25 March 2013
*Checks date*
Yes, is really the year 2013, yet New Zealand still persists in having archaic laws which mean that shops and businesses are not allowed to open - on Easter Friday and Monday.
Why not Walpurgis Night? That has as much meaning to some people, and is no less stupid than the idea that some invisible god killed his son for two days because his own invention - people - was screwed up. In fact, now that I look at it like that Walpurgis Night makes a lot more sense: some countries do still burn witches alive.
Or how about we set up a National Bigfoot Day instead? At least those guys have footprints, while christians only have a 20th-hand book.
Even better, Buddha's Day - Buddha was a real bloke, after all.
Please note that I wouldn't be going shopping on either Friday or Monday, because I don't count shopping as a pastime and tend to shop in quiet periods, but I see no sense in disallowing them to have what would be two of their better trading days.
We are, in essence, allowing religious discrimination against shops and businesses by keeping these laws as they are. We're throwing out the religious law that forbids gays marrying, how about we all grow up a little and get rid of this one, too.
Copyright © Alan Charman