Newspaper Page Text
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♦ FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2006
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OPINION
Daniel F. Evans
Editor and Publisher
Julie B. Evans
Vice President
Don Moncrief Foy S. Evans
Managing Editor Editor Emeritus
Mope is best
You may not think it’s good news but
we do. The University of Georgia
reported last week that the job
market for journalism graduates showed
marked improvement in 2005 versus a
decline in 2004.
Why is it bad having more journalists
on the streets? For the obvious. Some
of them - it’s a proven fact - would say
or do anything to make their way to the
top. And, that isn’t
to say there aren’t
some outstanding
journalists at the
top - or at the bot
tom.
You know what
we mean. It’s com
mon knowledge,
mainly because
whenever they
- the bad ones -
do or write some
thing unethical
and get caught, we
in the media - in
a strange catch-22
sort of way - are
always quick to
tell on them.
But, on the other
hand, it’s good
from our standpoint to know the career
field isn’t stagnate, or to wax philosophi
cal, believe we - newspaper people - are
the last of a dying breed.
The last of a dying breed? Well, yes,
if you take note of how technology has
changed our society, as well as the mil
lions writing today in blogs and on web
sites all over the Internet. Translated,
that means less papers sold in a business
that has existed how long?
The difference between them and us,
however - perhaps signaling their even
tual downfall and our ability to with
stand the test of time - is that they do
it, on average, haphazardly with little
regard to facts and we would venture
to say more times than none, with no
thought of integrity.
That if anything else should explain
why we think more journalists - journal
ists trained to guard against libel, slan
der, and protect the right to privacy - is
indeed good news for us, and good news
for you.
Letter to the Editor
Regarding the WORTH REPEATING article in
Saturday’s (Houston Daily Journal) paper about John
White Chadwick’s comments concerning six of the most
influential men in American history. It should be noted
that Chadwick’s statement was in regard to an 1872
proposed constitutional amendment recognizing God, the
Bible and making Christianity the state religion.
Ironically, of the six mentioned four have their pictures
on American money along with the words “In God We
Trust”. These individuals have often been called deists,
but in all likelihood some were atheists. They were not
Christians, as some in today’s clergy would like us to
believe.
These men were not caught up in the religious myth
as many are today. Religion has developed into a mega
business in America, especially among the evangelicals;
and self-serving politicians, both nationally and locally,
are certainly not reluctant to mine this pit of votes. On
the other hand, in both cases, the professionals of the
evangelical clergy, as payback, are allowed to use the
bully pulpit of the political machines to exert their power
in controlling the actions of others outside their sphere
of influence. That,s why the Sunday blue laws are still in
place, religious courses are being taught in public schools
and Bible verses are on the walls. Why should it make any
difference to the professional clergy or a politician what
any person does differently on Sunday than any other day
of the week?
Once I was told when I hear an Evangelical Cleric
speak, I hear a commandant of the “morals police” while
a person “of the faith” hears a devout person who holds
a genuine interest in his soul. My reply went something
like: “When I hear an evangelical cleric, I hear a snake
oil salesman; and you hear someone with a psychiatric
disorder trying to insure his source of income.”
I believe many great men of the past rejected Christianity
as a myth; and great men that subscribe to the Christian
myth are great not because of their faith, but despite it.
For myself, I can eat a piece of cake without having to
know the baker.
Walter Huckeba, Perry
You know what we
mean. It's common
knowledge, mainly
because whenever
they - the bad
ones - do or write
something unethi
cal and get caught,
we in the media
- in a strange
catch-22 sort of
way - are always
quick to tell on
them.
Hope y'all enjoy this one
Age and experience have enabled
me to draw certain wise conclu
sions, almost always accurate,
when dealing with people. Examples:
■ 1. If a newly-met fellow starts his
introduction by telling you how hon
est he is (i.e., “if you don’t believe me,
ask Banker Jones”), he isn’t. Honest
people don’t feel compelled to extol
as a virtue something that they think
should be a given.
■ 2. If they say to you, “it’s the prin
ciple of the thing and not the money,”
it’s most always “the money”. Like, “I
want you to sue that company. It’s the
principle of the thing, not the money.”
Your response: “0.K., it’s a $5,000
retainer”. Their response: “The prin
cipal (and interest) is too much for the
principle”.
■ 3. If they are ashamed of where
they came from (i.e., “I’m from Atlanta”
when they are really from Barnesville),
they will lie about other things - maybe
even steal hen eggs.
This brings me to where I should
have started. I’m from the South and
proud of it. And, if you are from New
Jersey (“God bless you,” as we south-
1 area,. 1 \ Wwjm:<o m enough]
1 ¥ TOWILUNGAT f Jl oV IF IS N * jAIAAKAPIPELINE!
Taking a stroll down memory lane
Please forgive me while I take a
short stroll down Memory Lane.
I’ll be back to my usual cranky
self next week, I promise, but today I
wax nostalgic.
Nobody loves gigging politicians
more than I do, but occasionally I need
to be reminded that Georgia has been
blessed with some outstanding leaders
over the years.
I was with a group of them last week.
Some of the names may be unfamiliar
to you, because many labored in a
different era. But by their collective
efforts, they have played an important
role in the success our state currently
enjoys.
The occasion was an art exhibit fea
turing the works of one of my favorite
readers, Betty Foy Sanders, wife of one
of my favorite governors, Carl Sanders.
Ms. Sanders, a native of Statesboro, is
a warm and gracious individual. She
is also an extraordinary artist. Art is
a passion of mine, and while I have
a couple of my own paintings hang
ing around the house, I was quickly
reminded that the difference in my tal
ent and that of Betty Sanders is akin
to the difference between butter and
butterflies.
At the private affair was a Who’s
Who of Georgia’s (mostly Democratic)
political past and present: Former State
Highway Director and Carter adminis
tration Budget Director Bert Lance
and wife, Labelle, were on hand talking
proudly of their grandchildren. Ben
T. Wiggins, chairman of the Georgia
Public Service Commission when I
was a pup at Southern Bell, was in
OPINION
erners would say), you should likewise
take pride in where you came from. But
for me, it’s Georgia and the South!
“Y’all,” the magazine of Southern
people, published in Oxford, Mississippi,
in its July/August edition had a test to
determine whether or not you are
Southern. Let me share part of Y’all’s
test with y’all. You are Southern if:
■ 1. You think Piggly Wiggly is a
place to socialize.
■ 2. You know the South has had
three Kings (Elvis, B. B. and Martin
Luther).
■ 3. If you schedule your wedding
around the college football schedule.
■ 4. If seersucker is more than a fab
ric, it is a way of life.
■ 5. The smell of cow poop brings
attendance, insisting I call him “Ben”
instead of “Mr. Wiggins.” (Old habits
are hard to break.)
Pete Wheeler, commissioner of
Georgia’s Department of Veteran
Services, is still fit as a fiddle at 83
years young. Wheeler has been a
strong advocate for Georgia’s veterans
for more than 50 years. When his son
told him he should tape his memoirs,
Wheeler quipped, “There’s a lot of
stuff I know that some folks wouldn’t
want on tape!”
Former First Lady Betty Vandiver,
wife of late Gov. Ernest Vandiver, was
there with daughter, State Rep. Jane
Kidd, a current candidate for the state
Senate from Athens. Ms. Vandiver
reminded me that Gov. Vandiver, anoth
er unsung hero of our state, was always
quick to give me “instant feedback” on
my columns when he disagreed with
my opinions which, thankfully,
wasn’t often. One of his last acts before
he passed away was to send me an
autographed picture, which occupies a
special place in my office.
Retired UGA Athletic Director and
Hall-of-Fame Coach Vince Dooley was
there, having just returned from a trip
to Idaho and Montana with one of my
Larry
Walker
Columnist
lwalker@whgb-law.com
_ -P* \ ’
Dick
Yarbrough
Columnist
yarb24oo@bellsouth.net
HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL
back wonderful memories and you feel
instantly happier.
■ 6. You have a portrait of your dog.
■ 7. If you schedule your dinner
around a Braves game.
■ 8. You wore flour and feed sack
(homemade) during your youth.
■ 9. You cringe when you hear
transplanted Northerners saying “you
guys”.
■ 10. If you were mad when they sold
Turner South.
Scored 10 out of 10? You could be on
Jeff Foxworthy’s staff. Seven or better,
we will keep you - and we will keep an
eye on you.
Less than seven?
You are probably the same kind that
would claim Atlanta as your hometown
when it is actually some place in New
Jersey.
And, by the way, have you guys ever
considered moving back? I’ll bet not.
And, actually, we are glad to have
y’all.
PS. Real Southerners would enjoy
“Y’all”. One year’s subscription is
$19.95 and the address is: Y’all, P. O.
Box 0567, Selmer, TN 38375-9908.
favorite people on God’s Green Earth,
wife Barbara, who had been laid low
by illness, but is back and better than
ever. I must confess that I love Barbara
Dooley better than banana pudding.
Former Gov. Roy Barnes was mak
ing the rounds, telling folks that these
days he is “just a country lawyer try
ing to make a living.” That is akin to
Michael Vick saying he “plays a little
football.” Gov. Barnes has an outstand
ing law practice in Marietta with his
daughter Alyssa. I didn’t get a chance
to see Ms. Barnes, but I think I am in
her doghouse.
When I recently observed in this
space that The Woman Who Shares My
Name admired her husband, she sent a
note saying, “The woman who shares
your name is MUCH SMARTER than
you!” That would have stung, had
it not been so true. It takes a smart
woman to know a smart woman.
As I have grown older, I generally
avoid these functions like the plague
because (a) I hate putting on a tie, (b)
I don’t go out at night much anymore
and (c) I no longer make an effort to
be nice to people I don’t like. I came
because of the respect and admira
tion I have for Gov. and Ms. Sanders.
I stayed because I enjoyed seeing so
many friends from the past, and I
left with a renewed appreciation that
Georgia is a better place today because
of the contributions of those assembled
at the gala affair. It was a great night.
You can reach Dick Yarbrough at
yarb24oo@bellsouth.net PO. Box
725373, Atlanta, Georgia 31139, or
Web site: www.dickyarbrough.com.