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THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 12, 2009 — PAGE 5A
Opinions
No reason to
fear separation
of church and state
Dear Editor:
Unless the Madison
County Journal has made an
error, it seems the Hudgens’
have made a glaring over
sight in their collection of
historical documents, which
were accepted by the county
to be displayed in the gov
ernment complex building. I
haven’t had time to go there
to view the collection, but
where is the Preamble to the
United States Constitution?
I memorized it in fifth grade
and still remember it now,
50 years later.
“We, the people of the
United States of America,
in order to form a more per
fect union, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquil
ity, provide for the com
mon defense, promote the
general welfare, and secure
the blessings of liberty to
ourselves and our posterity,
do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United
States of America.”
It doesn’t mention any
thing about religion and I
wonder if it was left out (if,
indeed, it was) for that rea
son. Our National Motto has
had many alterations over
the years since the found
ing of our nation, particu
larly during the War of 1812
and during our own Civil
War, usually in response to
claiming to be on the side
of right (as in the Christian
Crusades). Our current
National Motto, “In God
we trust,” was established
in 1957 in response to the
Communist Cold War.
Communists were consid
ered atheists, therefore we
felt the need to establish
clearly that Americans were
not.
Commissioner Bruce
Scogin’s insensitive com
ment that some day we all
“may have to side-step a
Buddha statue” failed to
consider the growing num
ber of Americans who con
stantly “have to side-step”
Christian crosses, Christian
churches around every cor
ner, our money, our pledge
of allegiance, our national
anthem, the Bible in oath
taking and on and on, not to
mention the impossibility of
holding public office with
out proclaiming a Christian
faith, whether true or not.
He was rightly concerned
that the inclusion of the
Ten Commandments and
the National Motto might
be construed as promoting
religion. He was smart to
question the legalities of this
on behalf of the county.
Our fundamental separa
tion of church and state and
the guarantee of religious
freedom are historical ideas
that seem to leave room for
everyone as long as we all
obey our basic civil laws.
As Mr. Scogin suggested,
there’s nothing to be afraid
of.
Sincerely,
Virginia Moss
NEWS
IDA to meet Monday
The Madison County
Industrial Development and
Building Authority will meet
at 6 p.m., Monday, Nov.
16, in the historic county
courthouse in the center of
Danielsville.
Agenda items include:
•Financial report.
•Water requests.
•Utility director report: a.
billing report, b. 2007 and
2008 water system expansion
update, c. Harrison water sys
tem update.
•Other IDA-related issues:
a. Hull/Sanford Sewer Project
Update; b. Hull/Sanford force
main; c. MADICO Park lift
station.
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M
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Come By & Visit Us This Saturday, November 14
During The Madison Arts Festival
Open Monday ■ Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
706-795-0034
Thanks to all who helped make Special Olympics a success
Dear Editor:
The Local Winter Games
for Madison County Special
Olympics were held Oct. 29 at
the Hull-Sanford Elementary
School Gym. The games
were a great success, thanks
to the community support we
received from the many vol
unteers.
The Madison County Pilot
Club and Madison County
Rotary Club provided vol
unteers to assist with the
games. The Madison County
High School Anchor Club
members volunteered their
time at the games and were
accompanied by their spon
sor, Allison Clarke. The High
School Anchor Club mem
bers who did such a great job
are: Connor Boyett, Dylan
Chandler, Lance Chandler,
Breana Croya, Jessica Croya,
Kyle Dean, Lea Dellinger,
Brianna Dills, Brandon
Doolittle, Juleigh Fouche,
Rachel Howard, Reagen
Hudgens, Morgan Langford,
Amber Martin, Mallory
Miller, Hanna Moon,
Jeremiah NeSmith, Jacob
Owens, Morgan Pierce,
Alexia Supakorndej, and
Daniel Vaughn.
The students' teachers who
helped in preparations for the
games are: Kate Brinson,
Amanda Frary, Carol
Watkins, Ashley Witters,
June Martin, Libby Loftis,
Connie Washburn, Kelly Carr,
Allison Clarke, Jan NeSmith,
and Buffy Wennersten.
The opening ceremony
began with a marching song
by members of the Madison
County Middle School Band
led by the band director
Phillip Smith. Members of
the Madison County Middle
School Honors Chorus sang
the Star Spangled Banner.
Special guests who wel
comed the athletes dur
ing the opening ceremony
were: Dr. Mitch McGhee,
School Superintendent;
Cathy Gruetter, Principal of
Hull-Sanford Elementary;
Joyce Fleeman, Pilot Club
President; Bruce Azevedo,
Rotary Club President; and
Louise Watson, Madison
County Tax Commissioner.
Several people who put
in many hours to make this
such a successful event are
Kathy Colwell and Buffy
Wennersten (Local Special
Olympics Coordinators),
Becky Hutchins (Pilot Club
liaison to Special Olympics)
and Michelle Strickland
(treasurer of Madison County
Special Olympics).
The Hull-Sanford
Elementary physical educa
tion teacher, Mike Osborne,
helped with the set up and
refereed an exciting basket
ball game. Many Pilot Club
members provided snacks
for the athletes and volun
teers. The Rotary Club pro
vided the drinks and cups
and Commissioner Mike
Youngblood donated snack
packs of chips.
Our athletes will go on to
area games in several weeks
and quite a few will attend
the state games in January in
Atlanta. Due to the support
provided by the Madison
County community, our ath
letes will have these addi
tional opportunities. Thanks
to everyone who makes this
possible.
Sincerely,
Joan Baird
Student Services Director,
Madison County Schools
and
Chairperson, Madison
County Special Olympics
Veterans can never receive enough thanks
By Chris Bridges
“We often take for granted the
very things that most deserve
our gratitude.”
As Veteran's Day arrives
again, I find it hard to express
just how thankful I am for every
American who has ever worn
the unifomi of our armed forc
es.
These brave men and women
are the truest of heroes, never
asking for praise, but certainly
worthy of any they receive. It’s
as true now as it ever was.
It seems for more years than
I can even recall off the top of
my head, our nation has been
involved in some conflict, some
war. Bravely, these men and
women answer the call when I
can only imagine how difficult
it must be to do. I know most
feel it's their calling, a sense of
patriotic duty, still it has to be
hard. It has to be hard to say
goodbye to family members, to
friends, to homes and venture
abroad unsure of the return date,
if there is one.
Yet, they do it every day. In
our communities they answer
the call. Young men and women,
many of whom were in high
school not that long ago, answer
the call no matter how danger
ous, how threatening or how
long it may take. They do so for
one reason: the greatest country
on this planet.
If you ask people, they'll tell
you they are thankful for vet
erans. They will tell you they
appreciate all they’ve done. Yet,
how many donate money, even
a little, to veterans’ groups?
How many write letters to their
elected officials demanding bet
ter benefits for our men and
women once they call of duty is
complete?
How many wonder if wound
ed veterans are getting the nec
essary care they need, whether it
be physical or mental? What do
we do for those family mem
bers who have had loved ones
taken away from them or will
not have a reunion at the air
port?
It doesn't take much to get
people riled up these days.
Republicans bash Democrats
for being Democrats.
It's same on the other side
of the aisle as Democrats bash
Republicans for, well, being
Republicans.
Madison County Board of
Commissioners
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
Madison County Board of Commissioners is
seeking “Request for Proposal” for Building
Inspection Software.
Sealed RFP’s will be accepted until 12:00 noon
on December 11, 2009 in the Madison County
Commissioners Office: 91 Albany Avenue, PO.
Box 147 Danielsville, GA 30633. “Request for
Proposal” should be marked “SEALED RFP”. For
further information contact: Cheryl Jensrud at
706-795-6305.
The Madison County Board of Commissioners
reserves the right to reject any and all bids.
There is debate about whether
we should be in this war or
whether this conflict is worth
sacrificing American troops.
For as vital it is to debate those
things, we must never forget
those on the front lines of these
battles, day in and day out.
Week in and week out. Month
after month they serve, some
times multiple tours of duty.
Oh, we say we're thankful and
some may even fly an American
flag at their residence. Yet, how
many really speak up on behalf
of veterans? How many take
their actions beyond talk and
demand better treatment, better
pay, better benefits, better care
for those who have served?
On this day in 2009, we honor
those who have served. We
salute them with our thanks and
may even tell some how much
we appreciate them.
Yet, isn’t it time we did more?
Isn’t it time to all came together
across the political spectrum
and demanded more from
Washington when it comes to
the brave men and women who
serve and have served?
I long for the day when thou
sands turn out with signs filled
with slogans demanding more
for veterans. That’s a cause I
think all Americans should get
behind, regardless of political
persuasion.
Oh, how I long for that day.
Chris Bridges is an editor with
Mainstreet Newspapers. E-mail
comments about this column to
chris @mainstreetnews. com.
The Physicians of
Athens Cardiology Group, P.C.
are pleased to announce the association of
Jonathan R. Murrow, M.D.
D Hamilton Magill, III, M.
James S. Miller, M.D.
Robert D. Sinyard, M.D.
Thomas J. Murphy, M.D.
Jared T. Griffis, M.D.
David A Woodard, M.D.
Parker C. Grow, M.D.
i
Photo by Terri Allen
A native of Oconee County, Dr. Murrow trained at
Harvard, Johns Hopkins and Emory University.
He now specializes in the prevention, diagnosis,
and treatment of heart disease.
700 Oglethorpe Ave., Athens, Georgia 30606
706-546-8510
Founder’s
Corner
by
Buhl Cummings
VETERAN’S DAY...On Nov.
11, we observe Veteran’s Day
across America. We honor all
veterans of all wars, living and
dead, who have stepped forward
to help preserve America's
freedom.
My dad served in our pioneer
Army Air Force in WW1. I had
the honor of serving in the Navy
in WW2.
A good number of ACS grads
are veterans and several are now
serving, some in harm's way, in
the Middle East. One recently
received the Purple Heart for
wounds received in Iraq.
We like to feel that some of the
character it takes to be a good
soldier, airman, or sailor was
developed here at ACS.
ATHENS
CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
“Affordable Quality Education Since 1970”
K3-12TH CALL (706) 549-7586
www.athenschristian.com
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The
Madison County Journal
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