Thursday, April 05, 2007

There is a virus abroad in our town, a contagious virus that is spreading
and infecting more and more of our children, youth and adults. This virus
has no elaborate Latin name, just a common English one: "gambling." More and
more arcades and "skill game parlors" are spring up. Christian churches and
long-established community organizations dedicated to the nurture and
character-building of our children and youth are scheduling Texas Hold 'Em
poker tournaments to meet their budgets. Half-and-half drawings are becoming
an acceptable norm for all sorts of gatherings. On the other hand, we are
training our children and youth to develop a strong moral character, to
secure an excellent education, to adopt a positive work ethic and to become
productive, contributing citizens. On the other hand, we are teaching our
children and youth - by example - that it's OK to risk hard-earned dollars
with the hope of winning the jackpot. Or that it's OK to gamble in spite of
the fact that others, with less resources and less willpower, may become
addicted to the various get rich quick schemes. The promise of easy money is
tempting for most of us, especially for the poor. I believe that God has
given us work as a gift and as a vocation. It is by the honest work of its
people that a community thrives.
In an April 2006 letter to the editor, The Columbus Dispatch, U.S. Senator
George V. Voinovich stated:" Statistics prove that crime, bankruptcy and
unemployment stem directly from problem gambling and ... national statistics
show that for every tax dollar generated by a casino, $3 in social welfare
costs are incurred." Someone has said, "The greatness of a community is most
accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members ... a heart
of grace and a soul generated by love." Let us resist the temptation to
depend on gambling-related devices to support our acts of compassion. Let us
be creative and find other ways of securing the dollars we need to carry on
the wonderful healing, restorative work that is such a meaningful part of
this community.