Alcohol ruins lives
As the people of Thomasville near the time when they will vote whether or not to legalize the sale of alcohol within the city limits of Thomasville, I want to share some things that I have observed as a coach, teacher and youth minister.

In 18 years of coaching high school baseball, 17 years of teaching school in Clarke County and almost 8 years in youth ministry, I've seen the effects of alcohol first hand. I've seen families torn apart, marriages devastated, lives destroyed and people killed as

result of the drinking of alcohol. I've also been in homes where wives and children had

hide for fear of being harmed, because of a husband or father that had been drinking. I've taught literally hundreds of students who suffer from the debilitating effects of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

caused by drinking during pregnancy). In addition to that, my wife and I have personally been deprived of grandfathers because of the use of the poison we call alcohol (just research the ingredients of alcohol).

I don't even have to list all of the statistics about economic effects, drinking and driving accidents, domestic abuse cases, deaths, etc. caused by alcohol use. The Pineview Baptist Church ad covered the alcohol related statistics thoroughly in last weeks paper.

The effects of alcoholism last a lifetime. I have talked with countless people who as adults still struggle to cope with the pain of their youth due to their own alcohol use or alcohol use within their family.

The bottom line is what The Bible, God's Holy Word, says about alcohol. God's Word is clear about the use of alcohol or fermented wine.

Verses such as Proverbs 23:29-35, Proverbs 20:1, Isaiah 5:11 and Isaiah 5:22 are very clear. There are also more than 70 other scripture references in The Bible on the dangers of alcohol.

Citizens of Thomasville, don't believe the untruths that legalizing the sale of alcohol will bring big revenue and really help the schools. As far as revenue is concerned, The Bible says in Proverbs 16:8 (KJV), "Better is little with righteousness than great revenues without right."

Please consider how the outcome of this referendum will impact the lives of the people of Thomasville, both now and in the future. Please go to the polls on August 14 and vote "NO".
Russell Wright
Physical Education teacher at
Thomasville Elementary
School and coach in the
Thomasville City School
System

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