Newspaper Page Text
The True Citizen, Wednesday, December 16, 2020 — Page 5A
Michael N. Searles
We take democracy as a
given because we constantly
are told we live in a democracy.
We also see the trappings of
democracy in the separation of
powers and the voting process.
These institutional forms help
promote an idealized frame
work of power exercised by
the people. In Matthew 7:8,
it says, “For everyone who
asks receives; he who seeks
finds; and to him who knocks,
the door will be opened.” It
follows with an admonition,
(This is a partial reprint; for
some, Christmas is not the most
wonderful time of the year. It
can be sad and lonely. Please
remember this and try to be
extra kind to others because we
truly never know what someone
else may be dealing with.)
It was beautiful. Thirteen
layers of cake separated by
decadent chocolate icing. I’ve
seen lots of pictures of this
same cake posted on social
media by Burke County ladies,
but I’d never seen the recipe
before, so I read further.
One woman commented that
the cake itself wasn’t very fla
vorful. Another said to double
the icing. Several more shared
their suggestions on how to
tweak the recipe this way or
that way, adding more layers
"Which of you, if your son
asks for bread, will give him
a stone?”
Americans have been prom
ised an open door of liberty and
promise, but when there is an
attempt to open the door, it is
found locked. Americans are
patient and law abiding as long
as the door of opportunity is
not permanently shut. For the
past decade or so, the Ameri
can dream has gotten further
and further out of reach. We
have been taught anyone can
own a home and do better
than the previous generation,
but professional studies tell a
different story. Workers in the
U.S. are much more likely to
remain in the same social class
as their parents, yet this is not
or substituting ingredients for
healthier options. One lady
shared a picture of her son,
beaming behind what was ob
viously his birthday cake, cut
so you could see the 15 layers
representing his 15 years of
life. Then his mother’s words
continued. “Little did I know
that would be the last birthday
cake I’d ever make for him.”
My breath caught in my
throat, and I felt the hot flush
of tears on my face and in my
eyes. I wanted to know her
story immediately. To reach
out and just hug her. Sol kept
reading. I went to her profile.
I looked at her pictures, not
out of being nosy but because
empathy is a beast. In one
picture of her boy from a hunt
ing excursion, friends offered
their condolences, with one
saying, “I hope you find peace
in knowing he is with our
Lord and Savior.” The mother
responded, “I know where he
is and that I’ll see him again. I
just don’t know what to do with
me in the now.”
the case for workers in other
countries.
The number of billionaires
in the United States has more
than doubled in the last decade,
from 267 in 2008 to 607. While
segments of the population are
doing quite well, this gives a
false sense of equally distrib
uted prosperity. Even with
employment growth and low
unemployment rates before the
Pandemic, household income
only grew modestly in this
century. Economic inequality
in income and wealth between
rich and poor households con
tinues to widen. The middle
class continues to shrink with
the share of American adults
who live in middle-income
households decreasing from
Now. It’s the present that’s
always in the way, isn’t it? If
we aren’t thinking about the
past, reliving things we coulda
shoulda done or said, we are
stuck looking ahead and wor
rying about the future and what
tomorrow holds. But then, as
this mother found out, the now
is very well lived in; we just
don’t think about it as often
as we hurry through life. I’ve
learned it oftentimes takes the
absence of a life to really slow
down and reevaluate, to taste
what’s around us and count
every tiny blessing.
Close your eyes and count
to five. You still with me? It’s
a blessing that you are here
today, and your ability to open
and close your eyes, to breathe,
yes, to even worry, is purpose.
We all hurt for various reasons,
and this mama puts it in the
most raw, honest and simplest
form: I don’t know how to deal
with right now. I don’t know
how to live in these moments
without what once was.
But here we all are. Right
DEMOCRACY CHALLENGED
61% in 1971 to 51% in 2019.
Many other Americans have
slipped into poverty.
These conditions are made
worse as those elected to rep
resent us in state and national
government seem to have little
interest in the welfare of the
people. Times are not difficult
for U.S. Representatives and
Senators who annually earn
$174,000. While many elected
officials come to office earn
ing a modest living, more than
half of those in Congress are
millionaires. One of Georgia’s
Senators reportedly is the rich
est member of that body. It is
difficult for those who live a
life of comfort to acknowledge
or believe that others are suf
fering.
now. We are alive, but are we
living?
I’ve hidden myself behind
many layers, embarrassed to
share my grief and pain with
others, forced to think about
“now” and find ways to ma
neuver it. Seeing this mother’s
honesty and the reactions of
those who love her reminds me
that is all we have to do to get
through the seasons of life. Be
honest with yourself. Open up.
Don’t hide or feel embarrassed.
Celebrate the moments as they
come and take time to enjoy
people and places (and food!).
Most importantly, remember
God’s promise to carry us.
“My flesh and my heart may
fail, but God is the strength
of my heart and my portion
forever.” Psalm 73:26
This is for anyone dealing
with silence that is too loud,
shadows that are too dark, less
laundry in the basket, too many
groceries in the fridge, empty
chairs and flashbacks. You are
not alone.
This is a desperate time for
many Americans. There are
long lines in many cities of
people who never thought they
would need free food. When
citizens at no fault of their
own are unable to pay their
rent or mortgage and students
are drowning in debt, this is
the time for a governmental
response. Yet, many Congress
men believe that if times are
hard, the people just need to
try harder.
It is in this environment that
millions of Americans sought
a hero to make their lives
better. If the political parties
cannot work together for the
benefit of the people, maybe
a populist leader who would
ignore the parties and forge
ahead would be the answer. A
recent study found that in the
U.S., 46 percent of those aged
18 to 29 would prefer to be
governed by experts compared
with 36 percent of respondents
aged 50 and older who favored
democratic leadership.
Most people want to live in
a society where they are safe,
make a good living, and have
an enjoyable life. Political
leaders are playing a danger
ous game when they jockey
for political advantage at the
expense of making America a
betterplacetolive. Restricting
people from voting, dividing
Americans with poisonous
rhetoric, causing greater ra
cial antagonism, and attaining
power over the needs of the
people comes at a very high
cost. Without what used to
be bi-partisanship, the next
Populist Leader is just wait
ing in the wings. A person
with charisma, charm, and a
promise that only he can fix it
has the potential to mesmerize
and capture the support of the
disheartened. Some lessons
are implied and understood.
For what does it profit political
leaders to gain the whole world
and lose the soul of America.
City of Waynesboro
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
A preliminary plat has been received by the City of
Waynesboro requesting to have a Subdivision at
065-014A (Lovers Lane).
A Public Hearing with the Planning Commission will
be held at City of Waynesboro Ice Plant, 260 Barron
Street, Waynesboro, GA 30830 on December 31,
2020 at 5:00 p.m.
All those in favor or objecting to this petition should
be present to voice their support or objections at
the Public Hearing. If you have any questions,
please contact the City of Waynesboro Community
Development Director, Trinetta Skinner at (706)
554-8006.
Persons with special needs relating to disability
access may use the Georgia Relay Service for the
hearing impaired at 1-800-255-0056 or contact the
City Manager, Valerie Kirkland at (706) 554-8000
prior to December 31,2020.
Diana Royal
HALLELUJAH
BURKE COUNTY BUSINESS DIRECTORY
These local professionals are here to serve you!
Air Conditioning I Electrical & Generator
TRUST.
IT'S MORE THAN A WORD TO US.
ITS OUR WORD TO YOU.
#ncm
70* 5 54-73d 1 / 70*-530-4516
COMPLETE
SYSTEM
DIAGNOSTICS
*49
TRANE
FKWELL
ELECTRIC CO.
706-554-2861
[«w>llvlt(lric,cvm
QENERAC
AUTHORISED DEALER
&02 West 6ti Street
Waynesboro, GA 30630
PHONE (TOG) 554-2861
Air Conditioning
*1jL COUNTy jj|k
TRW W
nnhdiar
riiirnnln
™ Commercial - Residential ”
Sales & Service
1040 Both&sda Church Hoad
Girard, GA
Mobile; 706-339-9343
Ckuin Air
f*HTn<»Td
FillDM
First Rain WnrmrtAs
ill
Contractor
HIGHSIUIITH BUILDING SERVICES, INC.
constructing custom homes stace t&flt
JOHN A. HIGHSMITH
JdIioH ig hs-mr.h grotw;inaii.win
P
et Grooming
u ^ 2
z>pringviood
Boarding & Grooming
706-592-0444
32t>y Old Wayriesbaru Kaatf
Hnph/Lhnh. GA SOB 15
'‘Cdring ItandJ foryMpreciowpef
Insurance
Stacey L. Herrmann, LUTCF • Agency Mgr.
FARM
BUREAU
GEORGIA
P.O. Box 329
Georgia Farm Bireau Insurance Services
Soulham fami Si.r&au Life ins iiranr.a Company
Office 706-554-2017 FAX: 706-554-7482
Email; sHierrniann^gfbinsxom
CLAIMS # 1-S55-432-2567
Waynesboro, GA 30830
Wrecker Service
706-551-3998
706-551-0876
TAYLOR BROTHERS
Wrecker Service
206 West 12th Street
Automotive Repair & Wrecker Service
Family Owned and Operated since 1963
3UGA. % 24 HaL 704 554-7814
24-Henr Towing after hours
70S554-5SM
We sell Truck S Trailer Accessories - We sell Trailer Tires
ADVERTISE HERE!
To be included in the Burke
County Business Directory,
contact Roy Chalker
at 706-554-2111.