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We all need some time off (4/14/18)As some are aware, this column that I call "Southern Perspective" is in its eleventh year. I must admit that when I began writing for the local newspapers in 2007 I never expected to be still writing it in 2018. Some might say, "Why not? Didn't you think politics and national issues would be as serious in 2018 as in the midst of the recession of the Bush administration back in 2007?" In truth, back then I didn't think that far ahead. ...
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We need a national planning commission (4/7/18)What should be obvious to most observers of the national scene is that we have a long list of national problems that seem to stay with us decade after decade with little progress toward solution. Constant conflict is the result. I am convinced that our major national problem is not energy, education, the economy, etc. Instead, it is the lack of planning...
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Public education: The big picture (3/31/18)When our forefathers planned this new nation back in 1775-1776, it was obvious that there were certain necessities for having a democratic form of government. Educating the population was one of those. In the United States public education is not limited to elementary/secondary education. It runs from kindergarten to graduate school and beyond. We use public tax money to support each level of education and that makes it "public."...
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Fixing American education: increasing time on task (3/24/18)It is hard to open a newspaper today and not find something negative written about the state of education in the U.S. Fifty years ago our students ranked in the top five in most key educational areas as compared with students of other countries. Today they rank somewhere between numbers 18 and 25...
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State of the union (2/3/18)Here we are in 2018, a full year after Donald Trump became our president, and the world hasn't come to an end, yet. Those who predicted gloom and doom have been proven to be half right. We have had plenty of gloom. The doom, well, as Mark Twain predicted, "The reports of my (our) demise were greatly exaggerated."...
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Talking about character (1/27/18)Webster's dictionary defines character as "the total sum of the distinguishing qualities of a person, group, or thing." We can further define "distinguishing qualities" as those aspects of a person's behavior that tell us not only what he/she has done but what is likely to be done when faced with a moral dilemma in the future...
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Trickle down or trickle up (1/13/18)Newspapers gave us Pearl Harbor-sized headlines telling us we had a new tax law. In the fine print, it said the new law would generate a $1-trillion deficit. It was Everett Dirksen, iconic senator from Illinois who famously said, "A million here and a million there, and the first thing you know it will run into real money."...
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Running into a wall (1/6/18)A few weeks back I wrote a column titled, "The Southern Border Wall: Another Boondoggle?" Many wrote to support my contention that such a border wall is a waste of money, time and effort. However, a few wanted a more thorough explanation. Here it is...
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The good news for 2017 (12/30/17)We are nearing the first anniversary of Donald Trump's inauguration as our president. Most would attest to the fact that this has been one of the most unusual first years by any president in memory. The nay-sayers have been out in force, and if one believed what they say, it would be easy to visualize that our 241-year experiment in democracy was nearing an end. However, this writer is not so pessimistic. To paraphrase Mark Twain, "Our demise has been greatly exaggerated."...
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Songs tell the story of our Savior (12/23/17)By Mark Hopkins Several years back I spent most of December in India visiting several cities. It was Dec. 22 and I was on a plane moving down the taxiway headed for home when I became aware the wonderful Christmas carol "Hark, the Herald Angeles Sing" was playing on the intercom. It had been a year since I had heard Christmas music, and I had not been thinking about Christmas at all since the normal decorations of the season are not found in most parts of India...
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Presents or presence? (12/16/17)We have just passed through another Black Friday. It is that one day after Thanksgiving when the stores at the malls open at 6 a.m. and stay open until midnight. It's Black Friday because retail merchants expect their labors over the past year to finally get out of the red and into the black, when the monthly ledger will finally show a positive balance. On that day each year I stay out of the stores, and I hesitate to even drive by the mall on the way to anywhere...
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Have you found your Christmas spirit yet? (12/9/17)The Christmas season is here again. How's your Christmas spirit? More to the point, what is it that kindles your Christmas spirit? I have to admit my Christmas spirit is more difficult to kindle this year than in previous years. I am now at what one might call "superior vintage," and because I am older I am losing friends almost every year. ...
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Pay attention to the warning signs (11/19/17)Several years ago, a lady asked for permission to address the group at the close of their November meeting. Her message was direct and pointed. She said, "I have no desire to attend any funerals over the next several months. I want you all to swear off shoveling snow, pushing cars that have slipped off the road, jogging in below freezing weather, and other activities that put your heart in stress...
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So, who is growing older? (11/12/17)Call me a wild and crazy guy -- yes, I stole that line from Steve Martin -- but recently, on a whim, I decided to allow another birthday. I turned 78. It's not so bad. Physically, the only serious problem I've noticed is that I can no longer read anything printed in letters smaller than Shaquille O'Neal. And, I can't hear anything that arrives at my ear lower than the sound from a near-by lightning strike...
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Wall is not going to keep out illegal immigrants (10/15/17)Twice in the past week President Donald Trump has promised that we are going to build the wall along our southern border. Twice, he has played to the balcony for approval but has avoided the reality that the proposed wall is a boondoggle. The wall will cost billions but won't solve our illegal immigration problem...
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In praise of hard work (10/8/17)Many in the older generations can tell stories of how hard it was growing up, working, and getting an education. That was back, "in the day." In the 1930s, 40s, and 50s it was usual for a young person to have at least a part-time job. They worked on farms, in stores, mowing lawns, and so on. It was a time when every person had to accept some responsibility for the well-being of the family and needed to contribute something to the family income...
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Still looking for my superpowers (10/1/17)The local headline said, "Fans turn out for Comic-Con." And so they did. They held a convention for comic book devotees where the participants turned up in costume. Just walking through the lobby one could see The Incredible Hulk, Wonder Woman, Superman and a host of other comic book characters. There were lots of children, but many adults, too. Have you wondered why such fantasies attract adults? I think I have an answer...
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My bucket had some stars in it (9/24/17)A while back I saw the movie "The Bucket List," which co-stars Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. The story was about two men with terminal illnesses who had a list of things they wanted to do before they died -- before they "kicked the bucket," so to speak. I suspect that everyone has a bucket list, either written or unwritten. This column is about one of mine...
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Little known facts about living longer (9/17/17)This is a column about how to live to a ripe old age, to avoid Alzheimer's and a number of other ailments that afflict senior citizens. We are inundated with information about living a healthy life. Who doesn't know about keeping cholesterol and blood pressure in check, about avoiding fatty foods and keeping our weight down? Here is one I'll bet you haven't heard that showed up in a research study of more than 3,600 men and women over the age of 50. ...
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About Southern perspective (9/10/17)This is the 10-year anniversary of the birth of this column so a few words about it seem appropriate. When the local newspaper leadership invited me to write a column each week they didn't tell me what to write about, just to write about 650 words. So, the variety, some might say lack of focus, is by design...
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Prepare three envelopes (9/3/17)There is an old joke that has lots of truth in it and still provides a smile at the end. See if this one rings a bell. A new president enters the Oval Office. Like most on their first day there is some confusion, not only about where everything is but what to do first. ...
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America had its own 'Dunkirk' during the Revolutionary War (8/27/17)A few weeks back I wrote a column about Dunkirk, the miraculous British escape early in the Second World War. A friend who spent his working career teaching history in Long Island, New York, pointed out to me that we had our own "Dunkirk" during the Revolutionary War. It was called the Battle of Long Island...
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Football has become our national sport (8/20/17)It is almost that time of year when the fanatic football fan can be lost in the tumult of college and professional football. Husbands say goodbye to their wives, teenagers wear jerseys with favorite numbers on them, male and female alike begin to bleed orange, blue, red or black, or whatever their favorite team's color is. ...
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Seniors doing for others (8/13/17)A few weeks back I wrote a column entitled, "Zombie Apocalypse." It related to my concern with the fact that at this time in history our population is aging significantly and every single day another 10,000 seniors slip past the coveted age 65 mark...
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'Dunkirk' tells of heroic rescue of Allied troops (8/6/17)A movie about one of the most amazing deliverance miracles in history is sweeping the country. "Dunkirk" is one of the greatest events of World War II and the movie tells the story of 500,000 British, French, and Belgian soldiers surrounded by the German army in a hopeless situation. Braving great danger, the British people rallied to their rescue, saved the day and, perhaps, the war...
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New respect for newspapers (6/18/17)Last week I attended the annual conference of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. Each year according to their publication, 300 of the best columnists from across the country come together to talk about the science and art of sharing news and information...
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So, where are we headed? (1/15/17)An old Chinese curse says, "If we don't change directions, we are going to get where we are headed." Some have said, "Now that Donald Trump and the Republicans are in charge, we will straighten out the mess in Washington." We will "drain the swamp," so to speak...
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Always dreaming of a white Christmas (12/18/16)My favorite secular Christmas song of all time is "White Christmas." I love the simplicity of the lyrics and the mental visions it creates such as snow glistening on treetops and Christmas cards being written. Having been raised in the Midwest and now living in the South, the wistful dream of a white Christmas captures me...
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Dec. 7, 1941: 'A day that will live in infamy' (12/4/16)As President Franklin Delano Roosevelt prepared to address Congress, few knew just how desperate our military situation was and how vulnerable our west coast was to attack. He opened his address with these words: "Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 -- a day that will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by the naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan."...
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Where to from here? (11/20/16)The election is over and all the ballots have been counted. This has been the worst of the worst of presidential campaigns. I have watched every campaign for president since 1948. (Being a Missourian when Harry Truman is running will tend to draw you to the radio and newspaper. ...
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Who will you choose as president? (11/6/16)One of the most intriguing aspects of national elections is the constant rhetoric related to leadership, ability and experience. Both candidates and news writers debate what kinds of abilities and experiences prepare a person for presidential leadership, who has the necessities for the presidency and who doesn't...
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'The Week That Was' (10/16/16)In the mid-'60s there was a favorite TV show titled "The Week That Was." It gave the week's news in capsule form. The star of that series was a familiar name, David Frost. Unfortunately, his presence couldn't save it and that program had a very short run and went the way of many of my favorite shows. This week I am inclined to repeat that show's format and look backward for a bit...
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Smart as a cockroach? (10/2/16)Scientists tell us the world was dominated by dinosaurs several million years ago. They died out after a massive collision with an asteroid eons ago. We know they existed because we keep digging up their bones in various places around the globe. One of the curiosities of the search for prehistoric dinosaurs is that we often run across evidence of other species as well, most of them long since extinct. ...
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Free trade agreements: good or bad for us? (9/18/16)Free trade agreements have come under fire in the presidential campaign, and it may be the right time to review such agreements and their relative merits. The first such agreement that made headlines was in 1985 between the U.S. and Israel. There have been three more major ones and several minor ones since then. ...
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What this election should be about (9/4/16)Management planning comes under a number of titles: zero-based budgeting, management by objects and shared governance, to name just three. For years our business theorists have given us approaches and systems to apply to almost every kind of business. Unfortunately, those theories so closely followed by successful businesses have not found their way to government...
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An Olympics to remember (8/21/16)How can everything turn out so right when everything seemed so wrong? The Rio Olympics had two strikes against it before it even started. The venues were not ready, the bay was tainted with all manner of vile substances and even the dorm rooms for athletes were not fully furnished. To add to the series of problems, a portion of the Russian Olympic team was banned from the games because of drug use in the weeks before the opening ceremonies...
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The Olympics: Be all you can be (8/7/16)This all happened in the Tokyo Olympics in 1964. Bob Hays was in the lane to my left. The Russian was one lane farther in. The starter's gun cracked. Twenty yards down the track, the group had come out of their blocks and were upright with legs reaching for every inch of turf. ...
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'That all men are created equal ...' (7/17/16)Thomas Jefferson wrote his own epitaph to be published at his death, citing what he believed were the three major accomplishments of his life. He stated he was author of the Declaration of Independence, the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, and the articles that created the University of Virginia. ...
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Presidential power in our democracy (7/3/16)Every four years, time seems to stop while we sift through a legion of candidates who might fit our vision for what a president of the United States of America should be. Considering the expectations we have for the holder of the highest office in the land, it would be well if he/she could walk on water and leap tall buildings with a single bound...
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Lessons taught by my father (6/19/16)This is the week each year when we celebrate Father's Day so, obviously, my father is on my mind. He has been gone for many years, but I can still feel his influence in subtle ways every day. In recent years an essay titled "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" made the rounds, and it touched us for its simplicity and its truth. ...
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One of history's 'fly the flag' days (6/5/16)June 6 is a "fly the flag" day for all who can remember the majesty and tragedy of the Normandy Invasion. That was the day when almost 200,000 soldiers, about half of them American, stormed Normandy Beach on the northern coast of France in the greatest amphibious assault in the history of warfare...
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A primer on government power (5/15/16)We are in the midst of a very contentious presidential race. Many see this as a "watershed" election with the future of the United States hanging in the balance. Few seem overly concerned that congressmen and senators also are running for office. In truth, the real power in our government is in Congress, and the watershed issues actually are decided on the congressional hill in Washington, D.C., and not at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave...
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'A million here and a million there' (5/1/16)The subject here is the national debt and various claims about how to eliminate it. One of the most quoted statements made by a national politician came from former Illinois Senator Everett Dirksen. In a conversation related to the national budget he said, "A billion here and a billion there and the first thing you know you are talking about real money."...
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Benefits of living in a college town (4/17/16)One of the interesting retirement phenomena of our modern times is the number of people who retire and move to college towns. The retirees are attracted by the activities generated by our institutions of higher learning. Sports, music and drama, the arts and continuing education opportunities are only the beginning of the benefits of living close to such institutions...
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Shooting oneself in the foot (4/3/16)The expression in the title is familiar to all. It is used when one does something inadvertently detrimental to oneself. Most of us have been guilty of such at one time or another. Seldom, however, does a whole group of people do it to themselves all at the same time like the party of Lincoln and Reagan, the Republican Party, has done over the past several years. ...
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A rascal in the White House (3/20/16)The full quotation in The Washington Post editorial said: "They think we are in deep trouble, so we need a rascal in the White House to straighten out the mess." The reference was to the constant 30 to 40 percent of Republican voters who continue to support Donald Trump for president. Let's examine the basic premise of the statement...
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Obama and the Supremes (3/6/16)The shock of the late winter in Washington, D.C., is the death of Justice Anthony Scalia, the intellectual anchor for the conservative wing of the U.S. Supreme Court. Is it important? Will it affect us personally? The answers are "Yes," and "Yes." The Supreme Court sits at the top of our judicial system with its nine members who interpret our Constitution, ensure the laws of the land are enforced and that individual rights are protected. ...
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What iT was, was democracy (2/7/16)One must wonder what our country's governing system looks like to an outsider observing our political process at work for the first time. I am reminded of Andy Griffith and his classic comedy routine called, "What it was, was football." At the end of his presentation, he concluded that football was a bunch of fellows fighting over a pumpkin while being supervised by several convicts. In truth, had he applied his simple logic to our election process he might have been pretty close to right...
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One more Donald Trump column (1/17/16)I have resisted writing anything about presidential candidate and TV personality Donald Trump. Why? First, because I expected him to be a "flash in the pan." Second, because I read his book, "The Art Of The Deal." In the book he says, "If you want to command the stage, make the most daring demands possible and say the most outrageous things possible -- people will pay attention to you."...
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Finding your Christmas spirit (12/20/15)The Christmas season is here again. How's your Christmas spirit? More to the point, what is it that kindles your Christmas spirit? Music is a major factor in any Christmas season. Whether it is "Here Comes Santa Claus," "White Christmas" or "Rudolph," it begins to dominate your psyche. The music that really closes the deal includes "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," "Away in a Manger," "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and, of course, the classic, "Hallelujah Chorus."...
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Even the pope is concerned about global warming (12/6/15)Pope Francis recently warned of the consequences of ignoring the scientific evidence related to global warming. In a speech in Kenya he said, "It would be sad, and dare I say even catastrophic, were special interests to prevail over the common good ..."...
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Consider the turkey (11/22/15)Ruth and I were driving recently through the Smoky Mountains and came upon a gaggle of turkeys on the side of the road. A few weeks earlier, the same thing happened while we were on the way to Due West, South Carolina. It makes one wonder what the turkey population might have been 200 years ago, before this area was settled and South Carolina didn't have almost 5 million people...
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You can't go home again? (10/18/15)Thomas Wolfe wrote a novel titled, "You Can't Go Home Again." Wolfe was a young writer when he left his hometown to seek his future in other places. But the memories of his past became parts of books that he wrote as he became more and more famous. Unfortunately, those in his hometown could see themselves in his books and were unhappy with the way they were portrayed...
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When the chips are down, you can count on Americans (10/4/15)In Proverbs of the Old Testament, it says, "Pride goeth before destruction." Still, no matter where I go in the U.S. or anywhere else in the world, I continue to carry a goodly amount of pride in America. The newspapers are full of news of the refugee crisis in Europe. ...
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At a certain age, it gets personal (9/20/15)My wife does birthdays very well. She always has something special for every family member and, especially, our grandchildren. Once a year, whether I like it or not, it's my turn. When I was born, my grandfather was 66 years old. I began to really get to know him when I was about 9. One thing I knew about him for sure was that he was really, really, really old -- maybe one of the oldest people in the world. He was 75 that year...
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Where is Harry when we need him? (9/6/15)I was raised in Southeast Missouri and was taught that Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president of the United States, was a Patron Saint. Well, perhaps he wasn't a saint in the most Catholic sense, but he was a saint to most Missourians. Old, "give 'em hell, Harry" -- as he was called in some quarters -- was known for many "common man" traits...
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Still looking for my super powers (8/16/15)The local headline said, "Fans turn out for ComiCon." And so they did. They held a convention for comic book devotees, and participants turned up in costume. Just walking through the lobby one could see The Incredible Hulk, Wonder Woman, Super Man and a host of other comic book characters. There were lots of children but many adults too. Have you wondered why such fantasies attract full-grown people? I think I have an answer...
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Is our nation in decline? Probably not (8/2/15)From time to time, democracies with free elections seem to enter a period of uncertainty and distrust. Our election process causes that problem. Those out of office know they can't get into office by telling everyone how great everything is going. So, during election years one has only to open the pages of a newspaper or turn on the TV to hear that our country is nearing disaster and we need to change leadership at the next election...
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Football season is only 60 days away (7/19/15)Most who have read this column over time know I am a "dyed-in-the-wool" college football fan. I have always loved the pageantry of it, the optimism of the early fall and even the "wait-till-next-year" laments at the season's end when things didn't go so well. Each year I allow myself one column devoted to the collegiate game and this is it...
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SE Perspectives: Freedom, the great motivator (7/5/15)On July 5, 1776, 239 years ago, the people of the colony of Pennsylvania were abuzz with the prospect of freedom from Great Britain and the creation of a new country in the new world. Word was spreading of the life-changing decisions made in past weeks by representatives of the 13 colonies at Independence Hall in Philadelphia...
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In praise of hard work (6/21/15)The Bible says, "Deny yourself and take up your cross." When we put that into everyday words it has to do with self discipline and hard work. It speaks of unselfishness and commitment to something greater than ourselves. The Bible doesn't have an "exclusive" on those words. ...
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Celebrating Flag Day 2015 (6/14/15)June 14th each year is set aside as Flag Day in the United States. There are many stories written about our flag but none could rival the drama of Francis Scott Key's writing of the poem that became our National Anthem. It was about the battle for Ft. McHenry in Baltimore Harbor during the War of 1812. Our flag played a prominent role in the story he told...
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It's not nice to fool with Mother Nature (6/7/15)The inside headline said, "Antarctic ice shelf 'will be gone' by 2020." In the text of the article it tells us that an ice shelf roughly 15 times the size of Manhattan Island that has existed for 10,000 years is quickly disappearing. The study came from the journal, "Earth and Planetary Science Letters," and was written by NASA and University of California researchers...
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Key to education is still the teacher (5/17/15)The first week of May is set aside each year as Teacher Appreciation Week. It is intended that we do something to commemorate the dedicated service provided by so many of the long list of men and women who have sacrificed every day for our benefit. Believe me, we can never do enough...
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Southeast Missouri State University in the top twenty? (5/3/15)For those of you who thought this article was about Southeast Missouri State University's football team, I apologize. I couldn't resist the "hook". Most universities publish their goals from time to time and among them is always the quest to become one of the top universities in the country. Whether it is football, basketball or the university's academic programs, who doesn't want to be No. 1? Being among the best is a lofty goal and a laudable effort...
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Gun control: What would our founding fathers think? (4/19/15)During a recent Civic Club speech, I asked the question, "How many of you own a gun?" Virtually every hand in the room went up. Just below the mummer of voices, I heard the comment, "We are Southern." And, so they were. Legislation for gun control is never going to fare very well in some parts of our country. The provision in our Bill of Rights related to bearing arms was passed by Congress 1789 by an almost unanimous vote...
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Two years of free college tuition? (4/5/15)During his State of the Union Address, President Obama focused briefly on a proposal to provide free tuition for two years of community college education. This is an intriguing idea and it deserves a close examination. I have experience at various levels of higher education and have served as president of two public community colleges and two smaller private universities. ...
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History speaks to us on our current economic situation (3/1/15)By modern measures the recession is over. Unfortunately, some segments of our economy are still feeling the effects. Unemployment is still an issue, especially among lower-skilled jobs. And, growth in the manufacturing sector lags well behind the ideal...
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My bucket list (2/15/15)A while back I saw the movie "The Bucket List" starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. The story is about two men with terminal illnesses who have a list of things they want to do before they die -- before they "kick the bucket," so to speak. I suspect everyone has a bucket list, either written or unwritten. ...
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Failure can lead to great success (2/1/15)Vince Lombardi, former Green Bay Packer football coach, was quoted as saying, "Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing." Leo Durocher, the old Dodger baseball coach, said, "Show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser." Gen. George Patten said, "Americans love a winner and they hate a loser."...
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President Obama and executive orders (1/18/15)Presidential executive orders are under heavy attack now that President Obama has used such orders from the White House to delay deportation of some illegal aliens and to normalize relations with Cuba. Some of his strongest critics have said he has turned the Constitution on its ear, violated its provisions, and, perhaps, has committed an impeachable offense...
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New Year's resolutions and writing an obituary (1/4/15)The prospect of writing New Year's resolutions reminds me of a column I read by a writer named Marilyn Schwartz. She reported that a lady planning a dinner party put out an invitation to her guest list, all women, telling them they were to bring a covered dish and their obituaries. Obviously, she was planning a very interesting activity for the evening as each shared what they planned and hoped for their lives...
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Christmas: The most wonderful time of the year (12/21/14)I'm sure no child ever loved Christmas more than I did and, thank God, the thrill of it all is still with me. When Gene Autry sings "Rudolph" and Bing Cosby reaches down into the resonance of his deep baritone voice and tells us about the "White Christmas" he sees in his dreams, it generates emotions in me that were spawned by three generations of Christmas memories...
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When Christmas music comes alive (12/7/14)Several years back, I spent most of December in India working with a university there. It was the 22nd day of the month, three days before Christmas, when I was finally on a plane moving down the taxiway headed for home. Just at the edge of my consciousness I became aware that the wonderful Christmas carol "Hark, the Herald Angles Sing" was playing on the intercom. ...
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Winston Churchill: A great American (11/30/14)Nov. 30 is the birthday of Winston Churchill, one of our greatest Americans. Wait a minute. Wasn't he British? Wasn't he prime minister of England during the Second World War? Yes, that is true. However, Winston Churchill was the son of Jeanette "Jenny" Jerome, who was born in the Cobble Hill section of Brooklyn, New York, in 1854 when Brooklyn was still a separate city. ...