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With all that’s going on in the current events/political world this week, I thought I’d take a closer look at an important issue that doesn’t get nearly enough attention. Right now The Barack and Romney are out on the campaign trail, The Supreme Court is handing down decisions, and don’t forget, mount Joe Biden could erupt in a massive flow of inappropriate statements at any time. With all of that going on, there will be no shortage of commentary on hot topic issues this week.
Whoopsi, who says The Barack isn’t the master of misdirection? Here we were spending our time obsessing over his statement (which truly deserves a lot of attention) that the private sector was doing fine, and slam dunk! the dream act is enacted by executive order. Isn’t The Barack such an innovator? The heck with legislative process, oversight by elected representatives, and all of that time wasting public debate and voting. The Barack just whips out the old ink pen and presto, chango, the political/social landscape is changed however he wants it.
I attended a seminar recently in which half a day was spent on how the brain works, how it matures, ages, and the things which influence it. That was the source for last week’s article, and for the majority of the following discussion. Of all the organs of the body, we rely on that one so much – from infancy when it helps us start understanding our environment, through the torment of teen age years, to the efficiency of adulthood and on into the possible dementia which often accompanies age. An understanding of how it works and how to care for it would seem appropriate.
The other night I was returning home pretty late in the evening, and as is my normal habit the radio in my vehicle was on a talk radio station. Since I get up early, work a full day, and don’t often stay up late, I’m not very familiar with the radio hosts who are on late in the evening. The only reason I make that point is to say that I honestly don’t know who I was listening to. Further confusing the issue, a lot of the evening shows on our local stations are re-broadcasts of shows actually aired earlier in the day, but not in our market.
“Fathers’ Day” is a rather common phrase around the courthouse. A representative of the Attorney General’s Office appears at least once a month to deal with child support cases involving failure to pay. As a general rule, the parent being sued is the father. On these particular days, the downstairs hallway is lined with people waiting for their case to be called; some have reasons for their delinquency, others merely excuses or shrugs.
So I understand that Governor Scott Walker’s opponent in the recent recall election says the battle isn’t finished. Well, I would expect nothing else, after all he apparently didn’t realize the people of Michigan didn’t want him as governor when he ran against Scott Walker the first time around and lost. Talk about not taking a hint. I know politicians are really thick skinned, and sometimes thick headed, but most of the time even politicians realize losing an election means no.
Thursday is a special day. When I was growing up, we were normally on vacation June 14, and my brothers would use the day as an excuse to leave their shirttails “flying”. Flag Day is not normally celebrated in that manner; then again, it is rarely celebrated at all. Our flag is the third oldest national banner in the world behind the Union Jack of Great Britain and the Tricolor of France. The Stars and Stripes was authorized by Congress on June 14, 1777. Since that time it has flown on every continent and in space, in peace and in war.
In her “Potpourri” column last Sunday regarding “courthouses, jails and bonds...”, Mrs. Peterson promised herself to “not become involved in local politics or personal opinions.” Professionals in her position sincerely try not to break promises they make to themselves or others. In the instance of this article, though, I think she failed.
When I started this column over 20 years ago, it was with the promise to myself that it would not become involved in local politics or personal opinions thereon. I am keeping that promise, but, in the interest of full disclosure, would add some facts to the debate over the issuance of certificates of obligation for the courthouse repairs and the construction of the new jail.
"Don't try to start with the larger publications in your efforts to be published," said the accomplished writer. "Start with the smaller ones so as to develop credibility. I was in the beginners section of my first writer's conference and said a silent "Ouch!" to her comments. I had only submitted one article and that was one of the largest!
The next class dealt with the fourteen marks of a novice. I had violated almost all of them in submitting this story. Several weeks had passed with no response and now I knew why!
