Wednesday, November 22, 2000
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Wednesday, November 22, 2000 |
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We're all losers in F'ville liquor referendum win The day after the election, the liquor referendum was listed on the front page under "winners." I don't believe it is! I believe we are all losers those who voted for and against this referendum. When the people of Fayetteville entered the voting booths to vote in favor of this, they had the interests of the entire county on their shoulders. A little over 200 voters determined the destiny of the county with over 30,000 families. On very short notice, people worked very hard to let others know about the referendum in hopes that it would be defeated in our county. The city exercised its right to vote and their vote carried the referendum; and we will have to live with this decision or perhaps die because of it. There will most certainly be an increase in tax expenditures for both city and county; but it will also cost far more in the lives of the people who will be affected by this decision. Who would exchange the life of someone they love for dinner at Red Lobster? In the city and throughout the county, we as individuals must determine in our own hearts if we will contribute to this situation by our patronage. How many women and children will suffer mental and physical abuse because daddy didn't come home from work until he stopped by for a "few." How many children will be left alone while mommy runs to town for a lift? Fayette County will never be the same. With this referendum, we will lose the country-innocence that caused many of us to move here. We treat our precious vote as a commodity that can be bought and sold for personal desires. We will face the consequences. There is a new task force here in the county started so that victims of drunk drivers could meet with those arrested for DUI and tell them how alcohol has impacted their lives. I pray that this will be a help in turning around those guilty of DUI. What about those who are not caught until there is tragedy? For the speakers, this is after the fact, after death and injury! I pray that you never have a reason to be a guest speaker and I pray that no one ever has to speak on your behalf. Many times in the Bible it says, "And God let them have what they wanted!" Patricia Walston Fayetteville
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