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Viewpoints Our Opinions Demanding instant democracy in China is unrealistic request When Warren Christopher visited China recently and preached to the Chinese about domestic policies as they affect civil rights, he felt he was on high moral ground. In a sense, he was. On the other hand, the Chinese, looking at a crime rate in the U.S. twenty times higher than that in China, the moral degeneration apparent in all phases of U.S. life today, feel they speak from a higher moral ground. Asians being traditionally polite in negotiations, the Chinese didn’t say to the American secretary of state: "Who are you, from a crime infested, morally bankrupt, nation, to be coming six thousand miles and telling us about domestic policy and rights. Look to your own backyard, clean it up first-" They could have said that That wouldn't excuse their poor record in limiting rights among the billion Chinese. But then the Chinese have never experienced democracy. The evolutionary path to that goal may require many decades, even a generation before the average citizen of China learns appreciation of, and the responsibilities of, democratic government. As to trade, where there are unfair or one-sided policies, Washington has every right to take immediate counter measures. But to demand instant democracy in China as a bargaining chip in trade negotiations in unrealistic. Your Opinion Garnett thanks Balvaunuca Club for support Dear Editor: Rainbow House is extremely grateful for the generous donation by the Balvaunuca Club from their 1993 Dogwood Ball. Community contributions are essential in our battle to prevent child abuse and we appreciate the willingness of the businesses and individuals in Parry to share in this community responsibility of protecting our chil dren. In supporting this event, they are offering support to physically and sex ually abused children in Houston County. Kathy Garnett Deadlines For Submitting New Articles and Photographs 5 pm Monday for Wednesday Edition 5 pm Thursday For Saturday Edition 'WelcotH&i 'tyrutr Aetten *7o Sdit&i. "Pteo&e Add*e&d, Editor Houston Times-Journal P.O. Drawer M Perry, GA, 31069 Houston Times-Journal P.O. Drawer M • 807 Carroll Street • Perry, Ga. 31069 Phone: (912) 987-1823 Member Georgia Press Association-National Newspaper Association "wit*- no fViW OA pAO K lf}A tx/l<p lA«- |a«a- C««A«4A« of lf.« - pA«AA« OA t£v AtxjM 4{(i*. p*op£e p«<i««<i£f<| to- oaAc«»»£U, n«ui- to- p*tit<on l/U t*. A«1a«-«' 4 Your r»ght to read this newspaper is protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, Our Goal The Houston Times-Journal is published proudly for the citizens of Houston and adjoining counties by Houston Publications Inc. . Perry Ga. Our goal is to produce quality, profitable, community-oriented newspapers that you, our readers, are proud of. We will reach that goal through hard work, teamwork, loyalty, and a strong dedication towards printing the truth. Bob Tribble Daniel F. Evans Julie B. Evans Mitch Tribble President Vice-President Treasurer Secretary Our Staff Brigette Loudermilk Editor and General Manager Eddie Byrd Advertising Director News: Brenda Thompson, Pauline Lewis Sports: Veto Roley Advertising Teresa M. Gavilan Composition: Stacey Shy Classified Advertising: Melanie Bullington Bookkeeping: Judy Hubert Circulation: Donnie Forehand Our Policies •Signed Letters to the editor welcomed. Please limit to 300 words and include address and phone number. •Liability for an error will not exceed the cost of space occupied by the error. •We cannot be responsible for return of pictures or material unless stamped return addressed envelope is included. The Houston Times-Journal (USPS 000471 ) is published semi-weekly for SIB.OO per year by Houston Publications, Inc., 807 Carroll Street, Perry, Ga. 31069. Second Class Postage paid at Perry, Ga.,POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Houston Times-Journal, P.O. Drawer M.PerryGa. 31069 ISSN ’ 75-1874 Smokers have become society’s whipping boy I noticed a cartoon in a newspaper last week that showed a man, apparently in hell, about to light up a smoke. The devil was standing beside him saying, "You cannot smoke down here. You've got to go outside." The cartoon was very timely and echoed the point that most governmental agencies and many private businesses have banned smoking in the workplace. Some provide smoking areas, some require the smokers to go outside. I read an article by columnist Mike Royko recently that ran in a daily newspaper nearby. The column titled "Smokers are too easy to hate" made some good points that I would like to share with you. Mike starts off by saying that there is no limit to the abuse being heaped on those 40 million Americans who still smoke. "They have been banned from public buildings, many workplaces, o m ,mki mm X r i * if mmM 1 " Tf Perry Scrapbook The 1984 staff In the pediatrics unit at the Perry-Houston County Hospital were proud of the special attention" they paid their tiny patients. Here, Kathryn Searle, head nurse of the unit, and Nursing Director Ev Gottschalk hold two youngsters, Patrick Harris and Allen Whipple Jr., as Selgfred Jalalon, hospital pedltrlclan, examines Kenya Hampton. Congratulations to the hospital for 25 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Perry and Houston and surrounding counties. STREET TALK: It’s baseball time again and fans throughout Georgia are already doing the Toma hawk Chop in support of their favorite team--the Atlanta Braves. With the first week of the new baseball season giving a glimpse of what’s to come from the team, we asked local residents what kind of season they expect the Braves to deliver. An other pennant race? Another World Series? We don’t know; that’s why we’re ask ing. v f % n Fay Tripp “They sure are coming out of the gate strong. This year, I think they’ll go all the way." ' I IC* ' Jim Peak “They will definitely be one of the top four teams and that will get them into the play-offs.” restaurants, sports arenas and are threatened with higher taxes.” He goes on to write that George Will, one of Washington's deepest thinkers, had said that those who still smoke had become "disclassed". In other words if you smoke you ain't got no class. To put it another way, smokers are of inferior social status, they have been lowered in class. Royko was writing about a conversation he had with a smoker friend who had told him that he couldn't smoke in the in the office due to company policy, but yet the company allowed back-stabbing, gossiping, career climbing and other stress inducing behavior. His friend said he couldn't smoke at home, even on the back porch, because his wife said second-hand smoke was bad for her cat. He couldn't smoke in his favorite restaurant, but they eagerly sold him all the martinis needed to destroy his liver and served food * 3 ■d Janice Carroll "They’re going to win.” mm flirts' Anthony Tabor "Honestly, I think they will be back in the running for the pennant again this year.” Houston Times-Journal Page 4A with enough cholesterol to clog a cannon. No doubt smokers have become society's whipping boy. In some folks' minds they are akin to the scum who shoots up the city streets killing children and Seven-Eleven clerks. But there's no health warning printed on a gun butt. "What about people who eat grease and fat and glop. Because they become fat and their arteries clog, aren't they also a burden on the nation's health care program? I don't see Slick Willie putting a S. 150 tax on the belly busters he is always eating,” Mike's friend said. Royko’s reply was that no sane politician was going to slap a sin tax on something that millions of American parents feed to their kids because it is easier than cooking. "Why don’t they go after the foolish women who have babies they can’t support and become a burden on our welfare system, and fathers who flee their ■pj% ■«**“ ■ •% jJ* sJ Marti Tolleson "Hopefully, they will continue to do as well as they have the last few years.” HI ' "v. |p David Morgan "They’ll probably win the pennant again and go to the World Series.” Saturday, April 9,1994 "Houston Times-Journal Bob I Tribble I responsibilities, or people who engage in unsafe sexual practices and become a burden on our health programs?" Royko’s friend asked. Those you mentioned are all victims of society, history, man’s inhumanity, and so on. You, on the other hand, are responsible for your own actions and must be punished for your weakness," Royko replied. "But I am just an ordinary, law abiding, taxpaying, middle-class, middle-of-the-road, mind-my-own business, live-and-let-live kind of guy," the smoker friend said. See, I knew I could get you to confess and plead guilty," Royko concluded. Brenda l I H Thompsonl " Staff writer • * I Paper may be weird, but it’s worth a laugh In most jobs, reading the paper at your desk may not be looked upon favorably, but in this business, it’s part of the job. Well, this week, in the interest of keeping up with my responsibil ities, I took the time to read through a little tabloid recently given to our illustrious editor, Mrs. Loudermilk. It’s called the “Magic City Bull” and, after looking through it, I can honestly say it is one of the strangest publications that I have ever read; really raunchy in places, slightly offensive in others, and, to my surprise, at least, somewhat humorous—enough so that I thought I might share a few of its anecdotes with you. I must ask, however, that you not turn me in, for I did not “get express written permission from the publisher to reprint any of this fine American humor”. Although the reward they offer you in their copyright information may be appealing, is $1.92 really worth getting me in trouble for? On second, thought, don’t answer that. By the same token, if you are of fended by any of what follows, remember it’s not my stuff. I’m simply passing it along on the chance that something here might produce a little smile, a chuckle or, in some way, brighten your day. Here goes. Straight from the “Bull’s” mouth: •You Know You Come From a One Horse, Dipstick of a Town When: -The phone book only has one yellow page; -You ARE the population; —Dominos will deliver pizza by the slice; -To save the 60 mile out-of-the way trip, the post office faxes you your mail; —A nuclear attack on your town would go relatively unnoticed; -There is one horse in your town (Get it?); •Another Blonde Joke: A blonde factory worker out at the paper mill accidentally cut off one of her ears at work. Conrad Freid immediately formed a search party and they began feverishly looking for the severed ear. A few minutes later a co-worker spotted it and yelled, "1 found it!" The blonde took one look at the ear and snapped, "That’s not my ear. Mine had a pencil behind it!" •Letters to the Janitor Dear Janitor, You seem to know a lot about Clinton. What will be his favorite retail store once his economic plan takes effect? -Judge Foster Dear Judge, Everything's SIOO. •One to remember: A burglar is stalking around a darkened house, his flashlight flick ering from room to room; when from out of the dark booms a voice, “Jesus and Emanual are watching you!" The burglar freezes, his flash light desperately scanning the room. Again the voice booms out Please see THOMPSON, page 9A