Newspaper Page Text
HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1980
Page Os Opinion
It’s Your Responsibility To Vote
Next Tuesday, the citizens of
Perry will be called upon to vote
again. Most local political ob
servers are predicting a small
turnout since there have been so
many elections already this year.
Regardless of how many elec
tions we have, each one is im
portant and the voters not only
have a right to cast a ballot, but an
obligation.
The obligation of casting a free
ballot ... what an obligation. It’s
more of a privilege. The right to
decide who will lead our city for the
next few years ... the right to give
the Incumbent Councilman a vote
of confidence or to cast him out.
Don’t you think the oppressed
people of Cuba would love to have
the right to vote on giving Fidel a
vote of confidence or casting him
v Boh Jones town f
As we enter the holiday season
with Thanksgiving observance this
week, most columnists and com
mentators will be writing and
talking about why we should be
thankful.
Often I’m reminded of a true
incident thaty happened in Florida
a few years ago that shows how
adults, with their materialist
minds, overlook the really im
portant things, while a child can
see things so much clearer,
A young man with a wife and
three children had struggled to go
into business for himself. He quit
his job and was working to develop
this business of his own. In leaving
his previous salaried job, he failed
to convert his health insurance.
After a year or so, the man was
told he must have major surgery or
he would die within a couple of
months. He was forced to sell his
business to pay off some of
had trouble keeping food on their
After surgery, he was unable to
work for several months and the
young wife could not work and care
for her small children and husband
during his long recovery.
As a result, the family became
destitute, the car and most of the
furniture was repossessed, their
home was foreclosed on and they
hda trouble keeping food on their
table.
After a very bleak Christmas, the
wife’s family sent them the money
■» i bij tAwje&i dAa/rtin
With Thanksgiving Day here, a
time when everyone is supposed to
count his blessings instead of his
problems, I have been wondering
why complaining comes so easily
to me.
I think I have it figured out. The
reason I enjoy griping is because
none of my complaints are really
serious enough to override all I
have going for me.
For instance, not one day passes
that I don’t moan and groan about
having to get out of bed in the
morning. Why, I ask, can’t I sleep
just one more hour (or two)? It’s
easy to think of multitude of
reasons to stay in bed.
The reasons to be thankful for
getting up are even more
numerous, but somehow they
aren’t as easy to think of at 6:45
a.m. At this special time, though,
they come to me faster than I can
write them down.
First, I am thankful that I am
physically able to perform the act
of getting out of bed. I have no
infirmity that makes me unable to
stand and walk. Also, although I
have often been told I “ain’t got no
out?
In most countries, to change the
leaders of government requires an
armed uprising and bloodshed,
such as the upheaval in Iran.
No where else on the face of this
earth do the people enjoy as much
freedom and power as do the
citizens of our great country, and
no where else do the citizens take
their responsibilities so lightly.
Its true that next Tuesday’s City
Election may not change the
course of history, but the man
elected to fill the Council seat next
week will be called upon to make
decisions that will effect the lives of
every citizen of Perry.
So take five minutes of your time
on Election Day and cast an in- ,
formed ballot. You’ll be glad you
did!
to come to their house for a few
days over the upcoming New
Year’s holiday.
On New Year’s Eve, the man was
lamenting the unhappy oc
currences of the outgoing year and
expressed hope that the upcoming
year would be a better year.
His six-year-old daughter
overheard her Dad’s comments
and told him, “Daddy, this has
been a good year!”
The father questioned how his
daughter could call the previous
year good with everything that had
happened and recited some of the
unhappy events of that year.
The small girl replied simply,
“But Daddy, you lived!”
To us adults, material
possessions are often looked upon
as more important than life itself,
but to a small child, whose mind is
not clouded with the maze of
financial affairs, the most im
portant thing was that her Dad had
lived.
I try to remember the words of
that small, but wise child whenever
I get depressed.
As Americans we have so much
to be thankful for, but if things are
not as you want them and you feel
there is nothing to give thanks for
on Thanksgiving Day, think about
the words of that six year old child,
“But Daddy, you lived!”
Have a nice holiday!
sense,” I have the blessing of all
the five senses - sight, sound,
taste, smell and touch - that
constantly enrich and simplify my
life.
I am thankful for a reason to get
up in the mornings. Each work day,
as well as each other day, gives me
a new mission to accomplish, a new
goal to meet.
I am thankful that, although 1
can think of many material things I
would like to have, I do not lack one
thing I really need.
I am thankful that I have a home
in Perry, and a family that lives
close enough to visit often.
I am thankful that I am
surrounded by people who care
about me, and who are willing for
me to care about them.
Finally, I am thankful for the
endless opportunities each day
brings. Opportunities for what?
For anything. For looking at the
clouds. For making a phone call to
an old friend. For listening to
music. For trying a new brand of
muffin mix. For winking at
somebody. For experiencing all the
little things which, collectively,
mean the most in life.
PAGE 4-A
\ A f.
i v % 6
y / t
SAMPLE
BALLOT
DIRECTIONS FOR
VOTING ON THE
VOTING MACHINE CITY OF PERRY, GA. I
n ULL the red handle of the curtain DECEMBER 2, 1980
I lever (lower left side of the machine)
from the left to right as far as it will go
and leave it there (this will close the
curtain around you and unlock the ma
chine tor voting).
■■'■■■■■■■'l'm Sim '’ * LAa. m yi i t ■ i k-4 'S
HI rail
Slliii mmh
The Voter about *# The Voter Closing The Curtain Cosed {Vote for One) ■
Claee the Curtain the Curtoio the Voter Inside,
v«.« P. C. 4
On the ballot shown at the right you I j ~ “
will find title of public office or party D3rD3r3 C. CsIHoUD
positions. The names of the candidates ft
or group of candidates will follow under
each title. Turn down the pointer at the (05
right of the candidate or candidates you
wish to vote for until an [x] mark appears FOR COUNCIL
at the right of each candidate's name POST NO. 4
for whom you intend to vote, and leave (Vote for One)
the [x] mark showing, from P. C. 6
tl s m Drsper Wstson
,!, \
John Doe
FOR COUNCIL
to this «WT NO. 5
(Vote for One)
Joh Bobbin "Bob" Jackson
\ I
Thomas Moyo
Leaving the pointer or pointers down In ’U
fheir voting position, pull the red handle Jft
of the curtain lever to the left as far as
if will go and leave it there (this will Jgg PqSCV
register your vote and return the pointers a
to their first position, after which the 'll
curtain will open). /gB
A FEW WORDS OF EXPLANATION FOR COUNCIL
No votes are registered until you pull POST NO 6
the curtain lever to the left to open the ,V ote for One)
curtain. You can therefore make as many p. c. 12
changes In your ballot as you wish while D I L r
the curtain lover is at its extreme right n3lp(l uCnify
(curtain closed). A
Each candidate's voting pointer it to the
right of his name. '
The machine is so arranged that you can
not turn down more than the proper
number of pointers for an office. For
example, if only one candidate is to be
elected for any office or party position
you can turn down only one pointer for
shat office. If more than one candidate
is to be elected to an office or party
Edition, you can turn down only the num
er of pointers for the number of candi
dates to be elected. No vote will be regis
tered for any candidate except that with
e pointer left down over his name. So be
sure to leave the pointer down over the
name you wish to vote for, with the [x]
showing, thus:
John
_d_kl
Thar* it no dangor of anyont know*
ing how you veto, as the movement
of the curtain lever to the left returns
the voted pointer up to its unvoted posi
tion before the curtain begins to open.
I
<_bq Smifq jUoatqome/uj /
Everyone knows the story of the first
Thanksgiving. How the first settlers at
Plymouth, Mass, though many died, - survived
their first hard winter and after a good corn
harvest that summer they knew they were
headed for a new and better life. Governor
William Bradford decreed that the first
Thanksgiving Day be celebrated on July 30, 1623
as a day of prayer as well as celebration.
Thanksgiving Day has evolved into a family day
celebrated with big dinners and family reunion.
All of us at the very mention of Thanksgiving
have memories of kitchens and dining tables
loaded with good things to eat. I can remember
singing as a child “Over the hills and through the
woods to grandmother’s house we go” to join
others of our family for dinner.
Thanksgiving is also a time for special
religious emphasis, church services and prayer
I would remind you of the community service to
be held this year at the Perry Presbyterian
Church Wednesday night.
As we come to this day 1980, let’s offer this
Thanksgiving prayer. Our Father, on this
Thanksgiving Day, we come humbly to thank
you for the many blessings that have come our
way since last Thanksgiving.
For our families who share our joys and
sorrows, for the friends who show their interest
and concern in so many ways, we thank you for
without the love and understanding of family and
friends, life would have no meaning.
For the many freedoms that we have here in
this country, we thank you, for the men and
women who have fought and stood for the
principles that you have set forth. We would ask
your blessings upon president - elect Ronald
Reagan and the other newly elected officials of
our great country as the transition has begun for
new leadership in our national government. We
would ask your guidance as votes are cast next
week for men to fill the post on our city council.
Make us mindful that these are our duties and
are important and necessary to the ongoing of
freedom.
For all the blessings of the year, for all the
friends we hold so dear, for peace on earth both
far and near, we thank you. For life and health,
these common things, which every day and hour
brings, for home, where our affection clings, we
thank you. For your love, which never tires,
which all our better thoughts inspires, and
warms our lives with heavenly fires, we thank
you.
To you, Lord, we are deeply grateful. Help us
to show our gratitude in our everyday lives
before you and others. Amen.
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The Houston Home Journal
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AND HOUSTON COUNTY, GEORGIA, SINCE 1170
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