Mike wrote:
My objection is with the majority of the arguments made against the
store in the article, namely that the liquor store is objectionable
because the mosque community objects to the consumption of alcohol, and
the widespread sale of alcohol in our society, *in general*. I have no
problem whatsoever with a group holding those views, but I have
reservations about allowing those views to determine where and when
otherwise publicly acceptable services are provided. Balancing the
concerns and views of a minority (in the strict sense of <50% of the
population) against the views of the majority is clearly difficult, but
I feel this goes too far.
You say that their other concerns are somewhat legitimate, but their
position against alcohol in general should not be considered at all. Why
is this particular concern suddenly illegitimate?
Citing the failure of Prohibition doesn't work: we continue to prohibit
things like heroin and PCP, and we restrict access and use of
cigarettes. (Also, the repeal of Prohibition doesn't mean that liquor
distribution should be completely unrestricted, nor does it mean that a
community _can't_ object to a liquor store.) Claiming that a majority
opposes it doesn't work, either: determining that majority requires
giving consideration to the position to begin with, which you claim
shouldn't be done in the first place. (In other words: if you're citing
majority rule, you gotta have a vote to see what the majority wants...
and the majority is entitled to change its collective mind.)
In other words, you say that concerns about the community, schools, and
other things are legitimate, but simply saying that "people shouldn't
drink" is illegitimate," and you haven't given any good explaination as
to why _this_ desire is any less legitimate. It may be less _likely_,
but that doesn't mean that people shouldn't act upon this desire.
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