legislation there is plenty of protection for staff.....many of them are happy to get paid the overtime rates that most employers offer for Sunday working.

Apart from that, why are Vicars allowed to work on Sundays if it is so wrong? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Part of my point is that many places don't pay enhanced rates for Sunday or shift working. I certainly don't get any extra for doing it!

I agree that it should be up to the individual whether to observe the Sabbath, I must admit the I never have in that I'm either at work or doing something that hard line religious folk may disapprove of!

I drink, smoke and have been known to play cards, too. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I just think it's nice to have one day a week different to all the rest.
 
Slightly against my will, I find myself agreeing with Sgeir!

This is a closed community and their wishes should have been respected. It well within their own capability to make this financially unviable by how they react to the initial influx of people on a Sunday.
 
Unlikely.
Under current Employment legislation they can't be forced to work on a Sunday. Whilst I am sure that there may be the odd rogue employer, most employers are only too aware of this. If they try to force an employee to work on a Sunday then they lay themselves open to a claim for unfair dismissal. IIRC they could also be prosecuted.
 
Hmm for myself, it would be a nightmare going back to the Sundays of my early childhood. Everything was closed except Sunday school. The garrison swings were chained up on Saturday evening in case any kids so forget themselves as to want to play on the Sabbath. Formal lunch with guests. The afternoons dragged on sooo long it was torture. I couldn't wait for bedtimes on Sunday.

But, having said that, I would wholly support the right of a community to live as they wish, so long as it affected only them. So I view this as a retrograde step and as a loss for the people of these islands.
 
Well, my childhood was a misery on sundays, the streets were empty, my friend had to go to church (They were all catholics, were as my father was a lapsed catholic and my mother was a 'prody dog') Later in my teenage years it was the same, I especially hated christamas day, the pubs either did'nt open or closed early. And again non of my mates were out, they all had to visit family. When I went to the far east - Wonderful Sunday was a great family day, everthing was open and the staff did'nt moan about working on a sunday. In fact whilst I was in Bangkok I read in the 'Bangkok Post' that a department store close to where we where was celebrating being open for 10 years, yes they had not closed at all in 10 years, 24/7/365/10 . So why complain here, if you want a job, work. if you don't want to work shut up! I agree people have a right to their own beliefs but my religion does not condone critising other peoples beliefs or customs.
Just a a p.s. this when one of my brothers-in-law came to visit England in November one year, his comment about life here was that it reminded him of a war zone(on a Sunday) 'The streets are empty, the trees are dead'(It was november !)
 
Now hold on a minute. How many people on this forum have said something to the effect "If you don't like the way we do it here, go and live where they do."

And that, effectively, is what these strict Sunday Observance types did.

I may not agree with their views, but if they want to spend their Sundays behind closed curtains that's fine by me.
 
If the Islanders don't use the ferry themselves on a Sunday and the shopkeepers stay closed on a Sunday, commercial pressures will soon close the ferry on a Sunday.
If the Sunday ferry becomes a commercially viable service, it may demonstrate that the 'vote' was a herd instinct response.
Shame though, that as elsewhere, commercial interests dominate local residential interests.
 
Just heard this story on the BBC news. It seems there are two islands involved an done wants the ferry and the other seems to not want it....... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

North Uist residents requested the move and ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne said it was providing a vital service.

But some South Harris residents argue the Sabbath must be strictly observed as a day of rest.

So things are as usual not so balck and white..... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
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