To preserve morality, Mackay Stadium should ban alcohol
In response to recent efforts to ban alcohol at football games, I spent sleepless nights wondering how to convince my fellow students of the righteousness of this act. History, I realized, was the best consultant.
The year was 1920 and “the noble experiment” had begun.
The sale and consumption of alcohol was banned by the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution. In efforts to clean up what was becoming a ravaged society, Congress was righting our sins.
Those in favor included: religious extremists, who linked the alcohol industry to prostitution and, of course, the devil; the Ku Klux Klan, who likely just wanted one more thing to hate; and Southerners, who understandably despised alcohol after trying just one sip of Southern Comfort.
The most ardent supporters of the Prohibition Act, however, were women. Preaching against the negative effects on children and the violent abuse alcohol incited in their often-drunk husbands, women did not push for divorce and restraining orders, being the good wives they were.
Instead, women organized themselves in large grassroots committees and called for the “drying out” of America, asking everyone to eliminate the devil’s drink.
After 10 years, “the noble experiment” continued. Morality was high, BAC was low and America had never seemed more wholesome. But just as with any other plan, there were a few bumps along the way. Nothing the boys in Congress couldn’t handle, though.
Organized crime increased — big deal. Black market and bootleg liquor skyrocketed, producing stronger alcoholic beverages, but no worries. People turned to other addictive substances such as opium, marijuana and cocaine — so what?
We were still the greatest democratic country in the world, the city upon the hill, the guiding light to other nations. Who cares if people were addicted to stronger alcohols or new substances and probably drove their Model T Fords under the influence? It would just take some time to work out, but people would eventually see the errors of their ways.
We are America, where opportunity, not alcohol, should flow freely. Imagine if the youth were to get ahold of this substance. Their minds and futures would be corrupted, damned to a life of chugging contests during football games, belching competitions and less-than-savory advertisements objectifying scantily-clad women.
It’s enough to make the skin crawl, the stomach turn and the room spin.
If we could join together, we as a campus could finish America’s War on Alcohol. It was understandably difficult to take something away from people when it had been accepted and regulated in the past. It was also understandable that the 18th Amendment spurred more drinking immediately after its passage, but we have to remain strong.
The weapons of mass alcohol production were vowed to be found and destroyed, and despite what the 21 Amendment says, we will be triumphant again.
The bigger problem that Congress then faced was the so-called Women’s Rights Movement. Women pushed for the right to vote and thereby leave the household. What was next, you ask? What, a female president? Apparently, America is becoming amendment happy.
Krystal Bick is a columnist for The Nevada Sagebrush. She can be reached at editor@nevadasagebrush.com.
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March 5th, 2008 at 10:23 am
You have the making for a great article but I can’t tell if your trying to be funny or serious. Next time put the drink down and try harder.
March 6th, 2008 at 4:26 am
Good article. I liked the sarcasm. However, the fact that it was all sarcasm kind of over did it a bit. Don’tHate is a puddle of cow piss for his comments…it wasn’t that confusing. Good article.