This is Viewpoints for Sunday, June 4, 2017

Dangerous temperatures

On Memorial Day, Americans flocked outside to celebrate the unofficial start of summertime with picnics, parades and cookouts with family and friends. As we all kick-off the sunny season over the holiday weekend, American Humane, the country’s first national humane organization, is reminding pet owners that hot dogs belong on the grill — not in parked cars.

Even when it’s a comfortable 70 degrees outside, the temperature inside a parked car can climb to 90 degrees in just 10 minutes — and up to 110 degrees in less than hour — exposing our furry friends to serious risks, including discomfort, severe illness, and even death. Responsible animal lovers should also remember to do their part to help save other pets from danger: if you see a distressed dog inside a parked car on a warm day, immediately call local animal control or law enforcement for help.

Who are the spies?

Remember the “Good Old Days” when all of us kids wanted to be the spy, James Bond? It’s kind of amusing now to find out that all of those individuals within the intelligence agencies with those high salaries were getting most of their data by reading the newspapers such as The New York Times or The Washington Post. And these same newspapers have been fabricating fake stories that our current president is a Russian spy.

It’s pretty clear today that reading an article in The New York Times or The Washington Post has the same intelligence value as reading a comic book about Superman or Captain Marvel. It’s even more amusing to realize these two newspapers have half of our country yelling “Impeach the president. He and his family are Russian spies.” Oh Well, I seem to remember reading somewhere about the blind leading the blind.

However, I would like to get my tax money back that we have been paying these clowns who have been pretending to be intelligence officials. I believe it was someone named W.C. Fields who said, “A fool is born every minute.” If he were alive today and saw how many people were buying and believing the stories in these two newspapers, he would see how right he was.

Keep talking

There was a standing room only crowd at Government Center (former City Hall) Wednesday night. Opinions about a proposal to ban alcohol consumption in Rosa Parks Square were voiced. An intense level of emotion was palpable. And Macon’s No. 1 problem was evident.

Glancing around at those concerned faces, old and young, I was transported back to the ‘50s. I asked myself, “is that balding old black guy the fellow who removed his hat, stepped off the sidewalk into Cherry Street and bowed his head as my mom and I walked from Thorpe’s to Davison’s department store? And that wrinkled black lady behind him — did I see her get on the Bellvue bus, holding her head high, walk past the stern-faced whites and take a seat in the rear?”

Some of the African-Americans rose to address the crowd, passionately arguing that alcohol consumption near Rosa’s memorial dishonored that lady and her courageous deed. They spoke with emotion that bore witness to a lifetime of living with disrespect and disdain. Had I lived my life in their shoes I’d have felt the same.

My head rotated and I studied the faces of the mostly younger and definitely more prosperous looking whites. Almost unanimously, they spoke to the assembly about protecting their downtown investments and promoting that area’s revitalization. They opposed the alcohol ban, arguing that their business enterprises, which sell alcoholic beverages, will help bring blacks and whites together. I felt no disagreement with that view. Time will tell whether or not it’s accurate.

Our common problem — a racial/socio-economic-status divide — was on full display. Yet as I walked home I felt a bit optimistic. We sat together, listened to and exchanged views with one another. Blacks aired a genuine, deeply felt and valid grievance. And whites listened and responded with equally genuine sensitivity. By talking about this issue, we took a small, important step forward. Let’s keep talking.

Budget impact on the poor

In an effort to be fair to the current administration, especially in view of the fact that we do have a debt crisis in excess of $20 trillion. It is obvious that certain funded programs must be cut or eliminated, as the course we’re on is highly unsustainable. But, why place a disproportionate burden on programs that specifically benefit low-wage earners and the unemployed? Programs supporting this group receive less than 3 percent of the federal budget, while the military alone receives over 16 percent of such budget. This is grossly unfair with apparent nefarious intentions to literally decimate the poor and low-wage earners.

Future wars on the scale of World War I and World War II are relics of the past; accordingly, we cannot justify increasing the military staffing levels at the expense of citizens in “dire straits.” Therefore, the military budget allocation needs to be reduced to absorb cuts proposed to the programs noted. The impact will have no regard to “color” all will suffer — some more than others.

Just his opinion

Someone asked me, “What is the problem with America today?” One of my answers is: A burned out druggie died basically by his own hand. No one forced him to hit the skids, liver transplant, drugged up life, an it gets a huge front page color picture and adulation from sheep (FANS).

A section dedicated to military men and women heroes is relegated to the section of ads, hidden behind the Wal-Mart sales, the Dollar General specials, and the ever popular mattress sales. Pathetic. But then this is just my opinion. And this is the opinion page.

Thank you

Two letters to the editor on May 14 were very touching, and I hope much appreciated. The poem ,“Mother memories” sent in by Faye W. Tanner, and the letter titled “I called her mother” from Shirley Tolbert. Thank you ladies for your Mother’s Day gift.

This story was originally published June 3, 2017 at 9:06 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Sunday, June 4, 2017."