Newspaper Page Text
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♦ TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2006
Houston djmmutl
OPINION
Daniel F. Evans
Editor and Publisher
Julie B. Evans
Vice President
Don Moncrief Foy S. Evans
Managing Editor Editor Emeritus
Who really believes this?
Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice,
speaking for public consumption,
said that the cease fire between
Israel and Hezbollah is the beginning of
“permanent peace.”
She is too smart a woman to believe
that.
In past decades, since the state of Israel
was created, we have had several agree
ments that were supposed to result in
“peace during our lifetime.” The word
“lifetime” was used loosely, because it
never lasted very long.
There probably never will be real peace
in the Middle East. The Islamic, as
stated by the
president of
Iran, will not
be pleased
until Israel
is wiped from
the face of
the earth.
As long
as there is
a United
States,
regardless
of who is in
power, this will not happen.
Stalemate and eternal conflict?
For the time being, there is a shaky
peace between Israel and Hezbollah,
which will end sooner or later. Probably
sooner than later.
Americans, footing most of the bill to
destroy much of South Lebanon, now
will foot most of the bill to rebuild its cit
ies and villages before they are destroyed
once again.
Our generation has done a good job of
helping create a world of uncertainty
and danger for future generations to
endure.
Plenty of land is left
Finally, after watching Warner
Robins grow at a remarkable pace,
Perry now is receiving attention as
a major growth area.
Residential developments are moving
farther south, with the demand on infra
structure from the city of Perry increas
ing and more requests for annexation.
Mayor Jim Worrall said recently that
growth “may be coming too fast”, as his
city prepares to meet the demand for
services.
Worrall said the city wants to protect
what he describes the “old city” from the
effects of the growth while at the same
time gearing up to deal with subdivisions
that could almost double Perry’s popula
tion within a few years.
The mayor made an interesting obser
vation when he said he does not believe
that major growth south of Perry is in
the offing, though there are two major
developments in that area.
He believes, as do many observers who
have ridden around our county, that
there is sufficient undeveloped proper
ty suitable for residential developments
between Perry and Warner Robins to
meet the demand for many years to
come.
This observation flies in the face of con
ventional wisdom that the Perry-Warner
Robins corridor is “almost fully devel
oped.” It isn’t.
So far, growth continues unabated, and
there is plenty of land still available to
accommodate the demand.
Worth Repeating
“Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire
from the great theatre of action, and bidding an affection
ate farewell to this august body, under whose orders I
have so long acted, I here offer my commission, and take
my leave of all the employments of public life. Speech The
Continental Congress, Philadelphia, December 23, 1783”
George Washington, 1732-1799
Ist President of the United States (VA)
There probably never
will be real peace in the
Middle East. The Islamic,
as stated by the presi
dent of Iran, will not be
pleased until Israel is
wiped from the face of
the earth.
Courthouse short on customer convenience
Some buildings are constructed for
convenience of the public. Some
for looks. Some for the conve
nience of people who work in them.
It has been obvious, from the begin
ning, that the public was not given
much consideration when the new
Houston County courthouse was
designed and constructed.
The first time I saw it I was sur
prised to learn that the rear of the
building faced Perry Parkway. When I
visited the courthouse I saw that it was
not designed to be customer friendly.
The long walk from the parking lot was
a surprise.lt wasn’t even designed for
the convenience of government work
ers, and that is something that you
expect at any government facility.
Handicapped persons could be
dropped off at the front door, which
was convenient, until recently when
the driveway was blocked for security
reasons. A handicapped person driving
himself to the courthouse could park
with everyone else and endure the long
walk to get inside the building.
To offset the inconvenience of park
ing a nice stroll from the entrance to
the building something is being done,
thankfully, by providing a ride in a golf
cart from the parking lot. It helps, but
it would have been more helpful to
everyone, the handicapped as well as
others, if convenience for customers
had been taken into account when this
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"I can't believe Canada, geese are that big a problem!"
Now's a good time to prepare for tomorrow'
By Randy Hicks
President of Georgia Family
Council
A few months ago I
received a campaign e-mail
from a friend who is running
for public office in Georgia.
The theme of the e-mail
was direct: “You don’t actu
ally win a campaign on
Election Day, you find out
the results on Election Day.
The actual winning starts
much, much earlier.”
That principle holds true
for every significant endeav
or in life, doesn’t it? It even
applies to marriage, a truth
I want to discuss momen
tarily. But first, let me give
some other examples of this
concept.
When a can of soda is
picked up and purchased,
the sale wasn’t just made
that day.
Rather, the sale was
earned over an extended
period of time in the pro
duction, marketing and dis
tribution of that product.
Careful thought, hard work
and attention to detail by a
lot of people preceded the
simple act of grabbing a can
off a grocery store shelf.
When a final exam is
taken by a student, with
rare exception, the grade she
receives was earned over the
course of the semester and
in the days immediately pre
ceding the actual timeframe
of the test. The grade simply
reveals her level of prepared
ness.
When the University of
Georgia (plug in your favor
ite college football team if
you’d like) wins a football
game on a Saturday in the
fall, the coaches will tell
you that the game was won
during practice that week.
Simply put, through their
hard work during the week
they were prepared for what
game-day action brought.
I could go on with other
examples, but let me
“unpack” that football
OPINION
courthouse was designed.
Question: Would any private busi
ness make it so inconvenient for cus
tomers (visitors) to get inside to do
business?
■ ■■
My county taxes are going up this
year. Am I outraged? No. I am not
happy about it, but when I compare
the taxes we pay in Houston County
with other growing areas (as well as
some surrounding counties) I do not
feel that I am a victim.
For the record, the valuation on a
house I own went up about $20,000
this year. I have the house for sale. It
may or may not bring what I am asking
for it, but I suspect that I will be able
to sell it for a few dollars more than the
valuation for tax purposes.
A common statement by outraged
taxpayers, who object to the taxes they
pay, is that “if they will give me what
they say it is worth I will sell and move
illustration a little more.
As football fans, we see a
great throw, catch, run or
game-saving tackle and are
amazed by the quality of the
single play.
But in reality, what the
athlete achieved at that
moment was made possible
by his hard work. Yes, he
has superior ability and
instincts, but it is through
days and weeks of sweat
and preparation that the
athlete develops the ability
to do automatically under
pressure what he otherwise
might not.
Back to marriage, and all
our family relationships for
that matter. There’s not a
question of whether we will
face challenges, but when.
We just will. The only ques
tion is, “Will our marital
habits and practices today
steel us against the chal
lenges of tomorrow?”
For some, the trouble will
seem to be nothing more
than the typical bumps in
the road common to every
human being and every mar
ried couple; trouble that is
difficult to endure, but not
the kind that threatens to
ruin our marriages.
For others, the trouble
will become more severe
and more threatening over
time and, for many, will
destroy their marriages.
And in almost all cases, the
destruction was preventable
had they known a simple
principle:
The battle for my marriage
is won today, not when trou
ble comes.
Some people reading this
are thinking, “I know what
you mean. We’re facing a
bigger challenge than I ever
imagined. And it’s hard -
really hard; I wish I had
been prepared for it.”
Others can’t imagine it.
“Sure we’ve got our prob
lems from time to time, and
we certainly don’t always
communicate well, but it all
usually blows over after a
HHk . a lIH
Foy
Evans
Columnist
foyevansl9@cox.net
while and we’re fine.”
That’s not good enough.
What may seem like a
minor problem today may
grow into a significant one
later. If I fail to make myself
available for deeper, pro
longed conversations with
my wife now, I’m going to
be less likely to do so in
pressure-packed situations.
If I haven’t learned to honor
and esteem my wife while
things are good and calm,
what makes me think I’ll do
so when stressful times hit?
If I haven’t learned how to
resolve little conflicts, I’m
going to have a harder time
when the stakes are higher.
What pressure-packed,
high-stakes situations could
cause this much trouble?
■ The death of a loved
one
■ The natural pressures
associated with raising chil
dren
■ A wayward child
■ An increased workload
or high-stress job
■ Illness
■ A big move from one
town or state to another
■ The loss of a job
Now I’m not suggesting
that you live with an omi
nous feeling of impending
doom. In fact, if anything,
it’s the opposite. Too often
we go around living life as
if everything is as serious
as a heart attack. We need
to slow down, enjoy life and
enjoy our spouse.
At the same time, it is
important to understand
that life is relentless - it just
keeps coming at you. And
because it keeps coming at
you, you need to be prepared
for what it brings.
So what do we need to do
in order to be in a position
of relational strength when
high waters flood our lives?
First, communicate.
Honestly, along with a
deep sense of commitment,
there’s nothing more impor
tant. Communication pro
vides the pathways to under-
HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL
away.” Though I have heard that state
ment many times none of the people I
know have followed through on that
threat.
Many years ago Florida had a law
that kept this kind of complaint at a
minimum. If a property owner filed an
appeal claiming his home or property
was worth less than the valuation for
tax purposes he would have to be will
ing to sell at that price. Property own
ers thought twice before appealing.
■ ■■
Residents along Langston Road are
upset that growth is encroaching on
their lifestyle, and I can sympathize
with them.
Growth is coming. Landowners will
sell when the price is right. Those who
do not sell will find themselves sur
rounded by subdivisions and all the
undesirable things that encroach on
their way of life.
It happens everywhere. If I had a
home in a rural part of the county I
would feel just as those people do. But
I also would know that there is no way
to put the brakes on growth, here or
anywhere else, and there is no way to
get away from it without moving to
some isolated wilderness.
That, unfortunately, is how it is.
Growth is like kudzu. There’s no way
to stop it.
standing desires, needs,
hurts and expectations, all
of which are intricately tied
to marital satisfaction and
health. Your spouse can’t
meet a need or expectation
they don’t know you have.
They can’t soothe a hurt
they don’t know exists. Take
the time - make the time
- to communicate.
Second, learn to resolve
conflict. Though this could
have been a sub point under
communication, it warrants
special attention.
A habit of unresolved con
flict builds resentment and
distrust and ultimately eats
at the foundation of marriage.
Troubled times require high
doses of trust - trust that
your spouse’s intentions are
good and trust that the two
of you “can work through
anything.” In resolving con
flict, you’re developing the
“muscle memory” that will
enable you survive more dif
ficult times.
Third, get in the habit
of accepting your wife or
husband’s advice and taking
what they say seriously. This
helps to build trust. In high
pressure times, we want to
know that we’re not just
being listened to - we want
to know that we’re being
heard.
Finally, honor and respect
your spouse. Remember the
good qualities that drew you
to your wife or husband, and
verbalize it.
When you place his or her
needs above your own, then
seek to meet those needs,
your actions will prove that
you care, which will help to
cement the relationship for
the long haul.
Georgia Family Council
is a non-profit organization
that works to strengthen and
defend the family in Georgia
by impacting communities,
shaping laws and influenc
ing culture. For more infor
mation, go to www.georgia
family.org, (770) 242-0001
or greeg@gagam.org.