This is Viewpoints for Sunday, March 27, 2016
Bringing the pink south
What a great article about Antonio Lewis-Ross. I nominate him for Man of the Year, Citizen of the Year and Teacher of the Year. His actions to bring Houston Avenue and surrounding community as well as Bruce Elementary into the Cherry Blossom Festival spirit is wonderful. I only wish I had known of his efforts sooner so I could have been right there to help.
I grew up in south Macon and had many a friend who attended Bruce when I was young. This is a nice effort on his part to bring our city and community together on this great Macon event: our Cherry Blossom Festival.
It has always been a festival for all to enjoy but I sometimes think the outreach has not included some areas. I hope we can expand on what he is doing in the coming years to bring about some real community fellowship, spirit and pride. Kudos to you and bless you, Antonio Lewis-Ross.
I hope The Telegraph does a follow-up to show us the success of the Pink Day at Bruce Elementary school.
— Valerie Wynn
Macon
Angst
I can't imagine why a woman in Centerville would have angst over construction on Ga. 96. Did something move and I missed it?
— Jim Graf
Warner Robins
Incorrect
In Wayne Lettice's Viewpoints letter about Hillary Clinton's email server, he said, "If anybody else did this, they would already be on trial or in prison." That would be incorrect. Neither Condoleezza Rice nor Colin Powell, who both served as Secretary of State and used their personal email servers, have been tried or sent to prison.
— Carl Pirkle
Byron
Goodbye, friend
Joe Neel was a friend, and his love of life was extreme. He only came to my home three times to talk about his life and his losses his last three years. I, like many, totally enjoyed his vast knowledge and humor. He always put a great spin on everything. He carried himself by swimming like a fish in the pool while I walked in the heat above him at the club. I believe he had more one-liners than anyone. "Hope you do not fall off your billfold."
— Joe Hubbard
Macon
Should be embarrassed
In the past few years I have evolved in my political leanings. I no longer consider myself a Democrat or Republican, conservative or liberal. I am just an American who watches politics. Last night, March 23, for about the seventh or eighth time I was watching a chamber of the Georgia General Assembly. What I witnessed was the worst case of political antics I have ever seen.
Throughout this legislative session I have witnessed what can only be described as a total farce. For a state that was the first to ratify the U.S. Constitution all those years ago, Georgia politicians, for the most part, have fallen into what I see as schoolyard antics to include bullying and arm-twisting.
The Georgia Senate chamber had 85 bills on the calendar. Beginning at 10 a.m. You would think they could get through that number in at very least an eight to 10 hour day. But no, they got through maybe 40 bills. If the voters of Georgia were to watch as I did what our governing officials did, not to mention this complete session, I imagine at least 70 percent would be looking for new jobs.
I'm not saying they are all bad but there are definitely some that shouldn't be working as a dog catcher let alone a state senator or representative. Self-interest doesn't begin to describe what I watched. Constituents be damned is what I watched.
— Wayne Overholt
Warner Robins
Changed mind
I wrote a letter to the editor of The Telegraph concerning the Mill Hill project, which is being implemented by the Macon Arts Alliance, and MAA invited me to meet and discuss this project and my concerns about it. Before meeting with Jan Beeland, executive director, and Jonathan Harwell-Dye, director of creative planning, I decided to research a little more about this organization and the Mill Hill project. I did not have a complete or accurate view of either.
I found the Macon Arts Alliance had partnered with Macon-Bibb County's Urban Development Agency to engage community leaders and local residents to build a coalition of support for Mill Hill, East Macon Arts Village. They plan to reinvent and revitalize this community. The neighborhood being focused on is the original Macon.
Meeting with Jan and Jonathan was a blessing. They are dedicated to recreating a neighborhood that is diminished with blight and neglect. They answered my questions thoroughly and explained what I call a "blooming onion" effect. A two year grant is the catalyst by which this revitalization can take place and will affect all of Macon because this area is a "gateway."
By writing that letter, doors are opening that were once closed. I want to encourage artists, citizens, leaders and all to "get on board" because when this project is complete our cultural and economic situation will improve. More grant writing may help with blight all over the city of Macon.
— Dorothy Henderson
Macon
This story was originally published March 26, 2016 at 3:53 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Sunday, March 27, 2016 ."