Alcohol will keep county No. 1

Barren County was voted the best rural place to live by a magazine. OK, already ... I got it. But the question is ... at what price?

The article made a point about how hard it is to get young doctors here. It’s no wonder! We’re still living in the 19th century. We can’t expect to attract educated professionals when we are going to dictate every facet of their lives to them. They have studied hard, they work hard and expect a few nice places to relax and meet with friends. They will want to eat a pizza, listen to a good band and maybe even drink a beer. They will not be willing to drive 40 miles to do it. Nor should they have to.

I know all about the pros and cons of alcohol use. I have been in two automobile accidents in my life. Both caused by drunk drivers. My father-in-law was an alcoholic for over 40 years and yet I come from a family of missionaries and preachers. So I can see both sides.

I choose not to drink much (6-8 beers a year), but the key word here is “Choose.” But, if I choose to have a beer I would like to do it in Glasgow.

I want my money to stay here. Recently we had some guests for the weekend. To entertain them I had no choice but to drive to Bowling Green. As time goes by I’m finding that we shop more and more out of town.

Let’s face the facts folks. Anyone that wants a beer will get it, and it will be abused from time to time. It always has, always will.

As the vote draws closer you will notice an outcry of opposition to the idea. Take a step back, and think about who is really behind it. The churches, the uninformed, and the Bowling Green Liquor stores who are scared to death of losing all the business from Barren County.

Every day more and more of our rights are eroding away and we just sit by and watch.

We, as a people, have become a country of victims. Nothing is ever our fault. It’s always the other guy, a company that cheated us, a drug that made us do it. We blame our lot in life on anything, anyone but ourselves.

It’s really very simple. If you choose not to drink — Don’t! Take your energy and use it to teach your children the dangers of abusing drink and smoke. Teach them what a turn signal is on a car, a no passing zone, or teach them about driving with a cell phone plastered to their ear. Put your energy to good use.

And lastly, PLEASE don’t use my Bible to mislead the uninformed. Jesus had no problem with a glass of wine with his dinner. The man taught love, common sense, and the lesson of “All things in moderation.” It does bother me however, that in Barren County, when he comes back, he will be arrested for bootlegging should he decide to turn the water into wine.

I wonder whom, in this county, he would call to make his bail? I’ll start saving my cash.

Think about it.

Tim Doyle

Glasgow



Barren No. 1 because of simple life

I was genuinely honored to be “front page news” on your Tuesday, June 5, 2007, edition [refer to article: Couple drawn to No. 1].

Four months ago, my husband and I, longtime Washington state residents, relocated to Glasgow. We were drawn here exclusively by an article in the February 2007 issue of “The Progressive Farmer” claiming Barren County as the “No.1 Best Place To Live In Rural America.” It had been my dream of many years to return to a country life (I was born and raised on a dairy farm). I wanted to leave the nerve-racking, economic-driven culture of the big city for the uncomplicated down-to-earth lifestyle of the unpretentious countryside.

I am a simple person, yet I believe that no sacrifice is too great when the end result is so good. So it was Kentucky or Bust! We chose to leave much behind to pioneer our way East to make us a good life here in this Promise Land: mom, dad, brothers, sisters, two grown children, friends and ministry. We chose to leave an unpromising future in a technologically-focused, monetarily-driven marketplace (which went against every grain of my theme: Simplify!).

We chose to leave what I saw as the consequences of the open-minded and tolerant lifestyles that always eventually accompany such a marketplace: drugs, alcohol, prostitution, adult-oriented stores everywhere, gay-rights parades and casinos.

My children attended church with me for years after I became a Christian. Yet given opportunity, they each chose the modern, financially directed, tolerant lifestyle focused on money and drinking rights. I lost them. The church lost them.

The dear Lord knows that moving to the Glasgow Bible-belt area was almost like being raptured to Heaven. However, not being ignorant of the 21 percent crime rate existent within Barren County, I would take offense to see it lose its No. 1 standing to the promise of more jobs and yes to alcohol. I recently read that several thousand dollars are being spent for huge new roadsigns declaring this special No. 1 position. Indeed, it is proper to give honor to whom honor is due. But, would it not be a crime if that by the time these signs were actually installed, the status could no longer be authenticated?

Glasgow, with new jobs and a moist society, do you know where your children will be when they grow up? Just say no! No to alcohol. Yes to family.

Helen Eshom

Glasgow