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This article was submitted by Pastor Walker to The New Bulletin
located in Old Fort, North Carolina. It is a weekly article. The most recent will
be posted on this page for your reading enjoyment.

Pastor Tom Walker

Liquor and Beer Vote Nears

Since a vote was announced for the “liquor by the drink” and “beer by the glass” issues, there has been much debate from people on both sides of the fence.
Citizens for Faith and Family Values started putting out yard signs shortly after the vote was announced. Most of the “NO” have disappeared or have been defaced to read “yes” instead of “no.” We have even come to the point now that the other side is accusing some of our “anti-alcohol people” of pulling up their signs and disposing of them. We have proof our signs have been taken up and vandalized, but there is not adequate proof from the other side their signs have been removed or taken by any of our group.
I do know of one instance where one of the alcohol proponent’s signs was placed on property owned by a business man, without anyone asking his permission. The business man removed the sign because it was on his property without authorization. That is not vandalism; it was simply removing a sign that did not belong there.
We have simply stated the facts like the following: alcohol is a drug; alcohol use brings about the loss of life and limb; it is instrumental in causing children to have to do without and suffer abuse; it costs society more than can be gained from its use and revenue; those things are all true. More alcohol is the last thing we need in our city.
It is too bad local studies have not been done to find out how much the alcohol use from the outlets we already have in the city has cost individuals and the taxpayer. No one seems to want to do that study because it would be difficult to follow every drinking driver, and every mother and dad who drinks at home, then, come up with a 100% accurate assessment of the astronomical and unbelievable cost of alcohol effects.
Some boast of how much was made from revenue from the ABC Store, but we do not hear as much about how many lost their lives, their virtue, and their families, and how many are in jail or prison due to the consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Chief Deputy, Sam Arrowood, of the McDowell County Sheriff’s Department, told CFFV that a very large percentage of all violent crimes are the results of alcohol use. It seems that many people do not want to face the sobering reality that alcohol use is a detriment to a decent and civil society.
An Emergency Medical Services employee told me he had been very busy this past week. Many of the cases to which he was called had to do with alcohol use. How can people sing the praises of something that brings so much damage and harm to lives?
I spoke just the other day with a person I admire very much, retired physician, Dr. George Ellis. I asked for his take on the alcohol issue. Dr. Ellis said to me, “It is not a one person problem but it is a family and community problem. I personally do not drink. Alcohol is not the answer to anything.” The words from this retired physician, who has spent a large part of his life practicing medicine in our county, are very noteworthy.
For every person who claims they know how to use and handle their alcohol, there are many others who cannot. Alcohol often takes over their lives and becomes an addiction that controls them in a very negative way. The more alcoholic beverage we make available, especially in a casual restaurant setting, the more people we will help lead down the road to alcoholism.
Some of the other side of the alcohol issue may try to imply or state that Citizens for Faith and Family Values distorts and twists, but you who know us do not fall for such insinuations some of the other side. We have been leaders in this county for many years and have sought to build lives, not tear them down. Let that speak for itself.
If you are a Marion voter, do all you can to keep our “family friendly” town and vote “NO” on June 24th. Remember what Dr. George Ellis said, “Alcohol is not the answer to anything.”

Dr. Tom Walker
Zion Hill Baptist Church

Dr. Tom Walker

Pastor Zion Hill Baptist Church

Marion, NC

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