Ala. city considers end to alcohol sales

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A measure to end the sale of alcohol in Athens is up for a citywide vote, a rare instance where voters could overturn a previous vote to allow sales. Business interests are against repeal, but church leaders who helped organize the petition drive that got the measure on the ballot are asking members to pray and fast in support of a ban.

the dangers of religion in the political sphere exposed. this is the type of tactic that people use to sneak religion further and further underneath the wall between church and state.

this just really sickens me...

and isn't jesus the guy that supposedly turned water into wine?

I'd like to see them try to take a little slice of prohibition. Last time prohibition was in effect, i believe crime rate shot up over 70%. Bootlegging became a popular underworld crime, and the consistency of the business lead to organized crime. See, when we keep something illegal that the people want, then we create a demand that can only be met under the radar. i.e. crime. Religion and drinking go hand in hand. I don't see this doing any good.

Athens, Alabama is a tiny little town in the outskirts of that state. They, only in the last couple years, made alcohol legal and now they are thinking better of it.

Unlike the secular progressives who are trying to jam they're own opinions on the entire planet (see smoking, gun control, abortion, etc.), these folks live in a very small comunity and they should have the right to lead their local government however they want. Liquor is available right down the road in every direction.

I've read quite a few posts recently about the prohibition of illegal drugs, especially Marijuana. One of the biggest points is that alcohol is more dangerous then weed so if the gov't wants to prohibit pot they should also prohibit alcohol.

It's happening in a tiny town in Alabama. A tiny town full of baptists, right in the middle of the Bible Belt. Why not?

It's not only there in Athens. There are a number of towns which are "dry". Ocean City, NJ is a thriving shore community. A nice boardwalk, superb nightlife, beautiful beaches. But you can't purchase a drop of alcohol there. Doesn't really seem to effect the town at all. If you'd like to purchase a home there, you'd better be able to come up with close to a million bucks.
If you want to drink, take a 15 minute car ride to the casinos in Atlantic City.

I'm just guessing, but I'm thinking there are some who thought that this city is the 1st to try this?

Research can be your friend!

This is nothing more than your typical Christian bashing thread.

But if this was a town with a Muslim majority, I wonder what kind of response this would get.

At least the Christians are "Praying and fasting," I wonder what the Muslims would do? Beheadings and suicide bombings?

Originally posted by RRconservative
This is nothing more than your typical Christian bashing thread.

No, it's showing how religion should not be influencing government and freedom.

But if this was a town with a Muslim majority, I wonder what kind of response this would get.

Probably more people having a problem with it.

Personally I don't care what religion the majority is, it still should'nt be allowed to pass,
freedom is more important than democracy, and especially more important
than religion.

At least the Christians are "Praying and fasting," I wonder what the Muslims would do? Beheadings and suicide bombings?

Maybe In Saudi Arabia, but Muslims are more Moderate to liberal here.

I remember a small town in Ohio that was a dry town.
Westerville..I think that has since been repealed, at least partially.
It was completely ringed by liquor stores, at the time.

That meant everyone had to DRIVE to get their booze..

There are still plenty of towns and counties in Alabama that are "dry". As a matter of fact, I live in a county adjacent to a dry county. There are two bars, and three liquor stores within 2 miles of the county line. Having grown up Georgia this isn't that strange to me. I remember a couple of road trips to Savannah in my youth where we went through several dry counties in a row. Considering that often times down here the local polling place is often a church you have lots of opportunity for rigging of the vote.

Another issue is "blue laws" did you know that in most of Georgia and Alabama you cannot buy alcohol at all on Sunday? In the few places you can, it's usually at a restaurant and only beer and wine no liquor.

I like to call Randolph county (the county adjacent to me) Talabama. It has no industry, only a couple of decent restaurants, and the two largest, most beautiful structures in town are the Methodist and Baptist churches.

Originally posted by Gatordone
Unlike the secular progressives who are trying to jam they're own opinions on the entire planet (see smoking, gun control, abortion, etc.), these folks live in a very small comunity and they should have the right to lead their local government however they want. Liquor is available right down the road in every direction.

oh, the tagline "secular progressive"

care to take a guess what else the secular progressives brought you?
like child labor laws... true universal suffrage...science...

It's happening in a tiny town in Alabama. A tiny town full of baptists, right in the middle of the Bible Belt. Why not?

as has been stated, freedom > democracy.

Originally posted by RRconservative
I'm just guessing, but I'm thinking there are some who thought that this city is the 1st to try this?

Research can be your friend!

i know of dry counties... i spent most of my life in MO. what's really stupid

This is nothing more than your typical Christian bashing thread.

no, it's, as iori_komei said, about how religion shouldn't be used to erode freedom

But if this was a town with a Muslim majority, I wonder what kind of response this would get.

i'd probably say something along the lines of
"the extremist muslims are giving you enough of a bad name with the terrorism and whatnot, leave the alcohol and your reputation in tact and leave our freedoms alone as they trump your religious beliefs."

At least the Christians are "Praying and fasting," I wonder what the Muslims would do? Beheadings and suicide bombings?

no, probably praying and fasting... because the "beheadings and suicide bombings" aren't something that are properties of islam, they're properties of the sociological situation.... oh wait, i forgot, you just have an ignorant predisposition towards hating anything muslim

Originally posted by madnessinmysoul

oh, the tagline "secular progressive"...
...care to take a guess what else the secular progressives brought you?

Don't like taglines madness? Waaa. Don't like religion madness? waaa. Dont like the way people in a different state, different county, different town are leading they're lives? Why don't you get all upset? Why not get all into their business and force them to live YOUR way you... Mod Note: General ATS Discussion Etiquette – Please Review This Link.
Whether Freedom is greater then democracy, as you say, is debatable. The fact that you want to intrude on both their Freedom AND their Democracy with your utterly useless opinion (to them) speaks volumes.

It's your type that cry about GWBush "taking away our freedoms" then then it's your type that actually gets behind taking our freedoms.

While you publicize the fact that, "this makes you sick," are you oblivious to all the stomachs YOU turn?

[edit on 31-8-2007 by Jbird]

Originally posted by Gatordone
Don't like taglines madness? Waaa. Don't like religion madness? waaa. Dont like the way people in a different state, different county, different town are leading they're lives? Why don't you get all upset? Why not get all into their business and force them to live YOUR way you frickin punk.

(emphasis added)

nice use of ad hom attacks! you really have a mastery of logical fallacies.

now, you're fudgin the issue here. i don't want to impose the way i live on these people, i would just like to be free to live life my way were it to pass through the area. i don't think they should drink if they don't want to, i just think those that want to should be allowed to. if a store doesn't want to sell alcohol, it shouldn't be forced to, but there shouldn't be a law barring the sale of a perfectly legal substance

Whether Freedom is greater then democracy, as you say, is debatable. The fact that you want to intrude on both their Freedom AND their Democracy with your utterly useless opinion (to them) speaks volumes.

(emphasis added, again)

yes, the opinions of an american citizen should have absolutely no value to other american citizens simply because of my locality... come on, quit it with the attacks.

now, it wouldn't be intruding upon any of their freedoms, one does not have the freedom to remove freedom. i'd just be intruding on their hollow theocratic democracy.

It's your type that cry about GWBush "taking away our freedoms" then then it's your type that actually gets behind taking our freedoms.

now, what freedoms would "my type" get behind taking? your freedom to sell insane people firearms? cause i am against that freedom.... the freedom for employers to discriminate against candidates on the basis of race, gender, and creed? oh, i'm against that freedom too! the freedom for a religious majority to impose their beliefs on 30% of the country? yeah, i'm against that too...

While you publicize the fact that, "this makes you sick," are you oblivious to all the stomachs YOU turn?

again with the personal attacks. i'm saying that the undermining of one of the fundamental tennents of american democracy, the seperation of church and state, makes me sick.

now you've consistently been attacking me... care to actually argue a position?