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PAGE 4A - THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS. WEDNESDAY. MAY 14. 2008
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Editorial Views
Congratulations To
The Classes Of 2008
Hundreds of local high school seniors will complete
their post-secondary educations in the next couple of
weeks. Commerce and Jefferson high schools will
hold graduation services Friday; East Jackson and
Jackson County high schools will present diplomas a
week later on Friday May 23.
These students have a right to feel pride for their
accomplishments, and the community shares their
joy. High school graduation is a crucial step in the
growth from child to adult. It marks the end of one
phase of life and the beginning of another, whether
the graduate continues the formal education process
in college, joins the work force or enters the military.
The 12-13 years of school are the foundation upon
which the rest of the graduates' lives will be built.
The graduates have completed the foundation upon
which most anything can be built.
Graduation signals that students are ready for more
responsibility and freedom. As young adults, they
will draw upon the knowledge they've acquired thus
far in school as they choose the next path in life.
Whatever direction they head, they will build upon
their high school educations. The Class of 2008 will
quickly understand that school may have ended, but
learning and education have not — that their educa
tion to this point has merely given them the tools
with which to navigate the rest of their lives and to
learn the new skills and information that will bring
further success.
A high school diploma is a key that opens many
doors in the future. By itself it is no guarantee of
future success, but it signifies that the student has
mastered the basic skills necessary to enter a college
or technical school, the armed forces or the job mar
ket. Congratulations to all of the graduating seniors
in the area, and may receipt of that diploma be the
beginning of many more successes.
Debate Before Council
Misses The Whole Point
Rep. Tommy Benton and Commerce Councilman
Bob Sosebee may each think they scored points in
their mini-debate at Monday night's city council
meeting, but at least in the matter of Benton's ability
to attract state funds, both missed the point.
Sosebee lamented the fact that Commerce “didn't
get its share" of millions of dollars of pork approved
by the General Assembly. Benton argued that he did
the best he could.
What they're talking about is largely "pork," arbi
trary, often questionable funds doled out to keep
constituents happy. Local fire departments got funds
for thermal imagers this year, and money poured out
of the gold dome by the millions, largely, as Benton
pointed out, to the districts of the powerful.
The debate should be about limiting that kind
of spending, not "getting our share" or trying to
get more next time. Local governments may want
every handout they can get from the state or federal
governments, but citizens concerned about wasteful
spending can see it in action with such earmarks.
This kind of discretionary spending has been
around as long as the General Assembly, and neither
political party has shown a willingness, when it has
the power, to do anything about it except increase
the amount. When our political leaders argue over
whether we're getting our share it reinforces the
notion that politicians want to grab every dollar
they can to spend in a frenzy like hungry hogs
around a feed bin.
The problem isn't that we're not getting our share
of discretionary funds. It's that too much taxpayer
money is tossed about for strictly political reasons.
Editorials, unless otherwise noted, are written by Mark
Beardsley. He can be reached by e-mail at mark@main-
streetnews.com.
The Commerce News
ESTABLISHED IN 1875
USPS 125-320
1672 South Broad Street
Commerce, Georgia 30529
MIKE BUFFINGTON Co-Publisher
SCOTT BUFFINGTON Co-Publisher
MARK BEARDSFEY Editor/General Manager
BRANDON REED Sports Editor
TERESA MARSHALL Office Manager
MERRILL BAGWELL Cartoonist
THE COMMERCE NEWS is the legal organ of the city
of Commerce and is published every Wednesday by
MainStreet Newspapers Inc. Periodical postage paid at
Commerce, Georgia 30529.
Subscription Rates Per Year: Jackson, Banks
and Madison counties, $19.75; State of Georgia,
$38.85; out-of-state, $44.50. Most rates dis
counted $2 for senior citizens.
POSTMASTER send address changes to THE COMMERCE
NEWS, P.O. Box 908, Jefferson, GA, 30549.
Except for the math, science,
history, and English classes, high
school hasn't been all that bad.
To Enter The World Of Reading
Some want the easy paper
back in one hand. They recline
on a sofa with the light-weight
novel of romance or murder
— or some mixture of the two
— transporting them from dull
den to detective's eyes.
Some want only the classics,
feeling as though they must
sponge up each line of the
Western Canon. They gaze only
upon what has stood the test
of time.
Some seek out the new
greats, exploring what upstart
writer will carry the spark of
a Cormac McCarthy, an Annie
Proulx, a Richard Price.
Some want to know about
black holes, the fact that time
can actually bend, the pos
sibilities of life on other plan
ets. They want to know about
the oceans, the oily animals
beneath those waves, the volca
noes that spew out the earth's
hot blood. They want to under
stand tornadoes and poison
ous snakes that wade through
weeds.
Some want to know what
Obama or McCain really think,
what the Bush Administration
discussed as it prepared for the
war in Iraq. We see the daily
news, but books offer a more
detailed account of how these
newsmakers think.
Some want to know what
John Adams wrote to his wife,
how Napoleon's men lost their
toes, then their lives in the
cold of Russia. The realist has
little time for fiction, though
contemplating the days long
gone is an act of imagination,
too.
Some want the self-help
guide to weight loss, to home
improvements, to identifying
the trees on their road. Others
want technical help for desktop
publishing or managing their
new hot dog hut.
Some see Curious George
ring the fire bell when he
wasn't supposed to, see the
pop up books with friendly
grizzlies, see the silly hats of
Dr. Seuss.
Some want crossword puzzles
and word games — pleasant
escapes for travel and waiting
rooms. Some want a book of
jokes. Some want the book of
Job.
Some write our books, see
ing their names on the shelves.
They pour something out
from inside, embracing that
"negative capability," the act
of plowing forward despite the
self doubt, the real potential
for failure. Who hasn't stared
at a blank page and felt that
powerful nothing staring back?
To complete the book, well,
that is a journey few make.
But some just feel the weight
of the books on their back,
waiting for a moment to sling
down those shackles and run
to freedom, away from school,
away from responsibility. Of
course, we've all felt that at
some point, especially at this
time of year, when school ends.
But it's good to come back.
However, some never do.
They choose never to notice
books at all. They feel it's a
world not worth exploring,
not rich with possibility, not
related to their own breathing
in and out.
Our literacy rates are impor
tant, not just so kids can score
well on tests and so our com
munity can have a solid work
force in years to come. Yes,
those things matter, but you
want a kid to read, so he or she
can enjoy a good part of life
and can recognize the value
in constant learning — how
even an elderly person with a
healthy mindset still considers
himself a student of sorts.
So it's encouraging that we
have people in our community
who try to help youngsters see
the value of books. The Rotary
Club is trying to do just that
right now. We also have plenty
of people in our school system
working hard each day to drive
these points home to kids. And
take note of all the hard work
the Madison County Library
does in trying to encourage
local youth to read.
They all should be supported
in their efforts.
That beautiful world of
words has so much to do with
all of us, whether we choose to
see it or not. It's a vast universe
and worth taking the time to
explore.
Zach Mitcham is editor of The
Madison County Journal.
Kids Say The Darndest Things
On Sunday I was treated to a
"surprise" breakfast in bed in
honor of Mother's Day. While
Jon, Kate and Lauren were try
ing to be quiet in the kitchen
preparing my breakfast, I was
reading a book and thinking
how blessed I am to have such
a supportive husband and car
ing and loving children.
I felt so special, appreciated
and loved until my kids asked,
"Why don't we celebrate kids'
day?"
Jon and I laughed and
explained that every day was
kids' day. They didn't like our
answers, so they went to the
family calendar to try and find
a date they could declare Kids'
Day.
While they were planning
Kids' Day, Jon and I began
to reminisce about Katisms
Views
In
Rotation
* j
BYTRICIA MASSEY
and Laurenisms, the funny
words or phrases the girls have
said over the years that we've
recorded in a notebook. I'll
share a few with you.
Kate: While my aunt was
brushing Kate's hair one day,
she commented on how thick
her hair had become. My aunt
told her, "Kate, you hair has
finally got some body in it."
Kate quickly replied, "There's
nobody living in my hair!"
Lauren: We recently bought
a puppy and we have described
her as being "very feisty." But
Lauren describes her: "Millie is
so spicy."
Kate: Kate was born with a
cowlick in the front of her
hairline. Jon was describing
this to her one day and Kate
told us that she couldn't have
a cowlick because she hadn't
been near a cow.
Lauren: While playing in
the driveway one day, Kate
wanted to know about cuss
words since we don't let her
watch "Sponge Bob" (I assume
Sponge Bob has a few cuss
words?). I explained four of
them and how some people use
them. Unfortunately, I didn't
Please Turn To Page 5A
It's Gospel
According
To Mark
BY MARK BEARDSLEY
Kitten Plots
Murder, Mayhem
All Day Long
In a weak moment, I succumbed
to the pleas of Barbara and agreed to
allow an "indoor" cat to take up resi
dence with us. Neighbors Mike and
Stephanie Nicholson gave us our pick
of a litter of seven, and we selected
the only male, a beautiful gray and
white little thing we named Furby.
Cats are miniature killing
machines; kittens are killers in train
ing. What we see as the cute and
funny antics of a kitten are practice
lethal attacks of whatever prey a
kitten can find, and during every
waking moment, Furby, who I call
"Osama bin Kitty," is either attacking
or plotting to attack.
At less than a pound and a half,
Furby is little threat to our health
and wellbeing, but its love of climb
ing up our legs (for a better attack
advantage) has left its holes in our
skin and our clothing. I shudder to
contemplate a panther-size house cat.
The kitten spends its day plotting
murder, honing its claws on our fur
niture and strengthening its teeth on
the electric cords.
As an indoor cat, its owners aside,
Furby won't get much opportunity
for killing, and he'll be welcome
to destroy any crickets, spiders or
other wildlife that enters our house.
Outdoor cats are among the largest
threats to suburban songbirds, hunt
ing them day and night. Nature has
turned the tables locally, however,
as cats are being stalked by coyotes,
which helps control the feral cat
population but makes life all the
more dangerous for pet cats that stay
outdoors.
That had something to do my
acquiescence to an indoor cat. I nei
ther wanted my pet to fatten itself on
the birds I feed nor to become a hors
d'oeuvres for Canis latrans.
Thus, Barbara and I engage in con
tinuous attempts to educate the kit
ten about the futility of the headlong
dash to bite an ankle (meet "Mr.
Foot") or the wisdom of attempt
ing to nip an ear, all of which has
improved the cat's reflexes and bal
ance. Cats really do land on all four
feet when you sweep them off the
back of the recliner, but they appear
to consider it play, not discipline.
Cats, kittens especially, do not
respond well to verbal instruction.
Nor are they quick to understand
cause-and-effect relationships, so
when you squirt water in Furby's face
to discourage improper behavior, it
might be 10 seconds before the kit
ten is back gnawing your toes or
attacking the exciting tangle of cords
behind the computer, whereupon
he'll be just as stunned to get squirt
ed as he was 10 times prior.
If science could harness the energy
of kittens and toddlers, $4 gaso
line would not be a threat. Two to
three times a day, the kitten appears
to be on speed, dashing, leaping,
tumbling, lunging and skittering
sideways in a series of attacks on vari
ous toys, furniture and any human
appendages that are carelessly unpro
tected. After an hour of both painful
and entertaining mayhem, Furby
will climb onto the chair or sofa to
cuddle next to one of us for a snooze
that could last up to 10 minutes.
Then, he's cute, calm and sweet
— and dreaming about or plotting
the next round of kitty murder and
mayhem. That's what kittens do, all
day long.
Mark Beardsley is editor of The
Commerce News. He can be reached at
mark@mainstreetnews. com.