The Issue: Whether stores opening on Thanksgiving for Black Friday sales violate the holiday’s spirit.
***
There was quite an uproar when a few stores opened for a few hours on Thanksgiving (“Easy To Say ‘Good Buy,’” Nov. 24).
But I think it’s a lot worse that most stores keep long Sunday hours and that people show such a supportive demand for those services.
Joseph Carducci
Pittsburgh
When I was growing up, stores were closed on Thanksgiving. Holidays were strictly for celebrating with friends and family. The term “Black Friday” hadn’t yet been conceived.
Now retailers can’t open their doors early enough, with Black Friday spilling over to Thursday, enticing shoppers with bigger and better deals.
If this early-bird trend continues, we may soon have Black Wednesday.
Never mind gratitude for one’s health, loved ones and job, along with the traditional feast. Instead, folks will probably be camping out in front of stores and giving thanks for a good bargain.
Like everything else, Thanksgiving has become all about greed. That noise you just heard was the Pilgrims turning over in their graves.
JoAnn Lee Frank
Clearwater, Fla.