About StarNews. (Carrollton, GA) 20??-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 14, 2024)
Page 20 January 14, 2024 StarNews www.starnewsgaonline.com Standing our ground Jason SWINDLE SWINDLE LAW GROUP, PC. Hey, baby, there ain’t no easy way out. Hey, I will stand my ground and I won’t back down. No, I won’t back down. Tom Petty - Johnny Cash Most people were bom with the virtue of courage. It has been said that those bom with courage still have fear. It is their ability to over come fear that defines them. The courageous can overcome obstacles, look fear in the eye, and endure hardships because of inner strength. When we have cour age, we are unstoppable, able to accomplish amazing things, and conquer challenges that appear insurmountable. It is a quality that, throughout history, has motivated numerous people to stand up for what they are passionate about, pursue justice, and have a positive impact on the world. It is easy to feel overwhelmed and inclined to give up when faced with uncertainty and injustice. Unwavering courage, on the other hand, forbids giving in to such pressures. The courageous are cognizant of the ups and downs that make up life’s journey, and they make the conscious decision to face their obstacles head- on because it strengthens them. Courage works like a muscle; getting stronger the more it is used. We develop resil iency and toughness every time we confront a challenge and take decisive action. As we pro ceed, we begin to see that we are far more capable than we first thought, and this new found assurance encourages us to move forward. When faced with difficulty, courage can act as a compass by providing direction and moti vation. It serves as a reminder that countless people have overcome obstacles much greater than what we are facing today. The courageous tales that have been passed down through the decades also serve as a reminder of the inner power that most of us possess and an inspiration to tackle our own problems with God as our leader. In order to maintain courage, it is essential to surround ourselves with a strong group of peo ple who inspire and support us during times of difficulty. The inspiration needed to continue on the path of courage can be found in the company of people who are willing to join us when we encounter adversity. Tme courage gives us the confidence to con front our adversaries, stand our ground, fight for other people when they cannot fight for themselves, and go beyond the limits of our potential. This will always influence our lives and the lives of others for the better. My office has a “war room.” It is a place where we meet with clients. Ninety-nine per cent of those clients and family members are suffering. Thousands of tears have been shed in that room over the years. Yet, even though our culture suggests that the strongest are stoic, have little emotions, and appear to be fear less, I have learned that tears do not equate to cowardice. Most of the time, those tears are a sign of strength and courage. When I was a boy, I knew two fanners who in a rural county. They survived on the success of their soybean, com, and cotton crops cou pled with reasonable property taxes. When taxes were doubled on their lands, the fanners each had a different approach. The first fanner was afraid to tangle with the county, paid the exorbitant taxes with the profits from his crops, and eventually went bankrupt. The second fanner was afraid as well. He wept the day he found out that his fann was in peril. But, his faith was bigger than Iris fear. He clearly saw the injustice. So, he appealed his tax assess ment, and convinced others to do the same. His courage to stand his ground when it was dan gerous not only significantly cut his taxes, the taxes of the other hard working fanners who joined him had their taxes cut, too. A woman I once knew had been convinced that her mother and step-father cared deeply for her and her children. She was naive. When she was faced with divorce, her mother and step-father abandoned her and took her ex-husband into their home. They also tried to alienate the children from her. Some par ents would accept defeat and move on with their lives. She refused. Instead, she fought for her children. Today, those children are healthy and thriv ing. A mother’s courage saved her children from people who would seek to fill their lives with criminal activity, unethical behavior, lazi ness, greed, and many other character defects. There are millions of examples of people who chose to make their faith greater than their fear. Let’s not ever allow our courage to be for gotten since it is what lights the flame of great ness within us. We can accept it, nurture it, and let it lead us to a future that is full of meaning and fulfillment. Let’s stand our ground. Courage works like a muscle; getting stronger the more it is used. We develop resiliency and toughness every time we confront a challenge and take decisive action... courageous tales that have been passed down through the decades also serve as a reminder of the inner power that most of us possess and an inspiration to tackle our own problems with God as our leader. BRASS from front page “People in Carroll County need to know my voting record reflects that I am pretty Conservative. I’m everything I said I was going to be. I am Pro-Life, Pro-2nd Amendment, and Pro-Business. Being Pro- Business, I am certainly for our number one business in the state which is agriculture. I am a strong Christian and a family man loving my wife and children. I love our state and particu larly this west side of the state which I repre sent. I grew up, live, and work in Newnan.” Senator Brass is Majority Vice Chair and also currently serves as Chairman of the Reappointment and Redistricting Committee, Vice Chairman of the Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee, Vice Chairman of the Economic Development and Tourism Committee, Secretary of the Natural Resources and the Environment Committee and serves as an ex-officio member of the Education and Youth Committee. For the upcoming legislative session which began January 8th, Senator Brass said the pri ority for him and the state legislature will con tinue to focus on foster care and adoption refonns to allow the Department of Family and Children Services to “do their job”. As they have in the past few years, the legislature will focus on mental health, and with the state strongly growing, they will focus on the infrastructure. “These three are pressing and will continue to be pressing for years to come.” Brass also said they will continue to reduce the income tax. “Until four years ago, there had not been an income tax reduction, and since then there have been three reductions. I will support plans to eliminate the tax, but it has to be a gradual reduction and must be done in a responsible way. We need to be smarter and more responsi ble than the federal government has been.” Senator Brass also announced on January 2nd that he would not be a candidate for the open United States House of Representative District 3 seat of retiring Congressman Drew Ferguson. “It is hard to watch your children grow up from Washington.” Brass has a unique perspective on the Washington, D.C. job having been Chief of Staff for former District 3 Congressman Lynn Westmoreland. “After that job, that position has not been on my to-do list. I am not saying never, but now is not the right time. Today, is not the day.” Recently, a Pew Research survey found 72% of citizens - regardless of party affiliation - had a negative view of Congress. StarNews asked Senator Brass what he felt needed to change considering his unique perspec tive. He sug gested, “They need to develop a plan for fiscal responsibility. They can’t keep writing blank checks. They need a bipartisan approach to the border which they have not had in forty years. They need to start sitting down and having conversations. Each state is unique. Let’s let each state work it out.” Brass was raised in Newnan. After graduat ing Newnan High School, he joined the U.S. Navy. After graduating from the University of Georgia, Brass then served as Chief of Staff to Westmoreland. Brass and his wife Maegan have been mar ried since 2007 and have two sons, Freeman and Archie, and a daughter, Rimiy. He owns a small commercial roping company and is in constmction. matt.brass@senate.ga.gov / 770-765-6100 ... my voting record reflects that I am pretty Conservative. I’m everything I said I was going to be. I am Pro-Life, Pro-2nd Amendment, and Pro-Business ... 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