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An obsession with news, current events and the latest headlines can sometimes be a curse.
Even before writing a weekly column I had always kept up with the latest in the “news” category. When I read a newspaper, I rarely go for one section over the other unless some late breaking news figures to be found in a particular section.
As with most columnists, I watch for new or unusual stories. Some subjects are more appealing than others, while some offer little more than surface tidbits.
Recent headline: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi releases new book, “Know Your Power: a Message to America’s Daughters.” Even more recent headline: Pelosi’s new book is a flop on Amazon.com. Maybe she should have thought about accomplishing something before she tried to pen another book.
Politics are a daily ration coming from every possible angle, with most of the focus on the presidential race in November. Perhaps a little more attention should be given to the inept leadership of Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic majority in Congress.
It seems that about all they can muster is a new press release blaming President Bush for their latest inactivity. No legislation passed this term, no leadership, no solutions and no help with the economy-bashing, high price of gas — only stonewalling and passing the buck.
Ms. Pelosi seems more concerned about promoting her new book instead of promoting and pushing for progress in the House. She undoubtedly will go down as the most incompetent House leader ever.
Recent headline: More than half of Tyson plant’s workforce Muslim.
In Shelbyville, Tenn., some workers at a local plant will no longer to be able to take their Labor Day holiday because of religious reasons.
Workers at the Tyson Foods poultry processing plant will instead be granted the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr.
According to a news release from the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, a new five-year contract at the plant included the change to accommodate Muslim workers at the plant
It seems we have become so tolerant and accommodating in this great country of ours we are willing to throw caution and common sense to the wind. When we sacrifice our principles in order to appease our privileges, America always loses.
Recent Headline: Obama plays the race card. They’re saying, “You know, he’s not patriotic enough. He’s got a funny name. You know, he doesn’t look like all those other presidents on those dollar bills, you know.”
It appears to me that Barak Obama’s campaign was attempting a pre-emptive strike or a poor stab at trying to disable the McCain camp from using any disparaging comments about Obama’s qualifications to be president. By lumping it all in with the race issue, it would become a campaign “no no” for Republicans. Only it has backfired.
Recent Headline: JetBlue to charge $7 for use of pillow and blanket. As if charging for a second suitcase and snacks wasn’t enough, airlines are now attempting to dip deeper into passenger’s pockets for the use of a pillow and blanket. Where does the madness end?
As we continue to self-destruct in this country by virtue of our greed and shortsightedness, it lends to the populace giving ear to shallow promises of change and reform with little proof of its probability. Someone simply needs to lead the way by example, not make me more promises of what they’ll someday do for us!
Recent headline: Man calls 911 after Subway left sauce off sandwich. Jacksonville police say Reginald Peterson needs to learn that 911 is not the appropriate place to complain that Subway left the sauce off a spicy Italian sandwich.
Police said the 42-year-old man dialed 911 twice last week so he could have his sub made correctly. The second call he made was to complain that officers weren’t arriving fast enough! Subway workers told police Peterson became belligerent and yelled when they were fixing his order, seemingly unable to satisfy the customer.
They locked him out of the store after he left to call police. When officers finally arrived, they tried to calm Peterson and explain to him the proper use of 911.
Those efforts failed, and he was arrested on a charge of making false 911 calls. They must have taken this guy’s phone away from him, or he would have been calling 911 on them!
Recent headlines: The world is going crazy.
Now that’s a headline that would be believable. It seems we are quickly losing our bearings when it comes to what is morally good.
Our sense of right and wrong has been skewered. We have tossed the idea of moral absolutes out the window so who or what is to judge what is good or evil?
Most of the modern-day headlines focus upon the bizarre, the negative, or some starlet we have had way too much information about already.
The evening news tends to spotlight the latest murder, rape or shooting.
My challenge to you is to do something noteworthy for a neighbor or loved one though it will probably not make the headlines. Do it anyhow.
Randy Sheridan of Burleson is a speaker, counselor and
mediator. He can be reached
at drsheridan@aol.com.
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