This is Viewpoints for Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016

Dear friend

As we have gone through life our elders encouraged us to make friends and be a good friend. This advice was reinforced through personal experiences, recognizing that many of life’s treasures cannot be purchased or given to us, that is, friends and personal relationships. A person is fortunate to have friends come into their lives, enriching both parties. One is truly blessed to have a friend who has shared most years of our lives, even when there are some separations of time and distance. My wife and I lost such a special friend in early October, Loyd Landrum. I did not deserve this special friendship. I can only believe the Lord determined that I needed such a friendship along with others that I have been so blessed.

Loyd’s accomplishments and honors include many that are most significant, known far and wide. Others, I describe as “being Loyd,” some of which I provide in this letter. Middle Georgia has had a 50-plus year experience window into Loyd and his wonderful wife Mary, and family. The Loyd you knew during these years was the Loyd I’ve known for 80 years.

Loyd, my wife Jane and I, grew up in the southwest Atlanta neighborhood of Sylvan Hills within two blocks of each other. We went to Sylvan Hills Elementary and Sylvan Hills Baptist Church and belonged to Boy Scouts of America Troop 105. Loyd strove for personal excellence with determination as well as encouraging others. Loyd and I played on church athletic teams.

Loyd and I disagreed at times, he went to UGA, and I graduated from the North Avenue Trade School in Atlanta, but it was all good-natured. I, Johnny one note that I am, will miss Loyd leading the annual Christmas Morning Music Club event this year, beautiful, but sad. Christmas time will again reinforce the unpaid non-financial debt I have owed Loyd and could never repay. Loyd facilitated “bashful” younger Arthur’s first date with Jane Speir. We celebrate our 64th anniversary Dec. 20.

Dear friend, we will meet again. “How about them Dawgs.”

A vote for ...

It appears a vote to re-elect Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson might instead be a vote for Jack Kingston, Rep. Tom Price, former Attorney General Sam Olens, or some other Gov. Nathan Deal crony.

Isakson, if re-elected, will probably resign due to health reasons therefore allowing Gov. Deal to appoint Kingston, Price or Olens. Olens, now sitting in the ivory tower at Kennesaw State University, is sanitizing and distancing himself from those more odious lawsuits he proudly filed on behalf of Georgia’s Republican leadership and conservative values. Therefore, a vote for Jim Barksdale will be a vote for Jim Barksdale.

Rent a truck

Perhaps David Mann should demonstrate his own “cultural lack of dependency” by renting a truck himself, enlist the aid of a few of his like-minded friends and/or neighbors, drive over to the abandoned property on Elkan Avenue in South Macon and clean it up as a gift to his fellow Maconites. By his own account, it shouldn’t take long.

While there he could make an effort to get to know Stephanie Moss and her neighbors and walk in their moccasins for a few hours. As a result, maybe he’ll have a much needed epiphany and realize that judging others from the comfort of his armchair is not only graceless and arrogant, but, in this case, a clear indicator of racial stereotyping. Offensive? Yes. Puzzling? Not so much.

Doesn’t have to be this way

As we face this “unusual” election I think we have to be careful not to be caught up in the behavior of each candidate (which has been bad for both). Since we cannot vote on character, we need to be logical and see which candidate has a better vision for America.

Before we vote we need to ask ourselves “Which candidate will be better for my children and grandchildren to thrive in America?” Ultimately, they are the ones that will be affected by the election.

1. Open borders, with little to no control could bring untold numbers of people which will decrease job opportunities and increase welfare and Medicaid.

2. Our military is the smallest since World War II. Strength is a deterrent to aggressors. During a time when our world is becoming increasingly dangerous, law enforcement has been cut back.

3. Bringing companies back to America will produce a stronger economy and more jobs. The national debt was $10.6 trillion dollars when President Obama took office. Today it stands at $19.7 trillion. We cannot continue to spend our children’s future.

4. All lives matter — black, white, Hispanic, Asian, and most importantly, the lives of the unborn. On average, 2,500 human beings are killed each day by abortion in the United States. In the name of freedom, abortion kills the smallest and weakest members of the human community. This is neither tolerant or inclusive.

5. Probably the most important issue is the selection of Supreme Court justices. The next president may select as many as three. A justice that thinks there is wiggle room in the Constitution will not uphold the Constitution which protects our rights.

The America I have known will no longer exist if we do not turn this around. Many will say, “This is just the way it is.” But it does not have to be this way.

Lesson in a restaurant

Have you ever considered the connection between your takeout dinner and the upcoming election? I had not until I was enjoying a dinner of pho from Pho Saigon on Riverside Drive (if you haven’t been there, check it out!) when I realized that in Macon I would not be having a healthy tasty takeout Vietnamese dish if America had not accepted many Vietnamese refugees after the close of the war with Vietnam.

I also enjoy many local Mexican favorites, an Indian place, an Italian pizza place in Ingleside Village and a Belgian beer (or two). This ethnic diversity is brought to you via the American tradition of accepting and absorbing other cultures into our own. Let’s continue to expand our horizons by bringing the richness of other worlds into our community. Cheers.

This story was originally published October 26, 2016 at 9:00 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016."