Cheers?

I had the radio on for the local news, and that was followed by a phone-in talk show. The primary subject in each program was the same. At least on the surface. Scotland has two serious medical problems in general, and they are childhood obesity, and excessive alcohol consumption. Do I need to remind you that we are just into a new year, ushered in by the party season?

The news carried the stories of families torn apart by the abuse of alcohol, usually as a result of a party. Our hospitals have to take on extra staff for A&E because they know there will be a spike in injuries, like broken bones, lacerations from knife wounds, aggression, a wife or partner bloodied by a slap or a punch causing a broken nose or jaw, and sadly children who are in fear of their dad or mum abusing them, or having been abused in some way. All of these situations are well documented on open source. The bottom line is that many people cannot be relied on to drink responsibly, but that is the slogan put out by the alcoholic drinks companies. Is there anything more laughable, embarrassing, and showing them to be the hypocrites they are?

On one hand we are advised to be sensible and responsible in the consumption of alcohol, knowing all of the dangers and risks. But on the other hand these same people change almost as soon as that first drink hits their system, and everyone suffers as a result, including themselves. It is too much to ask the drinks industry to talk the truth about the problems their products cause. Doing that would reduce their business, and all their shareholders would lose lots of money. We can’t have that now, can we? This brings me to the crux of the matter. Money. Plain and simple. So, while speaking platitudes to the consumers, they will continue to sell alcohol to whoever will buy it including the young, addicted, and vulnerable. The likelihood of any probable health benefit is a secondary consideration to profit. I don’t expect things to change anytime soon!

Party!

“Let’s party” seems to be the byword for a good time, and the signal that party time is the only way to have fun. The unspoken thought behind the words, at least in my culture, is that alcohol must be a part of the night’s revelry, otherwise it’s a waste of time. But does it have to be that way?

In our young, immature years, we think that some wine, beer, or spirits will unlock the door to fun, and happiness. Sadly, many have to learn the hard way that this is not true. Ask the young girl who ends up with the choice between having an unplanned baby, or an abortion. Ask the young man who has picked a fight with his best pal, and maimed him for life. Ask the nurses at A&E. Ask the Police who have to literally pick up the pieces shed on a good night out. Ask a parent who lies awake praying that their son or daughter is safe and will come home unharmed.

We can’t be too hard on our teenagers, when we remember our own youthful escapades. We may have got out of our youth unscathed physically, but many of us bear the unseen scars mentally and emotionally. That is the very reason parents, and yes grandparents too, worry for their own because they have been there, and even now may live with the uneasy consequences. So the next time your mum or dad says, “be home by …”, “stay safe” or “keep good company” or “don’t be on your own”, it’s not because they want to be a kill joy. On the contrary, they want you to avoid the pitfalls they almost fell into, and they know that the unintended bad memories stay real and vivid for a long time. Maybe for ever. So next time you hear the words, “let’s party” try to keep in mind the things that are important. The things that will outlast your years, way beyond any (bad) decision you may make for the short term. Oh, and for the record you CAN have fun and enjoy yourself without alcohol. It’s true!

“Then he said, ‘I know what I will do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger barns! I will put all my wheat and good things together in my new barns. Then I can say to myself, I have many good things stored. I have saved enough for many years. Rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life!’ “But God said to that man, ‘Foolish man! Tonight you will die. So what about the things you prepared for yourself? Who will get those things now?’ Luke 12:18-20

Responsibly

We are all adults, and we know that we must act responsibly, but have you noticed (if you haven’t, you are numb from the neck up) that our Radio and TV are choc full of adverts for alcohol, all the way from alcopops to the real hard stuff. Every advert finishes with the words on the screen, “please drink responsibly”. Why do you think they say that? Yes, it is a legal requirement, but why was the industry made do it against their will? Firstly it’s because it’s a good idea, and secondly, and I see this as more important, there are many many people who do NOT drink responsibly. In fact the vast majority of drinkers do NOT drink responsibly, they just want to get drunk, and there are lots of bad news reports when drink is involved. Ask any policeman, nurse, doctor, or social worker. If you live in Scotland especially at New Year time, you will know what I mean!

You might smile at the adverts for alcohol, but what if we took this to another level, and when it comes to the Bible, it should read, “please read responsibly”? At this point, you may be raising your eyebrows while asking yourself, where is he going with this? A very good question. In just the same way that the warning is needed for those who might abuse alcohol, a similar warning is required for some who might just over-egg, or over-do, or over interpret Scripture verses. I accept that we all have our favourites, but we should never misuse the Bible to read the way we want it, and to our own ends or agenda.

Not reading the whole Bible responsibly can result in ‘non-mainstream’ beliefs, and that same misuse can pit one group of believers over and against another. If we take a few verses in isolation, we can just about justify anything. However, if we follow the instruction to “please read responsibly”, we will avoid any extreme pitfalls and live a balanced Christian life. After all, the Bible contains the very words of life! The whole canon of Scripture is essential to our understanding, ALL of it, not just a few chosen verses!

All Scripture is given by God. And all Scripture is useful for teaching and for showing people what is wrong in their lives. It is useful for correcting faults and teaching the right way to live. 2 Timothy 3:16

The Christian Alcoholic

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,  and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

Proverbs 20:1

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19

Recently I have become more and more aware of people in the evangelical church who dabble with alcohol. I have also noticed cases where the little dabble takes the form of endorsement and the active condoning of almost any form of hard drink. This kind of lifestyle goes counter to the teaching of the Scripture.

Ah, I hear you say, but what about the first miracle of Jesus in Cana where he turned water into wine? If you read the story in full, you will not see any reference to Jesus either drinking the wine that was miraculously made, or suggesting that His followers should. Some in the church have hung their hat, and their argument on this miracle because it happened, and not because of the message in the story. The message is summed up in the words of Jesus’ mother Mary, when she said: “Do whatever he tells you”. Is Jesus telling His followers to make wine? Is He suggesting His followers should drink wine? No! The message is one of obedience, and one we would do well to follow ourselves.

The apostle Paul chose to abstain from some things he knew he could do, but he didn’t do them because the resulting example would have been contrary to the message of the Kingdom. But let’s go back to the title. We know that an alcoholic does not go out of his or her way to end up like that. We also know that every alcoholic starts out with a single drink. Are Christians exempt from this law of nature? Are there no alcoholics who risked it and lost big time? The statistics are the same. The risk and percentage of alcoholism is not determined by religion, social class, job, or gender.

So, here is my problem. Armed with this public knowledge, why would anyone take that first drink? Let me take it a step further. Why would any Christian, church leader, or pastor think that the example set is a good witness, even if they don’t succumb and become another sad alcoholic who risks losing a lot, and may even everything that is important to them, and to those who look up to them? Even Paul didn’t do some things because he could. Can any of us put ourselves on a higher plane? The apostle said it this way:

I don’t understand why I act the way I do. I don’t do the good I want to do, and I do the evil I hate. And if I don’t want to do what I do, that means I agree that the law is good. But I am not really the one doing the evil. It is sin living in me that does it. Yes, I know that nothing good lives in me—I mean nothing good lives in the part of me that is not spiritual. I want to do what is good, but I don’t do it. I don’t do the good that I want to do. I do the evil that I don’t want to do. So if I do what I don’t want to do, then I am not really the one doing it. It is the sin living in me that does it. Romans 7:15-20

Powers

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 NIV

The UK government has two big ticket items that have hit the news in the recent past, namely: Minimum Pricing for alcohol, and the Redefinition of Marriage. In the beginning (now there’s a place to start) the government decided that they should support traditional marriage and families who try to work and do their best in difficult circumstances, and they also recognised the problems caused by the abusive use of alcohol, and the policy of minimum pricing was conceived.

For one reason or another, the protection of traditional marriage was sacrificed for the policy of redefining marriage, and the policy of minimum pricing of alcohol has been dropped. There is a very obvious common factor here. Both of these principles have large and powerful lobbies at work to get their own way. The alcohol industry does not want to have any limit placed on their ability to sell alcohol to whoever they want, including those, usually young, vulnerable binge abusers of alcohol, and they dismiss all and any evidence from the medical groups who see the effects on a daily basis. Then there is the Stonewall group, who have a very vested interest in pushing the self interests of the very small homosexual community, which was less than 2% in the 2011 surveys.

So, one group controls their profits, and the other, a minority (not even a large minority) push their agenda at every opportunity, but (and a big but), both have powerful friends in government. What chance does the ordinary, normal, rational, thinking person of any moral standing have against such a heavy and organised opposition? Paul tells us how we should respond in the next few verses which follow:

Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

High School Alcohol

The latest report on the drinking habits of our young high school students makes for heartbreaking reading. It seems that there are some 11 year olds who drink more than an adult. The reports of regular drunkenness in early teens at weekends is staggering (literally!). The report has been conducted by a reputable study group, so is reliable, and covers England and Wales. The Scottish schools can not smirk, as I believe we are just as bad. But why? What has caused the epidemic of alcohol abuse in schools? Added to this, another report issued in December, says that admissions to hospital for alcohol induced liver disease in Northern England has increased by 100% since 2002! Did you catch that figure? It’s not a mistake, and tells a story of heartache and heartbreak in families across our nation. What went wrong?

How about these are suggestions? Just my own thoughts:

1. We as a society have succeeded in convincing ourselves that there is no morality, and you can do what you want, as long as it feels right, and you think it harms no one.

2. The church no longer has any influence in society, again because we have convinced ourselves that we are a progressive, secular and modern society, without any need for morality.

3. Adults have not been able to provide a good and decent set of role models. The role models of choice for teenagers are celebrities, footballers, and stars. Using these lifestyles as role models is asking for trouble, and a recipe for moral disaster. You only have to watch the news, or read the newspapers

4. Figures of traditional authority are held in distrust and ridicule. School teachers have had their authority removed, and now cannot discipline wrongdoing, even for serious incidents.

5. Parents are afraid to discipline their children for fear of being reported. So, kids have found that they have a very wide tolerance of wrongdoing. So much so, that they can get away with just about anything if they want to, and they know it.

Who has allowed this to happen? Answer, you and me, by letting our moral standards slip, because we bought into the idea that some so called clever-clogs and educated deceivers must know best. They have made sure we forfeited our birthright and blessing, just like Jacob for a mess of lentils. So, what did you expect of our young charges, or our national love affair with alcohol? It’s not all their fault, so why should we sound surprised?

I think it is time for churches to step up to the challenge, and teach and preach and live alcoholic abstinence. That idea will get me into trouble, probably from those who will say predictably: “I know how to drink responsibly”, or “Don’t lump me in with those people, because I am better than that”, or “The church has no right to preach abstinence, or tell us what to do”, or “Let me decide for myself when it is time to change my drinking habits”, or even “The Bible doesn’t tell me NOT to drink alcohol”. All of these arguments will be voiced by christians, and non christians alike. After all, the Bible doesn’t tell me not to drink, just to be careful how to use it, and what about Jesus’ miracle at Cana? These points may be valid, but neither can we ignore those passages which give dire warnings against the use of alcohol. Neither does the Bible give any direct commandment against things like, polygamy, smoking, gambling, movies to watch, and even abortion, but we do use the spirit of God’s Word to make our choices, not the letter of the law. That is using God’s Grace, and certainly not legalism! At the end of the day, it may depend on just where you place your own responsible Scriptural interpretation and lifestyle example to those who are watching, like our youth. That takes us back to where we started! I have refrained from quoting Scripture for each of these choices, but how about thinking on a related verse found in 1 Corinthians 8:9: Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

I think it is time for our church(es) to accept the challenge of abstinence, and step out of its comfort zone, and show some leadership. Our nation needs leadership. Of course it might involve us changing our own habits, and doing something different for the greater good of the weaker brother or sister. Now that is a Scriptural concept, and Christ like. Right?  

Liquid Loudness

The recent good, sunny and warm weather, in Scotland at least, seems to bring out the predictable. Swaggering topless boys, half dressed girls, and a definite link between the amount of alcohol consumed, whether a fine wine, or a cheap plonk, to the loudness in table conversation.

A small group had gathered round a patio table, and it looked nice. In fact, in a little while I decided, I would join them for some light chat. You know, some decent conversation. The next time I noticed them, it wasn't the sight of the group, but the sound of the group. A couple of bottles of wine now on the table, some glasses, and as the liquid inside the bottles reduced, the noise increased. It was no longer a light, low level, chat. It became a loud debate, or you could say disagreement. By this time, I had realised joining them was a bad idea. I don't think they saw themselves as they were seen. They had changed, without even realising it, and for me that is a danger. Losing your own self control, and not knowing, is a slippery slope because who knows where it ends? Certainly not the folks enjoying their party.

Another very unscientific thought struck me. Maybe there is a link between the amount of alcohol consumed, and deafness. Well, based on a very ordinary study, I reckoned each person round the table either got harder of hearing, or wanted more and more desperately to be heard above the others. I don't know.

I am glad I belong to a church which takes a stand against the use of alcohol by its members (or at least that's what the church manual says) and may it continue to do so. Do you agree, or am I on my own here? 

Alcohol - Minimum Pricing (again)

It is being raised again, but this time by the Prime Minister. He was responding to the challenge we all face, up and down the UK, to clean up the streets of under age binge drinking, which affects us all, and especially the responsible city centre party goers. I don't agree with all that the SNP stand for, but they have got it spot on when they called for minimum pricing in Scotland, where the problem is huge, and more so at weekends.

Of course, as expected, the other opponents of this idea, come out of the woodwork to tell us it won't make any difference. We have to find another way, they say. One of these apologists was on the news today. He was a spokesman for the supermarket chain, Morrisons, and talked an awful lot, but didn't actually say anything. He defended the cheap booze on sale in their aisles, and said it was to compliment their food sales! Oh brother! Don't let anyone fool you. Supermarkets don't lose money on the so called, 'lost leaders' where they undercut the price of alcohol. They have the nerve to say that the price and availability is not a part of the problem. When will they wake up and smell the roses, or should I say, the vomit!

You don't have to be very smart or clever to see why they like to sell cheap booze. It's good for income. If it really was a money loser, do you think they would be doing it? They must think Joe Public's head buttons up the back. I wish they would treat us as grown up, and accept the link between the price of alcohol, and violence at all levels in our community.

I am glad the question has been brought into the open again, and maybe since the Prime Minister is sympathetic to the problem and solution, we might get somewhere. The supermarkets are behaving exactly like the tobacco companies who said there was no link between smoking and ill health. It didn't take long to see the results, and I suspect it will be the same with minimum pricing. As I have said before, we just need some politicians with bottle to lead the way.

The Bottle For 50??

Moves are afoot in UK government circles to look at reducing the drink driving limit from 80mg to 50 mg per 100ml, and no sooner has the word got out, than there is an outcry. Who from, you ask? Well the publicans and the drinks industry of course.


It is calculated that this reduction would save 160 lives in the first year in the UK alone! Once again we are up against the powerful drinks industry. They couldn't agree on minimum pricing in Scotland, because they claimed there was no link which proved that lives could be saved, and I fear we are all on that merry go round again. Remember the tobacco industry said similar things about the smoking ban in public places? They are very quiet now, because the medical society was right all along. Once again, we have the medics lining up against the drinks industry, and they will trot out the same tired old stuff again.


The vast majority of European countries are already using the 50mg level, and we would be in line with them, no different, and not any stricter. I fear we will get bogged down in statistics again, and forget the 160 lives which could be saved in the first year. It seems that 160 deaths are not enough to sway the opinion, or the balance sheets of the big alcohol companies. I wonder how many lives it would take?


The Scottish Government stalled at the introduction of the minimum pricing bill, and it failed amongst parties each blaming the other for the failure. Please let's not hesitate again when we have another chance of facing down the breweries. We have a UK and Scottish drink problem, and everyone knows it. This is a 'no brainer' and needs to be implemented to save lives, so let's all stand against the other so called educated, well spoken 'no brainers' who will try to rubbish the worth of a life! 

UK Drink Culture

The effects of Labour’s 24-hour drinking policy have been disastrous, the BBC’s John Humphrys and ex-Met Police chief Sir Ian Blair have said. Sir Ian believes that the policy of all-day drinking was a “serious mistake” while Mr Humphrys has slammed the alcohol-fuelled violence in his home city of Cardiff. Sir Ian, who left the Met Police in 2008, said the hoped for ‘café culture’ was never achievable for Britain and now our cities need to be saved from the chaos left behind.

Isn't it nice when some prominent people see the error of past judgements, and are bold enough to say so? I wish there were more like these two, and on more than this one issue, important enough as it is!

It's not just big cities which have a 'drink problem' (sounds so benign and innocent, doesn't it?) but smaller towns too. Anyone who lives and works in the central belt of Scotland could see the problems a mile off. 'Cafe Culture'? You had to be kidding! I have no doubt that some some well meaning(?) nice but ill informed, progressive thinkers reckoned our people needed more time to drink alcohol, and then succeeded in convincing the government to change the laws to allow it. Little cafes were going to pop up everywhere, with lovely, beautiful people sipping wine and talking about the weather and the price of fish. What a nice picture, but what happened? We have lots more time to drink, get drunk, and spill out into the town or city centres where these newly liberated drinkers (both men and women!) urinate in corners, or openly, or even in taxis, fight, shout and brawl, and cause a disturbance. A lot of our new 'cafe culture' drinkers end up in jail overnight, or spending hours in the local Hospital A&E department having blood flow stopped, and stitches applied. On top of all that, there is the problem encountered when they get home!

It appears that this is the case up and down the country, but will the laws be changed? No, it seems that the 'experiment will continue'. I think our leadership is bankrupt of thinkers with a normal brain. You know the kind of person who sees the obvious... very obvious! Our nation seems to be 'blessed' with lots of very progressive and forward thinking people in places of power, but none who have an ounce of common sense. Perhaps if these people had asked the mere commoners what they thought, they would have come up with a different solution.

Not being educated to Oxford degree level, does not mean you are daft!      

Buckfast and Caffeine

The news has carried a story that the Labour government is proposing to cut the amount of caffeine (yes, you heard, caffeine) in strong alcoholic drinks, like Buckfast.


It seems that these turkeys (there I go again) need something to hang on to, to make it look like they are doing something about the boozed up, binge drinking culture of the UK. Since minimum pricing for alcohol isn't favoured by the Labour Party, they have latched onto the amount of caffeine in the alcoholic drinks! More turkeys, and they are all over the place, even in government. 


As far as I know, the Emergency Rooms in our hospitals at the weekends are not filled with people with too much caffeine! If that was the case, then most coffee drinkers would be there. It's a well known fact that turkeys don't think, they scramble about in their pens looking for food. Hey, that's good... our elected representatives don't think, they just scramble about looking for something to make them appear to be doing something.


One of the biggest problems in the boozy and binge drinking culture is Buckfast. So the independent experts say. These expert people are not in someone else's pocket. They don't answer to government or the drinks industry, and they say there is a link between the amount of alcohol (no, not caffeine in products like Buckfast), and violence. All sorts of violence which leads the victims, and sometimes these victims have a self inflicted injury, to the hospital Emergency Room, again usually at the weekend. What is it that the ordinary, modestly educated man or woman in the street, can see that the so called clever government representatives can't? And guess who is laughing? Yep, you got it in one! It's the drinks industry again, not the hospitals, not the affected wives and children, not the workplace. 


We are becoming so clever we are no good to anyone. Whatever happened to good old common sense, and morality? I think there is a moral question to be answered here too. For me, it is immoral to pretend to be addressing a serious problem like alcohol and violence, while doing nothing about it. It's even worse to turn the spotlight on something else and say it will help us. Are we serious about protecting the vulnerable and doing the right thing? That's morality, and it means taking on the tough questions which our leaders often say they are doing, but don't! All of them lack moral judgement, because it's not popular and certainly isn't a vote winner!


Oh yes, we can't forget that Buckfast is a strong drink made by monks, and they are not changing their product to suit anyone. Does that tell you something about common sense and morality on their part? Hmmmmm....... 

Turkeys Found at Rangers and Celtic FC.

Just found another two major turkeys out! Why not take a look at my 12 Jan blog? I was actually beginning to think the major Scottish football bodies had turned the corner in their support of the drink industry. Not so! They have both now been paid handsomely to be sponsored by Tennents Brewery. In case you don't know, that's a drinks company!


Yes, I am disappointed. I am disappointed at the forked tongues of the boards who seem to agree that drink is a major problem with the disruptions at the games, home and away. They also seem to concede that the 'old firm' games foster domestic violence at the hands of men (usually) who take out their frustrations of defeat (one of the teams has to be beaten, or play badly, or was robbed) on their unsuspecting wives, partners and children. It's not the football clubs who pick up the pieces, it's the hospital and maybe the family.


Oh, I forgot. Maybe the big 'T' on the strips means 'afternoon Tea', or 'cream Tea' or 'Tea time'! Silly me..... Give us a break, we all know better than that, but knowing better doesn't seem to stretch to the Rangers and Celtic board rooms. I now have a mental picture of turkeys sitting around the big boardroom table putting their money where their cheque book is. It might even, truly, be where their heart is. Because when all is said and done, sponsorships are done for a business reason. They are not done in this case to help the violence problem, or the domestic problem, or the child afraid to learn the result of the game, for what it might mean to him (or her) and their mum.


In the words of the old Sinatra song, '.. and then they go and spoil it all by saying something stupid, like.... I love you.. (drinks industry)'! Too strong? I don't think so. The next time I see a board room official, or manager, of either Rangers or Celtic FC spouting about how they will deal with the drunken, violent behaviour of their fans, forgive me for thinking it's all lies and deceit, and switching off. They had their chance to be taken seriously, and they blew it! All I will see is a talking turkey (again)!     

Turkeys Don't Vote for Christmas

A report out today suggests that alcohol abuse costs each adult in Scotland £900 each year! That's each adult, whether they are heavy or light drinkers, or who take no alcohol at all. Staggering isn't it? I could think of many good ways that money could be used in the NHS. This is sometimes referred to in the media as 'Scotland's shame'.

This abuse takes the form of domestic violence by a usually tanked up father on his children after their team loses a match, and also husband to his wife. This can happen without the man going out of the house! It will be the effects of an argument which could not be defused outside the pub, because all and any reason is lost. These again, usually young people, find themselves in the local A&E department with injuries of their own making, causing even more trouble for the staff and other 'normal' people who need urgent medical attention- which is not of their own making. We all have experience of people coming to work still 'under the influence' of the night before, and his or even her workmates having to cover for them. 

The services who have to deal with the many ways alcohol abuse affects folks, are people like, doctors, nurses, police, fire crews, ministers, priests, husbands, wives, children and the list could go on. Ask any of these abused people if something should be done and they will shout, YES!

Governments in Scotland and Westminster have looked at the problem seriously, and have suggested a 'minimum pricing policy' be brought in as soon as possible. Independent sources say there is a clear link between the price of alcohol and the abuse suffered by innocent people.

Now for the turkeys. No harm to the real turkey, but they are not the brightest animal in the kingdom, and are seen to be slow and an easy mark for someone looking for a nice meal at Christmas and Easter. However, there are other turkeys out there who obviously would not vote for Christmas, or in this case vote for a curtailment of their lifestyle or profits. People like the supermarket who might make a small reduction in profit. The publican who sees his customer base (and then his profit) drop. The brewery that sees its production affected. Do you see the common theme? It's not the harm alcohol does, or the innocents who suffer, its the profit and loss accounts... oh diddums.... Like you, I have seen some of these 'good' people in the news saying (in the best accents, and trying to look educated beyond the many clever people who conducted the study) '.. look here, there is no scientific evidence that raising the base price of alcohol will help these unfortunate people'! Eh?? What??? I remember the same arguments being raised when there was the prospect that smoking might be banned in public places. History tells its own story on that one. 

Obviously, turkeys don't vote for Christmas, so I don't really expect anything less from the supermarkets, publicans or brewerys, but please, please don't make the mistake of thinking we are ALL turkeys. Oh, there is another big bird who is probably just as daft as a turkey, and that's the 'let's bury our head in the sand', Ostrich!! I wonder if the ostrich has a vote?