Depending on how one feels about the retail availability of alcoholic beverages, one of two things is about to happen. That is, according to some annoyingly clattery people.
One, we are about to unbuckle that restrictive Bible belt and forever put to rest our image to the world as a bunch of religious fanatics. Or, we’re about to pave a road that will take us on a one-way trip to the intersection of Sin and Perdition.
This comes in the wake of the Georgia General Assembly sending a bill to the governor’s desk that would allow local governments to call for referendums on Sunday alcohol sales in stores. The Honorable Gov. Nathan Deal has already said he’ll sign the bill into law.
I don’t drink, so I don’t have a vested interest here. Other than sitting on the sidelines with a box of popcorn and watching the rhubarb.
Some proponents of Sunday sales claimed the ban has made us look foolish. Regardless of the fact that we walk upright and know how to use a fork at the dinner table, the ban on Sunday retail booze availability has been “holding us back.” They never really flesh out what exactly we were being held back from, but they seem quite earnest about it.
On the other side we have those who believe that allowing such is a slap in the face of the Almighty. For decades many in our midst have contended Sunday is the day God rested, and as such, should be a day we don’t take strong drink. I can recall a time when one couldn’t even buy groceries on Sunday, though I was never clear on how the Heavenly Father felt about that one.
Even though I have not had so much as a sip in eight years and change, this bill has a lot of appeal. There’s something in my DNA that cottons to the idea that we, as a community, can make this kind of decision.
It’s been quite a time since I sat in a classroom, but if I recall, this notion of a public referendum is one of the cornerstones this country was founded on. It has much greater sex appeal when we’re choosing a president. But even if we’re just deciding whether the neighborhood grocery can sell spirits seven days a week is fine by me.
I would prefer moving forward that we, the people, abstain from being taken hostage by the extremists on either side of this issue. The bane of our political system is that it can attract those prone to make a lot of noise without making a lot of sense. Their fatuity only takes on depth and weight if one is foolish enough to buy into it.
So, fellow Sandy Springsteens, keep in mind this is so much more than simply deciding whether we can purchase hooch on Sunday. Get dressed. Democracy is coming to a ballot box near you.
Jim Osterman lives in Sandy Springs. Reach him at jimosterman@rocketmail.com
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