The Last Word

thepositivecommunity.com

Summer 2022 Vol. 22 No. 6

Publisher Adrian A. Council, Sr. Editor-in-Chief Jean Nash Wells Associate Editor R. L. Witter Sales Angela Ridenour Adrian Council, Jr. Marc Williams Satori MPR Cheryl Saunders Austin Fenner Contributing Writers Glenda Cadogan Fern Gillespie

Contributing Photographers

Vincent Bryant

Ryan Council

Regina Flemming

Bob Gore

Raymond Hagans

Bruce Moore

Wali Amin Muhammad

Seitu Oronde

Karen Waters Art Direction & Layout

Penguin Design Group

Maishman Media, LLC

Raymond Hagans Executive Assistant

Leslie Nash Community & Government Affairs

Wayne Smith The Positive Community Corp.

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BY R.L. WITTER

IT’S TIME TO COOL DOWN

Stevie Wonder wasn’t lying when he said, “It’s hotter than July” in his megahit “Master Blaster (Jammin’)” back in the day! Well, it’s not just the weather making things hot. With inflation, COVID-19 (STILL in 2022), political unrest, monkeypox, wildfires, polio, and heatwaves around the globe—we’re all feeling the heat.

In years past I might have been inclined to tell you to relax and know that Labor Day is coming, temperatures will begin to drop, kids will go back to school, and all will be right with the world. Unfortunately, that doesn’t sound like good advice these days because both temperatures and tempers are running hot.

We see people losing patience with cashiers in supermarkets and coffee shops. Road rage seems to be on the upswing. And for whatever reason, rudeness and apathy seem to have become the norm in too many situations. Meanwhile, women’s rights have been decreased and lenient gun laws have put more guns on the streets and in the hands of people pushed too far by stress, financial struggles, and mental illness.

With midterm elections coming, we’re seeing the chasm between rightwing and left-wing politics widen. The phrase “civil war” is being thrown around, claims of election fraud are still being made and supported, and judges and FBI agents are being threatened.

As we strain to beat the heat and allow cooler heads to prevail, I’m reminded of my mother often saying, “If you stay around long enough, everything old is new again.” As mother’s tend to be, she was right. Some other words Stevie sang in 1976 are as apropos today as they were more than 45 years ago: The force of evil plans/To make you its possession/And it will if we let it/Destroy everybody

We all must take/Precautionary measures/If love and peace you treasure/Then you’ll hear me when I say

Oh that love’s in need of love today (Love’s in need of love today)/ Don’t delay (Don’t delay)/Send yours in right away (Right away)

Hate’s goin’ ‘round (Hate’s goin’ round)/Breakin’ many hearts (Breaking hearts)/Stop it, please (Stop it, please) /Before it’s gone too far (Gone too far)

And yet, words even more ancient—from Proverbs 15:18—tell us, “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, But the slow to anger calms a dispute.” These are times when our ability to remain calm is paramount as we make decisions and navigate situations in a country more divided than anyone could’ve imagined for 2022.

As we enjoy our dwindling summer days, let us pray for clarity and calm, as well as patience, peace, and grace. Let’s pray the school year doesn’t begin as it ended in Uvalde, Tx. Let’s pray for protection against COVID, monkeypox, and polio. Let’s pray our dollars stretch enough to cover housing, food, back-to-school shopping, and gas money. Let’s pray for our students from kindergarten through graduate school to have a safe and educational year. And most of all, let’s pray for cooler heads to prevail and continued opportunities to enjoy the blessings and the mercies of God.

Summer is Here! Six Tips to Celebrate Responsibly This Season

With summer in full swing, and with work events and social gatherings making a strong comeback this year, it’s important to encourage responsible celebrations and moderation this season (and every other).

Whether people are hosting a party or making plans to go out, those who choose to consume alcohol, should do so in moderation. Director of Diageo in Society, Ana Fitzgibbons, shares simple tips to help hosts shine while inspiring their guests to enjoy responsibly, if they choose to drink, while respecting those who do not.

· Food. Always greet guests with a good spread of food! Be sure to always provide plenty of food options for people–from a complete meal to vegetable sticks and dip to popcorn and chips. Food is essential to slowdown alcohol absorption for those who choose to drink and it’s a great way to show your warm hospitality. · Variety is key. Have plenty of water and a range of beverages including soft drinks and non-alcoholic cocktails, like some featuring Seedlip, the world’s first non-alcoholic spirit. · Avoid topping off drinks. While you may want to make sure your guests’ glasses are full, it makes it difficult to keep track of how many standard drinks people have had! So be sure to help guests track how many drinks they’ve consumed, so they can make better choices. In the U.S. a standard drink is defined as a 5 fl oz glass of wine (12% ABV), a 12 fl oz glass of beer (5 % abv), or a 1.5 fl oz pour of spirits (40% ABV). · Processing alcohol. It takes, on average, about one hour for the liver to process one standard drink, whether its beer, wine or spirits. The effect of alcohol is determined by how much people drink, not what they drink. Remember, men and women process alcohol differently, so keep that in mind when thinking of a potential “last call”. · Mix it up. Plan some fun activities that don’t revolve around drinking alcohol. For example, have fun playing board games, or charades with your group of friends, or enjoying a barbecue and marshmallow roasting! · Getting home. Plan ahead to get guests home safely! Be sure there are designated driver or organize a taxi/ride share. Remember, there is no excuse to drive impaired.

With these six tips in mind, you’ll be sure to host a summer gathering that will be memorable for all the right reasons! By weaving moderation into celebrations, we help ensure that people have a good time and enjoy themselves without overdoing it.

Learn more interesting facts about alcohol and its effects on the body at DRINKiQ.com or about the consequences of driving impaired through Wrong Side of the Road, a virtual learning experience that allows people to virtually interact with real-life former impaired drivers that share the impact in their lives of making the wrong decisions when drinking.