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Issue 9.85 | Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010 |
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TODAY'S FOCUS NORCROSS, Ga., Feb. 2, 2010 -- I have memories from back some 30 years ago as a small child going shopping with my grandparents. We would go to the store, back then it was Woolworth's, and I would pick out a dozen items that I wanted.
I didn't understand that we couldn't really afford them, I just understood that I was to jump up and down and pitch a fit until someone noticed. My grandfather, not educated but wise, would always tell me, "Son, you don't always get what you want the minute you want it, you have to earn it and be willing to give a little to get a little". As I got older, I always remembered those words, "Give a little to get a little," in other words, be smart enough to compromise on the things you know you can't have at the moment. Today, as an adult, I shake my head in disbelief as I watch and listen to our "leaders." On the national level, absolutely nothing gets done because Republicans and Democrats can't even agree on what time it is. I can tell you what time it is: it's time to help people find jobs and get health coverage, that's what time it is. On a state level, we're paying full time attorneys $900 per hour to fight two other states over water. We think it's a good idea to charge folks a tax if they have to go to the hospital; and our teachers are forced to take numerous days off without pay. On a local level, our county and cities have spent half a million dollars on legal fees to argue about services and taxes, a fight that has put us at a risk of losing millions in state funding and is now in the hands of a judge. Why? We have a serious problem in politics today at all levels. Republicans and Democrats spend all of their time jumping up and down, pitching a fit so as to get noticed, but at the end of the day they don't understand the rule that I learned years ago: you're not always going to get what you want the minute you want it; that you have to earn what you do get; and you have to be willing to compromise on the things you know you can't have at that moment. If politicians would take the advice of a backwoods Alabama farmer, perhaps folks could sit down together and get things moving in the right direction. Stop all the grandstanding. Nobody cares. Just sit down and hammer out a deal between all parties. Let's get some of these issues behind us. It may be fun to put on a show, but it's the middle class taxpayers, the very ones who elected you, that are suffering. EEB PERSPECTIVE FEB. 2, 2010 -- Unrelated recent gunfire outbursts have shocked Georgians, including Gwinnettians, recently. Though we lament the incidents, we anticipate that it merely makes the work of the Gun Lobby more difficult.
One random shooting incident took place right here in Gwinnett. In a tragic outcome, thugs fired a bullet from a cul de sac that ripped through the walls of a Lawrenceville home, striking and killing a 13-year-old budding football aspirant. There was no warning of the shot, as the bullet tore through the wall and hit the boy. His mother found him bleeding. Soon, he died. It all came apparently from a disagreement between either gang members, or people associated with drugs, or some other unsavory element of society. And it stemmed from the growing problems of guns, legal or illegal, within our community. The second incident was datelined out of Griffin, where a man fired 57 rounds from an automatic weapon at the arrival of police offers, seriously injuring two of them. Neighbors reported the man had often disturbed the peace of the neighborhood by spraying his backyard with gunfire. The man was eventually killed by other policemen. We mourn for his family, but not for him. At least the State of Georgia was relieved of the cost of a trial and possible imprisonment for this obviously disturbed person. Think seriously: Who needs the "protection" of an automatic weapon in their home, their business, or their life? Having an automatic rifle automatically takes away the "meat-for-the-table" argument, since such gunfire would destroy much of the meat.
And how can people who work in the civilian arms industry, swapping and selling weapons, sleep with themselves at night in peace, knowing the merchandise that they sell to people is so harmful to society? Now to top it off, here we have one member of the Georgia Legislature introducing a measure to broaden the rights of people to carry weapons, even extending this right to university campuses? Georgia Gwinnett College President Dan Kaufman was testifying last week before the Legislature pleading that new laws not be passed that would allow weapons on campus. Hurrah for Dan Kaufman! He has his head screwed on straight, and is seeking to protect the safety of his students with this testimony. One person attending a recent debate among gubernatorial candidates was disturbed at the way the Republican candidates backed measures to give the Gun Lobby more power. The GOP candidates seem so intent on getting themselves elected that they seem to have abandoned reason. If they don't refute the Gun Lobby, we feel the citizens of Georgia should turn down the Republican candidates, even if citizens must hold their noses to vote for a Democrat who will not be beholden to the Gun Lobby. It will take courage to fight powerful special interests, such as the National Rifle Association, but any politician stout enough to stand up to them, we wish Godspeed. Many Americans seem to think that we are in a new age where guns are necessary. But this is not the Old West. Nor is everyday life something out of the movies. We are more civilized than that. With proper laws on our side, a culture that supports professional law enforcement and with reasonable citizens, we can protect ourselves -- and even gun lovers -- in a strong, well-enforced society. 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 Chamber of Commerce. From answering your questions and providing a host of useful information, to promoting growth in our county, there are people working every day to help make Gwinnett a place where businesses thrive and success lives. For more detail, go to www.gwinnettchamber.org.
FEEDBACK Editor,
the Forum:
Census office only following what others in Washington do Editor, the Forum: You should realize by now, like everything else our government in Washington does, they simply believe that if they call the Census office "Duluth office" long enough and loud enough, even though it is physically located in Norcross, everyone will soon accept and start to believe what they say. They have done that with their "No Tax Increase" program, their "Job Creation program" and many other new "Change You Can Believe In" programs. Why pick on the Census folks for following the lead of the other divisions of our government?
UPCOMING Chocolate Perks will feature Alan Darmody's works in an exhibit called, 80p Fine Art Photography beginning January 25 in Duluth. The artist will be present for a First Friday Art Walk on February 5 at 7 p.m. That night there will be inspirational and contemporary folk music with Alyssa Darmody, Rachel Komorowski, Matthew and Joey Tolbert performing. They appeared previously in a packed-house performance at the Red Clay Theatre during a recent Morning Song concert. Chocolate Perks, a bistro serving soup, salad, sandwiches, wine, beer, ice cream, fine desserts and pastries, and, of course, chocolate, is located at 3160 Main Street. Lionheart Theatre to present Cleage's Flyin' West soon Lionheart Theatre Company of Norcross celebrates black history month with Flyin' West, the gripping story of black female pioneers -- some were former slaves -- who settled the all-black town of Nicodemus, Kan. The show opens February 12 and runs two weekends. Written by Atlanta author and playwright Pearl Cleage, Flyin' West boldly addresses the themes of determination, racism, interracial marriage, feminism, pride and freedom.
Thanks to the Homestead Act of 1860, about 40,000 African-Americans migrated to Kansas to work their own land. By 1887, Nicodemus was an all-black town of more than 400 and had churches, stores, a school and two newspapers. Flyin' West features Miss Leah, a feisty elderly matriarch who demands respect, and Sophie, a good-natured but strong-willed woman who takes care of Miss Leah without making her feel dependent. Conflict heightens when Leah's sister Minnie arrives from London with her abusive and arrogant husband Frank. Director Tanya Carroll says: "This is the story about courageous black women who struggle to build a life for the next generation. The spirit of this play inspires all women." Cleage is one of Atlanta's modern literary stars whose books and poetry have garnered national attention. Flyin' West debuted on the Alliance Theatre Stage in 1992 and received worldwide critical acclaim. Her first novel, What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day, was an Oprah's Book Club selection, a New York Times bestseller, and a BCALA Literary Award winner. Flyin' West runs February 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday shows are at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students. Group rates are available. Complimentary desserts are always served. Reservations are highly recommended. Log onto www.lionhearttheatre.org or call 678-938-8518. Lionheart is at 10 College Street, Norcross. New London Theatre to present Pump Boys and Dinettes New
London Theatre will present Pump Boys and Dinettes, opening
February 12 and continuing through February 28.
Pump Boys and Dinettes is a musical concert which tells of three guys who work at the Pump Boys Gas Station, and the Cupp Sisters, who are waitresses at the Double Cupp Diner, located between Frog Level and Smyrna, N.C. The music is mostly from the country rock and pop genres. This is a foot stompin'-hand clappin' musical concert. Pump Boys and Dinettes is being directed by Scott Rousseau and produced by John Berlo. For additional information visit www.newlondontheatre.org, or call at 770-559-1484. Shows are performed at New London Theatre, 2485 East Main Street, Snellville. Bannister to present State of County address Feb. 10 Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairman Charles Bannister will present the 2010 State of the County Address on February 10 at the Gwinnett Center in Duluth at 11:30 a.m. Cost of the event is $75 per person for Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce members and $100 for non-Chamber members. Registration deadline is February 5. To register online, go here or contact Nicole Wright at nicole@gwinnettchamber.org or phone 770-232-8816. NOTABLE A record
number of participants in the University of Georgia Washington Semester
Program - 21 -- are taking part in the Washington Semester Program in
the nation's capital for internships in congressional offices, nonprofit
organizations and think tanks. Among these students on the Washington Semester Program are these from the Gwinnett area:
Every fall and spring, a UGA faculty member teaches a three-hour course related to public policy, government and current trends. Guest lecturers from UGA and D.C. lead a three-hour seminar on work and culture in D.C. The other six credit hours can be applied to internship, directed study and/or research courses through the student's academic department. The priority deadline for fall 2010 applications for the Washington Semester Program is March 1. First consideration is given to students who apply by then. Applications will be accepted after the deadline until all program spaces are full. More information on the UGA Washington Semester Program is available at http://www.uga.edu/dcsemester. Web site for City of Suwanee gets more modern look Visitors to the City of Suwanee Web site (www.suwanee.com) might initially think that they need to adjust their glasses or their computer screen, but they're really seeing just fine. The site has a fresh 2010 look. The site has been updated, and the navigation moved from the left side of the page to the top. A video window has been added, and the City has posted a new promotional video. The City of Suwanee Web site was established in 1998, and the design and format of the site had remained essentially unchanged until now. Suwanee is known for being progressive and now its website, which is visited annually almost 400,000 times, more accurately reflects our progressive community.
GEORGIA ENCYCLOPEDIA
Located in the mountains of northeast Georgia, Tallulah Falls rose to prominence as a resort area in the late 19th century. Early in the 20th century, after a fierce struggle with conservationists led by Helen Dortch Longstreet, the Georgia Power Company dammed the falls and constructed a large hydroelectric facility at the site. Georgia Power and the state of Georgia teamed to establish the Tallulah Gorge State Park, and thousands of Georgians once again visit the area annually.
Tallulah Falls was actually a series of four main cataracts and several smaller rapids that dropped approximately 350 feet over the course of a mile. After gathering speed through the Indian Arrow Rapids at the head of the falls, the Tallulah River raced down L'Eau d'Or, a 46-foot-tall cataract. Tempesta, estimated at 81 feet, was the second fall, followed by the largest cataract, Hurricane, which dropped 96 feet. Oceana, approximately a 42-foot drop, was the final major falls. The gorge through which the river cut created steep cliffs and rock outcroppings that provided excellent observation points and added to the scenic beauty of the falls. The Cherokee Indians inhabited the land surrounding the gorge before the arrival of European settlers around 1820. Settlers named the gorge and falls Tallulah. While the Cherokee viewed the falls with trepidation and largely avoided the area, white settlers and travelers commented on the awe-inspiring beauty of the falls and gorge in newspapers and travel books. Tallulah was soon dubbed the "Niagara of the South." By the early 19th century, local as well as national writers extolled this scenic wonder to broad readerships, which increased its allure to tourists, who had to travel for days over mountain trails to see it. In 1882 the extension of the railroad decreased the travel time from Atlanta to Tallulah Falls from days to hours and made the trip affordable for more Georgians. Nearly 20 hotels and boardinghouses sprang up around the falls to accommodate the increased number of visitors. The town also had three churches, a railroad depot, a telegraph office, a post office, a bar, and for a brief time in 1897, a newspaper, all largely supported by the tourist industry. Besides enjoying the beauty of the falls, visitors could go horseback riding, hunt, fish, bowl, or play tennis during the day; nightly entertainment included music, dancing, and card playing. (To be continued) CREDITS GwinnettForum is provided to you at no charge every Tuesday and Friday. If you would like to serve as an underwriter, click here to learn more. Send
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TODAY'S QUOTE "I guess I'm just an old mad scientist at bottom. Give me an underground laboratory, half a dozen atom-smashers, and a beautiful girl in a diaphanous veil waiting to be turned into a chimpanzee, and I care not who writes the nation's laws."
Those interested in the history of Gwinnett need to know that the recently published book: Gwinnett: A Little Above Atlanta, has sold fast, with the first editions about sold out. Get yours before they're gone. Go to http://www.elliottbrack.com/ to order, or buy the book at a local bookstore shown on the site. The books are available at:
MORE RECENT COMMENTARY
FOR CHARITY. You can give "A Gift of Laughter," a great book of cartoons by Bill McLemore, to help raise money for Rainbow Village. At just $20, it's a fun way to help. To order, call 770-497-1888, or email to info@gwinnettforum.com. ABOUT US GwinnettForum.com is a twice-weekly online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible social, political and economic approaches to improve life in Gwinnett County, Ga. USA. Contact us today. SISTER PUBLICATIONS We encourage you to check out our sister publications:
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