• A Cure for Insomnia

Do you suffer from insomnia? If so, I have the cure. Just begin listening to Gov. Purdue's State of the State address about 20 minutes before you would actually like to fall asleep. To say that the delivery was dull and mind-numbingly boring is an understatement of monumental proportions. However, that is not the real problem.

The problem is that both the delivery of the message and the message itself are representative of how government at every level is functioning. To me, the parallels were clear. As with most government officials, the governor is someone who is clearly detached from reality and long ago put his mind and heart on auto-pilot, someone who has not the slightest bit of concern for any real problem facing the state.

He simply regurgitated the same tired cliches, quoted from every source he could imagine and feigned passion and concern. What also struck me is his clear perspective that those of us who actually listened are so stupid that we believe anything he is saying. Is that not the approach of the current federal government? This has nothing to do with party affiliation or political perspective. It has everything to do with arrogance and indifference. It is always amazing to me what the perception of having power can do to an individual, or an entire organization. That perception often leads individuals, such as our governor, senators, congressmen, etc., to actually believe that they have the right to be condescending and are entitled to our praise or acceptance even when neither is merited. The governor's speech should serve as a reminder of what we all are facing and as a call for personal action.

The question is a simple one: Do I continue to listen to the droning, repetitive drivel directed at me and respond in gratitude and naive confidence or do I actually pay attention and realize that I am essentially being ignored, belittled, insulted and bullied by those people who actually believe they are doing the right things for the state or the nation?

How we answer that question and that call will determine whether or not as a state and as a nation we remain attentive and active in our pursuit of common-sense initiatives or whether we do what they want, which is to simply drift softly off to sleep and let them do what they will.



John G. Chick

Valdosta



• Open Letter to Saxby Chambliss

Sen. Chambliss , Harry Reid's comments about then candidate Obama's special qualifications went unchallenged. The silence from you and the other Republicans is deafening. We guess the Democrats must use up the floor time to attack and undermine all the things America always stood for.

You guys don't get it do you? We, Republicans, are very angry at your failure to understand your job. Most of us don't consider ourselves to be Republicans but our choices come down to you or what the Democrat party has become and vote Republican.

Didn't you see the outrage during the Tea Parties and the town hall meetings? Oops, I forgot, you weren't there. We see the Democrats doing anything they want to give them a tighter grip on our lives. Bribery, secret meetings, lies about everything they do and all you Republicans run for cover. No outrage. No challenge and for sure no standing up for your voters.

Foolishly, we expected you to go to Washington and stand up for our rights and the values some of us still have. Instead, you became a member of that very exclusive club. Your fellow members across the aisle undermine our Constitution and spend us into ruin. Still you say nothing.

Senator Chambliss heed this. We are tired of your lip service to the principles of conservatism and the Constitution. We are tired of the corruption you tolerate as “Bidnez as Usual.” Sir, a revolution has started and it's you who must decide which side you are on.



Vic Eason

Ray City



• Keeping the dream alive

Dr. King was given just a very short time on this earth to accomplish brotherhood. The only thing Dr. King was asking for was just equality and respect toward all men on the face of the earth everywhere for everybody.

Keeping the dream alive; working together; not working apart from one another; helping each other; keeping a job; staying out of jail; staying out of trouble; in a good Bible based church; being honest; stop looking for someone to give you something.

Dr. King wasn’t afraid to die for freedom. He wanted every person to have freedom to live like Jesus Christ, peaceful.

Dr. King did what was impossible back then for a black man to do. He did it any way. He wanted everybody to be treated right living in the USA.

Back then in the 20th century, King taught us to fight back with love, not hate. Dr. King could never say “No.” He would answer every cry, every call. Dr. King was a peaceful person, a person who refused to be violent. They put him in jail and did all kinds of things to him. He still taught us to love any way. He bears the cross.

Let us remember we must stop the violence in Valdosta. Love each other, keep a job, stay out of the jailhouses, and help one another. Feed the needy, shelter the poor, stop looking for hand outs, better educate ourselves and remember respect is earned. Let’s do that.



Doug Jones

Valdosta