It came to my attention as I was pasting in the letters to the editor last night that most young people today do not know where they come from or anything about the town they live in.
This letter was written by my great uncle, who is the historian for our family.
It's amazing to see that the truth of a city can get buried in legend or in what others would want the history of a town to be. It has to be exciting and fascinating, but not always true.
Some people find history boring, but in truth, it should be the focal point of our lives. To know where we came from so we can tell the next generation about it. Our heritage is something to be proud of. It is something we can pass on and something that time cannot erase.
I’m proud of our town, but I’m not proud of those who seek to make a fantasy of how our town came to be.
The main reason I am writing this is because of the letter above. I feel strongly about truth and a fantasy will now be forever marked on the side of a building in mural form. I suppose it is just that, a mural, but if it is to be about our city, then why not let it be true?
We could all use some truth in our lives, couldn’t we?
Health care reform for everyone
Sunday, February 24, 2008
This letter was rather disturbing to me.
Reading about how today's veterans are treated when they go in to VA hospitals for health care, was an eyeopening experience.
I had read other letters and several articles on the subject before, but the letter above published in the Andalusia Star-News from a veteran, put things in prospective.
Our veterans deserve better health care! They've served our country, given their time away from their families to help keep our country free. They deserve to be treated with respect and not have to deal with all the rules and paperwork that seems to have taken over their health care plans.
The same goes for health care for any American.
Canadians have free health care, why shouldn't we? Sure they have to pay for a few of the more expensive things, but all in all, seeing a doctor when you're sick doesn't cost an arm and a leg there. Here, it's around $50 to see a doctor or a nurse practitioner. And even with insurance, which costs at least $150 a month, you still have to make a co-pay. Granted, it's only around $15 or less, but still, that's money we could use for prescriptions. Prescriptions aren't cheep either and most health care plans don't cover that either.
In short, all Americans deserve something better. Especially our veterans.
Reading about how today's veterans are treated when they go in to VA hospitals for health care, was an eyeopening experience.
I had read other letters and several articles on the subject before, but the letter above published in the Andalusia Star-News from a veteran, put things in prospective.
Our veterans deserve better health care! They've served our country, given their time away from their families to help keep our country free. They deserve to be treated with respect and not have to deal with all the rules and paperwork that seems to have taken over their health care plans.
The same goes for health care for any American.
Canadians have free health care, why shouldn't we? Sure they have to pay for a few of the more expensive things, but all in all, seeing a doctor when you're sick doesn't cost an arm and a leg there. Here, it's around $50 to see a doctor or a nurse practitioner. And even with insurance, which costs at least $150 a month, you still have to make a co-pay. Granted, it's only around $15 or less, but still, that's money we could use for prescriptions. Prescriptions aren't cheep either and most health care plans don't cover that either.
In short, all Americans deserve something better. Especially our veterans.
Labels:
health care,
letter,
veterans
More refunds: Are they going to help the economy?
Saturday, February 16, 2008
The president signed a bill, giving all those who draw a paycheck, a $300 refund at the least.
The real question is: will this help or harm the recession of the economy.
Most people tend to think, if you have more money, then you'll spend more. But if you save it and get a good interest rate on it, then it'll be more beneficial in the future, right?
With interest rates not being so good, that's a hard thing to answer. For the economy, it's not going to get any better since we're already owning ourselves about 30 grand a piece from a recent commentary I read today.
With all this money, we're not helping the economy by getting all of our paid in taxes back, are we? The national debt will more than likely go up several billion dollars in order for every working person in the United States to get back more money.
Personally, I think this is a great thing for Americans. If most of them are like me, they work in a low paying job that barely pays the rent, let alone all the bills that pile up. But with the economy and the national debt, it's not such a great thing, is it? Our generation will be the ones who are having to fix all of the problems that we started with the Baby Boom of the 1980s. We're workers now and we're going to have to take care of our parents in another 20 years or so when they retire.
What kind of world will we have then? It takes years to come back from an economic depression. The world has seen it before...but could we come out of another one? Would we be stronger for it? Or just more naive?
The real question is: will this help or harm the recession of the economy.
Most people tend to think, if you have more money, then you'll spend more. But if you save it and get a good interest rate on it, then it'll be more beneficial in the future, right?
With interest rates not being so good, that's a hard thing to answer. For the economy, it's not going to get any better since we're already owning ourselves about 30 grand a piece from a recent commentary I read today.
With all this money, we're not helping the economy by getting all of our paid in taxes back, are we? The national debt will more than likely go up several billion dollars in order for every working person in the United States to get back more money.
Personally, I think this is a great thing for Americans. If most of them are like me, they work in a low paying job that barely pays the rent, let alone all the bills that pile up. But with the economy and the national debt, it's not such a great thing, is it? Our generation will be the ones who are having to fix all of the problems that we started with the Baby Boom of the 1980s. We're workers now and we're going to have to take care of our parents in another 20 years or so when they retire.
What kind of world will we have then? It takes years to come back from an economic depression. The world has seen it before...but could we come out of another one? Would we be stronger for it? Or just more naive?
Labels:
economy,
national debt,
taxes
Celebrities and the media: How far is too far?
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
(note: this will be one of those "I" blogs)
Celebrities live a very public life once they're in front of the camera. One box office hit and they're followed around every where they go. One hit record and they're branded for life even if they don't put out another one for years.
I am sick of hearing about Britney Spears! Give the girl a rest! I'm sick of hearing about Anna Nicole too. It's been over a year. Find something new to talk about and let her daughter have a normal life. It's one thing to talk about them occasionally, but it's entirely another thing to have them bashed every day or have their private lives put out there for everyone to see. They deserve the same rights we have. The rights to privacy, being the most important.
Another thing that I cannot get over is how the media can be so self serving. When a family is in morning over the loss of a loved one, that is NOT the time to go snapping pictures. It is not the time when the body is rolled out to be taking them either. Things like that are in poor taste. And if there are those who don't agree with me, I think you should have a lesson in respect.
Sure there are famous pictures of things like that, such as John F. Kennedy, Jr. saluting his father's coffin as it passes by. And of course, as a nation we watched as former First Lady, Nancy Reagan kissed her husband's coffin.
I have the personal belief that things like that should be private no matter who the person is. And let me just say that all these reports of how the person died should not be made public. Sure, we're all curious, but is it really our business to know? No. It's not.
The paparazzi are all about getting the one shot that no one else can get. They hound celebrities and follow them around. They cause accidents and find Britney without her underwear again. Or take pictures of Heath Ledger as his body's wheeled out of his NYC apartment. They try to dig up things, such as the video that's been passed around where Ledger is clearly doing drugs.
Being naturally curious is not a crime, but seriously think about it, how would you like to be followed around all day, every day?
Celebrities live a very public life once they're in front of the camera. One box office hit and they're followed around every where they go. One hit record and they're branded for life even if they don't put out another one for years.
I am sick of hearing about Britney Spears! Give the girl a rest! I'm sick of hearing about Anna Nicole too. It's been over a year. Find something new to talk about and let her daughter have a normal life. It's one thing to talk about them occasionally, but it's entirely another thing to have them bashed every day or have their private lives put out there for everyone to see. They deserve the same rights we have. The rights to privacy, being the most important.
Another thing that I cannot get over is how the media can be so self serving. When a family is in morning over the loss of a loved one, that is NOT the time to go snapping pictures. It is not the time when the body is rolled out to be taking them either. Things like that are in poor taste. And if there are those who don't agree with me, I think you should have a lesson in respect.
Sure there are famous pictures of things like that, such as John F. Kennedy, Jr. saluting his father's coffin as it passes by. And of course, as a nation we watched as former First Lady, Nancy Reagan kissed her husband's coffin.
I have the personal belief that things like that should be private no matter who the person is. And let me just say that all these reports of how the person died should not be made public. Sure, we're all curious, but is it really our business to know? No. It's not.
The paparazzi are all about getting the one shot that no one else can get. They hound celebrities and follow them around. They cause accidents and find Britney without her underwear again. Or take pictures of Heath Ledger as his body's wheeled out of his NYC apartment. They try to dig up things, such as the video that's been passed around where Ledger is clearly doing drugs.
Being naturally curious is not a crime, but seriously think about it, how would you like to be followed around all day, every day?
Labels:
celebrities,
media,
opinion,
paparazzi
Elections: Are they getting too personal?
As everyone is well aware, Super Tuesday was a big deal here in the south. Those running for president have outdone themselves this year. They started campaigning early for one and visited states they were sure they could swing the vote on.
The top runners here were Huckabee and Obama. Though Clinton won the county, it was not enough to win the state. Obama has big numbers with young and first time voters. What is the big deal about voting for him? Does he really stand for the important issues? Health care for everyone and making the economy better? These are the main focuses on Clinton's agenda, which seem to make her a front runner for the Democratic party.
Huckabee has the Bible Belt in the palm of his hand from the background he brings to the race. With Alabama being a mostly Republican state, it's hard to understand how Obama would win the state.
Huckabee has movie stars on his side as do all the other candidates. Huckabee has Chuck Norris, which Obama has Oprah and George Clooney. Are voters going to look at who their favorite star is voting for when they chose a candidate to support? It is doubtful. One would hope they look at the issues and those that they agree on with the candidates.
Will the one we vote for win the race? No one knows. It is time for a change. The current president is at the end of his term and Americans are looking at what was done during his two terms. Change needs to happen for us to move into the future. The only question remains is: which of these forerunners will bring about the much needed change Americans deserve?
The top runners here were Huckabee and Obama. Though Clinton won the county, it was not enough to win the state. Obama has big numbers with young and first time voters. What is the big deal about voting for him? Does he really stand for the important issues? Health care for everyone and making the economy better? These are the main focuses on Clinton's agenda, which seem to make her a front runner for the Democratic party.
Huckabee has the Bible Belt in the palm of his hand from the background he brings to the race. With Alabama being a mostly Republican state, it's hard to understand how Obama would win the state.
Huckabee has movie stars on his side as do all the other candidates. Huckabee has Chuck Norris, which Obama has Oprah and George Clooney. Are voters going to look at who their favorite star is voting for when they chose a candidate to support? It is doubtful. One would hope they look at the issues and those that they agree on with the candidates.
Will the one we vote for win the race? No one knows. It is time for a change. The current president is at the end of his term and Americans are looking at what was done during his two terms. Change needs to happen for us to move into the future. The only question remains is: which of these forerunners will bring about the much needed change Americans deserve?
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