Temperance is a word we seldom hear, but something that should be learned . We do hear synonyms such as tolerance, abstinence, or sobriety. It is true that temperance is most closely related with the drinking of alcoholic beverages but that is not it's sole meaning. To be temperate is also to avoid extremes of opinions and feelings, or in your personal conduct. Self restraint is exercised by a temperate individual. Those are the " temperance " I am thinking about. I'm thinking we need to start a new temperance movement. This one would not concern the use of alcohol but the exercising of temperance in our everyday lives !
Temperance implies an understanding. To me the temperate person understands all sides of an issue and acts accordingly. They do not react with extremes. A measured response is more in keeping with that line of thought. I see and hear far too much reactionism in society today. Too many people just flying off the handle ! These people need to learn temperance ! Temperance is a throttling of our emotions. It is ironic that temperance itself is so closely associated with intemperate people and reactions. Perhaps they are to blame for its' gross misuse. Molly Hatchet and her gang !
I have found, over the years, I have become more of a temperate person. You may call it an aging or maturity if you like, but I think of it as becoming more temperate. I am not as easily stirred to action as I once was. That is not to say I will not get behind a cause or voice my opinion, it is just a more measured response. The temperate person just stays " cool. " That is the modern term for temperate.
We have all heard and read about the temperance movement. That was when Molly and her gang went around busting things up and crying for prohibition. Alcohol was at the root of it all then. These women and some men of faith saw the evil associated with the "intemperate" use of that alcohol. That is why they wanted it banned. Unfortunately the majority of the population didn't view it in that way. That is why prohibition proved to be such a failure. The people want what the people want, regardless of any bad side effects or moral questioning. The government viewed it as an additional avenue for tax collection and to eliminate costly law enforcement and so it was repealed. Sound familiar ? This same reasoning is being applied to the legalization of Marijuana. And, the beat goes on. Temperance should be exercised in this " new " drug as well.
But all that aside what I am talking about is temperance. Not the prohibition of any one action, but the exercising of a temperate constitution. That is to say to avoid extremes. It is only by a cool rational approach to life's problems that lasting results can be obtained. It just appears to me that everything these days is a cause. That, in my opinion, is the problem. The problem we most often experience is the effect ! The results of our own actions that we then try to assign blame to. The alcohol caused the addition. Not true, it was the consumption of the alcohol that caused the addition. Conflicts with others are often the result of our own actions and then we assign blame because of their reaction ! Temperance in our life would minimize these misunderstandings.
Temperance implies an understanding. To me the temperate person understands all sides of an issue and acts accordingly. They do not react with extremes. A measured response is more in keeping with that line of thought. I see and hear far too much reactionism in society today. Too many people just flying off the handle ! These people need to learn temperance ! Temperance is a throttling of our emotions. It is ironic that temperance itself is so closely associated with intemperate people and reactions. Perhaps they are to blame for its' gross misuse. Molly Hatchet and her gang !
I have found, over the years, I have become more of a temperate person. You may call it an aging or maturity if you like, but I think of it as becoming more temperate. I am not as easily stirred to action as I once was. That is not to say I will not get behind a cause or voice my opinion, it is just a more measured response. The temperate person just stays " cool. " That is the modern term for temperate.
We have all heard and read about the temperance movement. That was when Molly and her gang went around busting things up and crying for prohibition. Alcohol was at the root of it all then. These women and some men of faith saw the evil associated with the "intemperate" use of that alcohol. That is why they wanted it banned. Unfortunately the majority of the population didn't view it in that way. That is why prohibition proved to be such a failure. The people want what the people want, regardless of any bad side effects or moral questioning. The government viewed it as an additional avenue for tax collection and to eliminate costly law enforcement and so it was repealed. Sound familiar ? This same reasoning is being applied to the legalization of Marijuana. And, the beat goes on. Temperance should be exercised in this " new " drug as well.
But all that aside what I am talking about is temperance. Not the prohibition of any one action, but the exercising of a temperate constitution. That is to say to avoid extremes. It is only by a cool rational approach to life's problems that lasting results can be obtained. It just appears to me that everything these days is a cause. That, in my opinion, is the problem. The problem we most often experience is the effect ! The results of our own actions that we then try to assign blame to. The alcohol caused the addition. Not true, it was the consumption of the alcohol that caused the addition. Conflicts with others are often the result of our own actions and then we assign blame because of their reaction ! Temperance in our life would minimize these misunderstandings.
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