The Valdosta Daily Times
June 24, 2009 12:13 am
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A call for fathers
This letter is aimed for fathers and a plea for actions. There is a very critical need in this defining time for fathers who are not deeply involved in their children’s life.
A father’s involvement has always been needed, but sadly it is lacking and children have been left to be raised and cared for by struggling mothers who do the best they can.
I speak from experience in my own family circle and from experience of close friends and the children themselves. Their expressed concerns, their desires, their questions and their cries for the love and involvement with their fathers.
Some of these children question on why, and the answers and thoughts are concerning and have touched me with deep emotions. Since I heard their comments I ask these questions:
Fathers do you understand your roll as a father? And do you care enough to make every effort and sacrifice to be deeply involved in your children’s life?
Too many children whose fathers are absent not only want their father in their lives but some reveal negative thoughts about life in general. Some are experiencing behavior trouble, relational trouble, criminal behavior, drug and alcohol abuse and the inability to adjust in this fast-pace world. The cries of this generation are real. Many of their concerns, I believe, is found in the breakdown of a healthy meaning relationship with fathers that were suppose to be part of their lives.
When fathers turn their backs, children are detached from what is vital important to their development and growth as a person.
Fathers, in the midst of the race of life your children need you. Help them to foster a balance, self-disciplined life that will be a lot healthier for them as they grow up.
Children spell love-TIME And it all comes packaged up in a gift called YOU. Children need heavy doses of you every day. Take some time to give your all.
Being a father is a honor, a blessing and a calling. In Ephesians 4:1 Paul told the believers in Ephesus to live a life worthy of the calling they received. Fathers, will you accept your roll as your calling and be worthy and thankful of your Godly roll?
L.C. Hughes
Valdosta
A wave to our region
Our nation is in great need of a wave of new, healthy, and clean industry that are strong enough to lift all boats. Across the country communities are finding that wave in the clean energy technologies that create stable jobs and decrease our environmental footprint.
I applaud the Valdosta Industrial Authority for seeing this opportunity and attempting, through the proposed Wiregrass Biomass Plant, to bring that wave to our region.
However, the proposed Wiregrass facility is not ‘green' or clean, and compared with our other, more abundant energy options, will be vastly more expensive and create fewer stable jobs for our county.
First, no ‘green’ or clean energy technology emits the types of particulate matter and other pollutants, including CO2, that would be emitted daily from the Wiregrass Plant. Medical associations from Massachusetts to Florida have issued official statements warning against the heart disease and cancer causing risks of these types of operations.
Wiregrass LLC has stated that their facility will help take dirty coal-fired power plants off-line, thus improving our region’s air and water quality. The fact is, however, the Wiregrass Biomass Plant will simply increase pollution and greenhouse gases, with no researched opportunity of ever taking existing coal-fired power plants off-line.
Valdosta, like all of Georgia, can meet energy demand more cheaply with investments in energy efficiency. Study after study proves, investments into energy efficiency (weatherizing homes and retrofitting existing facilities) creates more energy, reduces the most pollution, and creates more stable jobs on the dollar, than any traditional dirty combustion process.
Since we are all concerned with pollution, health, creating stable and well-paying jobs, and meeting energy demand cheaply, I encourage the folks at Wiregrass LLC to prioritize their investments into energy efficiency and real renewable energy and, with citizen input, work to truly enhance and revitalize our county’s economy.
Seth Gunning
Valdosta
Lay off our president
I keep reading in the rant and rave section about people voicing their opinions about the president taking his wife out to dinner. I don’t think it is any harm for him to show his wife some love and concern. He is trying to run our country and look out for our welfare.
And leave our vice president alone. I like him. He has the same name as my dad did. He was a Joe too. I don’t see anybody complaining about these rappers and movie stars showing their mansion homes on TV and five and six expensive cars in the yard that cost thousands and thousands of dollars. Please lay off our president and pray for him.
Susie Brown
Valdosta
Mean-spirited ranters
I am tired of Rant & Rave. All I ever read is people judging others without knowing them or the situation they are in. We all talk about how we are such good people, great neighbors and great Christians in South Georgia. If the Rant & Rave reflects these qualities then I want to move. (And yes, I am sure someone will send a rant telling me to get out of town.)
The lady in the store with food stamps may be in real need of them. What’s wrong with her buying her kids some candy and cookies to snack on. I would rather us use our tax money to help the people living in America than to send it overseas and pay for our enemies to buy weapons they will use against us later.
You ranters are a bunch of mean-spirited people, no, mean spirited bullies. Next time you have something judgmental to say about a person or group, I dare you instead to write a letter to the editor. That way you will have to give your name and you won’t be able to hide behind the telephone or Internet with your opinion.
Tommy Caesar
Valdosta
Think B.I.G., Shop locally
First, let me thank the Chamber for giving me the opportunity to chair the THINK B.I.G. initiative. I truly believe that this one idea, if acted upon, can become the most important idea that our community can do to weather this economic downturn.
THINK B.I.G. — what is it all about? It’s about spending money locally instead of spending it outside of our region.
It is about using local businesses and vendors. It is about supporting our own. Think of it as our own local economic recovery plan.
The Chamber asked our 25 largest employers to identify ways in which they can reallocate expenditures to companies and vendors located here in South Georgia. To date, we have received pledges totaling nearly $3 million.
I ask that your business do the same. Try to find at least $2,500 that your business currently spends outside of our market area and reallocate that money back to our local economy.
I ask that you also apply this to your personal life. Take $50 that you were planning to spend on the Internet or in Atlanta and purchase that good or service here locally.
Our goal is for all businesses and individuals of our community to reallocate $5,000,000 into our local economy.
An economic impact study, done by Dr. Cynthia Tori, associate professor, Valdosta State University, found that for every $1 dollar spent locally, it has a return on investment of $1.63. These findings were applied to our goal of five million dollars. It was found that with a direct investment of $50 million dollars reallocated into local businesses, we would see these results in our economy: (1) a combined direct and indirect return on investment of $8.2 million dollars, (2) the creation of 117 jobs directly and indirectly, and (3) $433,561 in additional sales tax, property tax, excise tax, fees, and licenses.
Now more than ever, it is important for our entire community to recognize we all can play a part in improving our overall economic outlook. Let’s control what we can control by purchasing goods and services from businesses located in our South Georgia region. Thanks for your time and remember to Think B.I.G.
Jay Prince
THINK B.I.G. Chairman
Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce
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