09-12-2010-Sunday - Wise County Messenger

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4A WISE COUNTY MESSENGER, Decatur, Texas, Sunday, September 12, 2010 OPINION OUR VIEWS Why the need to ‘but’ in all the time? By BRIAN KNOX A couple of weeks ago, reporter Brandon Evans compared politics to sports teams. I’d like to compare politics to something different. My 3-year-old. I came to this realization recently as I was reading one of the 100 political e-mails a day that I get – at least it feels like that many. First, I’ll explain the 3-year-old part. My daughter, Audree, has always been the strong-minded, independent type. She started lobbying me to let her drive the car before her second birthday (no joke). That was about the same time she made the bold statement “I want $2.” Money and keys to the car — I thought I wouldn’t have to worry about that for at least another 14 years or so. There are certain things my daughter does not want to do on a regular basis — such as eat dinner, go to bed, get out of bed, get dressed — you get the idea. When her mother and I want her to perform one of the above mentioned tasks, we normally get a response of, “OK, but ...” More times than not the next few words are, “I don’t want to (insert dreaded task here)” or “I want to (insert delaying action here).” As you can imagine, the word “but” has become a frustrating word around the Knox household. It seems I see the magic word appearing more and more in press releases from politicians. The context is usually commenting on something pertaining to the “other” party. Take, for example, a recent statement released from United States Senator John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, on President Barack Obama’s recent address on the end of the Iraq war. “President Obama is right to honor our troops KNOX who helped turn the tide of violence in Iraq during its darkest days. But it’s puzzling to listen to this White House try to take credit for the results of the strategy he and Vice President Biden adamantly opposed from the start,” Cornyn said in the statement. The statement goes on to say that the troops, the Iraqi people and President Bush should get credit for seeing the war to a close. Mexican President Felipe Calderon’s address to a joint session of Congress in May also elicited a statement by Cornyn. “President Calderon said a few things Congress and the American people needed to hear. Mexico has gone all in against the drug cartels. Mexico is one of America’s best trade partners, thanks in large part to NAFTA. Mexico has lowered its budget deficit to just 1 percent of GDP, a record of fiscal discipline that should shame Washington. And President Calderon has acknowledged that a lack of economic opportunities south of the border is a primary cause of illegal immigration north of it. “But it was inappropriate for President Calderon to lecture Americans on our own state and federal laws. Arizona’s immigration law has been amended to make clear it does not authorize racial profiling by law enforcement. Moreover, the Second Amendment is not a subject open for diplomatic negotiation, with Mexico or any other nation.” Sometimes the “but” can’t be seen, but the spirit of the “but” still exists. Here’s one about Obama’s announcement regarding the deployment of the National Guard to the border. “While I appreciate the President’s acknowledgment that his Administration has done too little to secure our border, his proposal still comes up short. Temporary Continued on page 5A YOUR VIEWS Thanks for help in storm I’m sending a big shout out to the good Samaritan that got wet helping me out of my car that had been swept off Farm Road 730 near Boyd. He stayed with me and tried to direct traffic until police and firemen came. Also, much thanks to them for all they do. May God bless them all. Betty Liles Decatur Ryan impacted community In regard to your story about Phil Ryan: in my opinion, never has a finer man served the people of Texas and Wise County. We were lucky to have had him as sheriff. He was always nice to you and had time to listen to what you had to say. Thank you for paying tribute to him. Robert Taylor Decatur CASA needs volunteers Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Wise and Jack Counties is currently serving 70 children. We are in need of approximately 20 new volunteers to provide each child a CASA to advocate for them while they are in state custody. Volunteering with CASA requires that you complete the application process, a background check and 30 hours of classroom training. Then you, too, can make a difference in a child’s life. You will get to know the child, their story, their family, learn the child’s hopes and dreams and assist them in their journey through foster care while the court case is pending. A new training class is starting Sept. 14. To learn more, please call the CASA office at (940) 627-7535, visit the website, www.wisecasa.org, or find it on Facebook — CASA of Wise and Jack County. CASA is a local non-profit organization that works with Wise and Jack county courts, Child Protective Services and other individuals and agencies to advocate for children who are the victims of abuse and neglect. When a child is removed from their home, CASA is appointed as guardians for the children to report to the judge so they can understand each child’s situation. This helps to ensure that the child is placed in a safe environment while the case is ongoing and, ultimately, a stable and safe permanent home. CASA of Wise and Jack Counties works through trained and sworn volunteers to visit with the children, prepare reports and make recommendations that the judge uses to determine the very best outcome for these children. Allow me to give you some alarming 2009 statistics: ! 68,326 children in Texas were confirmed as victims of abuse and neglect; ! 12,107 children in Texas were removed from their homes due to evidence of abuse and neglect; ! 280 children in Texas died from abuse and neglect; ! Of the 40,840 children in Texas’ custody in 2009, 21,022 children did not have a CASA volunteer to stand up for them in court. However, there is hope. According to the University of Texas at Austin’s Office of Survey Research, 94 percent of Texas judges surveyed say a CASA volunteer on the case provides a better opportunity for a positive outcome and improves the court process. Also, 97 percent of Texas judges surveyed say the personal knowledge CASA volunteers have of each case helps them make their decisions. Continued on page 5A By WILLIS WEBB On a recent summer night when there was nothing worthwhile on TV (imagine that), Life Mate, our visiting son and I decided to rent a video. A call to a half-dozen movie stores produced shocking results — all the phones were disconnected. Over the last couple of years, the proliferation of cable and satellite hook-ups that allow users to “rent” via the TV has made video rental stores extinct, at least in our area. Our inclination to read every evening probably kept us from realizing that dramatic social change sooner. For the last 25 to 30 years or so, TV has become a babysitter and child occupier. That provoked a bit of thought and research. One source is educator/columnist Mary Jane McKinney in the The Canadian Record. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and a couple of research groups, that last three decades of being glued to the tube OTHER VIEWS Unsupervised play develops better learning skills or other more directed activities, has brought about less independent thought and action among our children. Anyone born before the early 1950s, has not been under the spell of TV or influenced by the increasing trend to organized/directed activities for children. It seems AAP and other research groups determined that unstructured and unsupervised play develops something they call “executive function.” Older WEBB folks not subjected to six to ten hours a day of TV and supervised activity, it seems to me, tend to be more easily endowed with executive function than more recent generations. This lack of executive function today stems from modern day parents wanting so much success for their offspring. Youngsters are driven from school to dance or piano lessons, karate, little league sports and any number of other highly organized or structured activities. Unlike older folks, today’s children don’t seem as likely to get down and wallow in the dirt and make up games. In the 1940s and early 1950s, children ran unsupervised all over town (if you were lucky enough to grow up in a small town) or the neighborhood. Of course, most moms, who worked in the home every day, peeked out the window regularly to see where their child’s imagination was leading them. A dearth of toys prompted those growing up in earlier times to make the best use of what was available. A ‘50s youngster might be seen talking to thin air, when in fact he was creating dialogue for several characters in a make-believe world. A stick could be a “space gun,” or at least a cowboy pistol and a simple broomstick was a pedigreed horse that was faster than the wind. That kind of imagination is credited with developing the aforementioned executive function. Children who have never had unstructured play don’t develop executive function as readily. Researchers say that rambunctious play, made up by children without Continued on page 5A
WISE COUNTY MESSENGER, Decatur, Texas, Sunday, September 12, 2010 5A OUR VIEWS Why the need to ‘but’ in ... Continued from page 4A fixes are no solution to longterm challenges,” Cornyn stated. In each case, what starts out as a compliment (albeit some left-handed) turns into a chance to steer the conversation to a certain point of view the politician supports. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with disagreement — healthy debate is needed in a democratic society. I just find it interesting that politicians, both Republican and Democrat, can’t seem to give a compliment to someone in the opposing party without also giving criticism. Maybe that goes back to Brandon’s point about cheering for your “team” no matter what. OTHER VIEWS Unsupervised play develops ... ontinued from page 4A toys and with no adult supervision, leads to inventing and creating games and toys. Children left to their own designs tend to police each other and themselves. Stuart Brown, a psychiatrist, has done extensive research on criminals and mass murderers, beginning when he was appointed to investigate the case of the University of Texas Tower sniper, Charles Whitman, who in 1968 killed 14 people. Whitman, an ex-Marine sharpshooter, fired from the UT Tower at students walking across the campus. Since then, Brown has interviewed more than 6,000 criminals. Two common denominators emerged from all those interviews — the criminals grew up in abusive families and never played as children. Today’s emphasis on standardized testing and teaching to the test in schools seems to keep children from being inventive and creative. Teaching to the test leads to more drill and less free play. The inclination toward watching TV, playing video games and after-school classes does not develop YOUR VIEWS In an ideal world, we hope our politicians can find common ground with each other and turn that into something positive for the country. Instead, we’re often left with the political equivalent of “I don’t wanna.” And while I’ve used a Republican example because that is the current balance of power nationally, I’m sure we’ll see the same thing from the other side the next time a Republican wins the presidency or Republicans regain the majority in congress. I’m hoping that my daughter will one day outgrow the need to insert “but” into the conversation. I can’t say I share the same optimism for politicians. self-regulation. High dropout rates, drug use and crime are tied to that lack of executive function developed by children who are given more time to, as researcher Laura Berk termed it, “develop their feelings, pay attention and learn.” I believe children who get early life skill guidance and have reasonable freedom will use it more wisely. ! Willis Webb is a retired community newspaper editor-publisher of more than 50 years. He can be reached at wwebb@wildblue.net. WESTERN STAR COWBOY CHURCH Howdy folks & greetings from the members of the Western Star Cowboy Church. If you enjoy horses, the western way of life, trail riding, camping out, campfire cooking, cowboy poetry, western/ bluegrass gospel music or just looking for a change from a traditional church, we invite you to come & join us on Sunday mornings at the Paradise Jr. High Cafeteria, 338 School House Rd., at 10:30 am. You don’t have to be a cowboy/cowgirl to attend, just come as you are for good Christian fellowship & the “Word” right out of the Bible. For more information, call Pastor “Cowboy” Bobby Bowden 817-880-5488 or “Trail Boss” Jim Farrar 817-371-6485. Come & join our posse! Matthew 12:36 “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgement.” Matthew 12:37 “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemmed.” Lauren Phillips, MD Obstetrics & Gynecology “A Partnership for Women’s Health” We are pleased to announce our new healthcare providers. Linda Rotton Elizabeth Malone RN, WHNP-BC 940-591-6700 • www.cfwdenton.com ontinued from page 4A Is a child waiting for you? Claudene Griffith, CASA executive director Sally Rieger, president, board of directors Digging deeper into Revel A hearty thank you is due to Mr. Ken Hughes for an opportunity and the motivation to remind the liberal left of the difference between theory and fact. In his last tirade, Mr. Hughes declared anti-mosque protesters possessed a mob-mentality concerning an Islamic community center near ground zero at the World Trade Center site. Mr. Hughes further invoked statements by contemporary French author Jean-Francois Revel suggesting irrational motives by the protesters. Obviously Mr. Hughes’ collection of one-liners does not contain further enlightened notations by Revel. Following World War II, Revel realized a liberty-loving America was already providing for Europe what they desired most — protection from communistic soviet imperialism and economic trade capabilities. If not for American petroleum engineering, would the Saudi’s have the wealth they have today? That very same wealth that fueled the Saudi construction family of Bin Laden is now attacking the very hand that gave it financial ability. Mr. Hughes must be reminded that according to Revel, “Emotional prejudice can blind even a great man to the inherent absurdity of some of his positions.” Revel further states, “The principal function of anti-Americanism has always been, and still is, to discredit liberalism by discrediting its supreme incarnation.” Subscribe Online. www.wcmessenger.com/subscribe Medical Center Pharmacy Prescriptions • Compounding Fast and Friendly Service Drive-Thru • Free Delivery DECATUR 1101 Eagle Dr. • Suite C Decatur, 76234 940-627-5400 Mon. - Fri., 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sat., 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. ALVORD 115 E. Bypass 287. • Suite B Alvord, 76225 940-427-2801 Mon. - Fri., 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Closed Sat. Since the 1966 assassination of Robert Kennedy, there have been no fewer than 13 incidents where scores of Americans have been brutally murdered in non-combat related peaceful situations. The culprits in all instances have been Muslim males aged 17 to 40. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution prevents any religious theology from gaining control of the United States government. Sharia law espoused by Muslim theology is absolutely unconstitutional. Henceforth, the slow and deliberate integration of Islamic mosque, community centers, etc. in light of recent historical events has negatively affected American sentiment, not to mention other nations around the world, and draws the ire of many God-loving Americans. Surprised, Mr. Hughes? Revel also stated, “Democratic civilization is the first in history to blame itself because another power is trying to destroy it.” Political correctness has become a method to hide one’s true feelings. For some meager Americans, religious tolerance has become synonymous with blind submission. Idiotic stances have become our politically correct government ordering “rules of engagement” for soldiers on the battlefield. Soldiers are warriors, not peacemakers. As such, the theologies of the liberal left and to a great extent our United States government, are to care and protect for those who cannot, or will not, care for themselves. Mr. Hughes, liberalism is not a bad thing for an individual or a people. However, only a conservative government with limited powers can guarantee the liberty to be liberal in life. Written by my tea-stained hands in Decatur, Texas. Get-R-Done! Eddie Dunlap Decatur Online www.wcmessenger.com 110 West Business 380, Ste F, Decatur 1-866-730-2644 Offices located in Decatur, Gainesville, Wichita Falls, Vernon & Mineral Wells Sanjoy Sundaresan, M.D. Neurosurgery/Pain Management Congratulations Benchwarmers! Winners of the Copa Omar Soccer Tournament El Chino, Mario Mata, Greivin Reyes, Leonardo Bravo, Israel, Claudio Rodriguez, Antonio Carrillo, Rodrigo Carrillo, Valentin Carrillo, Diego Armando Carrillo, Rocio Carrillo, Saul Salinas, Enrique Luna, Felipe Luna, Samuel Rios, Sergio Morado, Frank Gomez, Flipper Love, Geo Yadira Torres, Cristina Torres, Marta Huerta, Renea Love, Krissy Caraway, Brandon Rivera We would like to thank everyone that participated and that came out to support the Copa Omar Soccer Tournament. We would also like to thank those who made it all happen: Luis Godoy, Miguel Huerta, Erika Pedroza, Virginia Huerta, Peter Franco, Hector Torres and Diego Carrillo. ✔EASE ✔VALUE ✔SELECTION ✔SERVICE 115 S. Trinity, Decatur 940-627-5987 Visa MasterCard American Express Discover Public Fax 940-627-1004 7:30-5:30 Mon.-Fri. FREE Christmas Card Envelope Imprinting OFFER ENDS SEPT. 30! OFFICE FURNITURE SPECIALISTS Order Online at www.messengerofficesupply.com
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09-12-2010-Sunday - Wise County Messenger

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