This work is like a reverse Jonah story. In the Old Testament of the Bible, Jonah was a prophet who was called by God to preach to the people of Nineveh. Jonah disobeyed this call and was swallowed by a great fish. After spending three days in what might have been the belly of a whale, Jonah repented and had the fish spit him out onto land.
Jonah then went to Nineveh and preached God’s message to the people. The people repente,d and God spared them from destruction. Instead of being happy, Jonah was pissed off because God showed such mercy to sinners, but was harsh to his own prophets.
One of the story's points is that God is concerned for all people, not just the Israelites. It is also one of many reminders in the Bible that man does not have a sufficiently broad perspective to criticize his own God.
in “(H)appy hour,” the whale is the misery that alcoholism brings to lives. Escaping the belly of the whale, we find society provides many ways, including revered daily habits and traditions, ads and happy hour specials, to send us back to the belly of the whale. We are alcohol’s people, and it will find a way to reclaim us if we decide to abandon our daily observance of “a drink or two.” Indeed, with or without alcohol, our happiness may last little more than an hour or so.
