Comments on: ‘Zion Curtain’ is a matter of culture

By: Children and the culture of drinking | Sutherland Daily

Children and the culture of drinking | Sutherland Daily — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:33:58 +0000

[...] intent of the “Zion Curtain” is to address the pervasive culture of drinking, to mitigate the influence of the growing acceptance of alcohol use among children. As an [...]

By: Paul Mero

Paul Mero — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:51:00 +0000

A Nanny State cannot correctly be defined as any law that looks to mitigate individual choices with public consequences. A question every opponent of the “Zion Curtain” should ask is “what restrictions on liquor sales and consumption are appropriate?” If you have any, ask why? What I argue is that laws to mitigate liquor sales and consumption serve the common good and subordinate one’s personal liberty. I feel the same way about illicit narcotics. So ask yourself the basic question, “Should liquor be regulated?” And, if so, why or on what grounds? Then come back and chat with me.

By: Hipmamag

Hipmamag — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 23:01:00 +0000

I am a single mom, raising a son, who is now 18. I am also a drinker, moderate by my calculations, a lush by my Mormon family. My son lives at home, working to save money for school and a car, a good responsible kid. He has been to some college parties where there is a lot of alcohol being consumed by underage kids. My son, has decided not to drink and instead make sure his buddies don’t drive. When I asked him if he was interested in drinking he told me he’d like to try it. I then asked, “what keeps you from trying it?” His reply? “Because I know you don’t want me to.” Trust parents to instill the values you hold so tightly. Kids care about what their parents think and will do the right thing.

By: Shoal Creek

Shoal Creek — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 22:26:00 +0000

I agree with Cache Kid. I am a homeschooling LDS parent. People accuse me of sheltering my kids because I homeschool, yet my children recognize that people everywhere are different and have different beliefs. They understand that some like to drink beverages that can cause impairment. We have eaten in restaurants in other states where they have noticed that people often drink beer or wine with their meal. This led to discussions not only on drinking that were very productive. Furthermore, our children picked up that you don’t see drinking in restaurants in Utah and asked why. This led to discussions on the Zion Curtain and the proper role of government. My children, from the very beginning of the discussion, thought that the Utah law was really dumb.

By: Maggie

Maggie — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:54:00 +0000

Oh Paul,here we go again. First ,let me say I am not LDS,but I love and respect this state and I love living among you. I would not think of trying to change you all. It was my choice to move here. I do indeed want to live here more than I do where I moved from.
I am not a drinker and my children were exposed to moderate to low drinking with friends and family. Our family priest enjoyed a glass of wine with dinner when he joined us.
My children are adults ,and like my husband and myself,other than for special occasions and a glass of wine,we still do not drink as part of our daily lives.
Utahs laws are not a problem for us,especially for me for I drink water when I dine at home or when we go out,my husband will on occasion have a beer or a glass of wine. However,we had friends visit from the east and went to a local restaurant that was crowded and we had to wait for a table.Two seats came open at the bar and like gentleman, our husbands offered the seats to we ladies and they stood behind us.We orderded three glasses of wine. The bartender said he could only serve wine to the two of us sitting , if we were going to have dinner and only one drink before dinner. The entire side of our bar got hysterical with laughter and because most folks were from out of the area and did indeed have a ball making fun of Utah. We just gave up and ordered water .No harm done to us but you are right. People do laugh.
Sutherland is I believe not a supporter of a Nanny state ,however you are being Nanny on this one.
Children ,I believe,need to be taught the values you and I have taught, but is it not better to have some exposure in order to discuss it with them at some time when they are living in you home? I believe that it does take more than hiding drinks when you mix them to help children understand the values involved with the teachings of your Church and my values. Children who come from homes without these values,the Zion curtain will not work as a substitute,especially if their parents are probably drinking at the table.

By: Cache Kid

Cache Kid — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:47:00 +0000

But what we critics CAN claim is a willingness, even a zeal, to force mandates on business owners and citizens based solely on the tenets of a religion.

If a business wants to cater to a certain culture, they should be free to do so.

If they don’t want to cater to a certain culture, they should be free NOT to.

The HYPOCRISY shown by Sutherland and other fake conservatives on these issues is astounding.

By: Speaker Lockhart Urged Restraint. Did the Legislature Agree? | Libertas Institute | Advancing the cause of liberty in Utah

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:27:58 +0000

[...] violations are wrapped in emotionally-charged rhetoric about protecting children or advancing a certain culture. As Justice Brandeis once said: Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect [...]