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Viewpoints Our Opinions Why Did He Give In? President Clinton abruptly changed this country's policy toward refugees from Haiti last Sunday. Why? Not because the previous policy of denying boatloads of Haitians to come into this country just because they could have a better life was wrong. Our country is supposed to have immigration laws and they were being followed in regard to the Haitians. No. The reason he changed was wrong and sets a terrible example. Randall Robinson, a black lobbyist, went on a hunger strike about two weeks ago. He said he would not eat again until President Clinton changed his policy concerning Haitian refugees. We say any person who wants to go on a hunger strike should be permitted to starve to death. (Note: You can be sure he would find an excuse to come off the hunger strike before death.) President Clinton bowed to this one black man who threatened to starve himself to death. Some way to set national policy! Can just anyone who wants our federal government to change its policies get the president to make a change just by going on a hunger strike? Why doesn't someone threaten to starve himself to death until the president and congress come up with a balanced budget? 0r...a priest is participating in a hunger strike on the steps of the nation's capitol in Washington asking that the United States close a military school at Fort Benning where troops for dictators are trained. Will he get the results he seeks? No chance. While Randall Robinson was featured on network television several times every day the priest so far has not made network television the first time. The votes just aren’t out there to support his efforts. President Clinton has offended the American people by letting the course of our national policy be influenced by someone going on a hunger strike. He should be ashamed of himself. And the American people should be outraged. This Certainly Makes Sense A top official of the American Medical Association has suggested that physicians post fee schedules so patients can know ahead of time how much a procedure will cost. This sounds like an idea whose time has come. We can compare the cost of groceries or clothing or automobiles, but have no idea how much a doctor or hospital will charge until the bill comes in later. Posting of fees would give patients the opportunity to compare fees and avoid those big bills that they receive after their insurance has paid all it will. Go to it, AMA. Deadlines For Submitting New Articles and Photographs 5 pm Monday for Wednesday Edition 5 pm Thursday For Saturday Edition The Houston Times-Journal Welcomes Your Letter To The Editor. Please Address Them To: Editor Houston Times-Journal PO Drawner 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 <■ no- L-a g-mvMaftX «ni-a* pnalUiM-ttocj- tiv«- e4c*aei««- <w a&fuAij <ii tF»«- j/i vc<lo*n< -i|' >'jjvvofv, oa tfiv o<i- \9\4; tfv*- p«oj*£t/ fi4a<**i£Py to- P«, ami- lo- |i«t(Ua<v 3a4<An«n«nt>|(M/ a^- Your right 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 President Daniel F. Evans Vice-President Our Staff Brigette Loudermilk Editor and General Manager Eddie Byrd Advertising Director News: Brenda Thompson, Pauline Lewis Sports: Veto Roley Advertising! eresa 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: 1075-1874 Julie B. Evans Treasurer Mitch Tribble Secretary America now ‘talking big and carrying a feather’! THIS might be called a history lesson of sorts. It has to do with South Africa, which only a week ago held an election which turned the country over to a black majority. Not many years ago South Africa was a booming country ruled by a white minority. It was probably the only country on the African continent that did not have its hands in the pockets of taxpayers in the United States. To please black voters in this country our leaders--presidents and members of congress-destroyed the government of South Africa through boycotts and other means. Having been successful in this endeavor our country, through President Clinton, has announced that, as a beginning, we will give the new South African government S6OO million to help it get going. So we can mark up another success for our government because it has taken one of the few countries in the world that did not depend on American taxpayers for for handouts and put it on our handout list for now and forever. * * * AT THE other end of the African continent Israel and the Palestinians have signed an agreement giving some land to the Palestinians. Anyone who believes these two groups can get along peacefully for any length of time is a candidate to purchase some ocean front property THE- PB-fiHOT GAUSZM ~~ /WE'Ai- HAVE YfcxA ( Up Mo WALK/rJ & \ OVQ V BBFoPi Yo<J KfiloiY I „ CT r \rr, MR. miNEn./ © /mm 1 y Mid Georgia again shows derriere on national tv Well, Middle Georgia, twice now we’ve made the national media circuit First, it was Hard Copy's cover age of the blackmail scheme that rocked the government and, conse quently, the whole community of neighboring Warner Robins. Now, it’s The Jerry Springer Show which only had to go a little piece down the road to the outer limits of Peach County to find an other sensational story at a little diner known as “Cafe Erotica”. I don’t know which one was worse. The way I see it, both situa tions have a lot in common... .. .both televised local residents showing their derrieres; both were extremely embarrassing, at least to me; both gave a black eye to not only their county’s of residence, but to all of central Georgia; both stirred controversies which centered around questions of morals and eth ical values; and both boiled down to money. Every single waitress and nude dancer featured on Springer’s Cafe Erotica feature, which aired last Monday, said they do it for the Voice Your Opinion ... Write a Letter to the Editor! All opinions published are not necessarily those of this newspaper, therefore all letters must be signed. Houston Times-Journal on Courtney Hodges Boulevard. However, both groups know a good thing when they see it. The United States, through its president, has paid both sides to sign this agreement. How many hundreds of millions of dollars was the price still has not been revealed...only that they were promised a payoff. It probably will turn into an open ended commitment. The saddest thing about these scenarios is that all the millions being given so freely to people around the globe to get them to do something they should do for their own good is money that is being borrowed...by us! The budget deficit soars. The national debt rushes toward $4 trillion. We can all be proud that we have had the wisdom to send people to Washington to represent us so well! Most of them will be dead before the piper has to be paid...so why should they care? At my age I'll probably be dead long before our country’s debts exceed its ability to tax, so why should I care? I just do. And so should you...if you love your country and you care for your children and grandchildren. * * * AN INTERESTING thing about this country's generosity with other nations is how little good it has done in the way of goodwill. Theoretically, when you are a good Samaritan the beneficiary money. Every one of them said that the Cafe is the only place they can make such huge amounts of money and still have time to spend with their husbands, kids and/or boyfriends. They say it’s just a job and that when they go home they are just as domestic as anyone else and they simply do not understand why any one judges or condemns them for what they do. They say they don’t understand how you can call something legal and then condemn it as immoral. I, my friends, beg to differ. Just because something is per mitted by law, doesn’t mean that it is virtuous, ethical, righteous or re spectable. And, the Cafe Erotica I saw fea tured on the Jerry Springer Show this past week is the perfect exam ple. I don’t care how much you ar gue, no one will ever convince me that shaking your naked body parts in the public’s face is a re spectable profession. And, no one will ever convince \ - Wednesday, May 11,1994 " Houston Ttnes-Journa! Page 4A appreciates what you have done. In the real world this is not so. From your own experience you probably can recall many instances where generosity created jealousy and distrust. Give, as our government does, to individuals long enough they consider it something they deserve and begin demanding more. The same with foreign countries. They have come to expect us to send them money every year. And each year they want and expect more. Talk about cutting back on this "foreign aid” and they really get heated up...and usually hire lobbyists in Washington to wine, dine and entertain our congressmen so they will vote the right way. And the big question: Has this resulted in making of friends? Certainly not. And it hasn't earned respect, either. * * * FORMER President Teddy Roosevelt said it this way: "Talk softly and carry a big stick.” When the United States did that it was respected and, perhaps, feared. But never the butt of jokes and ridicule and rejection. Now the policy coming from Washington could be summed up as "Talk big and carry a feather." In the news in recent days has been the disdain being shown to us by countries in the so-called Pacific rim. Remember 50 years ago when me that taking a stranger’s money .and tying his hands behind his back so that you can do a bumping, grinding “fantasy” dance on his lap is a moral or ethical way of making a living. As a woman. . . as a human, you’ve got to draw the line somewhere. Maybe you and your husband couldn’t pay the bills and send your kids to private school before you landed this job, but what are you telling and teaching your kids by doing what you’re doing? How are your kids responding to the ridicule they must get from their peers at school? Are they embarrassed? Are they going to suffer long-range effects? Will your little girls even bother to get an education so that they can make their living with their clothes on? Will your little boys grow up to respect women as something other than a sex object? Do the pros really outweigh the cons? Do your husbands-especially those spouses who actually sent their wives to the Cafe to go to €« FoyS | Evans I Americans fought and died to save countries in that part of the world from the Japanese? After the war they all wanted our money and protection. For the past 50 years we have provided military protection for Japan and those countries. They have prospered. They have held onto their money, while we have given ours away. They are in great financial shape and we are on the verge of bankruptcy. Fantasy: They will help us when we are down and out Now they are saying, in so many words, "Yankee go home". They cooperate with us when it is in their own interests. They say "Go fly a kite" when it is just cooperating with us. These countries, that owe their very independence and existance to American lives and money, cannot be counted on as friends or to share the burdens of the rest of the world. * * * THE LESSON that you cannot buy friendship, loyalty or respect should sink in with our leaders someday. So far it has not. t Brenda I Hi f 1 Thompson! / Staff writer work-really respect you? Are there not other things, with a little more dedication and work, which both of you can do to financially make it? Is it necessity or is it greed that drives you? I’m going to stick my neck out here and assume it is more of the latter. Because, truth is, since you’re alive and well, you were ob viously getting by before Cafe Erotica ever made the Middle Geor gia scene. I’m just glad that there are still some Americans who leant to live within their means and who don’t allow themselves to stoop to such despicable levels. And, I’m also glad that there are some people left who realize that there are some things you just can’t buy ... like R-E-S-P-E-C-T!