Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2008
BARROW JOURNAL
PAGE 5A
letters
Race-mongering is wrong
Dear Editor:
I appreciated E. Chessher’s letter on Nov. 19. His anecdotal
claim of massive racism on the part of almost 72 percent of
Barrow County voters was laughable. Although race may
have played a part in decisions by some whites, it certainly
played a part by some blacks, who did not care what propos
als were presented by Obama.
The “rich old white guys” who have been screwing all of us
for years are the leading Democrats in the U.S. Congress, led
by Ted Kennedy. It is a myth that the most wealthy up there
are Republicans. The massive amounts of campaign money
were generated by wealthy liberal groups and individuals aid
ing the Democrat side, not Republican.
I did not realize the Democrats sided with “Big Pharma.”
Led by Sen. Hillary Clinton, they have demonized the drug
companies repeatedly for years, preparing for inferior nation
alized health care.
If what Mr. Chessher says is true, 72 percent of local voters
bought the “hate, distrust, and fear.” They are the ignorant
ones. It could not be because they favored common sense
solutions to national security, energy independence (“Drill
here, drill now, pay less”), free market solutions to health
care problems, etc. You know, a message of hope based on
facts rather than fantasy. A message based on a better future
for all, not just wealthy Democrats.
Being a married 50+ year old white male who grew up in
the South, I can fully testify that things have changed dramati
cally since the 1960s. Legal racism is over, yet some on both
sides judge by skin color rather than the content of character.
They are the ignorant ones.
Mr. Chessher will not determine the future message from
Republicans. We respect his position, yet do not accept it for
Barrow County. Racism is wrong and so is race-mongering.
Sincerely,
Kenneth R. Young
Chairman
Barrow County Republican Party
www.barrowgop.org
Upset at view of BOE
member about Hispanics
Dear Editor:
I am writing in regards to a guest column written by a student,
Gina Borg, at Apalachee High School in the Nov. 19 edition of
the Barrow Journal. The column was discussing an initiative at
the school to consider adding a Mariachi band class. This article
included a paragraph that read (regarding school board member
Lynn Stevens):
“School board member Lynn Stevens also feels passionately that
starting a mariachi ensemble in Barrow County is a bad idea. She
argues that starting a Hispanic-based course will be incentive for
illegal immigrants to flock to the high school.”
As the mother of two girls, ages three-years-old and four-months-
old, who happen to be of Hispanic descent due to my decision to
marry a man who legally immigrated here from Bogota, Colombia,
I am completely disgusted by the ignorance this opinion displays.
In addition, comments like this ensure that those outside of Barrow
County will continue to view us as a Southern backwater where
intolerant views are not only held, but appear to be supported by
our educational system.
If Ms. Stevens was misinterpreted, then a clarification must be
issued. If she indeed was paraphrased correctly, then her position
as an arbiter of our children’s education should be called into seri
ous question.
It is valid to question a county’s preparation and resources to
deal with educating children that may be here under questionable
circumstances. It is not valid to classify an entire group of people
(named such after a presidential decision to clarify the varieties in
those of Caucasian ancestry) as illegal immigrants.
The situation only worsens when the words are uttered by those
who shape our future through the education of our children.
Sincerely,
Karen Betancourt
Bethlehem
Auto industry need not worry
Dear Editor:
Hold the presses! Stop the trains! Salvation is at hand. Here we
are wringing our hands and scaring ourselves to death wondering
what to do about the imminent collapse of the auto industry when
the solution is just staring us in the face.
Of all the major companies facing almost certain disaster, which
one has the least to fear and in fact is thriving in the midst of all
this hysteria? The big three automobile companies need have no
fear, the answer to their dilemma is obviously clear. “Big Oil,” with
its enormous ongoing profits, is the only logical contender for the
job of bankrolling them and, at least for the time being, keeping
those cars rolling off the assembly line and the work force off the
unemployment line.
The only question is, “Will they do it?”
Will they willingly pour the necessary bailout money into the cof
fers of an industry that has so far seemed incapable of keeping from
going belly up in a game they have dominated for decades. Should
the oil producing countries like Saudi Arabia, for example, get
involved in trying to salvage an industry that cannot exist without
the product they provide?
Can they, the oil producing countries, in fact, themselves survive
the loss of the automobile industry? Probably so, but the losses in
revenue would be enormous and what self-respecting Sheik could
possibly envision swapping his Cadillac convertible for a camel.
It is truly an enigma within an enigma and I’d rather not dwell
on it.
Sincerely,
George Morin
Auburn
Says Braselton should
do its own 1-85 project
Dear Editor:
After reading the article entitled “State grant may help beautify 1-85
exit,” I’m wondering why the bigger questions aren’t being asked.
The debate among town council members, as far as I can tell from
your report, was over whether Braselton should ask for a $50,000
state DOT grant for “beautifying” the 1-85 exit 126 (Chateau Elan),
or whether Braselton should ask for a $50,000 state DOT grant for
“beautifying” the 1-85 exit 129 (Braselton).
Did anyone bother to ask whether we should be asking the State of
Georgia to give us $50,000 in the first place?
Look at it this way: If someone came up to you on the street,
pointed a gun at you, and demanded some of your money would
you think that was OK?
What if that man then said, “It’s OK, I’m going to use some of your
money to pay for exit ramp improvements in Augusta,” would you
then say “Oh, well, in that case, here you go!” I doubt it.
Well, what if that man said, “It’s OK, I’ll also go to Macon and take
those people’s money and bring some of it back here to pay for
exit ramp improvements near Braselton,” would you then willingly
agree?
Of course not.
Why then, is it right for us to ask taxpayers in other parts of Georgia,
who have no choice but to give their money to the state government,
to pay for “beautifying” costs in our town?
This mentality of always asking for government handouts is what
has gotten this country into the mess it’s in today. It leads to higher
taxes and bloated budgets. It has to change; maybe we can’t change
it in other towns, cities and states, but we can try to change it in our
own town.
How about instead of going begging to Atlanta to beautify some
exit ramp, we get together as a community on a “family workday”
and take care of it ourselves? If this is really that important, I’m sure
local businesses and individuals would be happy to donate time and
materials to the project; local restaurants could donate some food
for everyone that comes out to work; and it sure would help foster
more of a sense of community which any town could always use,
including ours.
And if no one is willing to do that, it would seem to me that this
project wasn’t so important to the people of our town after all.
Braselton is a wonderful place to live; let’s all work together to keep
it that way, without asking “government” for handouts along the way.
Sincerely,
Bill Greene
Braselton
What I’m thankful for
I HAVE many things to be
thankful for. For those of you
who grew up near Atlanta and
who woke up each morning
to the Atlanta Journal-
Constitution, you will,
more than likely recall
the wonderful sports
writer Furman Bisher.
Bisher was the
Sports Editor for the
Atlanta Journal, which
was the afternoon
paper before they
combined. He had a
terrific way with words
and his columns were
always excellent. He
had a tradition each
Thanksgiving of devoting a col
umn citing the things he was
thankful for and I’d like to steal
his concept by doing the same
today. So, if you will allow me
to share, these are some of the
things I am thankful for:
• Writers like Bisher, Lewis
Grizzard, Celestine Sibley and
many, many others who made
you laugh and think as you read
the paper each day. I believe
that some of America’s great
est writers have been and are
newspaper columnists and they
don’t get enough credit for their
craft.
• My 15-year old Schnauzer,
Lucy and the good people at
Winder Animal Hospital who
take care of her when she’s
sick.
• The fact that I still have both
of my parents. Dad is soon to be
96 and Mom is 91.
• Buttermilk flounder at
Bonita Boathouse on Fripp
Island, South Carolina.
• Good books.
• The aroma of a chocolate
cake because it means I can
smell.
• The beauty of a sunrise or
sunset because it means I can
see.
• The softness of my wife’s
face because it means I can
touch.
• The flavor of my favorite
foods because it means I can
taste.
• The sound of Johnny Mathis
singing “Chances Are” because
it means I can hear.
• The ability to worship open
ly and freely.
• People who make me
laugh. It’s a proven fact that
laughter is good for us yet, many
of us don’t do it nearly enough.
• Ice cream.
• Friends — old ones and
ones I’ve yet to meet.
• Don Wildsmith for bringing
quality family entertainment to
Winder.
• A waiter or waitress or, for
that matter anyone in the ser
vice industry, who smiles and
actually thanks me for doing
business there.
• A mother-in-law who has
been cancer free for almost fif
teen years.
• Memories of my childhood.
How many of you remember
Howdy Doody, putting pea
nuts in your Coca-
Colas, Roy Rogers,
hula hoops, madras
shirts/skirts, drive-in
theaters, Silly Putty,
Red Skelton, flattop
haircuts, and Davy
Crockett coonskin
caps?
• Men like John
Greeson, Kerry
Lipscomb, and Don
Varner who exempli
fy the term “Christian
service” every day of
their lives.
• Satellite radio. Now I can
listen to anything from big band
music to classical; country to
hard rock; comedy to old radio
shows. It doesn’t eliminate traf
fic but it sure makes it a lot more
bearable.
• My health.
• Sports. It doesn’t matter if
it is tiddlywinks or basketball,
I’ll watch it. Well, that’s not
exactly true. I can’t watch soc
cer. It’s so slow and painful
that it reminds me of going to
the dentist.
• Nurses. My daughter is a
nurse and I couldn’t be prouder
of her.
• Teachers. My son is a
teacher, (see above for the
pride part)
• Grandchildren. Only one
by blood so far, but Brendan
is my little man. I’m lucky,
though, since I also have three
“adopted” ones who call me
Pops: Hannah and Spencer
Smith and Mason Bomar. Love
em’ all.
• Memories of the wonder
ful places I’ve been. I’ve seen
the Acropolis in Athens, the
Colloseum in Rome, the canals
of Venice, Mt. Haleakela in
Hawaii, and, oh yes, the best of
all — the view from my deck in
Winder.
• A God who loves me in
spite of my faults.
I am truly quite blessed as I
know many of you are, too. We
may be going through tough
economic times, the uncertain
ty of what the future holds for
us politically, the threat of terror
ism, violence in our streets and
even some personal issues but
we need to take a moment and
reflect on all that we do have.
We live in the greatest coun
try in the world and we are
free. There are millions in the
world today who can’t say the
same thing. As we sit down
with our families this year
on Thanksgiving, let’s take a
moment to remember what we
do have and not what we don’t.
Randy Blalock is retired from
the financial industry and lives
in Winder.
randy
blalock
Letters
Letters to the editor
may be submitted via
mail or in person to
the Barrow Journal at
77 East May Street,
Winder; via fax at
678.425.1435; or via
email at editor@bar-
rowjournal. com.
OUZTS
Chevrolet Company
B Goodwrench
] Goodwrench Oil Change !
$ i O"
| | E 3T +Tax !
1 Oil change with up to 5 qts. of GM Goodwrench quality oil, install an ACDELCO oil i
filter, complete chassis lube, check fluid levels, inspect belts, filters hoses and tire |
. pressure. Pricing could vary for some makes and models. Valid on most GM Vehicles. |
V 127 W. May St., Winder • 770-867-3151 /
v # y
VOTE FREEDOM
AND LIBERTY!
RUN-OFF ELECTION • DECEMBER 2
Lower Taxes • Less Government Intrusion
Equal Opportunity For All U.S. Citizens
VOTE REPUBLICAN
FOR U. S. SENATE &
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
(VOTE MIKE SHEFFIELD FOR GEORGIA COURT OF APPEALS)
Paid.for by the Barrow County Republican Party, Ken Young, Chairman, Cal Neff, Treasurer, www.barrowgop.org
NO JOINER'S FEE gn4 LOCK IN YOUR RATE
A family value you can't affot-4 to miss!
Open House Saturday, December 6,10am-2pm
Riverwilk Branch
1947 Waterside Circle
Bethlehem, GA 30620
770-867-9619
of Georgia's Piedmont
www gjpiedmontymca org
Winder Barrow Brad Akins Branch
50 Bnd Akins Drive
Winder. OA 30680
770-868-2917
Y
YMC A MISSION "To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spurt, mind and body for all ”