Monday, December 6, 2010
Urban vs. Rural
The US becomes an uban country and begins to listen to jazz, drive cars, and party even as the country embarks on the "Noble Experiment" of Prohibition. This experiment will then lead to the rise of organized crime, and a major event that seemed to propel the forces of modernity with tradtion into focus: The Scopes Trial. (21.1)
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Dear Blog,
ReplyDeleteI love to drink. I have alcohol with every meal and when i get home from a long hard days work. Our government wants to enable a law of Prohibition. This will make the selling, buying and drinking of alcoholic beverages illegal, and i will NOT stand for this. I feel that within a couple of months without alcohol citizens will go crazy and crave it. This will start to lead into organized crime. Alcohol will be purchased and sold through underground markets. When there is crime people get betrayed and snitched out, which will lead to the deaths and murders of many. The U.S. does not need all this crime. We need to be a peaceful place.
Mornin' Y'all,
ReplyDeleteI've got some happy news for y'all, I'm moving back to Boston, MA to live with my wife again! As a few of you know, I've been living in an apartment by myself trying to make enough money to move back home to Boston. As of last week, I have enough money to live comfortably with my wife in the city.
I never really enjoyed the rural life too much, I prefer the hustle and busstle of the big city. I'm happy to be going back, and I'm really looking foward to be going to a few saloons once I get back. Now I know alcohol's illegal, but my wife and a few friends back home tell me it's really easy to get, you just need to talk to the right people.
- David G.
Dear Blog,
ReplyDeleteMy husband and are against prohibition because we really enjoy going out together and spending our evening at the speakeasy. The speakeasy is an underground bar that sells alcohol. The bar is quite interesting because you need a special signal to enter, which makes it, very exclusive. It is a lot of fun getting dressed up and listening to the jazz music and it is also interesting to meet new people. It is a social event and I think that allowing drinking causes people to have more fun. My neighbor however, is part of the prohibition movement and disagrees with my thoughts about drinking. She believes that drinking causes increased crime and is morally wrong.
P.S Alcohol spices up life!
-Abigail McGinty
Emma Sales
ReplyDeleteDear Blog,
I think prohibition is okay for the rural areas in the United States but the cities should not be banned from using alcohol. With the new trends of listening to jazz, driving cars, and going out to nightclubs, alcohol is a big part of loosening up, relaxing and listening to the music. Personally I think nightclubs would be boring without alcohol. Speakeasies are a part of our culture whether the authorities like it or not. Many people enjoy the nightclubs because it is like an act of rebellion to go against prohibition, which makes us feel dangerous. Prohibition was made to try and find a problem but really there are other problems in the United States that need fixing that are more important than the amount of alcohol consumed in underground bars.
P.S. Alcohol spices up life!
Dear Blog,
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I are against prohitbition. We do not see the problem with alcohol, everyone has a fun time and its harmless. We heard about the underground bars and went for the first time last saturday. We had a grand time! We plan to go there every saturday. It's a place that we can let loose, have fun and not have to worry about getting in trouble for drinking alcohol. All my friends however, are for prohibition. They think alcohol is a disgusting drink and turns even the finest gentlemen into barbarians. Because of this, I have not told them about us attending the underground bars. They have heard of them and think they are a disgrace. They think its horrible to go against the law and go to these bars. That is their opinion and their opinion only. My husband and I will continue to go to these bars and have the fun time we deserve.
P.S. Alcohol spices up life!
Dear Blog,
ReplyDeleteI’m enraged with this “Noble Experiment” this government is putting on us. This is not the right approach to a better society. This will lead to many problems in the future. Alcohol will not go away. Myself, being a bit of a drinker, will do whatever I can to get my hands on some alcohol. This is reducing our freedoms as citizens by telling us we cannot drink alcohol. This is supposed to better our society but I assure you this will not do anything but destroy it. If prohibition does not get revoked, this nation is doomed for disaster.
Alex
Dear Blog,
ReplyDeleteThis whole new style of music has changed everyone’s lives! When jazz became a big hit I would listen to it every night and I still do. With the new music of jazz it has brought forth the outbreak of the nightlife. People now would go out to the cities and party every night. I live in the outskirts of New York City and after work I would go into the city and party with my friends. I would have alcohol when I am at these parties too! I think the Law of Prohibition will end in a failure of the United States. This prohibition will lead to crimes. People will start selling alcohol illegally and there will be fights and killings over the possession of it. I just don’t think the Law of Prohibition on alcohol will be a good idea for the United States.
To those who read this, Just shaddup and read, CAPICHE?!
ReplyDeleteNow this is a topic I really can get into, ya know? This whole cultural explosion is enough to make a mobster raise their glass with pride and happiness. Down in the streets of any city, you can see night clubs and speakeasies all over the place, teeming with flappers and mobsters all over the place, but you gotta know ‘xactly where to look, Capiche?
Now listen, ever since the whole “Prohibition” deal, things in the world of organized crime and the mafia has been booming. In the cities, you can loads of “Buttons” patrolling the streets and you won’t even know! As if the sight of us could bring terror to any of you’se normal every day people now, RIGHT?
And lets not forget the regular lawlessness. Oh yea, me and a friend of mine have this whole Speakeasy rig going on. We even bootleg our own couple hundred kegs of my family’s special “Sogno di Madonna
” alcohol. 8% proof. Try some, you’ll like it. Don’t worry about the fuzz either, we’ll handle that for you... Mob’s honor.
Oh, and before I forget, the city life isn’t the only place where all hell broke loose. Just about a few weeks ago, some teacher ran his mouth off about religion by teaching this "evolution" theory to his students...I heard that the popo is making this case known country wide. Jeez, if its one thing Rural people know how to do, is to blow ANYTHING out of proportion.
[Nayara]
ReplyDeleteOh man do I have a lot to blog about today.
I must say, recently, I’ve been partying it up a lot. Things have really changed for woman like me now a days. It’s become much more acceptable for us to wear revealing clothing, drink and smoke, which I must admit, is pretty refreshing. While my husband’s been away, I’ve been going to speakeasies with my gal pals because they’re prohibiting the production and consumption of alcohol. I must say, on a professional level, prohibition, although it might be better for the people, is not better for the country. Alcohol is really popular at this time and it would probably be very beneficial for the economy if alcohol were legal again. Either way, people aren’t going to stop drinking so it’s the government’s loss. Organized crime members, as I’ve investigated privately, have been making and selling at a high price alcohol and they are making a ridiculous amount of money. This is also a problem that has come since prohibition; organized crime.
Something that really infuriated me was the Scopes trial. Now like I’ve mentioned before, I can’t really open up about my views and beliefs in public because of ridicule and god knows who else, but this trial is just absolutely unbelievable. Religious leaders and association has raised a lot the past couple of months and because of that, they made teaching about evolution illegal. Now what happened is that a biology teacher by the name of John Scopes decided that he wants to teach about evolution so he did just that. The government found him and brought him to trial. The trial was a big mess, religion versus science, and it ended up with Scopes in jail. Things really gotta change around here regarding stuff like science. If it weren’t for science, nothing that we have would be here today.
Assuming you have a radio, you’ve probably already heard the news today about that trial down in Tennessee. If not, you’re probably a poor wet blanket of a sap. Any who, the whole city’s abuzz over this “monkey trial”; I myself have been followin’ it since the beginning. For those who’re sitting cozy under a stone, some science teacher in Tennessee decided to teach Darwin’s theory of evolution, but it’s apparently illegal there for some stupid reason. Pop says it’s ‘cause of the new wave of “fundamentalism” spreading through the Bible belt. Probably just ‘cause of some farmer killjoys is what I think. They’re probably just upset ‘cause they can’t have any hooch or nothin’. Speakin’ of which, I went to a speakeasy with my pals for the first time last night. I don’t drink, but my chums persuaded me to go. I was totally floored by the number of people there. I had expected to see just a couple of fellas but the place was tighter than a can of sardines. And it wasn’t just average Joes, but also some big-shot guys with a couple of torpedoes with ‘im too. Well, I’ll say this: you won’t be findin’ me at any of his parties.
ReplyDeleteJohn Smith (nom de plume)
(Using semi-contemporary language)
Dear Blog,
ReplyDeleteI think the Noble Experiment is very needed at this point. Drinking has gotten out of control due to this new night-life era. My husband goes out every night and comes home drunk. He can barely even walk straight without falling over. I'm worried this will have a negative influence on our 5 year old son. I don't want him being exposed to this juvenile behavior that my husband is portraying. I'm also very worried that John, my husband, will start getting into more and more trouble. There are so many stories now about organized crime, i just hope John won't get himself into that. I think the Noble Experiment of prohibition came at exactly the right time, before this gets completely out of hand.
Dear Blog,
ReplyDelete(Pierre Youssef)
Hello this is Darryl Black. I would just like to say that they cannot keep us from drinking. We will do whatever it takes to get our alcohol. I do not consider myself an alcoholic, but alcohol is a necessity with every meal. My wife always has my meal, and my glass of whiskey ready, for when I get home from work. Why would our government enable prohibition. This will not work, the people will rebel. Not only are we losing out, but they are. They will not be making any money off alcohol, and underground bars, will not have to pay the government a dime. I highly disagree with what the government is trying to do. In my opinion, this will lead to the mafia taking control. I have already been hearing of recruitment's happening around the streets. If anything maybe I'll take part. This crime will lead to a lot of dead people. Why is the government doing this. They know the outcome of something so big as banning alcohol. We do not need any of this to be happening at this time.
Also, my family has been listening to a lot of Jazz music recently. We are in love. Whenever we are driving in our brand new car we have Jazz playing. We love driving, and listening to music like this. Sometimes we go to clubs to dance. Boy can this girl move on the dance floor, sometimes i just can't keep up. Perhaps I'm just getting old. That can't be it though, I'm only 30.
Dear Blog,
ReplyDeleteIt's a windy day on my 13th birthday and I'm walking the city for the first time! This new era has given us much easier transport into the city where everything is happening!There are people all around the city standing on the streets playing Jazz music in the sun and having a great time. Last night did scare me a little though because of this whole new prohibiton law. These men were yelling and screaming and there have been riots against the people that have banned alcohol from our society. I never got to try me some alcohol but from how old Uncle Ben used to get creepy when he had his share I am not that apt to try it. Not only are they taking away alcohol from society but our science curriculum has completely changed over. Teachers are only aloud to teach us how humans were formed by what we hear in church as Adam and Eve. All I know is as I turn 13 years old I want to know the truth.
p.s. alcohol spices up life !
Jake Chapin
ReplyDeleteDear Blog,
I'm surprised I'm even up at this early hour in the morning as I was partying like it was 1890 last night ;). I live right outside or the Big Easy aka New Orleans. Jazz is by far the best thing that has ever happened to this city. My best buddy introduced me to Jazz a few years back and I've been beep boppin' ever since. We have been having a grand old time and then the government had to come in here and spoil it for all of us. Im sick and tired of the government preaching to us how beneficial this "Noble Experiment" will be. I think that these people are crazy if they think that some bogus Prohibition plan will actually get people to stop drinking alcohol. What are they going to do next, tell us we can't dance anymore? I don't see this plan going very far. But on a good note, I just purchased my first radio so I can now listen to my Jazz whenever I want. I just love the talents these musicians have, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Earl Hines, Fats Waller, Count Basie, they are all amazing. Well that's it for now, I need to get back to bed!
@ Alex Pollard
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, I too enjoy a nice drink from time to time and it's outrageous that the government thinks they can take that away from me. Let's all be real here, alcohol isn't going away in this country; whether the government likes it or not.
Dear blog
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe they passed the amendment of the prohibition of alcohol. It is just unfair for all of us who drink responsibly. Maybe some people just cannot handle it. It is not as fun to go to clubs, party, dance to some jazz, just have a good ol’time with friends if you cannot have a few drinks! Nothing wrong with that. We are young and we want to have fun. Now we have to go underground to hidden speakeasies to have our fun. I know, it is illegal but what other way can we get some drinks to have fun? If the government tries to blame us for smuggling alcohol into the country we can say it is their fault for taking it away from us in the first place! It is their fault crime has increased. For example Al Capone, one of the richest out there, made all his money from bootlegging. Very smart boy he is.
I also cannot believe the arrest and conviction of John Scopes just because he taught evolution in a class. It sounds outrageous. It is all fundamentalism believer’s fault. These protestants want everyone to believe and follow their way of living. Since they do not approve the growth of science among us, they want to change everything! Mr. Scope brought good points to the court but of course he did not win his case. It is unfair to prohibit experiments because they are afraid people will not believe in fundamentalism’s fault. I just do not understand this crazy world we are living in.
Shanice Hird
ReplyDeleteDear blog,
Prohibition on alcohol is not completely wrong nor is it right. There are people who will drink and are able to control themselves and know their limits. While there are others who just don’t know when to stop. Nowadays everyone seems to be drinking uncontrollably without knowing the dangers that it can cause to themselves as well as the people that are surrounding them. There are some people who can make good choices and have a good judgment on certain issues, like prohibition. But some people are just not capable of doing what is right. So I don’t believe that prohibition is wrong because there are people out there who actually need to restrain from using alcohol because whenever they do it ends up in crime and violence or even something more dreadful such as death. Everyone loves to have a goodtime but its all fun and games until someone really gets hurt from careless drinking. It is a time in which we are driving cars. We don’t want people who are completely wasted driving in the streets and hurting innocent people who are going about their way. Prohibition should be enforced and speakeasies should be found and shutdown but the government does not need to overdo it by taking extreme measures but instead try to approach its citizens calmly.
Different people react differently to certain situations because everyone has their own beliefs and opinions. John T. Scopes has been teaching kids about evolution. This is a big deal because some people are still accustomed to their old beliefs and way of life. There are people who accept it and there are others who just simply won’t. Not everyone believes in evolution nor does everyone believe in the bible but if a kid at home is being taught by their parents that the Bible is they way then it might be upsetting to them to hear their kids coming home speaking against the bible and talking about evolution. People are terrified of things like this because they just don’t accept the opinions and beliefs of others because their own beliefs are too strong and if a person wants to believe one thing then they shouldn’t be forced to believe another.
David G.- I completely agree with you. You have to know the right people to get what you want, even if it is prohibited. I never liked the rural life but the city life is like a new world. Even though it is not the most comfortable in terms of money it is still more alive then the rural boring towns. I'm glad you can move back with your wife to Boston! That must be really exciting. One day I want to visit New York which is pretty close to Boston I bet. I heard its like a whole different world, everyone is unique and knows how to have fun!
ReplyDeleteI agree, Pierre, that Prohibition will probably not work, but let me remind you that it was a Constitutional amendment that made alcohol illegal; it wasn't a law that Congress passed. Let me also remind you that it's not easy to get an amendment passed. It must go through each state legislature, so I would disagree with you that it's just the government doing this. The government is us!
ReplyDelete@ Greg H
ReplyDeleteI too love a good jazz listen and a night out on the town. It doesn't really matter if alcohol is illegal now because it is obvious that people still disobey. People will find a way to drink if they want to and it's really not that hard. I'm glad though, because I love a few drinks here and there and while I'm out.
Emma- I agree with you opinion about allowing alcohol in the cities because the times are changing and more extreme actions are taking place that would normally have been frowned upon. I think that it is important that there are new trends like driving, listening to music and social events at nightclubs. I think with the new changes nightclubs are more enjoyable like you said because people feel more rebellious and dangerous. Going into the speakeasies allows for more social opportunities which is what people want and enjoy. It prohibition just ended there would be no need for underground bars and people would not have to sneak around.
ReplyDelete-Abigail McGinty
Dear Blog,
ReplyDeleteThese changes being made by the government and baning of Alcohol is horrible. It will not make our society stronger but what it will do is just the opposite. Alcohol is always going to be around and be being the kind of person I am, like to have fun and drink as much as possible. The government is trying to restrict our freedoms and something has to be done about it
-phil
dear blog,
ReplyDeletethe best nights are when I can go out with some of my brothers head in to harlem and party the night away. I find the closest speakeasy or bootlegger and drink myself dead. The lights in harlem are amazin at night. There is so much movement cars noise and fun things to do. I could never go bored with some money in my pocket and a taxi ride into the good ol streets of harlem. I would never go back to the rural days. Harlem is like a little heaven on earth for me, and I never wanna die
ramon torres