This is Viewpoints for Friday, August 21, 2015
Still my heroes
I want to “declare what I seeth” about “Go Set A Watchman” and Harper Lee to Larry Walker (whose column I always enjoy reading). Atticus Finch is still the hero (Harper Lee based the character on her father) and Harper Lee (whom Scout is based on, even though the author recently stated that she was really Boo Radley — no argument here) did create a masterpiece others can live by with “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
Lee wrote “Watchman” before “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Jean Louise Finch is totally against the Klan in “Watchman.” She developed her characters further in “To Kill a Mockingbird.” It is still the example to us all that it has always been. And probably why she never published her first novel. What a fine author she is, and what great insight to see her struggle with these issues. Atticus Finch is still my hero, and so is Harper Lee.
— Carol Hodges
Macon
Come on out
Another exciting year for the Southeast Little League Regional Tournament in Warner Robins. If you have not had the chance to attend any of the games over the past few seasons, I highly recommend that you bring the family and enjoy a ball game with all the trimmings. The competition and excitement should be experienced by all ages at this beautiful baseball stadium. Hot dogs always taste better at the ballpark.
Families, businesses, churches and anyone looking for entertainment in Middle Georgia can easily find it during the months of July and August at the Little League Southeast Park and headquarters in Warner Robins. Middle Georgia has an unbelievable baseball facility that has been described by many as the best Little League field and complex in the country. All of us should take advantage of this annual sporting event. It’s free and very entertaining.
This year, the 11- and 12-year-old girls from Warner Robins were Georgia’s fast pitch softball champions and were only one game away from going to this year’s World Series in Portland, Oregon. The 11- and 12-year-old boys baseball SE Regional Champions are from South Carolina after defeating Virginia’s state champions in the final game. And like the girls, this tournament was played at the Warner Robins SE Little League facility.
My concern over the past couple of years is the lack of attendance from Houston, Bibb and surrounding counties. This tournament generates for Houston County thousands of dollars for hotels, restaurants and numerous other businesses in the community and other cities in the Middle Georgia area. What a great opportunity for all surrounding communities to get involved.
I ask that the city of Warner Robins, tourism office, chambers of commerce and Middle Georgia businesses reach out and become more involved in promoting this event. More advertising and publicity needs to take place in order to get the word out. Middle Georgia should be excited to support and cheer for the Southeast Championship teams.
The visiting teams and families are always very appreciative for the hospitality and security provided during these two weeks. The headquarters administration, full-time employees, volunteers and first responders do an incredible job in making this a wonderful family experience.
Maybe we should consider naming July and August as Little League appreciation months in Middle Georgia. Warner Robins state championship teams have won the World Series championships in both girls fast pitch softball and boys baseball in years past. Come out to the old ball games and show our Little Leaguers how much we appreciate their accomplishments.
— Hal Floyd, (U.S. Navy, ret.)
Warner Robins
Local media gets no respect
What a source of pride the Southeastern Little League facilities should be for all of Georgia, but certainly Middle Georgia in particular. For 12-year-olds, just the idea of playing in this ballpark must be beyond their wildest dreams. One would hope for standing room only crowds, but starting times have been sold to ESPN and we grudgingly accept this trade off.
Methinks we would all agree that this tournament is a worldwide attraction and a great opportunity for our community to exhibit its true goodness and pride. Honesty compels me to report that this is not the case. Teams and parents come here from all over the Southeast and they expect to see and hear local media giving complete coverage to such a big event. Sad to say, they are in for a big surprise as there is virtually nothing in our local newspapers or television concerning this event. ‘Tis a blight on the media when The Richmond Virginia Post hires someone locally and that paper gives more print than any team gets from our local media.
It seems that local media is shown little respect from Southeast Little League officials and, therefore, they neglect to cover any of the games. Shame, shame, shame on all of them, for this should be all about the kids and the memories for kids and scrapbooks for parents and grandparents. Petty strife should be put aside and we should all work together to be great ambassadors for all of Middle Georgia.
— Mike Perry
Bonaire
See the light
Once again, in a letter to the editors published Aug. 16, our resident liberal progressive Englishman attempted to smear his opposition party (Republicans), offering unsubstantiated allegations that the party is “anti-everything.”
Frank Gadbois needs to immerse himself for at least a month in all things Fox News and Rush Limbaugh; then he will see the light and become truly informed.
— Jerry Norris
Warner Robins
Flat tax advocates
Advocates of a flat tax rate based on consumption appear to be reasonable in theory. However, such a system fails to consider various exceptions that would come into play, such as disability income, certain income from insurance claims, income from child support, welfare and other similar income presently not taxable.
A flat tax based on consumption sounds good, but would require a myriad of rules, regulations and exceptions to make it work. No one will argue that an overhaul of our present tax system is long overdue, but implementing “flat tax” without considering the exceptions stated, will create more chaos. Many low-income earners have grown accustomed to their end-of-year windfall codified as “earned income,” an income, in my opinion, that brings recipients close to $15 per hour once the value of such entitlement is added to the so-called minimum wage. How would this component (earned income) be configured in such a system?
Certain politicians advocating “flat tax” are also misleading the nation in believing they will bring back off-shore jobs to America. However, my background in accounting and economics suggests that this is not likely to happen. I cannot envision any reasonable incentive that would make such a prospect possible. Labor by far is one of the largest costs of production, which includes such costly elements as payroll taxes, health benefits, retirement benefits, salaries and wages, vacation and other employer sponsored benefits. The average aggregate cost per employee in manufacturing exceed $40 per hour, compared to a flat rate cost of less than $2.50 per hour in many cases overseas.
Americans, understandably will never be willing to do whatever is necessary to successfully compete with off-shore firms — losing many of their benefits and accepting minimum wage as a way of life won’t necessarily do it either.
— John Haugabrook
Warner Robins
Free to leave
There are apparently millions of people who desire to come to our country permanently as letter writer Rosemary Haskell has done. Many of those upon arriving here proceed to tell citizens what they do not like about the U.S.A. and suggest “improvements” based upon their lives in their prior country of residence. To these “ingrates,” I pose the question: Why didn't they remain in their prior country and participate in changing that country to the “perfection” that they now suggest for us?
Haskell sneers at “America’s proud frontier history of self reliance.” That frontier history is part of how the American cousins to the Brits were able to come to their rescue in World War II. Without us, if she had stayed in England, she would have been teaching English through the German language.
If she continues having problems explaining our American way of life to her British relatives still living in the UK, I suggest she refer them to the colonists communications with King George III, 200-plus years ago.
— Arthur D. Brook.
Macon
This story was originally published August 20, 2015 at 10:10 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Friday, August 21, 2015 ."