Drug boats and more

By Jim Thompson
HCP columnist

John Stith Pemberton (1831-88), a pharmacist and Confederate Army officer, invented Coca-Cola. It is estimated that the original formula contained about nine milligrams of cocaine per glass, a small amount compared to “recreational” drug use today.  

Coca-Cola became completely cocaine free in 1929. Which is about the time cocaine became a widely used “recreational” drug.

Over the years, there have been many government initiatives to stop illegal drug use (of cocaine and beyond) involving education and interdiction. To date, all have failed. Mind-altering drugs are just too attractive for many people.

Now comes President Trump and Secretary Hegseth with a bold idea. Blow the drug-transporting boats out of the water. This has evoked a range of reactions from the American citizenry agreeing strongly to disagreeing strongly with this idea.

Illegal drugs cause many, many deaths every year. Likewise, abortions and to a certain extent, people with guns. And let’s not forget automobiles and family abuse.

The headline reactions to these preventable deaths are wide ranging. The headline reactions to these preventable deaths are political, too. You can almost tell someone’s political leanings based on which of these methods of actionable death are involved. 

We can use force and persuasion to attempt to stomp out these preventable deaths. Sometimes, such methods have some success.

I believe real progress will be made only when we change people’s attitudes. Some may say change people’s hearts. This is done through Biblical study. If there is anything we are short on these days, it is Biblical study. No one is shooting boats out of the water that are attempting to deliver more Bibles to the United States.

I believe in signaling. Everyone should have a Bible within arm’s length, no matter where they work. Keep it prominent, in your store, in your office, wherever you spend your day. You just may be inspired to open it and read a bit once in a while.

Jim Thompson, formerly of Marshall, is a graduate of Hillsboro High School and the University of Cincinnati. He resides in Duluth, Ga. and is a columnist for The Highland County Press.

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