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Thanksgiving and thankfulness
hisisthetime of year when
we're all asked to reach
within ourselves and de
termine the things or the people
for which we’re thankful. As we
do, we should also be cognizant of
those around us who feel as
though they have very little that
requires giving thanks. Regard
less of how good or bad we think
our situationsare, if we’rebreath
ing, there is reason for an atti
tude of gratitude. So many people
did make it to see the end of the
year 2000. And, as quiet as it’s
kept, we don’t know if we will
either.
Just to be counted among the
living should cause all of us to
thank God for the gift of life dur
Special
From page 8A
runsin Oregon’s Snake River —
that gained currency in and pro
duced votes for Nader’s cam
paign. Cockburn concludes, “As
for Nader holding the country
toransom, what’s wrongwitha
hostage-taker with a national
backing of 2.7 million people?
Theelection came alive because
of Nader. Let’s hope he and the
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By The Rev. Dr. |
Ralph C. Watkins X
ing this Thanksgiving season. If
our lives are not as we would like
them to be, then maybe we need
tothink about some things differ
ently before the next Thanksgiv
ing. So much of who we are is
based in how we think. If you
think you have nothing, then who
are we to argue with you. If you
feel like you can’t do anything to
change your situation, then why
should anyone else try.
Greens keep it up through the
next four years ... He got them
where it counted, and now the
Democrats are going to have to
deal with it.”
Butin truth, the election didn’t
comealive. Turnout barely passed
anabysmal 50 percent. Yes, Nader
campaigned against the corporate
special interests. That’s why
Naderunraveled at the polls. The
masses of the American people
didn’t want ideological agendas
or petty sectarianism. They’d
rather have George Bush or Al
Gore. Or not vote at all. When
Gov. Jesse Ventura told Larry
King the American people want a
centristindependent party, he was
talking about an independent
If you've said that you have
nothing to be thankful for this
year, then you’ve probably over
looked your blessing. Try taking
the little that God has given you,
regardless of how small you think
it is, and trying turning it into
something that will benefit oth
ers. You’llbeamazed at how much
your “seeds” of concern and genu
ine giving will bless others and
you as well.
Have a happy and peaceful
Thanksgivingfilled with thoughts
of thanksgiving and an overcom
ing attitude! '
Dr. Watkins is a sociology pro
fessor at Augusta State Univer
sity and can be reached at (706)
737-1735 or email:
rwatkins@aug.edu
party that is based neither on
ideology or special interests.
Ultimately, rejecting all
forms of special interest poli
tics — including the Left and
Right ideological versions of it
— will be required to move
Americaahead. Neither Nader
nor Buchanan did that this
year. That was the biggest loss
of all.
Dr. Lenora twice ran for
President of the United States
asanindependent, making his
tory in 1988 when she became
the first woman and African
American to get on the ballot in
all 50 states. Shecan bereached
by phone at 800-288-3201 or at
fulanicolumn@cuip.org.
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Chronicle editor: Augusta’s
lifeline depends on racial diversity
Augusta Chronicle editorial
pageeditor Suzanne Downing was
keynote speaker at the Nov. 13
meeting of Augustans Together
at BL’s Restaurant in Augusta.
The gist of Downing’s theme
focused on “Augusta: A Tale of
Two Cities.” In elaborating,
Downing said that as a newcomer
tothelocal area, she realizes that
black and white factions of the
community have remained sepa
rate, although someblendingdoes
occur. In her speech, Downing
told Augustans Together mem
bers, “Usually, when overlap oc
curs (between whites and blacks),
it’s temporary. We work together,
attend a few galas together. But,
when we retreat to our circle of
friends, they’re usually like us in
color and cultural background.”
Downingoffered the Oct. 20 CSRA
Classic Banquet and the Augusta
Opera as two examples of events
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Suzanne Downing
that attract racially divisive parts
of the community. Downing said
sheattended both affairs, but was
: What if...
Children were born without prejudice?
They are!
“The purpose of religion as revealed from the
heaven of God’s Holy Will is to establish unity
and concord amongst the peoples of the w0r1d...”
For more information about the Baha’i Faith
Call (706) 863-9498
Orvisit us at http://www.scescape.net/bahai/
NOVEMBER 23, 2000
one of about 20 whites at the
Classic Banquet; while the opera
had “two, maybe three” African
Americans.
In conclusion, Downing said her
employer, Morris Communica
tions, Inc., is making strides to
embrace diversity in the work
place and to evoke positive
changesthrough stories published
in the Chronicle. Downing also
challenged Augustans Together:
“ ... If this group ever had an
opportunity to make its stamp on
Augusta, the time is now. The
time is right for some big leaps
forward in this long march. But
this will require leaps of faith by
all of us. It takes courage to
change,” said Downing, whocame
to the Chronicle earlier this year
after working at a Morris publica
tion in Juno, Alaska.
— Timothy Cox
11A