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The message from Olympics is “pride”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Forgive me for staying on my soap box again this week… but I think I finally pinpointed the problem.
It once ran in abundance. It was once revered. It was once treasured.
It has instead been replaced by laziness, apathy and greed.
I have been an Olympic junkie for as long as I can remember and was ecstatic when the 1996 Games rolled into Atlanta.
I was sure that many people around me would be just as excited the 2008 Games in Beijing started and water cooler discussions would follow in abundance each day of the games. Afterall, there was and is plenty to discuss.
I was shocked when that didn’t happen.
That is when I thought about it at great length and it hit me about what the missing piece of the “puzzle” was. We have hundreds of property owners that are members of their Home Owners Associations, yet only a small percentage actually show up for their meetings or participate in community events.
Don’t get me started on the commercial and residential property owners who all they care about is making another buck while they let their properties curb appeal decay. How these owners can allow some of the conditions of these properties and actually admit “I own that” is amazing.
We have people who just toss and dump litter and all sorts of garbage all along roads and neighborhoods, and in some cases where a dumpster or trash can is about 5 to 15 feet away.
27,000 Gwinnettians show up to vote in the July primary… out of a county of 770,000 plus residents.
People complain about how jobs are being lost overseas when we handed them over and not fighting (enough) to take them back.
Norcross, Gwinnett County, and this nation has a list of issues to deal with that could probably circle the earth a couple of times but none can be resolved if we don’t fix the common denominator between them all.
Chris Collinsworth of NBC Sports was absolutely right when he said “You know every once in a while somebody will make a comment to me about young people and this country today, but these young Olympians have represented our country so magnificently I think we should all be very proud.”
The problem is those US Olympic athletes in Beijing represent everything this country was once best known for including hard work, perseverance and the most important of them… Pride.
We have no one to blame for a lack of pride but ourselves.
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Learn from the mistakes of others
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Our children, from every corner of the county, are apparently not being taught - or not getting the message - about making the right choices in life.
Growing up, one thing I more or less mastered was learning from other’s mistakes. I also learned (sometimes the hard way) not to repeat my own mistakes a second time.
I think the problem with many children today is… exposure and the costly effect of bad choices.
The AJC Gwinnett News recently reported a whole host of issues in various middle and high schools, including students’ arrests for crimes ranging from drugs and alcohol to weapons charges to reckless and disorderly conduct.
I remember, it was either first or second grade, we took a class trip to the Orange County Jail in Orlando for a tour. We got the typical be “good or else” talk, but what they did at the end was what left a lasting impression. They took my class down into the jail itself, opened up one of their larger cells with a few beds, a toilet out in the open and a bench, shut the door and walked away for a good 30 minutes with true inmates just a few cells down from ours.
The message was you act up and this is where you’ll end up. I’ve never been arrested.
Every student should be required to make such a trip, every year if necessary.
In a 2006 entry, I wrote about AID Gwinnett and mentioned how two 15 year olds had tested positive for HIV about two months prior to my report. Many young people do not even know they are carriers of the disease.
Those cases, and hundreds more like them across the US, could have been avoided through real sex education beyond teaching abstinence. Teens need to see the true results of risky sexual behavior and not the fallacy of Abercrombie and Fitch type models that adorn some drug companies’ advertisements.
I have seen the impact that HIV/AIDS can have on a person. I’ve lost friends to the disease.
They told me how they got it, and went out of their way to make sure I didn’t repeat their mistakes. I listened.
Our youth need exposure to all the harsh realities of life. So many parents and schools go out of their way to protect them from those realities when, really, by doing so, does them more harm than good.
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A chance to honor those who serve
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As I write this, I am sitting in the James A. Haley Veterans Administration Hospital in Tampa Bay, Fla. trying to get my mind off of my father’s surgery.
I’m focusing instead on my surroundings, particularly the people. I’m listening to their stories and think about their present situations and the lessons they teach us.
It is a reminder that we should all be proud of who we are and what we have accomplished. There are at least three people who are probably not as fortunate and who have worked harder and given up far more.
I have had considerable interaction with current soldiers and Vets my entire life whose eras of service range from World War II through Operation Iraqi Freedom and the war on terror in Afghanistan. I have a very clear understanding and deep appreciation for what was done and given up in the name of freedom.
I grew up listening to war stories from both my maternal grandfather and my father. My grandfather served in both World War II and the Korean War - in addition to almost every branch of the military (it’s a long story Ill share another time). Of course, there is my Dad who served in Vietnam in the US Army Company D, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment (1966-67), and was wounded during battle and received a Purple Heart.
As I interact with these brave men, my thoughts turned to the countless soldiers currently serving and those whose lives were lost in Iraq and Afghanistan, including the recent tragedy of Snellville’s Cpl. Jon Ayers, and their families.
I had a - very, very dear friend - who served in Iraq. I know what it is to be a loved one safe here at home while a loved one is off in the midst of hell. I went out of my way to support that friend and sent off care packages as often as I could. I’ve had the sleepless nights, the nightmares, and the natural fear I might wake up to terrible news.
I will never forget that.
Fortunately, I didn’t have to deal directly with tragedy. Honestly, I am not sure I could handle it, but my heart goes out to those who have and will.
While I haven’t personally served in the military or experienced war, I’ve been surrounded buy several lifetimes of people who have. I listened to what they went through and what they had to say. They understood. I understood.
We, and generations yet to come, should all remember, honor, cherish and never take it for granted.
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Woody’s Online Town Hall Debate
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Welcome to my first “Online Town Hall Debate”.
On August 5, Republicans will decide which of the two candidates will (probably) lead Gwinnett County into the future: District 1 Commissioner Lorraine Green and incumbent Gwinnett County Chairman Charles Bannister.
In their own words:
Woody — As you know, there are three Community Improvement Districts (CIDs) in Gwinnett County. How important, in your eyes, are the CIDs to Gwinnett County and how will they play a role in your administration should you be elected?
Green: The CID’s have been valuable in reviving communities and have highlighted the needs of their particular areas to county officials. I envision them becoming an intricate part of the revitalization efforts in the county, particularly in regards to developing new programs and revising existing regulations to spur redevelopment.
Bannister: While in the legislature, I introduced the legislation to create the CIDs. In 2004, I made revitalization a top priority in my campaign. As chairman, I’ve budgeted funding for the CIDs. My opponent opposed CIDs by cutting their funds. I will continue to work to improve all of Gwinnett, including the CIDs.
Woody — Gwinnett was recently labeled as a “hub for drug cartels”. It is also no surprise that crime throughout the county is a great concern to its citizens. What do you feel is the root cause and how would you, as chairman, go about tackling the issue?
Green: The causes are lack of police presence and manpower; an attitude of denial of the problem; and illegal immigrants. I intend to dramatically increase in the number of police officers in the high crime areas of the county and stress cooperation with drug task forces across the metro area.
Bannister: Under my leadership we have added nearly 263 police officers; created the anti-gang and drug task force. I will continue to add more police, increase visibility and surveillance, continue to stem the tide of illegal immigrants, and with funding, create a new sub-station in the southern end of the county.
Woody — As a candidate to lead Gwinnett County into the future, what do you see as Gwinnett’s three largest challenges that must be addressed in the next four years? How will you address them?
Green: The three largest challenges are traffic, crime and financial. I believe that a new tax structure will allow us to deal with the financial crisis ahead and provide additional funding to address the crime and transportation issues. We must balance our budget - but not on the backs of homeowners.
Bannister: Reduce traffic congestion by bringing new roads (i.e. Ronald Reagan Pkwy. Extension) and new transit options (i.e. commuter rail). Further reduce crime by adding new police and continue to fight illegal immigration. Reduce property taxes through the Local Option Sales Tax plan by working with municipal and state governments.
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Election leaves some questions unanswered
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Yea, yea, yea. I know. I saw the results.
In case you missed it, the July 15th primary ballot included questions to both Democrat and Republican voters on whether they would approve a sales tax for MARTA’s expansion into Gwinnett . The tax was narrowly defeated.
Yes: Approximately 13,639 Republicans and 10,713 Democrats or 24,352 total.
People that need to pull their heads out from where the sun don’t shine: Approximately 22,838 Republicans and 4,685 Democrats.
I cannot believe that there are roughly 27,523 people residents who are so blind and insecure as to not embrace the only viable long term solution to the one county on target to be the largest in the entire state of Georgia.
Regardless of what many believe, MARTA coming into Gwinnett is not dead. The question was regarding a sales tax to pay for it - not whether MARTA can come to Gwinnett County.
If MARTA doesn’t find its way into Gwinnett in the next few years, I hope the Feds cut off all transportation funding to the county until it does. Why continue to waste tax dollars to continue applying band-aids and feeding a problem? That makes no sense.
There was one very bright side to the primary. The Tax Allocation District (TAD) Referendum won pretty overwhelmingly in Gwinnett. Now that we have surpassed that hurdle, the TAD vote statewide becomes even more important. Lets hope that the majority of Georgians are as well educated and motivated as the 29,446 Gwinnettians were to put the right measures in place to make Gwinnett (and Georgia) a better place to be.
Along with some of the great work happening in the three Community Improvement Districts (CIDs) in the county, TADs are also very important and vital to areas, such as Southwest Gwinnett, in process of revitalization.
Because there was no clear winner in a few races, both Democrats and Republicans will be treated to a few key run off elections on August 5.
You Democrats have an interesting runoff race between former DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones and former candidate for Lt. Gov. Jim Martin. All I am going to say about this race is, I saw the debate on WSB TV, and based on that, I think Saxby doesn’t have much to be too concerned about come November.
The race to watch in the next few weeks, is between former District 1 Commissioner Lorraine Green, and incumbent Charles Bannister for Gwinnett County Chairman.
In fact, I have already invited Lorraine and Charles to participate in an “Online Town Hall” meeting which will be featured next week. They were each sent the same three questions to answer, and their campaigns will hopefully continue responding to any other questions you may have throughout next week.
Oh, how I look forward to that.
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Latest comments
With all due respect Mr. Smith, how could it be possible that I would be at a disavantage? My wife is a Union member now and I was a very active Union member for over twenty years, not an outsider looking in? You look at Unions from the viewpoint... read the full comment by Bruce Wilcox | Comment on The message from Olympics is "pride" Read The message from Olympics is "pride"
You really are missing the point Mr. Wilcox. I could have used the local in Buffalo, NY and the story would have been the same one. Just to enlighten you since it is apparent you are at a loss, and if BAC local 8 in Atlanta is now under the radar, or if... read the full comment by Michael H. Smith | Comment on The message from Olympics is "pride" Read The message from Olympics is "pride"
I would pick lettuce for $50 hour…gladly. Would the union get part of my hourly wage or just union dues? Although, I’d have to have insurance coverage too…or it wouldn’t be worth it…having an individual policy to pay would... read the full comment by Cindy | Comment on The message from Olympics is "pride" Read The message from Olympics is "pride"
Mr. Smith I cannot find anything for BAC #8 Atlanta, even checked with the national listings for BAC chapters and none are listed for Georgia. I can imagine your point was they were corrupt, looks like the National took away their Charter.... read the full comment by Bruce Wilcox | Comment on The message from Olympics is "pride" Read The message from Olympics is "pride"