Thought for the Week

I try to write these "Thoughts" some weeks ahead of the time they are printed. Today, I read The Herald for May 23, 2019. It contained the headline, "All Cove Area Alcohol Referendums Get Enough Votes to Pass." I lamented to my wife how different things were 30-plus years ago when the ballot question concerned both North Woodbury Township and Taylor Township. North Woodbury responded to the ballot question with seven "no" votes for each 'yes' vote. Taylor Township's response was something like 5-1/2 "no" votes for each "yes" vote. My wife reminded me, "The Cove is not the same." I said, "Yes, but do these votes make The Cove better? I cannot think so."

I am deeply disappointed with myself. Thirty-plus years ago, I was heavily involved in the effort to prevent the sale of beverage alcohol. That would still be my preference by far. I was honored to serve with the Rev. Clyde Bush. He said to me, "You provide the leadership and I will get out the vote." He most definitely did his part. He has long since gone on to his eternal rewards. I think I am about as old now as he was then and most certainly I no longer possess the leadership I did then.

This time, I did not know the vote was coming up until I saw a roadside sign encouraging a "Yes" vote and did not react quickly enough to promote the cause of an alcohol-free Cove. What has changed? Certainly not beverage alcohol. It still impairs reasoning and reaction time. Whether it is a bottle or can of beer, a glass of wine, or a shot of hard liquor, reasoning and reaction time is impaired.

How much? There is no easy answer to that question. It depends if you are a-140 pound man or one who weighs 250. It depends if you are 25 years old or 65. It depends if you are on cold, flue, allergy, or other medications or if you are totally drug free. No matter what other factors, beverage alcohol slows your reaction time and impairs your reason and judgment. If you are driving and a child chases a ball from behind parked cars, a difference of one tenth second in your application of the brakes, is a lot of difference. Perhaps none of these now-likely alcoholic beverage sales will be involved with alcohol-related accidents, arrests, or injuries.

It is note-worthy: the article ran on pages one and three. On page two there was another article and these words appeared in it. "The driver and the passenger were both transported to the hospital by ambulance. The second driver was charged with driving under the influence." Another thought: The North Woodbury license can only be used at the airport. How do most people leave the airport? My guess is: driving a car or flying a plane. Don't you just feel so much safer now that the ballot referendum has passed?

During the 30 years ago campaign I received an angry phone call. The caller asked me: "Do you feel you are our guardian?" My answer was, "Yes," but I failed this time and I apologize.