TODAY'S ISSUE
Sight of Iraq's voting touches nerve with Jim Crupi
By Jim Crupi
President, Strategic Leadership Solutions, Inc.
Special to GwinnettForum.com

(Editor's Note: Many in Georgia will remember Dr. Jim Crupi. of Plano, Texas. He is a graduate of North Georgia College, who holds the Ph.D. from the University of Florida. He is a previous faculty member of Georgia State University. He has been associated with leadership programs in the past, including Leadership Gwinnett and Senior Leadership Gwinnett. He sent this email recently, and we thought you would enjoy it. -eeb)

DEC. 20, 2005 -- I know, I know - But I just can't help myself.

Crupi

I was watching the returns from Iraq as people turned out in record numbers and I found myself overwhelmed with emotion. It came on unexpectedly. But I just could not help feeling "touched" by what I was seeing - people risking their lives to vote in hopes for a better future.

I know I usually cut and paste articles and send them out to both provoke thought and educate. But this time I just could not help myself; I had to write something about the depth of my feeling.

What was it? Was I humbled by the sight of a courage that has never been fully tested in me? Was it that I felt so good to be an American because I know that none of this would have been possible without American involvement.

Was it that I realized that those images of purple fingers blasted across the world will have an impact from Dubai to Beijing in ways no politician's words could ever have? Did I feel relief that the hard work and sacrifice of many people I know was being justified by the spirit that came from people I don't even know.

Did the young soldier deep inside this aging body bubble up and stand up? Was it that I felt the pain of the sacrifices borne by American soldiers who I know and work with --- soldiers who have done what they were asked by their country and then some --- soldiers who have lost friends, have had their lives changed by a road side bomb, have lost their families because the stress was just too great, and soldiers who have even lost their life?

And they did all this so someone from another society with a religion and lifestyle different from their own could taste the freedom to express their desire for a better future. Greater love hath no man than he would lay down his life. Maybe Christmas came alive today.

Perhaps it was all those things. I know this. I am not one to show my emotion --- just ask my wife, Faye. But something happened to me today. Maybe I recaptured that deep down feeling about being proud of what it really means to be an American in a world of political correctness, cynicism, and emotional restraint. That the human spirit I saw released----released it in me.

Whatever it was, I also know this. I feel so honored to have gotten to know so many American soldiers who give of themselves in ways you cannot imagine. They work hard, long hours into the night while the rest of us go to malls and worry about things that are so unimportant. The truth is, we don't deserve them. And I know that what we saw today would not have been possible without them.

To them and their colleagues --- you know who you are --- I say, "Thank you!"

I wish I could find the words to say more. But know they come from deep within my heart. And no matter where you are in the world during this holiday season, know that at least this one person is with you. Thank you so much for stirring in me a spirit that recaptured the idealism of my youth.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Oh, for the return of the likeness of Silent Cal Coolidge!
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com

DEC. 20, 2005 -- Oh, for the likes of the 30th president! You remember, Calvin Coolidge, better known as Silent Cal?

Perhaps it's the growth of the always-hungry media that bugs me in connection with a talkative presidency.

But I would wish for an American president that was not so much in the news. Realize that I am saying this not with the current president, George W. Bush in mind. I say this remembering the most recent former president, Bill Clinton, and also perhaps presidents back since the days of Silent Cal.

What we need is to have the leader of the American people who is less in our face all the time, and not on radio, on television, in newspapers and news magazines. The always-seeking Washington press corps seems to think that every little motion of the president, and every subject that comes up in the world, needs to have some comment either from, or about, our sitting president.

Coolidge portrayed in a White House painting

Much of this attention to the president comes from the pressures that every member of the media feel, not wanting to get scooped by some other member of the media. Should that occur, no doubt, the person covering the White House would catch the devil from his assignment editor, with the question: "What's wrong? Why did you not have that story?"

So, yes, in one way of looking at it, all this cramming of the president down our throat is because of the media.

Yet never think for a moment that the sitting president (no matter who he or she may be) has his own agenda to push toward the press. The president works the press like no other person in the world. And that's where some of the problem lies.

The sitting president always puts too much importance in his own pronouncements, feeling that he must not only issue a Thanksgiving message, but a Christmas and Martin Luther King Day and an Arbor Day and a proclamation or statement for anything someone asks him. After all, he is the president, and needs to do that, right?

Not so.

We need for the president to back off the public messages, no matter which president we are talking about, and quietly go about his office and do the best job he can. We are not talking eliminating items of interest and significance. But so much could be halted!

What we would suggest is that the president cut out the small stuff to begin with. Then proceed to refrain from having a comment on any and everything that takes place.

Yep, emulate Silent Cal. Don't even trot our your press guy every day, or every few hours. Hold the press secretary back for the really important news, not out in front of the press corps with each tick of the clock.

Right now, our government is too much in our face. And though the media is principally to blame, realize that every unit of government seeks to play the press (and therefore the public) to its advantage.

Back off, elected officials, from the president to the lowest of any elected office. Do your job. Stand firm on principle. Work in the open. But don't posture and whine, and seek to imprint every item with your own stamp. Like you were told when in class, "Keep your mouth shut" more.

Be more like Silent Cal. And we all will respect you and your office more

ABOUT OUR SPONSORS

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today's sponsor is the Gwinnett County Public Library, named Library of the Year 2000. GCPL currently operates 12 branches throughout the county. Branches in Dacula and Grayson are under construction and will open in 2006. Library hours are: Monday -Thursday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 6 p.m. GCPL offers traditional books, magazines, CD books, and children's DVDs, plus electronic resources such as Million Dollar Database, Mergent Online, Reference USA and Proquest Newspapers. Many online resources are available remotely by computer. Most library branches offer wireless Internet., serving as a remote office via your computer. Gwinnett County Public Library is "not your mother's library." To see why not, visit any branch, www.gwinnettpl.org or call 770-978-5154.

For a list of other sponsors of this forum, go to: http://www.gwinnettforum.com/about/sponsors.htm

FEEDBACK
12/20: Donations to co-op not as in past; in dire straits for holidays

Editor, the Forum:

Are we iin Gwinnett County to busy to care? Is all the rhetoric about putting Christ back into Christmas just talk?

Since Hurricane Katrina hit, many businesses and individuals have been giving to help the evacuees of this horrendous storm. However, these same folks are the ones who normally give so generously during the Christmas season to so many needy children in Gwinnett County. I predicted several months ago, that because of all the donations being steered toward the Hurricane relief effort, many non-profits would struggle to meet their clients needs this year.

Reality has hit many of these groups trying to help the needy with Christmas this year. The Norcross Cooperative Ministry (Norcross Co-op) sent out a desperate plea for assistance today. An agency that has been helping the needy in Norcross for over 20 years, the Norcross Coop pools the resources of about 20 local churches. This year, the needs are overwhelming and the donations have not come in as they have in Christmas' past.

The plea is for Christmas assistance for 500 families, or about 1,500 toys. I've already made two trips to the Norcross Coop last week. Each time, their waiting room is packed full of needy families. The Norcross Coop is staffed by a part-time director and hundreds of volunteers. Shirley Cabe, the director, deserves our praise and support. She is helping show needy families that someone cares about them and keeping them from a life in the streets.

Gwinnett has a reputation of being an affluent community. All one has to do to visit Shirley at the Norcross Cooperative to see that this affluence has not reached everyone in our community. Christmas is about sharing the message of love and hope with the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The Norcross Cooperative is trying to extend this message to those who need to feel this message in Gwinnett. Please give Shirley a call and see how you can help bring the true meaning of Christmas to a child in our community. You can reach her at 770-263-0013.

-- Ellen Gerstein, Executive Director, Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services

12/20: Klaudt family sponsoring scholarships for needy

Editor, the Forum:

North Metro First Baptist Church, 1026 Old Peachtree Rd, NE Lawrenceville, is sponsoring four fundraising concerts in 2006 for the Klaudt Indian Memorial Foundation.

The Foundation was launched in 2003 in honor of Lillian Little Soldier Klaudt and R.H. Klaudt for the purpose of presenting scholarships to needy talented American Indians and non-Indians to preserve future gospel singing. The Foundation has presented scholarships at Lee University, Cleveland, Tenn. and will be presenting one to a Metro Baptist Learning Institution in early 2006.

For more information, go to www.klaudtmemorial.com. Thanks for the consideration,

-- Melvin Klaudt, Lawrencceville

UPCOMING
Inaugural Chamber program to feature Wayne Mason

Learn success secrets at the inaugural "Success Lives Here" Business Leadership Series featuring business and community leader Wayne Mason. The event will be held on Friday, January 13, at Sugarloaf Country Club. Registration will begin at 7:45 a.m. and breakfast will be served at 8 a.m.

The Series is designed to profile the successful business and community leaders who have made Gwinnett what it is today. It will touch on their lives and how they got to where they are today; what has contributed to their success; and what brought them to Gwinnett to build a career. This will be a nine month series of presentations by community leaders.

There will be only 80 seats available for the meeting.

To learn more about the event please contact Meghan Schroder at 770-232-8816 or email at Meghan@gwinnettchamber.org.

United Ebony Society plans King celebration on Jan. 16

The United Ebony Society of Gwinnett County presents its annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration on Monday, Jan. 16, 2006.

The Martin Luther, Jr. celebration begins with singing and speakers at the Historic Gwinnett County Courthouse at the Lawrenceville Square. The march begins at 10 a.m., with the destination Central Gwinnett High School, where its program begins at noon. This year's program theme is "Keeping the Dream Alive through Caring and Giving." Elementary to high school aged children will present essays on Dr. King and his legacy during the program.

Donations of non-perishable items are being sought to replenish food banks of charities in Gwinnett County.

The United Ebony Society of Gwinnett County is a 21year old community based organization (non-profit). Its purpose is to strengthen and promote community awareness through out-reach to all citizens of Gwinnett County without regard of race, creed, national origin, gender, religion; and to develop friendly relations. The organization is dedicated to providing opportunities for Gwinnett County citizens to actively participate in local, county and state government.

Volunteers, church groups, schools, bands, organizations, sororities, fraternities, steppers, etc. are welcomed to join in this march. For more information or to volunteer or participate, call 770-963-9356.

NOTABLE
Nearby Arabia Mountain to become National Heritage Area

Congressman David Scott announces that legislation, H.R. 2099, to designate Arabia Mountain in DeKalb, Rockdale and Henry Counties as a National Heritage Area, has passed the House. Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson introduced similar legislation, S. 203, which passed the Senate earlier this year.

Scott said: "The Arabia Mountain Heritage Area has just moved one step closer to reality. Arabia Mountain is recognized as a natural wonder and I am pleased to work with my colleagues from Georgia to help protect and preserve this special place for future generations to enjoy."

According to the National Park Service, a National Heritage Area is a place "designated by the United States Congress, where natural, cultural, historic and recreational resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally distinctive landscape arising from patterns of human activity shaped by geography." The designation would include a large portion of eastern DeKalb, western Rockdale and northern Henry counties, which are represented in part by Congressman Scott. In DeKalb, the area includes Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, Miners Creek Preserve, Arabia Lake, and Stephenson Creek. More information about Arabia Mountain can be found online at: www.arabiaalliance.org.

RECOMMENDATION

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

GEORGIA TIDBIT
Savannah Civil War minister foreshadowed civil rights era

The minister and missionary E. K. Love (1850-1900) was a prominent Baptist leader and writer in 19th-century Georgia. Dedicated to fighting racism, Love was also a political activist whose efforts in Savannah foreshadowed the civil rights movement.

Love

Emmanuel King Love was born into slavery on July 27, 1850, in Perry County, Ala., and was educated privately. Having accepted the call to ministry in 1868, Love attained a bachelor's degree from the Augusta Institute (later Morehouse College) in 1877. He served as pastor of a number of churches, including the historic First African Baptist Church in Savannah from 1885 to 1900.

A denominational leader, Love headed the black Georgia Baptist State Convention, the Baptist Foreign Mission Convention and the National Baptist Convention. In addition, Love served as a missionary to black Georgians, representing predominantly white, northern Baptist societies. He edited the Baptist Truth and the Centennial Record and was the associate editor of the Georgia Sentinel , all of which were black Baptist newspapers. He also wrote History of the First African Baptist Church , from its official origins in 1788 to 1888, and helped to establish what would become Savannah State College.

A Republican activist, Love supported temperance, fought disfranchisement, and vigorously opposed discrimination and Jim Crow segregation in all areas of public life. There is evidence that he was subjected to physical abuse because he refused segregated train seating. In the late 1890s Love supported the establishment of an independent African American Baptist national publishing house, and before his sudden death on April 24, 1900, he helped to establish Savannah's first privately owned black bank.

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

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Wage earners get little from those writing tax laws

"The tax laws are written by men with considerable net worth, and with little understanding of what wage-earners must do to make ends meet."

-- Martin L. Gross, academician and author, via Marshall Miller, Lilburn.

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

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