I did enjoy the perspectives on the major figures in Prohibition (especially some of those more behind the scenes as directors of the movement than the figures well known to me from history). I also found it intriguing that Prohibition was partially caused by those over confident political leaders who did not think enough states would ratify the amendment to the constitution. Prudent, maybe, but not the most telling political wisdom!
What I found most interesting was the characterization of Lutherans and Baptists -- the Lutherans drank in public and worshiped in secret while the Baptists worship in public and drank in secret! Now there is a line. Down my way I often joke that the Baptists have become so liberal that they actually wave to each other in the liquor store. Of course, this is a oblique reference to close(d) communion and to the fellowship of the table for those who belong as opposed to "y'all come."
Well, that is only after Part 1 and I still have to catch up with Part 2 (since I had a Bible study and Compline I had to miss the initial showing...).
10 comments:
The great amount of alcohol abuse in the pre-Prohibition period can be tied to the horrendous work conditions of most factories and slaughterhouses. 12+ hour workdays, and a break every two weeks was damaging to most people's psyches. I don't think you can blame it all on the Germans ;-).
"Down my way I often joke that the Baptists have become so liberal that they actually wave to each other in the liquor store. Of course, this is a oblique reference to close(d) communion and to the fellowship of the table for those who belong as opposed to 'y'all come.'"
REALLY?!?
Where I grew up the great taboo was dancing. So much so we were not allowed to have a prom, instead we had a banquet, afterward all of my Baptist classmates drove two counties away to go a dance at a Legion hall.
Lutherans of course are the ones who keep the coffee, not the communion wine under lock and key for fear someone might get into it.
The Germans who came to America at
the beginning of the 20th century
were simply carrying on the tradition
of their forefathers. They liked
their beer and were good at home-
brewing it. In the Mid-West during
Prohibition, German Lutherans were
still making beer in their basements.
Even the late great Martin Luther
had home-brewed beer.
Part of this pointing the finger at the Germans-American immigrants is the old Anglo-American prejudice against all things Germanic. The powers that be in the 1920s were all descended from English Protestantism. WWI had just been fought. And Germans were called "Huns" by the Americans and the British. I view this as nothing but xenophobic prejudice against Americans of Germanic ancestry.
"I view this as nothing but xenophobic prejudice against Americans of Germanic ancestry."
Is it really prejudice when a new group shows up and does things differently and makes you feel uncomfortable, and you don't like it? Is prejudice the right word for that? Or is it culture clash where people value different things and don't like the way the other group acts? Is that really xenophobia, or is it a struggle for community values?
I'm particularly fond of this quote from Burns, “… and every Protestant denomination signed on [to the Anti-Saloon League], except the Episcopalians and the Lutherans.”
Reminds me of two things from back at "die Abtei", founded in MN with money from Ludwig's Missionsverein.
During the WWI anti-German hysteria, instruction changed from German to English in secular subjects (religious remained in Latin) but this was vehemently opposed by some whose motto was bei uns draußen.
Even so, German, well a Bavarian dialect 100 years on here, was commonly spoken among the older people in the 1960s when I went there.
And in the new wave of "ecumenism", the joke went round: Don't know why the Catholics and the Lutherans ever split, first thing either one of them does when they land someplace is build a brewery.
Those 'evil' Germans were brewing beer and then out of an occupation during prohibition. However, the good Baptists and Church of Christ people (some of whom are my ancestors) were generously providing people like Al Capone corn liquor.
The Land Between the Lakes recreational area (TN KY border) was once between the rivers. Lots of good bottom land to raise grain, and at least one flat area for a landing strip!
LOL on the baptist/lutheran quip.
I used to keep the beer at my place so the assistant baptist pastor didn't get caught with it at his church owned property.
It was the case of recently graduated young leaders -vs- the older ones.
And in those days I didn't drink.
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