Now in this economy, the price of “enjoying” one’s self too much could have significant consequences.
When I think of alcohol philosophically and practically, I cannot help but think that when I am out drinking I will be putting off something else I should be doing or forgetting about something that isn’t getting proper attention.
My peace studies professor talks about alcohol's effects on whites in comparison to how crack tore apart the Black Panthers. Essentially, alcohol, to him, is the drug that has most affected prospects for social change in America.
So many Americans especially in my generation drink and overdo it. And what do they not do that they could have if they had not abused alcohol?
I made it this far though. And, I do enjoy the fact that I am twenty-one because I can now go to 21 and over clubs.
This means I can go enjoy great blues music in clubs here in Chicago. I can get in to any event and not be kept from attending because someone thought they needed to serve wine or beer.
I can now go into Buddy Guy’s Legends on my campus and enjoy music past midnight at least one time before my college, Columbia College, successfully gentrifies the club like New York University gentrified the Bottom Line.
I’ve made it this far. I survived Bush. I survived Clinton. And then, I survived another Bush. I’m still surviving the last Bush.
And, I could not have done it without writing, blogging, and exchanging comments with politically savvy people like you.
Last year, it was close. I came close to having my small intestine burst open and…Well, I don’t know the “and” part except that somebody my age is not supposed to hear from the doctor that their small intestine twisted making it impossible for anything to leave the body through the “in” or the “out.”
I have always had digestive system problems and actually, I do not have the capacity to vomit. I lost that privilege when I was an infant because I couldn’t keep food down.
I have to take care of myself and do not feel comfortable responding to societal or cultural pressures to drink, which are significant.
For my birthday though, why not? For once in this college life, I get to do this with friends. I have friends interested in hanging around.
So, I’m going to celebrate. In the midst of classes and politics, I am going to shamelessly enjoy myself.
Give me the socially acceptable drug as opposed to the culturally stigmatized drugs and happy birthday. Tomorrow’s the beginning of a beginning that began a long time ago.
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