Friday; December 5
On this date in 1933 one
of the most controversial times in the United States came to an end. The 18th Amendment to the U. S.
Constitution prohibited the manufacture, sale, importation and transportation
of alcoholic beverages within this country starting in 1920. The experiment that lasted over a decade came
to an end with the passage of the 21st Amendment on December 5,
1933. The value or detriment of legally
prohibiting the consumption of alcohol is a topic I don’t have the time or the
inclination to discuss here and now; however, the passage of the 1933 law
placed the choice firmly back into laps of American businesses and its citizens.
I have my own personal
thoughts about drinking, but whether we are for it or against it, I do believe
there is value in respecting the impact drinking (and all intoxicating
substances) can have on us. While a case
can be made for moderation in most things, the use of intoxicants must be
carefully monitored. In addition to the
propensity for addiction, the mental, emotional and moral inhibitions that come
with the use of these products should cause us to tread lightly. The wise man of the Old Testament reflects on
the woes of overindulgence by warning, “Do not look on the wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly; at the last
it bites like a serpent and stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things and
your mind will utter perverse things.” (Proverbs 23:31-33).
Let’s be wise in all we
do. When we keep our senses about us, we
are apt to make better choices that can lead to better lives.
Think About It!