|
TODAY'S
ISSUE
Scots-Irish drama,
"On Eagle's Wings," world premiere soon
By Paige Havens
Director of Public Relations, "On Eagle's Wings"
Special to GwinnettForum.com
APRIL 27, 2004 -- It's been 65 years since the debut of "Gone
With the Wind." Now, Gwinnett has it's own chance to be a part
of a World Premiere as grand as Irish composer, John Anderson, brings
to us his original masterpiece, "On Eagle's Wing" to World
Premier at the Arena at Gwinnett Center on May 7th.
But because it's brand new, the big question seems to be, "What
is it?"
Simply put, it is a joyous new musical that has been tagged in
the entertainment world as the world's largest theatrical production
- - but of course, Gwinnett doesn't do it any other way!
On Eagle's Wing features more than 30 dancers, world champion Scottish
sword dancers and Irish bagpipers, and a 150-person chorus alongside
an orchestra that creates a SCOTS-IRISH journey to America like
never seen before.
With more than 200 people on stage at once, George Jones, BBC Host
and Rock Star describes it as "An unforgettable spectacle that
will take the theatrical world by storm!"
On Eagle's Wing is an epic tale full of love, loyalty, faith and
patriotism that will long ring in our hearts. And with talent like
Anthony VanLaast (Tony Award Nominated Choreographer of Jesus Christ
Superstar, Mama Mia and Bombay Nights) this show can't go wrong!
It's a must see, Gwinnett! Don't let "On Eagle's Wing"
take flight without you! Tickets available at Arena Box Office or
via all Ticket Master locations.
* * * * *
Did you attend the "Gone With the Wind" world premiere?
If you did, we want to recoginize you, and invite you to attend
"On Eagle's Wings" as our special guest.
On Eagle's Wing will be recognizing all GWTW premiere attendees
as VIP guests.
Fred Crane, an original cast member of "Gone with the Wind"
who spoke the first line in the movie, will share in this great
event! If you or someone you know attended the 1939 debut , please
call us at 770-962-5327.
ELLIOTT
BRACK
You'll
find "What are you reading?" will catch your interest
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
APRIL 27, 2004 -- What are you reading? Others would like to know.
We asked several people last week, and have come up with a few
suggestions for your serious reading.
 It
was Jones Webb of Lawrenceville who suggested that I read
"Charlie Wilson's War," by George Crile. I had never heard
of it, and am glad Jones suggested it. It tells how one obscure
Texas Congressman virtually alone secured billions of dollars for
fighting the war in Afghanistan. Really fascinating!
Here is what some others are reading:
Marsha Bomar of Street Smarts: "Center of the Storm,"
by Katherine Harris. "It is a powerful discussion of integrity
and highest ethical standards. These are at the core of how I run
my life and my business."
Al Swint of Buford: "Seabiscuit." "I enjoyed
the movie, too, but the book is even better because (1) the historical
facts of the time period, the characters, and the horse-racing business
are very well researched and foot-noted; and (2) the story itself
was inspiring: a story of under-achieving, down-and-out underdogs
(jockey, trainer, and horse) coming together to beat all odds. Once
I started reading it, I could not put it down."
Dr. Don Printz of St. Mountain: Daniel Boorstin's, "The
Americans: the Colonial Experience." "The portion on Georgia
entitled, 'Victims of Philanthropy' was excellent."
Susan Shenefield of Lilburn: "The Five People You Meet
in Heaven," by Mitch Albom. "It's an easy, quick read.
It has insights on how actions of others can affect us in ways unknown."
Banker Tom Martin of Duluth: "A Purpose Driven Life"
by Rick Warren. "It is a spiritual book which inspired me to
change my lifestyle to become closer to God."
Zack Young of Wesleyan School of Norcross: "I recently
have re-read both 'Lonesome Dove' by Larry McMurtry and 'All the
King's Men' by Robert Penn Warren. I enjoyed reading them at a different
stage of my life than when I first encountered them. How I could
have gleaned anything meaningful out of 'All the King's Men' in
high school is beyond me, but now I have immense respect for Warren's
message."
Editor J.K. Murphy of Gwinnett Daily Post: "City Editor"
by Stanley Walker. "He discusses journalism ethics of the times,
freedom of the press, the corporate crunch on the newsroom, etc.
He dropped every journalistic name in the business. The anecdotes
of these journalists (some legends, some not) were fascinating."
Kathy Gestar of Snellville: "Shepherds Abiding"
by Jan Karon. " I've read all of the Mitford series and they
just warm the heart. I kind of wish I lived in a Mitford."
Monte Nichols, director of the Gwinnett Philharmonic: "C.S.
Lewis: 'Mere Christianity.' Written during a time of war by a true
intellectual, a brilliant, eloquent and logical treatise on the
faith, stripped of the usual ecclesiastical complications! It's
a very inspiring read."
Teresa Lynn, Duluth city clerk: "The Da Vinci Code,"
by Dan Brown. "It's a strange book, as you try to figure out
the clues, puzzles and mysteries of the book. Also it left me thinking
more about the 'human' side of Jesus and COULD he have REALLY been
married to Mary Madeline?"
Wayne Shackelford of Snellville: "The Purpose Driven
Life"" by Rick Warren. He does an amazing job of describing
'What on earth are we here for? '
Thanks to all who responded. And yes, we had many more responses,
and will include them and others in "What Are You Reading?"
as a new feature of GwinnettForum, beginning in the next issue.
We invite you to send in what you are reading now, and what you
plan to read next. Remember: keep it short, but tell us "why"
you are reading it to give us new insights.
ABOUT
OUR SPONSORS
 The
public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com
to you at no cost to readers. Among our sponsors are Jim Cowart
Co., which have been developing outstanding neighborhoods throughout
Atlanta for over 45 years. Today, Jim Cowart Residential communities
continue to stand for the very best in the metro Atlanta area. Home
buyers can expect to find new, award-winning, custom and spec homes
located within carefully controlled architectural and landscaped
communities, featuring superb amenities. Many homes are available
for immediate occupancy. Most of the Jim Cowart Residential communities
offer prestigious locations, near excellent shopping, fun community
recreation and entertainment and great schools. For more information,
go to www.jimcowart.com.
For a list of other sponsors of this forum, go to: http://www.gwinnettforum.com/about/sponsors.htm.
FEEDBACK
4/27: Maintains overtime
charges misrepresented by Bush team
(Editor's Note: The writer, now residing in
Florida, has worked extensively in the automobile service business
in Gwinnett County.-eeb)
Editor, the Forum:
The Bush Administration has said that only workers earning less
than $23,660 a year would be guaranteed the right to overtime pay.
Everybody earning more than that amount could be caught up in several
other changes to eligibility rules that take away overtime pay.
For nine months, the Administration has been fighting tooth and
nail to kill legislation approved by both houses of Congress that
would do nothing more than prohibit overtime cuts. The Senate and
House already voted once last year to prohibit overtime cuts, but
the White House strong-armed Congress to prevent that overtime protection
from becoming law.
The Bush Administration has been loudly exaggerating the benefits
of a helpful but woefully inadequate change that would expand overtime
coverage for some workers. This group is extremely small because
most workers who might be helped don't need the help. They are already
guaranteed overtime pay through other criteria, based on their job
responsibilities.
The Bush overtime cuts will hurt the economy. By taking away workers'
overtime rights, President Bush is discouraging job creation. He
is encouraging businesses to overwork their existing staff (for
no extra pay) rather than hire new workers. The overtime statute
was originally intended to encourage job creation.
The new Bush overtime regulation is a pay cut for American workers.
When workers are stripped of their overtime rights, their employers
can now force them to work overtime for no extra pay. Overtime pay
makes up one-fourth of the weekly earnings of workers who earn overtime,
an average of $161 per week.
Over the past year, Administration officials have repeatedly misrepresented
their proposal and its effects on workers. The Department of Labor
(DOL) routinely claimed that only 644,000 people would lose overtime
protection, when its own economic analysis concluded that an additional
1.5 to 2.7 million people would be affected. We also know that DOL
inflated the number of low-income workers who would benefit, and
in fact DOL admits it has no way of knowing how many would benefit,
if any.
I have joined with the over 250,000 people who have called for
the impeachment of George W. Bush and Co. at www.VoteToImpeach.org.
This campaign, initiated by former Attorney General Ramsey Clark,
has drafted articles of impeachment for introduction in Congress
and is gaining great momentum around the U.S.
-- Steve Lott, Holiday, Fla.
4/27: Commission was
thinking of health of Gwinnett citizens
Editor, the Forum:
Here's what the Gwinnett Commission was thinking about the smoking
ban: that
smoking is unhealthy and that there are many people that are tired
of the whining of people who think there is a constitutional right
to smoke and endanger the health of all of us, including children
who have no say in the matter. Just today the CDC reports that only
30 minutes of secondhand smoke is extremely dangerous to those with
heart problems. I commend the commission for standing firm on this
matter.
-- Jim Nelems, Norcross
ENCYCLOPEDIA
TIDBIT
4/27: "God is
Dead" Theory is turning point for Emory University
A popular debate over whether "God is dead" was occasioned
by the so-called radical theology propounded in the 1960s by such
theologians as William Hamilton, Gabriel Vahanian, and Paul van
Buren. The best known of these proponents was Thomas J. J. Altizer,
then a professor of religion at Emory University in Atlanta. The
controversy reflected many of the broader cultural and political
changes in American society often associated with that decade. "We
must realize that the death of God is an historical event, that
God has died in our cosmos, in our history, in our [existence],"
Altizer claimed. His frequently provocative manner of speaking,
which masked a more complex discussion taking place among academic
theologians, for a brief time made him a minor celebrity in the
popular media.
 Although
the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche had asserted the "death
of God" nearly a century earlier and a theological movement
had already adopted the phrase to express the perceived incompatibility
between a modern worldview and belief in a transcendent deity, the
controversy did not fully erupt until 1965.
For many observers the controversy and its resolution marked a
turning point for Emory, from its previous position as an obscure,
southern church school to its present status as a prestigious research
university. Altizer left the school in 1968, and the "death
of God" movement lost much of its steam by the end of the decade,
but Emory continued to maintain a reputation, especially in the
South, for theological liberalism.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Remedy for overcoming
being overwhelmed and powerless
"When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless.
But when you get involved, you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment
that comes from knowing you are working to make things better."
-- Pauline R. Kezer, former secretary of state for Connecticut.
SEND
YOUR FEEDBACK
Send your thoughts, 55-word short stories, pet peeves
or comments on any issue to Gwinnett
Forum for future publication.
===========================================
MORE: Contact Gwinnett Forum at: elliott@gwinnettforum.com
© 2004, Gwinnett Forum.com. Gwinnett Forum
is an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible
social, political and economic approaches to improve life in Gwinnett
County, Ga. USA.
|
