Newspaper Page Text
June 22, 2011
^Reporter
PAGE 5A
A Fresh Perspective
Guest Column
Let’s get
out of the
Middle East
BY BRANDON BROCK
^^^F^Bhe United States need not
f I \nettle in the affairs of the
east. We have our own
problems we need to deal
with, we cannot rebuild
and liberate nations in the Middle
East while we are barely functioning
ourselves. Our economy has not fully
recovered, we are spending more
money than
ever on social
programs that
have yet to
yield results,
and we contin
ue to fund our
Department of
Defense like it’s
the Cold War.
The Russian
bear is no
longer growl
ing at our
door, we can
afford to reduce our military spend-
By Brandon
Brock
ing.
The United States has been too
invested in the Middle East for too
long. Iraq was a painful and long
war that yielded a crippled nation
with a moderately functioning gov
ernment. Afghanistan is a farce,
Hamid Karzai is a crook, but we con
tinue to allow him to rule, and
attempts to unite the tribes are futile
at best. These people have no desire
to unite under an Afghani flag. This
discord among the nation’s people
leaves us with an impossible job. And
the worst part is, it is not even our
job. The Middle East is the new
Vietnam. The one thing the
American people know for certain is
that they are tired of fighting. We are
hemorrhaging money on these wars
and its simply not necessary.
The bottom line is this, we have
done all that we can do. Staying in
the Middle East only further weak
ens our position. Staying in the
Middle East is not an effective strat
egy. The United States cannot and
should not permanently occupy
zones of hostility. We have done what
was necessary to preserve American
safety. Our job has ended. Iraq has
shown what happens when we over
stay our welcome, they become
dependent on us. This is happening
in Afghanistan and this will happen
in Libya. These nations become
dependent on U.S. aid. This is not
speculation, Iraq and the situation in
Afghanistan have provided more
than enough evidence to demon
strate a trend.
Now we have obligated ourselves to
another catastrophe. Libya is Iraq II.
Nothing good can come from our
involvement. I, like anyone, want
democracy to flourish around the
world, but not at the cost of the
American taxpayer. If Libya cannot
liberate itself, then the story should
end, it should not turn into another
problem for the United States to
solve. Libya is just the proliferation
of bad foreign policy decisions.
We are not the world police. Not
every crisis around the world is our
problem. In fact very few of the crises
in the world are our problem. The
outcome is not going to change just
because Uncle Sam beats the people
with a big stick. The inevitable just
becomes prolonged, dragged out and
painful for everyone involved. Let us
save the U.S. time, money, and lives
by not interfering.
Libya is not our problem and our
involvement is obnoxious. Let us
bring the boys home and focus on
domestic issues. Let us reduce Cold
War-era spending and focus on more
important issues. The United States
needs to turn in its badge. We no
longer need to validate our appointed
position as the world police.
Our approach to foreign policy
needs to shift. The U.S. does not
need to waste money or resources on
ventures that have little chance of
success. The Middle East does not
want the U.S. to interfere. We should
respect those wishes. Our dominance
will be our downfall. If the United
States continues on this path, our
great nation will be so spread out
and exhausted that we will be more
prone to attack and economic col
lapse. I support the spread of democ
racy, but not at the expense of
American security.
Brandon Brock is a rising sen
ior at Mary Persons High School.
Carlisle: As I predicted, county line a mess
In the June 8 Reporter, colum
nist Don Daniel chided current
and former county commission
ers for contesting the Bibb-
Monroe county line. Former
Monroe County commission
chairman Harold Carlisle
was an exception however,
negotiating a settlement
with then-Bibb County
commission chairman
Charlie Bishop. Here,
Carlisle reflects on how it
unfolded.
of his staff, including the Bibb
County administrator and the
county attorney, Bishop and I
came to an agreement to leave
the line where it currently was
as far as school lines, voting
precincts and where cit
izens currently pay
taxes with the provi
sion that Bibb use its
engineering depart
ment to stake out the
county line, monument
it and mark it where
appropriate. All of this
would be at Bibb’s
expense and not cost
Monroe one red cent.
In addition, a promi
nent Bibb County
developer sat in my
kitchen and promised
me and said he would put it in
writing that he would build a
"big box" business doing an esti
mated, based on experience of
other stores, $80 million of busi
ness annually which would
bring in $1.6 million annually to
Monroe County in sales tax plus
ad volarem tax. His plans were
to also build a hotel on Monroe
County side of the line which
would bring in hotel/motel tax
plus ad volarem tax. But he said
he would not start construction
until the line was settled
because the Macon Water
Authority would not furnish
water and sewer until the line
was settled.
I had asked then Gov. Sonny
Perdue as a personal favor to
hold up on letting the surveyor
start until Bishop and I could
work out a compromise. He gra
ciously agreed. Once we worked
out the compromise, Bishop and
I went to the governor’s office in
Atlanta and told him what we
had agreed to. He praised us
both for our initiative and lead
ership and we came back home.
The law states that in a situa
tion like this, once a compromise
is reached, it must be agreed to
unanimously by both boards.
Former commissioner Mike
Bilderback, whose cousin was to
do the survey, as well as com
missioners Jim Ham and Larry
Evans, would not agree to the
compromise.
Somone reported to the Grand
Jury about the proposed com
promise. They subpeoned me to
a special session of the Grand
Jury to explain my recommen
dation. Once I testified under
oath why I had made the recom
mendation, they issued a pre
sentment requesting the Board
of Commissioners to accept my
recommendation. When I read
the presentment to the Board,
one Commissioner said "we
don't have to do what they say".
All of the above was published
in your paper after I made my
appearance before the Grand
Jury.
I don't claim to be brilliant but
I do claim common sense and I
predicted exactly what the out
come would be if Monroe County
fought this thing. What I pre
dicted has come true and contin
ues to cost Monroe County
money.
As far a leadership is con
cerned, I will put my positions I
have held in my life against
whatever Don Daniel has
accomplished any time he would
like to publish them in the
paper.
Harold Carlisle was Monroe
County commission chairman
from 2005-08.
<
i, •• iflr.
ill
V
I was out of office when
the Monroe County
Grand Jury asked the
Board of Commission
ers to make an at
tempt to once and for all es
tablish the county line be
tween Bibb and Monroe. I am in a
similiar situation to our current
president, "I inherited this mess".
Again to the best of my knowl
edge I began working on a com
promise with Bibb County as
soon as the matter was brought to
my attention.
After several meetings with
Bibb County commission chair
man Charlie Bishop and several
By
Harold
Carlisle
Hickman
continued from the front
Hickman said moving into the central office will provide some new
challenges for him, but he said one benefit is that he will get to work
with many of the same people.
"My job has always been to support and provide people with what
they need," Hickman said. "I don't think that will change."
Under Hickman's leadership, Banks Stephens was one of 45
Georgia schools to be named a 2010 Platinum Award winner of the
Single Statewide Accountability System (SSAS) award for Greatest
Gain in Advanced Yearly Progress (AYP). Banks Stephens has actual
ly met AYP goals for six consecutive years. Banks Stephens was also
named a National Title I school in 2008.
In addition to the school's academic achievements, Hickman said he
is proud that Banks Stephens has taken on a larger role in the com
munity in recent years. He also mentioned he is proud of the "very
collaborative" team concept that the faculty and staff have assumed
at the school.
The assistant superintendent position became available on June 9
after Dr. Lori Rodgers, who had served as the system's Director of
Federal Programs for the last four years, announced she had accept
ed the position of Executive Director for Special
Programs with Bibb County Schools.
Rodgers' decision set off a chain reaction of cen
tral office personnel moves that concluded with
Hickman's hiring.
First, Sheila Smith will no longer serve as
Director of Personnel and Testing. Instead, Smith
will take over as the Director of Assessment and
Federal Programs, taking on the day-to-day oper
ations of Federal Programs that was previously
handled by Rodgers.
Also, Angie Dillon, who has served as Executive
Director for Teaching and Learning for two years,
will take on a new title of Assistant
Superintendent for Teaching and Learning for
Elementary Education and Federal Programs.
According to Monroe County school superin
tendent Anthony Pack, from a Federal Programs
perspective, Dillon will now oversee the expense
of federal funds and the consolidated application.
That move left vacant the position of Assistant
Superintendent for Personnel and Teaching and
Learning for Middle and High School Education,
which was filled Tuesday with the hiring of
Hickman. The position was created by the void of
losing Rodgers, as well as Smith's shifted respon
sibility.
Pack said the system opted only to post the
position internally and mandated the candidates
must have both taught and served as a principal
at either the middle or high school level. He said
one other candidate besides Hickman applied.
Pack said Hickman will begin his new job
immediately but will continue focusing on Banks
Stephens as well until a new principal is selected.
Pack added Hickman will meet with him in the
next week or so to outline a 30, 60 and 90-day
transition plan. In the plan, Pack said he and
Hickman will determine the next steps for
recruiting, hiring and retaining "highly qualified"
staff.
Among his new duties, Hickman will meet with
the county's middle and high school administra
tors to conduct a needs assessment for curricu
lum, instruction and assessment for both levels.
Pack said Hickman will also review the Georgia
Assessment of Performance on School Standards
(GAPSS) for each school to assist and support
system schools as they seek to meet the recom
mendations defined by the GAPSS team mem
bers.
Hickman said much of his work will deal with
systemwide personnel issues. He said among his
duties will be to keep up with professional learn
ing units for teachers.
Pack said Hickman was selected for the posi
tion because of "his dedication to the education of
the boys and girls of Monroe County."
Pack said, "He (Hickman) has had experiences
as a teacher, coach, assistant principal and prin
cipal. Dr. Hickman brings many experiences to
this position having served at the elementary,
middle and high school levels. A review of student
achievement data at BSMS reveals his desire to
have a strong staff meeting the academic needs
of those students served at BSMS."
Hickman told the board: "I appreciate the opportunity. I've been
thinking a lot about it over the last few days. I'm looking forward to
working with the board and the students and stakeholders of Monroe
County to continue what we've started. And that's to improve teach
ing and learning and provide opportunities for our students here in
school and beyond. I think that's our next frontier. To provide those
opportunities beyond high school."
While Hickman will work with the middle and high schools, Dillon
will oversee the curriculum, instruction and assessment for elemen
tary education in her new capacity.
Pack said Hickman, Dillon and he will begin working to secure a
replacement for Hickman at Banks Stephens. The position was offi
cially posted on Wednesday. Pack said a committee composed of
teachers, parents and staff will assist in identifying the right choice.
Pack said the committee will be similar in size to the 12-person one
recently used in hiring Alicia Elder as principal at K.B. Sutton
Elementary earlier this month.
The school system had not released Hickman’s new salary at
presstime.
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