Monday, June 24, 2013

AA

The AA did not stand for "Alcoholics Anonymous" but instead it stood for "Anti-Alcohol".  They had assembled a small gathering on the second floor of an obscure restaurant that sold burgers with too much mayonnaise. Free t-shirts and sweet tea were passed around by a woman in a hijab, swish swash went her yards of robe as she moved gracefully about.

The distinguished speaker of the night hailed from a university and had prepared an academic presentation of his academic research on the academic correlation between alcohol and crime.  His words were impressive, peppered with terminologies, telling of percentages, and ultimately proving after the course of 30 minutes the previously unknown fact that most criminals have, in fact, been found to drink alcohol. Not necessarily before each crime, but in general.

A member of the audience wants to speak, clears his throat, is handed the microphone.  He speaks with a volume that is full of conviction. "Everybody knows, young people old people, everybody knows that the country, this country, has conducted a state crime. A state crime, because they have done nothing, they have closed their eyes to this alcohol, they see it as an ordinary thing.  But they know that alcohol damages the nerves, the neurons in our body, from top to bottom!"

Another member of the audience rises. He says, "Alcohol destroys a generation, our generation.  But the government will do nothing about it because in fact they are siding with the capitalists! They are always siding with the capitalists!".  He has frustration in his eyes and anger in his voice.

A man was invited up to the front and introduced as a distinguished member of the parliament. He gave paternal words of support and encouragement for such a worthy cause. His party is perhaps alone in supporting the draft anti-alcohol bill, but with continuous support for his party and God's will, there may be victory yet.

Their lady patron chimes in a closing remark with a moving story.  She tells of how she has seen with her very own eyes, kids at the seven eleven buying beer and an energy drink, and then switching the contents of the energy drink bottle with beer.  They are in fact drinking beer and we all know that this is a destructive drink and something must be done to stop this continuous degeneration of our generation.

I've always believed that insecurity (against the unfamiliar), plus conviction (at the level of blind faith), plus ignorance (of actual knowledge), equals a sad sad discussion.

No comments:

Post a Comment