Wednesday – 4:52 p.m.
This is Al and I want to comment on a Milton City Council vote on Sunday liquor sales, which they never voted on. I was born and I lived here all my life. I love living in Santa Rosa County, but one thing has never changed; separation of church and state. After two great sermons from two of the Milton City Council members on the evils of old demon rum, they voted on the hours of sales during the week, never voted on the Sunday sales issue. Do the big churches rule people's lives in Santa Rosa County? Sort of like the NRA rules on the gun control vote? Who would have ever believed we would go wet in this county? Not me. But times are changing. The old-school politicians will be replaced by younger, modern thinkers. And we will modernize slowly with them. We could not have dances at our rural school because our local churches objected. So here's to it. A toast to the old, religious, cantankerous politicians. You won again. But our time's a-coming. Thank you.
Thursday – 7:13 a.m.
This is Bobby. I was reading in Wednesday's paper all the comments about people complaining about people having religions at the city council meetings. Well, it's just natural you're going to vote the way you feel. Whether it's religion. Or if you're an atheist, you're going to vote one way. If you don't like women, you're going to vote one way. You're going to vote the way you think. And besides, what's so bad about voting along the religious line you were elected to office. And besides that, you take an oath from the Bible. So lighten up a little bit. Thank you.
Thursday – 7:45 a.m.
This is about drinking. I read my Bible also. Verse Timothy 5:23: "Save a little wine for thy stomach sake." How much is little? Also proverbs 23:29-33. Need to read that. I was raised in an alcoholic home. I know the devastating effects of what it does. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Speak Out – May 4, 2013