Opinon or Garbage?

It's a different thing altogether though, for a newspaper to print such garbage and even add flame to the fire by adding a title saying, " 'Old Glory' - 'a piece of flare'" which I supposed was a misspelling of the writer's quote of Mr. Harper saying a "piece of flair".

But why should the I.J. worry about a little thing like spelling when neither fact nor fairness concerns them?  Is it time to stop thinking of the I.J. as a "respected" newspaper?

Of course, Mr. Harper wasn't referring to "Old Glory" but a piece of metal shaped into a flag pin. A pin that has, for many, come to symbolize support for Dick Cheney's war - a war which the majority of Americans do not support. A war where we attacked a country that posed no threat to us. A war that got authorized by telling lies to the American people and to our political representatives.

Mr. Gibson apparently feels he has the right to speak for all American veterans, both dead and alive, but I am one veteran, who has not given Mr. Gibson that right. I am alive only because our Southeast Asian enemies were a few inches off in their accuracy and because my M-60 put an end to their threat, so I would not recommend that Mr. Gibson call me unAmerican if I stand reverently, with my hands clasped during the national anthem rather than with my hand over my heart - the very same thing that enraged Mr. Gibson when done by Barak Obama. 

Several weeks ago, while covering the Lake Dawg Car Show held at Number Nine Landing, we had some time to kill so decided to enjoy a delicious barbeque sandwich and soft drink.  Seated at the same picnic table was a twenty-four year old single man and his mother who chatted amicably with us.  He said he owned a trophy business in Stigler, but quickly changed the subject to motorcycles.  It seemed he was obsessed with motorcycles and couldn't wait to own one.

Twenty-four years old.  When I was twenty-four, I was an honorably discharged Army veteran who'd been a tech supply sergeant and seen combat in Vietnam, then was two years into a successful insurance sales career and had a wife and two children.

My stepson is in his mid twenties, graduated from college and is building his career, having been on the same job for three years.  He is married and has a child.

I'd expect an eighteen-year-old, perhaps, to be fascinated with motorcycles and bubbling over with excitement about them, but a twenty-four year old "businessman" I would expect to steer the conversation about how I might be interested in using trophies to build interest in our new website, etc.  A trophy business in a big city might be a full time business, but in Stigler?

And why would a twenty-four year old be at a car show with his mother?  On the face of it, it sounds sweet.  But let's get real.  A single guy, twenty-four years old at a car show with his mother? 

Call me paranoid, suspicious, whatever, but things just didn't feel right and  I was concerned because this seemed like a bright, engaging young man who, perhaps had just needed a bit of fatherly "steering" through his teen years, and he could have had the sense of responsibility and self discipline we expect from someone his age. 

Today, he is a headline.  The May 15, 2008 Stigler News Sentinel has this:
"Business owner arrested for staging robbery"

What a shame.  This young man's life is now permanently marred, you could probably say "ruined".  I was at a convenience store this morning in a town near Stigler, and spoke with a young lady who knew him.  By the tone of her voice, you could tell she didn't think much of him.  She also knew his mother, and the tone changed.  She said that the mother manages the Movie Gallery video store that was robbed.  The paper says $425 is missing.

Four hundred and twenty-five dollars!  This young fellow sold his future for four hundred, twenty-five dollars.

I don't think you can save a twenty-four year old man.  But what about our teenagers?  How many are from single-parent homes?  How many are from homes where both parents must work and thus, the kids don't get enough supervision?  How many are from homes with more serious problems?  Let's not turn our backs on them.  Do teens in your area have a safe place to go after school and during summer vacation?  Do they get enough adult supervision?  Do they have activities that will challenge them, yet are safe and supervised?

To some degree, perhaps a fairly large degree, it is up to us whether teens turn into responsible citizens or criminals.  What are we doing about it?  Do you know where you can volunteer?  Where you can donate?  Do you know if there are programs for our kids?  Can we do more?

Earl

I won’t dignify the publication by naming it, but I’m talking about their May 14, 2008 issue.  As for identifying the publication, it’s the one that prints several pages upside down, has pages offset so far that you can’t read the phone numbers from some ads, the publication that is so full of typos and misspellings that they hardly need to include two pages of jokes when you have ads for things like “portable basketball goat”, and has spotty and blotchy printing that prevents you from reading some of their ads.

In this issue, they stepped way out of bounds and included a full page of lies, innuendos and smears against Barak Obama.  As of today, we still have three candidates running for the office of president, and though I have my preferences, just like anyone else, I have absolutely no doubt that each and every one of the three are patriotic, red-blooded Americans who would do their best, if elected.

One part of this poorly written garbage which by the way, hides behind a screen of anonymity by

I have seen the enemy...

Also, I felt that the United States of America is an English-speaking country (OK, a "dialect of English", if you prefer!) and those who come to live and work here should adapt to our language, if not our customs. I didn't see what this had to do with hatred and bigotry....until I read "Just My Opinion", by Marilyn Leader, in the May 1, 2008 Indian Journal.