TODAY'S ISSUE
Death of friend makes election voting mighty meaningful
By Vally Sharp
Special to GwinnettForum.com

DULUTH, Oct. 29, 2004 -- An 89-year old friend of mine died early this past Sunday. A tiny creature, standing barely above five feet tall, she was born during World War I in Louisiana, lost a child in an automobile accident at 17, and followed her engineer husband all over the U.S. before coming to Atlanta in retirement to be near her daughter.

When I met her, she lived in an apartment complex with her husband, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and was a neighbor to my best friend's mother, who had lived in the same complex for several years, both before and after her own husband passed away. Bridge buddies, they became fast friends and confidantes - sisters, in a word.

Two weeks before she and her husband were slated to move into a retirement high rise that could accommodate both their needs, he died, but she went ahead and moved in anyway. As soon as another apartment was available, she lobbied her "sister," three years younger, to move in as well. And she did.

While they were both still living in the complex, a resident manager "adopted" the two, and even after he left the position and they moved, he continued to visit them, shower them with gifts, and invite them to his home on holidays to see the decorations. He transported them himself, because by this time, both had surrendered their driver's licenses to deteriorating health.

This lady, as you may have imagined, considering that she came from Louisiana, was from birth to death, Catholic, and she was a fan of George W. Bush. Her friend, the daughter-in-law of the man who started the Southern Baptist Radio Commission, will vote for Kerry on Tuesday.

While in ICU, only two "non-family" visitors were allowed: her evil liberal best friend and sister, whom she told she would see "on the other side," and an openly gay former resident manager whom she called her "boyfriend" when he entered the room. I heard today that he will deliver the eulogy at her memorial service in a couple of weeks.

It was in the midst of this tender reminder of life and death and love that transcends all barriers that I turned on the television to hear media and politicos on both sides skip lightly over the fact that an 80-year-old man had a tracheotomy to speculate on the probable need to replace him on the Supreme Court in the next four years.

On November 3rd, no matter who wins this election, as a nation, we will be no more or less safe than we were on November 1. We will be no more or less wealthy and no more or less free because of who resides in the White House. They and we should be ashamed at our arrogance at thinking so.

But I am safer today, and wealthier, and freer today than yesterday. Three people, different in gender, age, religion, political persuasion, and sexual orientation, reminded me once again of what really matters in this world-of what it once meant to be an American. Of what we can be again, if we and our so-called leaders will put down our petty, self-centered agenda and celebrate love and life.

On Tuesday, vote…but do not dishonor them.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Looking at certain factors to objectively predict election
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com

OCT. 29, 2004 -- We've heard people from different persuasions say this year: "This is the most important election that I can recall."

While every election is important, we agree that this one seems to take on added significance.

Any election is difficult to forecast with certainty. Add on to the 2004 presidential election the virtual assuredness that the election is close….and you have the ingredients for a stew, quite a stew.

One thing most Americans will agree on: what the country does not need is for the election to be decided by the Supreme Court. What will be best for the USA would be a definitive victory for one candidate or the other one.

What makes the election even more difficult is the cloud of Iraq hanging over it. While one of Mr. Bush's own doing, with a growing sentiment that the situation in Iraq is stagnating into a morass, that bodes well for Mr. Kerry's chances. Yet others point out that Americans do not enjoy the idea of changing horses in the middle of a stream, and envision that a majority will want to keep the same president while at war.

While we recognize the dangers of making a prediction in such a close race, we'll go out on a limb and try to forecast the election for president.

We see several factors affecting the election outcome:

• The war. This may be the over-riding factor of them all. There is no doubt that President Bush inserted the United States into the Mid-East situation, something other presidents had resisted, except the first President Bush. The problems with the continuing insurgency in the region, and the prospects of no easy way out of the problem, not any peace, are negatives for the President.
  
  
• The economy. Continued job losses, higher unemployment, the morass of the overall economy to show any solid strength, the stock market's inability to have any punch, mean too much economic uncertainty and instability for most people. More negatives for Mr. Bush.
  
  
• The government. With both houses of the Congress controlled by the Republicans, you would think President Bush had a clear path for about anything he wanted. But somehow, this Congress has faltered, not progressing when in every instance it seems they should have. About the only way the Republicans have been able to make changes is through regulatory bodies, carving out pet rules for certain constituents and industries. What it amounts to is a nation being virtually leaderless, gyrating and moving about, but in uncertain directions. (The inability for Congress to make significant progress indicates our nation may be in better shape when the President and the Congress are not from the same political party.)
  
  
• Healthcare. Rising health costs, plus the lack of a cohesive game plan on health insurance, has virtually all Americans raising their eyebrows at the direction to go. Coupled with reduced governmental expenditures in key health areas, most Americans are more concerned about health than ever before. And most would say they feel they are not better off today in health care than they were four years ago.

Against all this background, now consider: with the nation divided 50-50 four years ago, it will take movement of just a few swing and undecided voters away from the president to change the course of this country significantly. In addition, this time George W. Bush is running not so much against John Kerry as he is against his own record. And enough questions have been raised that cast doubt whether President Bush can keep the fringe voters that he won in 2000..

Add to this a larger electorate, with many new voters now registered. But will they vote?

In nearly all the key factors, it would appear that President Bush has lost one vote here, another there, and enough votes in the middle to give the balance to John Kerry to be our next president.

Readers may draw different conclusions from looking at these same factors. It is merely my effort at objective analysis for the record prior to the voting. Come a few days, we'll see the results.

ABOUT OUR SPONSORS

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McLEMORE'S WORLD
10/29: Modern response to Halloween trick or treating

The latest from cartoonist Bill McLemore:

FEEDBACK
10/29: Points out savings through use of dietary supplements

Editor, the Forum:

As one of the many Americans who uses dietary supplements to benefit my health, I am dismayed when I see good news about these products minimized or ignored in the news media. That's why I'm calling your attention to a new study that links dietary supplements to improved health and health care savings.

The study, which was conducted by the Lewin Group, shows that daily use of calcium would prevent 734,000 hip fractures and save $13.9 billion in health care costs over the next five years. Daily use of folic acid by women would prevent 600 cases of neural tube birth defects yearly, saving $1.3 billion in lifetime medical costs over five years. That's a total savings of over $15 billion if these simple healthy tips can be implemented. You can read more about these supplements, and the other three that were studied -- omega-3 fatty acids, Glucosamine and saw palmetto -- at www.supplementinfo.org.

For a number of reasons, there's a health care crisis in this country today that needs a solution. I urge you not to ignore information like this study that clearly shows how dietary supplements can play a big role in solving that crisis.

-- Jack Wolfe, Duluth

10/29: Remembers anouther country that had patriotic leader

Editor, the Forum:

Thank you for your piece on patriotism, for pointing out that patriotism does not belong to one political party or point of view. Well-informed, involved, conscientious and dedicated individuals may see the same situation, know the same facts, and still come to different conclusions on the "proper" course of action. This is true patriotism: conscientiously acting upon your deeply held beliefs for the betterment of your country and fellow countrymen (and -women).

I know of a country who once had an extremely patriotic leader. He was a very moral leader. He was not a womanizer, and he never touched a drop of alcohol. He helped his country out of a severe economic depression and gave rousing speeches, bringing crowds to their feet. They, too, chanted slogans about how great things would be with him as their leader. Who in their right mind wouldn't follow such a man? A lot of people did follow him -- and the world paid a terrible price -- for Adolf Hitler.

Following is easy. Blindly following is even easier. Thinking and forming your own opinion is much harder.

So, whoever your conscience tells you to choose during this important presidential election, do it with knowledge and careful consideration.

And, please keep this quote in mind as you listen to those around you: "Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper." -- Robert Frost

Thank you so much for your publication/forum.

-- Annette Gelbrich, Norcross

PS: My favorite poem, "The Road Not Taken," by Robert Frost offers some of the best advice I've ever heard: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.--AG

10/29: Not one single doubt about what this letter writer believes

Editor, the Forum:

President Bush now says he bombed Iraq and toppled Saddam to "establish a democracy in the Middle East." (Read: He wants that to be his legacy.)

He didn't need Iraq. His legacy will be secured as the only person to occupy the Oval Office whose golf score and I.Q. were both in the high 90's. Historians will sum up this presidency as the voters are beginning to a colossal waste of lives, money, and domestic opportunities.

If you care anything at all about this incredible country of ours, vote him out on November 2.

-- M. Buckman, Lilburn

NEWS
Snellville to host Halloween festival and symphonic winds

A Fall Festival, hayride and costume contest is set Saturday, October 30 from 6 - 9 p.m. at T.W. Briscoe Park in Snellville. It is sponsored by Emory Eastside Medical Center.

Enjoy Carnival games, moonwalks and costume contests for all ages. Game tickets are 25 cents each. Take a hayride and listen to a storyteller.

This year featured will be the Peachtree Symphonic Winds and nine-year old vocalist Antonia Barnes. The Snellville Lions Club will be on hand selling hamburgers, hot dogs and other treats.

Peachtree Symphonic Winds will play at 6 p.m. The group was formed in 2004 to be an ensemble for Atlanta area musicians. The group plays standard as well as new works for the band and chamber ensemble. Its membership includes community and professional musicians from throughout the metropolitan Atlanta area. More information on the ensemble is available on their website: www.peachtreewinds.org.

Future performances include: December 2 at 8 p.m. at Berkmar High School and December 4 at 8 p.m. at Marietta First United Methodist Church.

Deadline nearing for second ad valorem tax installment

A reminder: If you paid only half your Gwinnett ad valorem taxes back in September, deadline is nearing for the final installment. November 15 is the a deadline. Those not paying their taxes in full by the due date will have a five percent penalty added based on the unpaid installment amount. In addition, interest will begin to accrue at the rate of one percent per calendar month or any part thereof (12 percent annually) beginning November 16th.

For more information, you may call TaxTalk 24, the 24-hour customer service line, at 770.822.8800 or access the Tax Commissioner's website at www.gwinnett-tax.com.

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

• An invitation: What books have you enjoyed? Send us your best recent book along with a short paragraph as to why you liked it, plus what you plan to read next. --eeb
  

ENCYCLOPEDIA TIDBIT
10/29: Rabun County has more waterfalls than any other county

Georgia has a wide variety of waterfalls: some are high with sheer drops, some are tumbling cascades, and others are rushing shoals or small ledge-type falls. Several state parks have been developed around these natural wonders and play host to thousands of visitors each year. Many falls also are located in the wilds of the Chattahoochee and Oconee National Forests of northern and central Georgia. There are dozens, perhaps hundreds, of other waterfalls on private lands across the state.

Most of Georgia's waterfalls occur in the central and northern part of the state because a "fall line" runs across this region from the southwest (Pine Mountain) to the northeast (Rabun County). The fall line is where the Appalachian Mountains rise abruptly out of the Piedmont Plateau.

Rabun County is the state's most prolific waterfall location. The abrupt change in elevation, combined with several large, plateaulike drainage areas, makes the area ripe for waterfalls. Where drainages are small, wet-weather falls occur, such as Ada-Hi Falls at Black Rock Mountain State Park.

• To access the Georgia Encyclopedia, go to http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
  

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
This guy and his friends were flying high

"We won't even need the airplane to fly home."

-- Boston Red Sox Owner John W. Henry after the team won the World Series Wednesday night after an 86 year-wait.

• Another invitation: What's your favorite saying? Share with others through GwinnettForum. Send to elliott@gwinnettforum.com.
  

MORE: Contact Gwinnett Forum at: elliott@gwinnettforum.com

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