This is Viewpoints for Sunday, April 3, 2016
Miffed
The Cherry Blossom Festival is a mixture of activities with cherry blossoms galore in our lovely city. Events both large and small share equal importance in this celebration. One of the first "major" events this year was the Little Mr. and Miss Cherry Blossom pageant. Beautiful cherry blossoms adorned the stage of the Douglass Theatre, compliments of the Tattnall Square art students. Liz Fabian, the emcee, did a fantastic job with her lively personality.
The contestants were cute and entertaining. Rules, which are set in place to be adhered to, were given to the parents when registering their child. The rules stated, "Girls are to wear a Sunday type dress with the hem being no more than four inches below the knee. Please, no long formal dresses." (Printed in bold black letters)
Only one parent chose not to abide by the rules by letting her daughter wear a long formal dress. The child should have been immediately disqualified by the director of the pageant and not allowed to participate. However, the judges rewarded this child, whose parents disobeyed the rules, by choosing her to be Little Miss Cherry Blossom 2016.
A CBF event that should have been a memorable experience for the children and parents turned into a disappointing and upsetting occasion. Perhaps further action should be required to rectify the situation? Shame on all who let this happen: CEO Jake Ferro, CBF Royalty Program Director Jan Theise, and the three judges (two of whom are school principals), and above all, the parents of said participant, who blatantly disregarded the pageant rules.
This letter is not intended to be of a vindictive nature but rather a stating of the facts. Rules are set in place to be adhered to, not broken. Let's hope this doesn't set the standard for the remaining CBF events.
— Lynn Neville and Kimberly Martinez
Macon
The importance of voting
Politicians make laws and ordinances and other decisions that affect our everyday lives. We, as citizens, are required to live by those decisions or suffer the consequences. It is so important that we elect into position those politicians who we can trust will enact legislation that is to our benefit. The best way to do that is by voting. Even if the person you want does not win, you become a voice to be reckoned with by casting your vote. The voting statistics will not show how you voted, but will show if you voted at all. Those elected in office may chose not to listen to your complaint or suggestions once they find you were not a voter. Precincts where large turnouts for voting have taken place get things done. They will see neighborhood improvements. They become a voice that cannot be ignored.
Too many people suffered and too many died fighting for all people to have the right to vote and determine their own destiny. We have a privilege in this country that we should not take for granted. All you have to do is watch the movies "Selma" and "Suffragette" to get a better understanding of why you are able to vote today, when numerous barriers were enacted to keep certain citizens from having the right to choose who would represent them.
Some people say "My one vote doesn't matter." What if everyone said that? The sad truth is that more people take that attitude than those who choose to exercise their right to vote. We allow as few as 30 percent of the registered voters to make the decisions that affect all of us. We are letting the minority rule the majority. The only way that can be corrected is if everyone casts a ballot.
They have made it easier for everyone to vote now. You can get an absentee ballot if you are not able to get out of your house, nursing home or hospital. You can avoid long lines and not be confined to just one day by choosing to early vote. If you work, the board of elections is open during your lunch hour, and it has a Saturday early voting day. There is a way to vote, if you are willing.
The League of Women Voters, as a non-partisan organization, tries to educate the public on the importance of voting. Our mission is to educate the voters on both sides of issues and let them decide. We take a stance on certain issues that affect the environment and the right to vote freely, and keeping elected officials honest and above board. I invite you to go to our state website at: www.lwv ga.org to find out more on the issues and obtain voting guides. Our local league publishes a Government Directory for the public's use that can be found in government offices and at all libraries.
— Adah M. Roberts
President, League of Women Voters of Macon
Free to discriminate
I wonder if it is possible for an average citizen to get the full text of any law being debated for passage, or after it becomes law. Gov. Deal liked the Pastor Protection Act wording but said some of the wording of the law he plans to veto would permit "discrimination." I would like to see exactly what verbiage Gov. Deal thinks is a "bad deal." I hope he is specific in his explanation for the veto. Personally, I think anyone who owns a business should be allowed to deny service to anyone because of whatever serves the owner's interests. Free market rules should apply. If the customer is a credit risk, that would be sufficient. If the customer in a restaurant is dirty, smelly, rude or behaves in an uncivilized manner the owner feels would harm his business by driving too many customers away, that would be good reason to deny service. Business owners have rights, too, and should be legally protected from lawsuits based simply on a theory that everyone has a right to be "included," or even "respected."
On the other hand, if a business owner's decisions convince customers that they no longer wish to patronize his business, that could result in the business failing, quite appropriately. For example, some businesses thrive despite being closed on Sunday. That's the American way.
One bulwark of American freedom is freedom of association. We are free to choose our friends, associates and with whom we do business. The government has no right to insist that everyone must accept all behaviors, no matter how offensive to an individual's beliefs, religious or otherwise.
By the way, I am a secular humanist and agnostic, not atheist. I believe one can neither prove nor disprove the existence of a supreme spiritual being. I respect both positions and the people who hold them.
— Rick Jones
Warner Robins
For the different versions of House Bill 757, go to: www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20152016/HB/757 and look under "votes."
— Editors
This story was originally published April 2, 2016 at 9:01 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Sunday, April 3, 2016 ."