Live Entertainment
...g. The residents would not know anything about a nightclub until the opening. In his application form for the liquor license, John wrote only the words “live entertainment” and “music.” His license was granted with almost no discussion. He also successfully recruited dancers for a club from a small town thirty miles away from Wesley, where unemployment rate was high. The Meeting with Reverend Last night, Rev Beach called John for an emergency meeting about the opening of a nightclub featuring nude dancing. John had a feeling that this could become an unpleasant encounter. During the meeting, Rev Beach’s voice became louder and higher. His face was beet-red as he wagged his index finger at John and declared that the good people of Wesley would run him and his entire family out of town if he opened the club. John asked, “Rev, exactly what do you have against the opening of this club? I will run a clean and decent place; there will be no touching allowed, and certainly no solicitation for prostitution or any other illegal activity.” Rev Beach, angry and shaking, screamed, “I’ll tell you what we don’t like! How can you possibly say you will run a decent place when you’re going to have women running around buck naked, stimulating evil thoughts in the minds of the sinners who would support such a place? It’s ungodly, indecent, and a threat to the community. You say there’ll be no prostitution, but that’s exactly what your so-called dancers will be doing – prostituting themselves for money. Surely drug use and organized crime will soon flourish if this nude dance club is allowed to open.” “We’ll organize a protest, videotaping the cars coming and going, asking polices to check on drivers leaving your club on the influence of alcohol, even calling your customers’ homes to let their wives know what their husbands are up to. In the worst case, we may not be able to stop an outbreak of violence should you not stop this scheme.” John jumped in and said firmly,” I respect the right of you and your people to stay out of my club. However, you must respect my right to run my business as long as I operate within the law. I have done nothing illegal so far and fully intend to see that no illegal activities take place on my property. If you people want to work for public good, why don’t you donate your time to help our community solve problems such as illiteracy, teenage pregnancy, school drop-outs, drug use, gang activity, etc? It’s much better than spending your time harassing honest business people.” Rev asked, “We have always playe...