Under-21 Ordinance Iowa City - Essay Example

I remember, my father asked me not to drink before 21, though at that time, the Under-21 Ordinance of Iowa City was not implemented. But I did, because I knew that this is the only place where I can meet several people, and most of them would give me insight into ways of living life happily. This is where creativity and ideas are born and helps you to realize how things can be done differently. For that reason, drinking and that too before the legal age of 21, should not be prohibited. At one point, it is bringing financial losses for the bar owners, on the other hand, it is depriving deriving youth of getting engaged in activities of a more severe nature (Misiag).

As an international student, I felt deprived when I came to know about the Under-21 ordinance of Iowa City. By going to the bars, I considered it as an opportunity to get socialize with the locals and learn ways in which the local life is carried on. I thought it would give me an opportunity to learn about my professional studies and life afterward so that I am ready to meet new people in professional life and fit my character and self-being within. But here I am standing today, in front of this young audience and demanding their right to live a free life. A life, which is given to them by God and only God, can put limits to what these youth want in their lives. So, I ask you to stand for your rights (Davis). Vote for your cause. It is your right to decide how you are going to live and fit into the social structure of society. Stand against it and protest against the ordinance so that you can also be a normal part of this society and see how you are going to live in the life ahead.

Here, I would like to quote Nicholas Johnson, who stated that:

“A drinking age of 18 is something that he and a great many others support -- including those whose motto is "Iowa City: Where Great Minds Drink Alike.” (Johnson)

For those who do not know who Nicholas Johnson really is, I would like to tell them that he is a former Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission. He is well known amongst the Iowans and popular for his social work. I would like to agree with Nicholas, as all around the world, the legal age for drinking is 18 years, whereas the local government here in Iowa thinks, they can produce better youth by stretching this ban to a further three years. From the ethical point of view, I think Nicholas is fulfilling his responsibility of letting youth decide how they want to design their future. It is not established that alcohol drives human beings to unethical conduct, but there are medical explanations, that after 18, the human tendency to bear the adverse effects of alcohol increases.

Further elaborating on his idea, Nicholas also asked a question to the law-making authorities of the City of Iowa that how they can help in creating good minds without alcohol? It is the utter belief of Johnson that the emotional strength comes from inside and to explore the potential inside, alcohol stimulates the inner strength to face demons and angels. It increases the creativity reflected in individuals’ work.

I believe, as Nicholas Johnson do, that in the current competitive scenario of Iowa city and the outside world, it is in the best interest of the local government, talent managers and the local and foreign students of Iowa city, that the ban on alcohol after 10 p.m. should be revised. The age restriction should be reduced to 18 years. This assertion is made in the light of the fact, that alcohol takes a level of creativity to higher grounds and helps the home-sick internationals and socially shackled locals to engage in productive activity rather than spending time on wasteful events.