VALDOSTA —
The news story on Friday read: “WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Thursday to censure once-powerful New York Rep. Charles Rangel for multiple ethical misdeeds — the first time in nearly three decades that House members have publicly rebuked a colleague.
“The 333-79 vote dealt Rangel the most devastating blow of a congressional career spanning 40 years.
“Rangel, 80, stood silently in the front of the chamber as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi somberly read the censure resolution. But he fought the punishment to the end, insisting he was not corrupt and never sought to enrich himself.
“At a news conference after the vote, a defiant Rangel said the censure action was motivated by politics and would not diminish his stature. ‘Charlie Rangel is Charlie Rangel,’ he said. ‘I wasn’t always a chairman.’”
No apology here. Charlie Rangel is still Charlie Rangel and that might just be the problem.
Recently, I had a conversation centering on the growing attitude that literally everything is somehow the fault of someone else. While we were not specifically talking about Charlie Rangel, he is an example of this societal disease spreading throughout our country. President Harry Truman said, “The buck stops here!” He knew for buck-passing to stop someone must accept responsibility.
When was the last time you had someone tell you they were sorry for something they did or said about you? When was the last time you said, “I’m sorry” to someone else? Heard or read where a politician or celebrity said a particular happening was his or her fault? When did you tell your child he or she was to blame for a bad grade and not the teacher?
When was the last time you heard a student accept responsibility for an incident at school?
A less than stellar sport season is always the coach’s fault but we are ready give a free pass to a star player for a DUI or sexual misconduct.
In the Bible there must first be forgiveness to have redemption.
Fifty years ago, young Opie learned this from his father Sheriff Andy Taylor.
One of the lessons I read recently where a fan wrote: “My favorite episode is the one where Opie accidentally wounds the baby bird and then feels terrible about it. Andy didn’t overreact, but he also didn’t protect him from feeling the guilt and burden of his actions. So Opie takes it upon himself to nurse the baby bird back to health. Of course he has enormous pride in his accomplishment when he sets the rehabilitated bird free. The last scene he remarks to Andy that the cage seems pretty empty now, but Andy refocused him by talking about how full the trees were.”
A beautiful lesson in parenting; obviously there are many missed opportunities in today’s homes.
Sandy Sanders
Forgiveness, redemption go together
- Sandy Sanders
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Think before you answer
I got an email this week where a writer of an online column tells the story of a young child in Sunday School. The writer says the little boy’s teacher asked his class ‘What’s the animal with a long, bushy tail that lives in trees?’ One child quickly answers while probably thinking about the usual answer to questions in his church Sunday School, ‘Jesus. Though it sure sounds like a squirrel to me.’
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Forgiveness, redemption go together
The news story on Friday read: “WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Thursday to censure once-powerful New York Rep. Charles Rangel for multiple ethical misdeeds — the first time in nearly three decades that House members have publicly rebuked a colleague.
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South Georgia roots run deep for these execs
David Ratcliffe and Mike Garrett, two highly respected executives with Valdosta and South Georgia ties, will be stepping down as leaders of two of the largest power companies in the nation by yearend.
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VDT ready with all-new digital edition
You can now go to the home page of our website (www.valdostadailytimes.com) and click on the link for our digital e-edition. You can sign up for a seven-day trial or, if you currently subscribe to the print edition, we will be glad to add the e-edition just by calling our office for details.
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We are losing our children and we are blaming ‘others’
Extinction! There are public outcries to save animals, bugs and reptiles while our own children are being lost to a new world order. In the past two weeks, I have seen two students, one high school, one middle school, with their parents blessing bring to the public area all the details of their student-teacher antics. Each student had been suspended from school and one was making his way to court.
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Do we want tax or football braggin’ rights?
A drop in our property digest seems evident and to maintain we will need a tax increase. We can recruit higher-paying jobs to the county and get more taxes that way but is that practical thinking for a quick adjustment in this economy?
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Blazer Zone moving into Drexel Park
Next Saturday, Blazer fan families will have a great opportunity for some pre-game tailgating fun. The university is turning Drexel Park into a mini carnival so families can spread out to enjoy an afternoon under the trees, as they get ready for the Blazers’ season opener.
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Maggots with your steak
Today, with online journalism on newspaper websites, readers are able to go online, read the story, post a comment and, within minutes, their comment (thread) is answered by another reader. The bantering can follow a positive line or it can quickly move to having all the attributes of a barroom brawl.
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Why do some children live in abusive houses?
As I have written many times in this column, I grew up in a small town. My father worked at Moody Air Force Base for 30 years and as he would recollect while laughing, “I ate a fried egg sandwich for lunch every day of those 30 years.”
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Turning 18 before the election board
When I turned 18 my father took me down to the courthouse one evening to go before the Board of Registrars so I could be qualified to vote. I was called into the room before three men. I remember being nervous. They asked me questions about residency and being an American before I was given their stamp of approval.
- More Sandy Sanders Headlines
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Think before you answer
