KRISTA SPARKS
Staff Writer
As hesitant as I am to explain this statement and further perpetuate the stereotype resting on the beautiful part of the country I call home, I know you’re on the edge of your intellectual seat — so, I’ll humor you.
You see, friends, the religious environment that informed the context of my upbringing, was one boasting very little (by which I mean no) tolerance concerning the “A” word. That’s right — alcohol. Gasp.
Needless to say, I have since navigated away from the hazards of this constrained ideology.
In this context, ‘no tolerance of alcohol’ means that partaking of such mind-altering substances is intrinsically sinful and therefore strictly prohibited, no matter how responsibly or sparingly it is consumed.
Your frame of reference concerning this topic could be different than mine, or perhaps the story sounds familiar. Heck, it may be true that you agree: Satan has a distillery in Hell. Alas, what a miserable life you must lead.
Seriously, what kind of existence is that? Do you run from things to escape being tempted by them? If you did that about everything, you may as well just sit in a closet and see how long it takes you to waste away. Hello, welcome to Earth, of which you are a resident.
What’s that line? We’re to be ‘in the world, not of the world’? ‘In the world’ means that by the laws of nature, through different forms of fermentation and distillery, alcoholic beverages exist and are available for consumption. I personally think beer is gross — I know I may be among the minority on this, but regardless of my own preference, I couldn’t care less if someone else’s taste buds are fond of Newcastle.
People have all kinds of motivations behind their views . Some people won’t even think of touching alcohol, because they grew up with an alcoholic parent or have a genetic tendency toward alcoholism in their family. Yet, they also realize that these factors aren’t true for everyone. Some people don’t have a problem with another’s choice to consume an alcoholic beverage, but simply have no personal desire to do so. These reasons are all understandable.
The problem arises when you attempt to bind a personal conviction, decision or preference onto someone else in a condemning way. I know people who will stand, one hand on the Bible, and declare the indisputable sinfulness of putting alcohol in your body.
Honestly, I don’t have any real issues with Pepperdine’s dry campus policy. Considering the large number of underage students living on campus, Pepperdine would be asking for it to assume an honor system among the 21-and-over and the under aged students.
Plus, news flash — state universities across the country have declared, and are continuing to declare, their campuses dry.
Frankly, it’s just a liability. I don’t necessarily feel as though Pepperdine deems alcohol in and of itself as ‘wrong.’ I don’t have to say this stuff just because I’m a Resident Advisor, either. Anyone with the authority to fire me probably doesn’t read this column anyway. But, as I am committed to raw honesty, it cannot be overlooked that students, no matter what the rules, will still drink on campus. That being said, this really isn’t about that.
Other substances, behaviors or habits can pose just as potentially serious threats as alcohol. However, issues like platonic relationships, acceptance, academics, careers or self-image generally fly under the radar. These are rarely considered when judging a person’s character flaws — they are abstract in nature, in comparison with alcohol consumption, and therefore easily go unnoticed.
But, all of these things have the tendency to pacify a person’s innate need to realize their true worth as an individual creation of God, only making this need deeper and less fulfilled.
Our concern shouldn’t be about drinking. It should about where we find our worth.
Submitted 10-02-2008
