quote:
Originally posted by mandomama:
"My friends,
I had not intended to discuss this controversial subject at this particular time. However, I want you to know that I do not shun controversy. On the contrary, I will take a stand on any issue at any time, regardless of how fraught with controversy it might be. You have asked me how I feel about whiskey. All right, here is how I feel about whiskey.
If when you say whiskey you mean the devil's brew, the poison scourge, the bloody monster, that defiles innocence, dethrones reason, destroys the home, creates misery and poverty, yea, literally takes the bread from the mouths of little children; if you mean the evil drink that topples the Christian man and woman from the pinnacle of righteous, gracious living into the bottomless pit of degradation, and despair, and shame and helplessness, and hopelessness, then certainly I am against it.
But,
If when you say whiskey you mean the oil of conversation, the philosophic wine, the ale that is consumed when good fellows get together, that puts a song in their hearts and laughter on their lips, and the warm glow of contentment in their eyes; if you mean Christmas cheer; if you mean the stimulating drink that puts the spring in the old gentleman's step on a frosty, crispy morning; if you mean the drink which enables a man to magnify his joy, and his happiness, and to forget, if only for a little while, life's great tragedies, and heartaches, and sorrows; if you mean that drink, the sale of which pours into our treasuries untold millions of dollars, which are used to provide tender care for our little crippled children, our blind, our deaf, our dumb, our pitiful aged and infirm; to build highways and hospitals and schools, then certainly I am for it.
This is my stand. I will not retreat from it. I will not compromise."
This pretty much sums up my thoughts on it, too. This speech was given by Judge "Soggy" Sweat in 1952 to the Mississippi House of Representatives when they were debating legalizing liquor. It has been coined the "Whiskey Speech". I think that if the temptation to drink irresponsibly is too great, then don't do it. If you can "hold your liquor", so to speak, then the choice is yours. If I think it is morally wrong to shop at WalMart, do I have the right to deny everyone else in the state of Alabama the pleasure (if it is for them) of doing so? I could argue the sweat shops where WalMart purchases their goods are every bit as harmful as the drunk drivers on our roads in the USA. Do not the peoples of Asia, South America and other undeveloped countries have every right to enjoy the same working conditions as you do here in the States? All so that you may have your George Foreman grills and stylish Kathie Lee Gifford clothing at the "roll 'em back" prices of WalMart? I see no difference.
I was keeping up with you until this part >>>
If when you say whiskey you mean the oil of conversation, the philosophic wine, the ale that is consumed when good fellows get together, that puts a song in their hearts and laughter on their lips, and the warm glow of contentment in their eyes; if you mean Christmas cheer; if you mean the stimulating drink that puts the spring in the old gentleman's step on a frosty, crispy morning; if you mean the drink which enables a man to magnify his joy, and his happiness, and to forget, if only for a little while, life's great tragedies, and heartaches, and sorrows; if you mean that drink, the sale of which pours into our treasuries untold millions of dollars, which are used to provide tender care for our little crippled children, our blind, our deaf, our dumb, our pitiful aged and infirm; to build highways and hospitals and schools, then certainly I am for it.
An old gentleman with a spring in his step on a frosty ,crispy " Morning " is a wine-o if he's drinking that early .lol
Magnify his joy,happiness,and "forget " if you forget ,then you got drunk !!! lol
And as far as the Sale of it ,,it looks like your ok with it long as the money goes where you want it .
Then you said it wasnt your speech after all. Why didnt you start it that way ?
And what does Wal-mart have to do with it ? lol
Just asking .