...............from one who lived through prohibition!
It seems to me that one
of the defining characteristics of the American people and scene is
our adaptability and readiness to promote and except change. In some
areas, of course, change comes extremely slowly. Civil rights and
gender issues are examples of issues that began with our country's
founding and are still in the process of change. There are other
areas where change comes with lightning speed as we rush to accept
the latest gadget or fad.
This topic came to mind
recently as I saw an advertisement on the Metro taken out by one of
the most prestigious, even the hallowed, agencies of our government,
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES. It made me think of an area of social change
that has made a complete reversal was in my lifetime. The ad was for
a series of 10 lectures on the history of the cocktail given by Derek
Brown, Chief Spirit Adviser for the current display at archives
entitled, Spirited Republic: Alcohol in American
History . The titles of the sessions begin with Our
Founding Drinkers and continue through The Golden Age
of the Cocktail to The Lost Generation and
ending with The Fine Art of Mixing Cocktail.
What a dramatic change
within my lifetime. How remarkable that it was the surprising power of
women (primarily) that, through such organizations as the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union facilitated the enactment of a
constitutional amendment banning (most) alcoholic beverages in
January, 1920. I recall how effectively fear was installed in me as I
saw demonstrations of what might happen within my body when one of
the ladies dropped an egg in alcohol. Change of course again
occurred was the 21st amendment adopted 13 years later.
The inevitability of
change is apparent. Managing it is a responsibility we share for good
or ill. How are we doing as a society in balancing and maintaining our social and cultural heritage with new opportunities and threats?
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