Friday, December 21, 2007

Happy Holidays...From the Wafflers



Well, it's that time of year; the partying, the gift giving, and the wishing for a full stack of waffles. Wouldn't that be a gift!


I had an interesting story come my way recently, not of a holiday theme, but something humorous, and appropriate for this blog, because it concerns whiskey. As you may or may not know, the Wafflers profess an appreciation for, and desire the occasional taste of, a fine single malt scotch whiskey. Now it so happens that there once a man names Noah S. Sweat (Jr to be specific) who also had an opinion of whiskey. This man was a distinguished member of the bar, a respected judge, a law professor, and, to top it all off, a representative to the state legislature in the State of Mississippi. In 1952, he shared is opinion of "the water of life" with the state legislature in this now historic speech. If only today's politicians were so forthright and honest. The speach unfolds as follows:


"My friends,
"I had not intended to discuss this controversial subject at this particular time. However, I want you to know that I do not shun controversy. On the contrary, I will take a stand on any issue at any time, regardless of how fraught with controversy it might be. You have asked me how I feel about whiskey. All right, here is how I feel about whiskey.
"If when you say whiskey you mean the devil's brew, the poison scourge, the bloody monster, that defiles innocence, dethrones reason, destroys the home, creates misery and poverty, yea, literally takes the bread from the mouths of little children; if you mean the evil drink that topples the Christian man and woman from the pinnacle of righteous, gracious living into the bottomless pit of degradation, and despair, and shame and helplessness, and hopelessness, then certainly I am against it.
"But;
"If when you say whiskey you mean the oil of conversation, the philosophic wine, the ale that is consumed when good fellows get together, that puts a song in their hearts and laughter on their lips, and the warm glow of contentment in their eyes; if you mean Christmas cheer; if you mean the stimulating drink that puts the spring in the old gentleman's step on a frosty, crispy morning; if you mean the drink which enables a man to magnify his joy, and his happiness, and to forget, if only for a little while, life's great tragedies, and heartaches, and sorrows; if you mean that drink, the sale of which pours into our treasuries untold millions of dollars, which are used to provide tender care for our little crippled children, our blind, our deaf, our dumb, our pitiful aged and infirm; to build highways and hospitals and schools, then certainly I am for it.
"This is my stand. I will not retreat from it. I will not compromise."


Happy Holiday's from the Wafflers. We hope this season gets you full of the holiday spirit, but please don't drive when you are.