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A4 Lake Oconee News Friday, March 24,2017 Start the conversation Send us your opinions by Monday at 1 p.m. news@lakeoconeenews.us 11 i| .... trtgf The death of civility When once the forms of civility are violated, there remains little hope of return to kindness or decency. - Samuel Johnson I’m not sure when it happened: The increase in the vitriol and name-call ing, the ugly remarks and hurtful words and the unprecedented levels of self-righteous indignation and plain ole hissy fits. Our television screens broadcast angry people at all times of the day and night. It seems as though common courtesy and decorum are no longer a part of popular culture, leaving us to wonder if we are witnessing finality for good manners and the death of civility. Nationally, bad behavior is often seen during congressional hearings, on celebrity award shows,and nightly at the six o’clock news hour. People are now being exposed to rude lectures in public places and college forums show a remarkable lack of tolerance for differing opinions. What is most troubling is the overall disregard for general civility and common courtesy in everyday life. This behavior, now sifting down to small towns, can be seen in the hurtful remarks and harsh statements made in governmental meetings, Hank Segars Lakelife Associate Editor in postings on blogs and social media and in irate letters to editors. This brings us to today’s burning questions: Are we witnessing the death of civility? And whatever happened to good manners? Once upon a time - or so it seemed - it was okay to have differing viewpoints. We might not agree with someone’s opinion but there would be attempts to provide a fair hearing without becoming defen sive or responding with mean retorts and sharp barbs. Moreover, if we took time to respectfully listen to the argument, new things might be learned. Hearing all sides still makes perfect sense. “Civility means a great deal more than being nice to one another,” writes Pier Massimo Forni in his book entitled Choosing Civility. “It is complex and encompasses learning SEE SEGARS » A6 News from the capitol Very few bills passed this week as the House and Senate “horse-traded” some bills and held others “hostage” that were import ant to the other Chamber. It’s all part of the “sau sage-making” that is frus trating but not altogether surprising in a constitution al republic. One of the few bills that did pass both Chambers was our Fireman Insurance bill. Also, a slight expansion to the number of diagnoses that medical cannabis oil can be used for passed a hurdle in the Senate, as well as another campus carry bill. My school transparen cy bill will be on the floor of the Senate on Monday, as well as many other mili tary-friendly bills. In the House, we passed a Senate bill that hopes to stop the feud between micro-brew eries and large distributors, as well as a new license plate that honors law-en forcement. There was also a measure that allows Georgia to recognize EMS personnel from other states when they operate near and across our borders. I was part of two huge events at the capitol this week. The first was Georgia National Guard Day where I honored the 14,000 Georgians who serve in our Guard. The GA Guard generates $1 billion into our economy, bringing in $500 million from the Federal government with only a $11 million commit ment from Georgia. It’s also much different than Dave Belton State Representative when I joined the Navy: the term “weekend warrior” no longer applies as Georgia currently has 400 warriors deployed right now and many of our heroes have deployed six or more times. The Guard is the “911” force the Governor relies on in times of natural disasters, as well as an anti-narcotics team that intercepts tens of millions of dollars of drugs every year. They also run several Youth Academy’s, where they train 1,000 young people every year to become better citizens. Finally, they conduct eight military funerals every SEE BELTON » A7 THa FIR ST ROBBIN' OF 5PRIN6? Being a modest, much-beloved columnist can get testy I regret I won’t have time this week to get into the details about how Barack Obama managed to wiretap Donald Trump’s shoelaces or what life was like in Mongolia during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Please be patient. I have both subjects at the top of my To-Do list in the coming weeks. Instead, I must apply for my annual recertification as a modest and much-beloved columnist. This is not unlike propane tank recertification, only a lot more dangerous. Propane tanks don’t tend Dick Yarbrough Guest Columnist to blow up when called a bed-wetting liberal by an angry white guy or the south ernmost part of a north bound equine by a — well — bed-wetting liberal. (Those weren’t her exact words, but I am sure you get the gist of what she was saying). Editors would likely find a propane tank easier to manage and wouldn’t have to spend a lot of time ex plaining to angry readers why they keep running a propane tank on their pages each week. Now, if you will excuse me, I must get to my paper work. It has to be turned in today. Otherwise, I will have to pay a late fee and then be required to watch a rerun of the 2016 scrum between the student-athletes from UGA and You-Know-Where Insti tute of Technology. Actually, I am only required to watch the last 36 seconds of that debacle but that is punish ment enough. QUESTION ONE: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR POLITICAL PHI LOSOPHY? Besides being called a bed-wetting liberal by an angry white guy or one end of an equine headed in the other direction by a bed-wet- ting liberal? Gee, I don’t know. Maybe a horse’s patoot who wets his bed? GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE YOUR COLUMN MADE A DIF FERENCE: That’s easy. The Jekyll Island Authority an nounced it was going to shoot the whitetail deer on the island because they were a nuisance (the deer, not members of the Jekyll Island Authority). Since I believe most tourists come to Jekyll Island to see the deer and not members of the Jekyll Island Authority, I suggested that the white- tail deer shoot members of the Jekyll Island Au thority. That seems to have solved the problem. WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR BIGGEST DISAPPOINT MENT? I wish I could have had a greater impact on the growing epidemic of hu mor-impairment in this nation. I failed miserably to SEE YARBROUGH » A5 Lake Oconee News General Excellence Award Winner 2015-2016 GEORGIA PRESS ASSOCIATION President / Publisher A. Mark Smith Vice President Jo Ann Smith Vice President, General Manager Mark Smith Jr. Vice President, Circulation Matt Smith Vice President Michael Smith Associate Editor T. Michael Stone Sports Editor Justin Hubbard Staff Writer Dave Brown Staff Writer Shannon Sneed Staff Writer Katherine Klimt Display Advertising Manager Vicki Parker Advertising Representative Chelsea Selby Advertising Representative Mary de Guiseppi Advertising Representative Michael Payne Eatonton Messenger Associate Editor Lynn Hobbs Lakelife Editor Beverly Harvey Lakelife Associate Editor Hank Segars National Advertising Manager Amy Hood Legal Advertising/Circulation Becky Meyer Production and Technology Manager Josh Lurie Graphic Artist Ali Henderson Graphic Artist Mark Brill Business Manager Cassandra Fowler DEDICATION Battle B. Smith EDITOR AND PUBLISHER 1956-1988 Micky Smith EDITOR AND PUBLISHER 1989-2003 ADVERTISING, NEWS AND INFORMATION Lake Oconee 1106 MARKET ST. • GREENSBORO 706-454-1290 Fax 706-454-1292 Madison 195 W. JEFFERSON ST. 706-342-9833 Fax 706-342-9839 Call 706-485-3501 for subscription information Subscription Rates One Year Two Years Putnam, Morgan, Greene counties $35 $65 Other Georgia counties $45 $80 Out of Georgia $55 $95 Postmaster: Send address changes to the ,1106 Market St., Greensboro, GA 30642. Periodicals postage paid at Greensboro, GA 30642. The (USPS 024-046) is published every Friday by Smith Communications Inc., 1106 Market St., Greensboro, GA 30642. All rights reserved. Reprints by permission of the and individual writers only. State and Federal Elected Officials Gov. Nathan Deal (R) 203 State Capitol Atlanta, GA 30334 (404) 656-1776 Web/e-mail: gagovernor.org Sen. David Perdue (R) B40D Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Phone: 202-224-3521 Sen. Burt Jones (R) 407 East Second St., Jackson, GA 30233 Phone: (770) 775-4880 Fax: (770) 234-6752 Sen. Johnny Isakson (R) United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-3643 Rep. Dave Belton (R) 401-B Coverdell Legislative Office Bldg. Atlanta, GA 30334 404.656.0152- Office dc.belton@house.ga.gov Rep. Jody Hice (R) 1516 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-4101 Fax: (202) 226-0776 Rep. Trey Rhodes (R) Room 612-B Coverdell Legislative Office Building Atlanta, GA 30334 404-656-0325 trey.rhodes@house.ga.gov The deadline to submit letters to the editor each week is Monday at 1 p.m. Send letters and other news to news@lakeoconeenews.us
