Gambling not just a religious issue

August 15, 2010

Anonymous Laurel Leader-Call The Laurel Leader-Call Sun Aug 15, 2010, 01:34 PM CDT

LAUREL — To the editor:

I am a former resident of Sandersville, having worked and lived in Jones County for almost a decade in the 1980’s.

I am well aware of the social and economical realities of the reservation just north of Sandersville. I am also very aware of the future social and economical realities of that area of Jones County if the casino is allowed to open and operate there.

A number of years ago, I taught at a private, Christian school in Greenville, Mississippi. During the full calendar year that I lived there, a third casino was opened, a sheriff was killed and SEVERAL families who would not normally be considered your “typical” private Christian school families began borrowing money from other family members to get their students out of the public school in that city.

Near the end of that school year, the last major industry in Washington County took 12 employees and moved out of town... leaving over 200 employees without jobs. As a teacher of one of the families who left to go to Indiana and continue working for Peterbilt, I asked why they were leaving. The answer was quick — tired of competing with casinos and tired of the crime in the area.

Interestingly, shortly after Peterbilt left, casinos started laying off employees and shortening work weeks. It was almost as if the casinos wanted to turn Greenville into their company town, controlling who worked and who did not, and how much money they made.

Now... add to this story the fact that the casino in Sandersville will not even be regulated by the state. None of that money will make it into the state or local budgets. Yet, at the same time, Sandersville, Laurel, Jones County and other municipalities will have to deal with increased traffic, increased crime, and increased suffering of families who will be gripped by yet another vice in the life of their family members.

As a Seminary-trained minister, I could very easily use Scripture to “preach” the negatives of gambling - and would be very well within my rights to do so. Yet, I feel that too many of those who would object to my point of view would accuse me of hiding behind my religion. Do not mistake my letter, I have some HUGE religious objections to gambling, and all that it would bring to the community.

But, I feel that there are plenty of other reasons to object to a casino in the Pine Belt: social, economical, and moral issues that if left unsaid, will wreak havoc on the area unlike any hurricane, tornado or other natural disaster could EVER hope to destroy — combined.

— Phillip Swindall

Gadsden, Ala.

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