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Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009

Viewpoints for Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009

Attention:

All letters advocating in political races for the Nov. 3 elections must be received by noon Friday.

— Editors

Include Congress

What a wonderful idea! The U.S. Treasury is slashing salaries at the companies that were bailed out with taxpayers’ dollars. Why don’t we slash salaries of all federal employees, including reducing congressional and White House salaries by 90 percent, until the federal budget is balanced. America would be debt-free in no time.

— Bill Jackson

Macon

Plain English

Friday, Oct. 23, The Telegraph published on page 5B: “PUBLIC NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT”

What kind of meaningless jibberish is this that comes from our Board of Education? Can’t they speak English that common folk can understand? The director of special programs wrote (or approved) this garbage, no wonder the education system in this country is in the toilet.

— Ken Brown

Byron

Peach ESPLOST

Tuesday, Nov. 3, Peach County voters are encouraged to extend for five more years the 1 percent sales tax to benefit education (ESPLOST). The Peach County school system has outlined a list of projects to be paid for from the extension of the sales tax. Many of the projects on the list cannot wait and simply have to be paid for through higher property taxes or continuation of the ESPLOST.

School systems throughout Georgia have suffered through major budget cuts and staff reductions beyond the board of education’s control. If we are to continue meeting the needs of our students and teachers, we must continue the Peach County ESPLOST.

The school system currently has more than $13 million in bond debt that must be repaid in the next eight years. Repayment is not optional and failure to pass the ESPLOST will mean huge property tax increases. In addition, the school system has aging and inefficient HVAC units (more than 35 years old) that are subject to failure at anytime.

Other projects include fire proofing the kitchens and adding security cameras to enhance the safety of our schools. As a parent, safety and security are high priority to me, as they are to you. In all, more than 17 projects are proposed that would improve the learning and educational experience for Peach County students.

Voters should vote YES because everyone pays the tax and 40 percent of the revenues generated will come from visitors passing through Peach County. We support education in surrounding counties when we shop out of the county, why shouldn’t they return the favor?

— Roy Lewis

Byron

Vote Harley

Election Day is coming and Nov. 3 we will elect a man to serve as mayor of Centerville for the next four years. I believe that man should be John R. Harley. As a former councilman and mayor of Centerville, I support and highly recommend Harley for many reasons. Please consider the following qualities and services, which I have personally and proudly observed in Harley.

Ÿ Communicates extremely well with city, county, state and military officials.

Ÿ Represents Centerville in a highly professional manner at meetings, conferences, etc.

Ÿ Involves himself with the Centerville senior citizens group.

Ÿ Volunteers in Centerville projects and community activities.

Ÿ Promotes new businesses and strives to recruit new industries.Ÿ Works hard to solve problems that affect the residents of Centerville.

Ÿ Demonstrates his integrity in personal and business relationships.

In electing Harley as mayor, we will certainly be getting a man with an outstanding military career, extensive administrative experience and a proven successful businessman. Harley would be a devoted servant to Centerville with a “never give up” attitude. He would serve as a full time mayor in a part time position.

I speak for family members and other concerned citizens. We strongly encourage you to vote and help us elect Harley as our next mayor.

— D. Ronnie Brand

former councilman and Centerville mayor

King to Christmas

Here we go again. It is getting that time of year when people such as Leonard Pitts Jr. start criticizing the celebration of Christmas. Pitts stated in his Oct. 14 column, Christmas is probably unconstitutional. He continued, it is the only holiday of any religion to be observed by the federal government.

With race being a big issue for some and religion for others, let’s look at the federal holidays because one could claim federal racism rather than church vs. state. New Year’s Day, Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day were established for all races of the American people.

There is only one holiday that holds the title of a man’s full name, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. It is a day honoring a Baptist minister who worked to bring about social, political and economic equality for Negroes. King is recognized as a martyr by two Christian churches. He also helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and served as its first president. King’s day is the only federal holiday that honors a movement for one race of the American people started by a man who claimed to be a Christian. Today taxpayer’s highways, street, schools, playgrounds and public building display his name.

Now compare King’s holiday to Christmas. Christmas is not a religion, nor holds the title “Jesus,” but was established to honor a man called Jesus who started a movement for all races of people throughout the world. Only those who believe in his movement call themselves Christians, while those who do not still praise this man. The holidays, noted for people, represent accomplishments and great occurrences in our history, therefore Congress declared days to honor such.

— Faye W. Tanner

Macon

Working hard

If President Obama worked as hard at solving the nation’s problems as he works his mouth, we wouldn’t have problems.

— Travis L. Middleton

Peach County

Name calling

At an early age I remember my mother telling me; if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. I don’t think William D. Carter’s mother taught him the same thing. He says Bush 41 called MSNBC hosts “sick puppies.” Weather that is true or false, what gives him the right to call Republican Party members Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Glenn Beck a breed of diseased, worm infested pack of attack dogs? That’s not nice.

— Bubba Ragan

Perry

Golden rule?

“He had had much experience of physicians and said, ‘The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d druther not.’”

— Mark Twain “Following the Equator”

— Alan Northington

Macon

Looking for a good man

This has been a difficult election for Warner Robins. We lost our mayor, but it was encouraging to see the other candidates suspend their campaigns and proceed with such class. My son E.Z. and I will be voting for Chuck Shaheen. Shaheen is a good man, a Christian, civic minded and business minded person with more energy and enthusiasm than anyone I know. He is tireless, tenacious and committed to leading Warner Robins into even better days. Shaheen will listen to you, and he will get you an answer.

Shaheen is so active in our community that it is hard to find something he is not involved in.

Shaheen mentors young athletes who might be struggling with their school work. Last year a tree fell on my house, and Shaheen was by here every few days seeing how things were going. We had no way to cook and the house was a disaster. Shaheen would pick my son up and take him out for dinner. They didn’t get the tree off of my house for a long time, and Shaheen told us if they were not there the next day, he was sending a crew. He meant it. There is no doubt that there are hundreds and hundreds of stories such as mine about Shaheen.

He is a man of compassion, honor and discipline, and I could not respect him more. I can only imagine what Shaheen can and will do for our home town.

— Debbie Cleghorn

E.Z. Cleghorn

Warner Robins

Let people decide

I am a new African American voter. I haven’t voted yet but I plan to. What are our dreams? Are we striving for those dreams? Or are we just striving for money? The power of the vote is simple. Give it to the people. Let the people decide the issues.

— Jeff Harmon

Lizella

Prayer for today

Lord, the world needs more love and less hate. Help us to love one another as you have loved us. We seem to forget the example you set for us to follow. Thank you for loving us. Amen.

— Submitted by Alice M. Pritchett

Readers — ministers, priests, rabbis, imams and laypersons alike — are invited to contribute prayers for this daily feature.

Send them to “Prayer,” The Macon Telegraph, P.O. Box 4167, Macon, GA 31213; or by facsimile to 744-4663; or online to letters@macon.com.