Jacksonville Daily Progress
JACKSONVILLE —
In the July 9, issue of the Daily Progress there appeared two letters which were each captioned by “hipocracy” [sic.]. I think the letter writers or at least the editors actually meant “hypocrisy”. [Next time they should at least use their computers to check the proper spelling of such words!]
These two letters are the latest in a series of such sarcastic letters by the same two authors. In their usual fashion many of the arguments utilize the same type of “non sequitur” reasoning they had been using all during the recent alcohol campaign. Personally, I had hoped that we had heard the last from these two writers! I was tired of hearing/reading the same type of fallacy in their logic – reductio ad absurdum. One does not necessarily have to know Latin to understand the essential thrust of the Latin term. Plainly, “absurdum” means “absurd.” Many, if not most, of their arguments and conclusions are beside the point; they are absurd!
Use of the word “hypocritical” to describe the actions of some store owners might best be described as “inconsistent,” assuming the validity of the comparison to tobacco sales and use. Without knowing someone’s mind, how can such a charge be made? Rather, the use of the term “progress” to describe the purpose of the alcohol campaign is really hypocritical. Such a campaign indeed was not for progress or to keep drunk drivers off of our highways, but for the financial advancement of those selling the alcohol and to make it more convenient for those wanting such drinks. It certainly does not signify progress in the Jacksonville community! The taxes from such sales are really minuscule. Here is the real hypocrisy!!
To attribute this to a “religious whim” is certainly unfounded. For about 150 years most Baptist churches in Texas and other states, when they were founded or constituted, adopted a “Church Covenant” which expressed their position about such and gave their commitment to one another. The Covenant called on the members to “abstain from the sale of, and use of, destructive drugs and intoxicating drinks as a beverage . . . . “ It is not hypocritical to advocate and maintain a position which has been the traditional and historic Baptist position all these years!! This is not some “spur of the moment” position!
I commend the paper for printing the news article about the store owners who are not going along with the herd! I wish more would join them!
Philip R. Bryan,
Jacksonville
