This article really tells it like it is. We scream that the youth of today have no manners and care little about others but we continue to take away family values in the name of commercial choice. It is time to take a stand, leave the old Blue Law that stops the Black Friday stuff from starting on Thanksgiving as I am sure some type of effort will start to eliminate them. all so someone can buy a flat screen that is basically junk for less than $150.
People have to understand that a good tight family is worth a lot more than a sale priced item, no matter what it is. And rest assured these items on sale will be put back at those "special" prices if no one goes to these things and stays home with their loved ones.
Wake up America before it is too late, our children deserve a real family life.

I recently moved to Rhode Island, and found it refreshing to see a state that would prohibit stores opening on Thanksgiving. I hope they keep it that way. I've worked many holidays in retail, including some years working at 1am the day after Thanksgiving. I can't imagine having to go in to work on the holiday itself.

I would love to see fewer athletic events over school vacations! Having never participated in high school sports when I was a student I was very surprised to learn that there were multiple regular games (not even tournaments) over school breaks as well as daily practice that prevented any sort of family vacation.

Every year around Thanksgiving there are articles, editorials, TV reports, etc about retail employees working on Thanksgiving. Why are retail employees being singled out? There are countless professions that work on Thanksgiving, and it's not just police, fire, and hospitals. People that work in hotels, restaurants, funeral directors, airlines, bus drivers, taxi drivers, pharmacists, television stations, radio stations, security guards, customer service reps in call centers, plumbers and HVAC professionals, tow truck drivers, regular truck drivers -- I could make a list a mile long of jobs that work on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Of course the men and women in the military work on those holidays too.
No one wants to work on Thanksgiving or Christmas. It absolutely sucks. For some jobs, it is critical to work on holidays. For other jobs, it is not as critical.
I believe retail employees receive the media attention because the biggest problem is about how consumerism has "eaten" away at the uniquely American Thanksgiving holiday. For many, Thanksgiving has become more about shopping than spending time with family.
However, our legislators do not need to regulate our culture. The author is right, if we stop patronizing stores on holidays, the stores won't be open. The legislature should not repeal blue laws. Not because they disagree with consumerism on holidays, but because it's not their place to get involved. Inaction on their part is best in this case.

I work holidays and sundays but I choose to I have different weekends than most and I love it. I can get stuff done and its not busy. I get holiday pay. And I live far from family so why not work and give others with kids time off? Its a choice for me. But I undersrand not for all.

I see no harm in being open on Holidays. Many people have to work on holidays, not everyone closes. Anyone who works in either the medical field, Firefighters, police, news crews, and lets not forget our men and women serving for our country. I know there are more people who work on the holidays, but these are just the ones I know since I worked in an ER and Holidays and weekends were just other days that ended in "Y", it actually worked out for me. I was a single mom and loved the holiday pay! As the reader above stated, there are so many people in different industries that have aways worked on Holidays, why is it an issue now? We are in hard times, and I know several people that would have jumped at the chance to work on Thanksgiving in any store. I managed to spend several hours at my local high school while coaching two teams during our half time performance, then stayed till the end while two of my children played in the band...then came home finished cooking dinner for the family, then rested and went on my traditional black friday shopping trip. The downfall of our youth is not from anything I've listed, it goes way beyond that. Besides, you need to give thanks EVERY DAY you are alive, and enjoy dinner with friends and family more often. I hope you all did enjoy your turkey day!

There are jobs out there that require a person to work holidays - hospitals, utilities, and those that do cater to the public. Accepting a position with a company knowing that these conditions exist is a no brainer. RI is an “Employment at Will” state and unless you have a CBA with a union, you are at the beck and call of that employer. These people have to quit whining and "suck it up." Times are tough and you learn to adapt. Generations have faced and dealt with it. Todays generations have a lot of growing up to do!! Your no longer in school - your adults - start functioning like one.

The comment section of the Newport Patch is important, because it illustrates the numerous idiots that inhabit our community, and the additudes that create idocracy in America:

(1) There are people who work on hollidays: correct! Firefighters, Cops, gas station attendants, 711 workers, and hospital employees all work on hollidays, of those: Cops, Firefighters and hospital employees earn obsurd overtime (like $50-$100/hr). Restaurant employees (at fancy restaurants) will walk home with upwards of $3-400 for a 4 hour shift. Gas station/711/taxi cab employees are usually foreigners who do not care about our holliday traditions.

(2) "Suck it up" why don't you say "suck it up" to kids who worked in sweat shops in the 1920's, or Irish and Italian immigrants who were essentially indentured servants, with such pitiful wages they could not feed ourselves.

Guess what people, earasing holldiay breaks, paid vacation, just another example of the rich and powerful taking away benefits the middle class enjoy, for their own financial benefit. Lets compete with China, one on one, lets have Americans make $3.00 a day. We are working backwards, into greater poverty, less dignity.

Quit whining and suck it up, keep working for $9/hr at Target, if you work really hard, in 20 years, you'll still never afford a home, have anything to retire on, your kids will never get an education, and you will die poor

I enjoyed the thoughtfulness of this blog entry but have to say that I still believe this is a matter of economic (as well as social) freedom for merchants, families, and workers. You cannot legislate family values. Making people stay home will not create Normal Rockwell scenes in every home.

We (my family) do not shop on Thanksgiving Day for all the reasons noted in the blog. Yet I also respect the rights of merchants to open their businesses if they choose (and if they can find voluntary help). I also support the rights of workers to work should they chose to. And make no mistake, workers CAN choose. Might such a choice be taken as a mark against them? Perhaps so - but that's the nature of liberty. All of our choices have consequences...whether we are workers, merchants, or simply mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters.

I worked retail in the past (Wal-Mart to be exact) and the way they scheduled, they did not give you the choice. If you are scheduled, regardless you are forced to work. However, I think they need to keep the Blue Laws. Even if they get rid of them, I feel that the employer should allow the Holidays to be flexible where an employee should be given a choice if they want to work or not. You will find that the store will still have enough people working regardless. Of course stereotypically, you would have teenagers and people who do not celebrate the holiday working, where as the employees with families or ones who celebrate the holiday will not be working.
Yes, there are careers out there where it is critical to work because these jobs save the lives of our citizens. However, buying a T.V. at a Wal-Mart fo a deep discount has nothing to dow ith saving someone's health or life. And I praise all of those (military, nurses, emergency management, police,etc.) who are out there working on those holidays. These are real heroes and I thank you.

At what point do we take some personal resonsibility? Its a pretty simple concept. If you don't want to ride on the back of a garbage truck don't get a job as a garbageman. If you don't like blood/guts don't get a job as a surgeon. If you don't want to work black Friday don't get a job in retail. And this is coming from somone that worked in retail for 12 years. I knew what I was getting into when I applied and accepted it.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY? take a class in logic please....

People don't work in retail (ie target and walmart) because they WANT to, they do it because they are POOR.

$9.00/hr, 40 hours per week, 52 weeks a year, how much do you earn? $18,700.00 PER YEAR.

Subtract cheap rent ($500/mo, or $6k per year), subtract cheap gas $100/mo, or $1,200/yr, subtract cheap car expenses (another $1,200 year) and you have $10,00 a year for EVERYTHING ELSE IN LIFE, FOOD, UTILITIES, TAXES, or about $190/week, GOOD LUCK!!

The reason we oppose this practice is because like in the 1920's we believe that the Poor should also be able to lead some form of a dignified life, which includes spending time with family during the holidays

Hi John, There is, of course, an opposing view which you should consider. "The poor" are not single group, all of them desirous government protection. Some of them may wish to make some additional money in order to pay for a more advanced education, or save up to start their own business. Your protection under law could prevent a person from enjoying additional success.

And ultimately, people do work at Walmart, and every job, because they want to. I've had jobs I absolutely hated...but I went to them because I wanted to trade my labor for the wage offered. It's true that hunger and cold drive us to make decisions we make not like...but no one but you forces you to work at or take a job in this country. I served my country in the military for starvation wage that included working EVERY holiday away from home...and would not trade that experience for anything; Not simply because it was service but because that's the place I learned what work and responsibility are really about.

Lastly, I SALUTE the dignity of any person who chooses to WORK at ANY job in order to provide for those they are responsibe for.

I respect your caring attitude for the poor. I am also concerned. But I see this as a possible path from poverty (like my military service - which is not for everyone). So, just some food for thought...thanks!

Of course, by this logic, the Middletown/Portsmouth football game should be canceled. The coaches, officials, band directors, etc. should not have to work on Thanksgiving. And we should call Macy's and tell them to cancel the parade, too. There must be thousands of people working at that!

Of course, that's nonsense. The government should not decide how people spend Thanksgiving. Some will go to football games, some will go to parades, some will go shopping, and, yes, some will go to Grandma's.

I never "choose" to work, on holidays or any other day. I work because I have to. People do, however, choose to shop. When we (and by "we" I mean Christians) finally reclaim Christmas for it's original meaning and just say no to the buying frenzy, stores will not open on Thanksgiving because it won't be profitable. Problem solved.

Bottom line as others have said. If you want to get paid a wage you follow the company rules. No-one forces you to work.

..and I'm in a different time zone so all has gone to bed..you know the sandbox is vewwy vewwy quiet here awone..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiEUDzIrEQE

Jack you have what you have thanks to the organized labor that you constantly knock down. You were a federal employee and enjoy the benefits of that arrangement but want everyone else to cut back. How much of your pension and healthcare are you willing to give up for the general welfare of the nation.

I read quite well Jack B. I also know that modern day wages and benefits have all benefited from unions. Your good pay and work rules were a direct result of the hard work and risks taken by union members who came before you. It was a choice you made to join and then remain in the union which makes your anti union diatribes that we see so much on here even more hypocritical. Much how like you spend tons of time attacking people who posted with fake names only to now do the same. Maybe it is you Ol Jack who only sees what he wants to see.

Thats right "LeaveRI. It is about choice. That is why I am a right to work for all States, just like the federal Government is right to work. Having to make a choice is how self-responsibility works. Which sadly this country seems to be running from choice and self-responsibility.

Yes big it is a classic one huh. Full of facts and totally disputes your post. Send Warstiener Dunkel to my house please. Your welcome for the information from a person who knows labor very well and wants the government out of the business of telling a company when they can and cannot open their doors. It is called free enterprise, the backbone of this Country after our military of course ;-}.

So jack if you don't like unions why did you choose to be part of one? And whaT facts did you present besides the one about working for 12 packs which was already pretty clear. send some real beer my way like some Bass Ale. You also stated that your real name was right in front of me. Really Jack where is that?

Heather, the law is the law. Well we may not agree with some of them that is the society we live in. I agree you could be terminated for not showing up to work on a holiday. However you have to understand that in a free society that is a choice.

When President Grant signed the law making Christmas a National Holiday, it did not mandate that all business must close. That is up to the States individually. Hense the blue laws. The commercialization of Xmas has led to all of this along with a population growth in this Country of people that want items and they want them now. So the businesses have merely found a marketing way to satisfy that.

Personally I think it is foolish to shop on Thanksgiving or Black friday. Deals will be just as good in the coming weeks and especially after the holidays. People should understand if it is the season of givng they do not have to give on xmas they have all year if their beliefs are christian, the way I have read that belief system.

Being charitable and thankfull for what you have is year round, to others and your family. If people are caught up in the marketing scheme it is by a choice they make just as well as an employee who works for a business that wants every dollar they can make on everyday of the year. We may disagree with this, but it is the way of the modern world in my opinion.

John Weisley should find out facts before attacking the Police and the Fire Departments. If you had a clue you would know if they are working a shift that falls on a holiday the get their regular rate as if it were any other day of the year. The 50 to 100 dollar rate isway over inflated also. So get some facts straight before telling the public lies. A lot of people believe everything people put on these blogs and I think it's a great disservice to the men and woman who help keep our citys and towns safe, by putting false statement out there.

I dont know, b kcaj. There's not much love for unions these days. In fact, most of America wants unions to go away. I look foreward to the day when municipal employees in Middletown go on strike so we can fire them all and start anew... no union extortion, ergo, lower taxes. What part of that is not to like?

Heather if they are violating the law then they should report it to the AG which they can do anonymously if they chose. No business should be able to break the law on anything. Laws are only good if people report them that are victims.

As I said before if people do not like the law you must challenge it and demand redress. That is every citizens right. Nor can you be penalized for doing that as that also would be breaking the law. I know it is hard to fight city hall as they say. But if citizens do not try then they have no one to blame but themselves in my opinion.

A petition to the State is allways a good start. Look at the uproar the petitions have cause on the tolls and the recent stopping of the State forming the EBEC recently. It does work but takes at the least a few people willing to start the ball rolling and be vocal on it in media like you are doing. I commend you for that ;-}.