In this December 25,, 2004 file photo vendors and shoppers turned out in their hundreds in downtown Kingston on Christmas morning for last-minute shopping. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

The Editor, Sir:

"The beginning is the half of all things," as the Greek proverb goes, so I'll start by using a similar convention to that used by Abraham Lincoln in his famous Gettysburg Address (four scores and seven years ago, etc.):

One score and six years ago, our retailers brought forth in this Jamaica land we love, the option for Christmas Sunday shopping, conceived in Liberty/Independence and dedicated to the reality that people are created with the freedom to be equally and 'thoroughly convinced' in their own minds on when they wish to shop, work, worship or have leisure until the day of harvest.

So with Grand Market and Christmas Eve landing on a Sunday this year, I would want to reflect on the progress in freedom made during that Christmas of a violent 1980.

"It was a brilliant marketing strategy," as Hartley Neita observes in 'Christmas Sunday shopping in Jamaica', The Gleaner, November 26, 2005. Besides reminiscing on how many things were not done on Sundays, Mr. Neita, however, recalls how a Rev. Earl Thames (ET) registered disgruntlement with a letter to The Gleaner over the widespread Sunday openings.

Archive service

Thanks to the assistance of some competent persons in The Gleaner's Library Services Department (Michele Anderson et al), I discovered some significant commentary using the terms 'Sunday shopping'. (I highly recommend a subscription to this archive service, so you can use The Gleaner like a time machine!) The archives search 'hit' that I find most relevant for the short space here is the front page of The Gleaner Wednesday, December 24, 1980.

At the bottom of the page appeared a news report on Rev. ET's outlandish letter of condemnation where he called for the "boycotting of all stores which have decided to open on Sundays". Praise the Lord. Today, many people have decided to be defiant (for now). Further to the reasoning used in my 'Celebrating freedom of commerce' letter on Heroes Day last year, (Gleaner, Monday October 17), I suppose this means peace on Earth, but goodwill to some men!

Literally above and beyond ET's rubbish on the same page, a defeated yet humble Michael Manley in his Christmas message, asks for Jamaicans to strive for 'real unity', citing that the "ancient Christmas exhortation, peace on Earth and goodwill to all men, is probably more apt than ever this year," which complemented PM Edward Seaga's message on the same page that called for compassion for the poor during Christmas.

Finally, at the top of the page a headline under the masthead announced: 'Colour television coming to Jamaica next year!'

So, let me ask our thought leaders to follow the Golden Rule this Christmas. For Sunday shopping is not a simple black and white issue - there may be grey areas - but there are lots of 'true colours' to think about as more people will learn to choose the 'real' truth-filled high-definition television of the Lord's Day, which is the Seventh-day Sabbath! ( cf. Rev.1:10; Mark 2:27,28; Ex. 20:8). Have a blessed holiday season in Christ!

I am, etc.,

RYAN O'NEIL SEATON

Kingston 11

cell8763132444@gmail.com

Revelation1217@yahoo.com

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