the stick, the stone and the puddle

as i’m writing my essay for the environmental ethics course i’m currently enrolled in and trying to argue for and against various morality sources, i’m reminded myself of a quick conversation with the sales person at the bc liquor store the night before. as i was purchasing some much need ‘oh’, the cashier asks me kindly if i’d like to donate something to support dry grad. i answered, in my sister’s words (kind of), ‘i’d rather not, they need to drink while they’re young so that they learn their lessons sooner’. take this at face value, and don’t over react…i’m not implying a 14 year old should be drinking…but i think if a person is allowed to vote (18 pretty much anywhere) then that person should be considered mature enough to handle a bottle of beer. afterall, society ‘trusts’ the 18-yr old kid is mature enough and should stat his/her opinion as to who should run the country, province (yes pronvicial elections are coming soon in a town near you if you’re in bc…) or city…then how come he or she is not mature enough to decide whether or not he or she can have a bottle of beer, a glass of wine, a shot of tequila…or in the case of some…all of the above?

well, in canada…you’re allowed to vote at 18…yet you have to wait another year to drink an alcoholic (the ‘oh’ thing i was referring to earlier for those non-chemists) beverage. i guess every fool is allowed to mark an ‘x’ on a piece of paper to decide which ‘diplomatic speaker’ will lead our way for the next ‘n’ number of years…but that person is not mature enough to handle alcohol…come to think of it…i think, and correct me if i’m wrong, but you can get married and still not be allowed to drink in canada…kind of a boring wedding for the groom and/or bride if you’d ask me…given they can’t even toast with real champagne. better yet, you can have children and be a parent and still not be allowed to have a bottle of beer. fair enough if one says that’s a bit extreme, but you can become a parent at 18, and be married, and still not be allowed to buy a beer to enjoy the hockey game after putting your kid to sleep…

at least canadians don’t have as bad as the neighbours down south…their drinking age is…21 (in most states). let’s see…they’re allowed to vote at 18 (anyone remember the last president…i think i rest my case on this one), they’re allowed to carry guns once they’re 18…obviously get married…etc. so…the voting thing…well it’s pretty much the same as canada…just that now the young adults are not trusted to drink until they’re 21…that’s 3 years after they have been trusted to mark an ‘x’ as to whom should be president.

an 18 year old is quite qualified mentally to handle a gun, loaded gun that is…given they’re allowed by constitution to bare arms…yet can’t trust him with that glass of beer…can’t give them a glass of wine…because they might get upset and cause a riot…yet they’re mature enough to carry a loaded weapon in their car…quite rational…by anyone’s standards!!! mature enough to not only carry a gun, but use it…and essentially have the capability of ending a life or more…however, can’t touch that alcohol…that’s just taboo…come to think of it, if they do shot someone at 18…they will be tried as an adult…yet not adult enough to enjoy that famous tennessee whisky (whiskey)! so…under 21…then you’re considered a minor in terms of drinking…yet a mature adult when it comes to…voting, carrying guns, etc…quite rational…