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TODAY'S
ISSUE
Ranting, raving and
finding both Sunnis and Shiites in USA
By Vally Sharp
Special to GwinnettForum.com
APRIL 11, 2006 -- As I've listened to the "news" over
the past few weeks, I've continued to hear about the insurgent activity
between the Sunni and Shiite Muslims as they struggle against each
other to find some common ground. Who will control the government
of Iraq?
Sharp |
The democratic philosophy of "rule by the majority" would
suggest that the Shiites be represented in larger quantity in their
government because they make up a larger part of the population.
But the Sunnis want nothing of that.
Unfortunately, though our President would certainly desire that
it were true-he just told the Iraqis to "get governing"-democracy
hasn't come to Iraq, and it probably won't. Religious ideology will
likely continue to incite civil unrest just as it has for thousands
of years.
Having my "media" about Iraq, I switched channels on
my radio yesterday and heard about a "War on Christians"
Conference in Washington, D.C. and a book called Liberalism Kills
Kids. It was then that I realized that democracy has lost a little
of its sheen here, too.
We have our own Sunni/Shiite battle underway. A group, under-represented
in the population, has gained in power. Our Sunni Christians, made
up of the religious fundamentalists whose leaders need not be listed
here, maintain that Christians everywhere are under attack. They're
under attack by judicial activists (they're only activists if their
decisions don't coincide with the Sunni view) and under attack by
"liberalism," which has been redefined as subscribing
to any other view not in harmony with their doctrine.
Me? Well, I guess I'm a Shiite Christian. I hadn't heard about
a war on Christians, and I wasn't sure what they were talking about
since nobody's stopped me from praying or talking about Christ.
Granted, I haven't tried to do either in a courthouse. I have talked
about Jesus on the telephone and in restaurants-even talked about
him on the golf course the other day. Nobody called the police.
I read (that's present tense) the Old Testament, but I still make
the New Testament primary to my own code of beliefs since that is
where Christ shows up, after all. And I have been trying to find
just where it is in the New Testament where Jesus said we should
take over the government.
The funny thing is that I keep running into things like Peter cutting
off a Roman's ear and Jesus putting it back on and things like Jesus
saying, "He who is without sin, cast the first stone."
Or things like Jesus responding to Pilate just before the Roman
procurator turned him over for execution, "My kingdom is not
of this world, else my disciples would've fought you when I was
arrested." And as Jesus said when the then Pharisees asked
if the Jews should pay taxes to the Romans, "Render unto Caesar
the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's."
For the life of me, I can't find a single place where Jesus said,
"Hey, you guys, let's take over the Roman government. Let's
pray for the people in charge to die so we can move into power,
and if that doesn't work, let's kill a few of them (if only by assassinating
their characters and making them non-entities) to get the ball rolling."
And I can't find a single incident when Jesus was reported to have
said, "Let's start calling those people talking about peace
evil (especially those who hang around with those second-class Samaritans)
and then discredit them in the public eye so I can have my way."
I guess the Sunni Christians are reading a different Bible. Wonder
which one we're gonna teach in the schools next year.
ELLIOTT
BRACK
Quietly slipping in, medical school expands
role in Gwinnett
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
APRIL 11, 2006 -- It's hard to believe that Gwinnett has a medical
college within its borders. It came in virtually under the radar,
as the private Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM)
purchased land and began its first classes last fall.
Brack |
Today PCOM has accepted applicants for its second class in Gwinnett,
and will have in place in the fall 86 new students out of the 2,230
applicants it got this year. The program is for four years, with
instruction in the first two years, and externships at area hospitals
in the third and fourth year, followed by graduation. A year's tuition
cost $35,000.
You need to realize that there are two primary type of primary
care medical practicioners, those obtaining a Medical Doctor (MD)
degree, and those obtaining a Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) degree.
The major difference in the two is that DO physicians use a more
holistic approach, including manipulative procedures. But both are
fully acceptable these days at major hospitals. In general, the
Northeast and Midwest USA has seen more DO physicians than has the
South previously.
The Suwanee PCOM campus is expected to be fully accredited later
this spring, having had its site visit earlier this year.
This year the local campus, located on about 20 acres at 625 Old
Peachtree Road, will also have another degree program, a master's
degree in biomedical sciences. Approximately 40 to 50 people will
be enrolled in this two year program.
Here's a timeline which led to the location of the medical school
in Gwinnett.
- Winter 2000-2001: Talking with Grayson's Osteopathic Institute
of the South (OIS), PCOM indicated interest in locating a branch
campus in the South.
- July 2001: PCOM President Dr. Matthew Schure and Dean Dr. Ken
Veit had in-depth discussions with OIS for a branch campus.
- Winter 2001-02: An invitation is extended by OIS to PCOM to
establish a branch campus in Gwinnett. (One other osteopathic
medicine college was also interested initially in Gwinnett.)
- July 2004: First PCOM employees on staff in temporary facilities
at Crestwood office park.
- Fall 2004: 150,000 square foot building purchased on Old Peachtree
Road and renovation began. By January the building was gutted,
and rebuilt for the medical school.
- August, 1, 2005: Building occupied. Studies begin on August
15 for the first class of 86 students.
* * * * *
One of the key reasons that PCOM located in Gwinnett is because
of the presence of the Osteopathic Institute of the South in Grayson.
The non-profit group helps osteopathic students find externships
at hospitals in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama.
Since 1993, it has helped 3,000 DO students get externships. More
than 24 per cent of new licensed physicians in Georgia are from
DO schools. The Institute was funded from the sale of Doctor's Hospital
in Tucker about 13 years ago.
Barry Doublestein of OIS credits much of the speedy work in establishing
the college campus in Gwinnett to President Schure. "Matt Schure
is a real do-er, and gets things done rapidly. He saw the vision,
and moved forward. We at OIS had the network in place for clinical
rotations, which helped speed up the process of establishing a medical
school."
Somehow, in all our expectations, we never considered that Gwinnett
would have a medical college within its borders! We look to hear
more from PCOM at it expands its role in Gwinnett.
ABOUT
OUR SPONSORS
 The
public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com
to you at no cost to readers. Today we welcome Haven Trust Bank
as a new supporter of Gwiinnettforum. Originally "Horizon Bank,"
the bank became "Haven Trust Bank" in December of 2005
so not to be confused with an out-of-state bank expanding into Georgia
using a similar name. From a single branch in the Duluth/Sugarloaf
area of Gwinnett, to a second branch in Decatur, the bank will soon
have a third location in the Johns Creek-Alpharetta area by June,
2006. With assets of over $280 million, Haven Trust Bank is one
of the top 10 lenders in Georgia of federal government Small Business
Administration (SBA) funds. Charles Yorke, bank president, says:
"We have the ability to identify with small businesses. Our
personal and responsive attitude toward them has elevated us as
a leader in the community. We're different and - we make all our
decisions quickly and locally. That enables us to make a real difference
in the lives and businesses of our customers." Visit its web
site at www.haventrustbank.com.
For a list of other sponsors of this forum, go to: http://www.gwinnettforum.com/about/sponsors.htm
FEEDBACK
4/11: Be careful when adding gas after storage
over winter
Editor, the Forum:
Watch out for contaminated lawn mower gas.
I cut the grass last week, first time this year, no problem, and
the mower ran fine. I had even put in a gas additive to keep the
gas from going bad over the winter.
Then I needed to add gas when I cut it this week. You guessed it:
the gas can had water in the gas, in addition to very little gas
in the can (usually I keep the cans empty and tightly closed). Yet
water somehow seeped in from a recent rain.
So when pouring in what I thought was "gas," I was really
merely stupidly adding water to the gas tank myself. The mower quit
on me. It doesn't run well on water fuel.
Jimmy Crowe, a great guy and fine lawn mower repairman in Lilburn,
told me I was the third person who'd been there this week with that
problem. It cost me about $45-$50 and the yard looked like a jungle
for a few days until he fixed it.
Better to pour out your gasoline can and get new fuel if the can
sat over winter. Learn from my dumb mistake and save yourself a
few bucks and some aggravation.
-- Marshall Miller, Lilburn
UPCOMING
Dacula opens 13th branch library on Saturday, April 15
Gwinnett County Public Library announces the grand opening of the
Dacula Branch on Saturday, April 15 at 10 a.m. The public is invited
to join the Library Board of Trustees, the County Commissioners,
and a host of Dacula residents, as they cut the ribbon and begin
to use the system's 13th branch. It is located at 265 Dacula Road,
adjacent to Dacula Park and across from the Dacula High School.
The Dacula Branch is a 19,992 square foot facility featuring more
than 65,000 books, magazines and other library resources. The library
features 23 computers offering the library catalog, electronic resources,
and Internet access. The building offers wireless Internet access
at no charge.
The Dacula Branch houses a special parenting resource collection
including over 40 titles on parenting children with autism. Coinciding
with the opening of the Dacula branch, Gwinnett County Public Library
is now offering more adult, teen, and children's read-a-long book/CD
combination of classic and popular titles for each age and reading
level.
The branch features an outdoor children's garden dedicated the
Hood sisters, who lived the site of the library. Ruth, Mattie, and
Grace Hood devoted their lives to the education of the children
of Dacula. Relatives of the long time Dacula residents are expected
to be present for the dedication ceremony.
REVIEW
1776,
by David McCullough
"I just finished reading 1776, by David McCullough,
the narrative of the events of the year the Declaration of Independence
was written. The book concentrates on the military actions between
the British and the forces led by General George Washington. I highly
recommend this book because the reader will come to a better appreciation
for the tremendous sacrifices made by our forefathers who fought
for our independence. The author concludes that the survival of
the Continental Army and of the move toward independence was nothing
short of a miracle. If you have read McCullough's biography of John
Adams, you will enjoy reading 1776."
-- Bob Foreman, Stone Mountain
- 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-born Johnny Mercer makes name throughout
USA
While Johnny
Mercer
(1909-1976) had the talent, Georgia provided the inspiration
that made him one of America's most popular and successful songwriters
of the 20th century. Between 1929 and 1976, Mercer penned lyrics
to more than 1,000 songs, received 19 Academy Award nominations,
wrote music for a number of Broadway shows, and co-founded Capitol
Records.
Mercer |
Perhaps best known for the 1961 Academy Award-winning song "Moon
River," Mercer also took Oscars for "Days of Wine and
Roses," "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening,"
and "On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe."
John Herndon Mercer was born into the fourth generation of Mercers
living in Savannah, born on November 18, 1909. Following family
tradition, Mercer attended Woodberry Forest School in Virginia but
still retained an active social life in Savannah.
In 1927, the collapse of the Florida real estate boom brought down
the family's fortunes. The reversal ended Johnny's formal schooling,
and instead of going to college, he joined a troupe of amateurs
competing in New York City's New Amsterdam Roof Theater in 1927.
Convinced that he had a future in show business, Mercer moved to
New York.
Despite the stock market crash of 1929, he found enough work to
survive, publishing his first lyric, "Out of Breath (and Scared
to Death of You)," for the show The Garrick Gaieties , where
he met Ginger Meehan. The two were married, and remained so for
the rest of Mercer's life.
Winning a singing competition staged by the big band leader Paul
Whiteman at New York's Hotel Biltmore set Mercer's career on its
successful trajectory. He not only performed with but also wrote
for the most popular jazz musicians of the day.
Hollywood provided Mercer with numerous opportunities as a lyricist
for several studios, including Warner Brothers, MGM, Paramount,
RKO, and Twentieth Century Fox.
In 1942, Mercer cofounded Capitol Records in Hollywood with movie
mogul Buddy DeSylva and music store owner Glen Wallichs. By signing
Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, and other new talent the fledgling company
successfully challenged the big three record producers: RCA Victor,
Columbia, and Decca. Under Mercer's presidency, Capitol's innovative
marketing strategies revolutionized the recording industry. As a
symbol of its success, the company built a new office to look like
a stack of 45 rpm records just off Hollywood Boulevard on Vine Street.
With the sale of Capitol to EMI, the three partners made millions.
Out of his share of the proceeds, Mercer sent a check for $300,000
to a Savannah bank in 1955 to pay off the remaining debts from the
failure of the G. A. Mercer Realty Company. He explained his actions
as clearing his father's name, but the settlement reflected a deep
sense of southern honor.
Mercer often returned to Georgia, having purchased a house near
Vernon View on Burnside Island as a Savannah retreat. When the Georgia
General Assembly asked Mercer to compose a new state song, he drew
on Stephen Vincent Benét's epic poem John Brown's Body for
inspiration. Although his contribution lost out to "Georgia
on My Mind," written by his former collaborator Hoagy Carmichael
and Stuart Gorrell, Mercer's lyric recalled the rural greatness
of the Empire State. Later, Georgia's politicians distinguished
Mercer when they renamed the Back River-which flowed past Bethesda
down to his house on Burnside Island-the Moon River.
After receiving a diagnosis of brain cancer Mercer underwent surgery,
from which he never fully recovered. He died June 25, 1976, and
is buried in the family plot in Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah.
His widow donated his papers to Georgia State University in Atlanta,
which maintains a Mercer Web site and interactive museum in his
memory. The city of Savannah named its municipal theater in his
honor. Family and friends created the Johnny Mercer Foundation to
introduce school children to American popular song.
In 1995, the Georgia legislature declared April 19, 1995, to be
Johnny Mercer Day in the state for Mercer's "outstanding contributions
to the field of music."
THOUGHT
OF THE DAY
Philosophy from one
of our most prolific inventors
"I am proud of the fact that I have never invented weapons
to kill. I want to save and advance human life, not destroy it."
-- Inventor Thomas Alva Edison, via Roy McCreary, Dacula.
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