To the Point
I read different kinds of books and articles, and quotations are one of my favorite subjects. I like them so much I keep a folder just for ”Quotations”. In this column I will use several quotes from famous or outstanding Americans. I will not name the author, I want the reader to name as many authors as they can. Some will be easy, as they have been used many times in books, magazines and newspapers.
I have been complimented many times and they always embarrass me; I always feel that they have not said enough. But then, I can live for two months on a good compliment.
If man could be crossed with the cat, it would improve man but deteriorate the cat. If you hold a cat by the tail you learn things you cannot learn any other way.
Age is an issue of mind of over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter. A man is never more truthful than he acknowledges himself a liar. Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often.
How are you doing so far? Good luck! (That’s all the quotes for this week.)
Vandals continue to plague Munday. The latest strike was at Down Town Park, where a large section of the short brick wall (across the front) was broken off. This was no accident, no roaming tom cat could have done it. This was a willful act of malicious destruction to the property of another. The park is owned by the Munday Chamber of Commerce.
Individuals vandalize for a variety of reasons including: to send a message, to express frustration, to stake revenge, to make money, or as part of a game. Vandals may work alone or as members of a loose or organized group.
It is difficult to gauge the true prevalence or cost of vandalism based on the official reports to police because they are some of the most underreported crimes. As compared to violent crime, an incident of vandalism may be considered trivial; however, all together, vandalism may be a reflection of a larger or more systematic problem in the community. Vandalism is widely viewed as a “broken windows” offense which, if not addressed, could lead to other more serious crimes.
Because the destruction of public and private property poses a threat to society, modern statutes make vandalism a crime. The penalties upon conviction may be a fine, a jail sentence, an order to pay for repairs or replacement, or all three. In addition, a person who commits vandalism may be sued in a civil tort action for damages so that the damaged property can be repaired or replaced.
The state of Texas holds parents financially responsible for vandalism committed by their minor children. This is designed to encourage parental supervision and to shift part of the cost of vandalism from the public to the individuals who should be best able to supervise the children who destroyed the property.
Destructive acts of this nature will not be excused nor will they be tolerated in Munday. The City of Munday will do what is necessary to stop this senseless destruction of public property and bring the perpetrators to justice. Parents, you are responsible for the minor children living in your household. You need to know where every child under your roof is at every minute of the day. Do you know where yours are right now, this very minute? Teenagers are smart and crafty, if you are lazy and indifferent, they have a huge advantage over you. There is a lot at stake here, parents, wake up and do the right thing for your children. Don’t expect some other parent to keep your teenager out of trouble, it just doesn’t work that way.
Richie Smith said at Lion’s Club last Tuesday that he was proud of Munday because, “People of Munday are a caring, helpful people. And people from other places are seeing this and talking about Munday.” As we think along these lines, let’s talk about something close to home. It has come to my attention that the Munday Food Bank is in dire need of OUR assistance. The bank now feeds over 800 people from around the county: Munday has the only food bank. Food and money, lots of each will help, now. Also, the bank could use a medium/large enclosed trailer to transport food stuffs from Wichita Falls, If anyone has one to loan or donate, please contact Adrin Fletcher at the Church of Christ. The $10 gift boxes from Lawrence Brothers make good gifts for the Food Bank.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
To The Point
Our main topic this week is “unity” or “unity of purpose.” Following al-Qaida’s infamous attack on our nation, the 9/11 Commission Report said, “We have come together with a unity of purpose because or nation demands it. The nation was unprepared.”
“The most important failure was one of imagination,” the report continued. “We do not believe leaders understood the gravity of the threat.”
“Imagination,” said Albert Einstein, “is more important than knowledge.”
Since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Washington D.C., our political climate has become increasingly partisan. Instead of meeting in the middle and working toward solutions, people are standing on the fringes and yelling at each other. We have forgotten that we share many common goals and should work on achieving these goals together.
It has been a while since Munday suffered a tragedy. Many of us remember the last one too well. We do not relish an enactment of that terrible time. We don’t want a tragedy of any kind to come our way.
With that thought in mind, no one will mind if I step in here and try to prevent a tragedy from happening. For the most part Munday is a community of like-minded individuals. At least that is what we all want to believe. Okay, if we are like-minded does that mean we do not have a mind of our own? Bear with me here.
When Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines told an audience in London she was "ashamed" that President Bush came from Texas, she had no reason to think her words would cause country music stations in parts of the United States to boycott the trio's latest album and their best-selling hit single, "Travelin' Soldier."
It wasn't just that she was caught up in Europe's antiwar spirit; something more profound is in play here. Maines lives and works in artsy, liberal Austin. Her remark wouldn't cause a ruckus among the like-minded transplants who have moved there in droves over the past two decades (including Maines, who hails from the decidedly less liberal West Texas city of Lubbock).
I propose that we are like-minded on many subjects, or ojects, but, that we all have a tendency to have a mind of our own. And when we are in the “mind of our own” mode, we become close-minded to other ideas: the ideas of other people. Some of us are closed to any ideas other than our own. Now, if you can convince these like-minded people that what you are saying is really their idea, bingo, you have a semblance of unity. At least between the two of you.
My point is: we need unity in Munday. We need a unity of purpose to survive as a town. When people talk about survival the theme is usually “survival of the fittest.” That means someone comes out on top and is king of the hill. We don’t need a king in Munday. We need a whole town surviving against the odds. The odds are all those things that work together, as in unity, to destroy small towns like Munday.
Now, the unpleasant part of my whole point is this: Munday has an abundance of wanna-be kings. Some will not play with the rest of us if they can’t be the quarterback calling the plays. Others refuse to play if they have to agree with Joe Schmo’s ideas. Some won’t play this game because, well, we’ve played it before and it wasn’t any fun then. People’s excuses, reasons, for not cooperating are many and, well, quite rediculous.
People of Munday, it is time for ALL of US to put aside our selfish feelings and ideas, and pull together. If we want to survive as a community we MUST cooperate with each other. And to cooperate we MUST stop talking about each other and tearing each other apart; this is negative and works against Munday. Instead we need to build up each other, encouraging everyone. Like-minded folks will put the best interest of Munday first and foremost. It will be for US, WE WILL overcome. WE WILL survive, together!
When you put in a good word for Munday, you are putting in a good word for all of US. We are one, WE are for the survival and growth of Munday. It’s onward and upward: there are no alternate routes.
Our main topic this week is “unity” or “unity of purpose.” Following al-Qaida’s infamous attack on our nation, the 9/11 Commission Report said, “We have come together with a unity of purpose because or nation demands it. The nation was unprepared.”
“The most important failure was one of imagination,” the report continued. “We do not believe leaders understood the gravity of the threat.”
“Imagination,” said Albert Einstein, “is more important than knowledge.”
Since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Washington D.C., our political climate has become increasingly partisan. Instead of meeting in the middle and working toward solutions, people are standing on the fringes and yelling at each other. We have forgotten that we share many common goals and should work on achieving these goals together.
It has been a while since Munday suffered a tragedy. Many of us remember the last one too well. We do not relish an enactment of that terrible time. We don’t want a tragedy of any kind to come our way.
With that thought in mind, no one will mind if I step in here and try to prevent a tragedy from happening. For the most part Munday is a community of like-minded individuals. At least that is what we all want to believe. Okay, if we are like-minded does that mean we do not have a mind of our own? Bear with me here.
When Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines told an audience in London she was "ashamed" that President Bush came from Texas, she had no reason to think her words would cause country music stations in parts of the United States to boycott the trio's latest album and their best-selling hit single, "Travelin' Soldier."
It wasn't just that she was caught up in Europe's antiwar spirit; something more profound is in play here. Maines lives and works in artsy, liberal Austin. Her remark wouldn't cause a ruckus among the like-minded transplants who have moved there in droves over the past two decades (including Maines, who hails from the decidedly less liberal West Texas city of Lubbock).
I propose that we are like-minded on many subjects, or ojects, but, that we all have a tendency to have a mind of our own. And when we are in the “mind of our own” mode, we become close-minded to other ideas: the ideas of other people. Some of us are closed to any ideas other than our own. Now, if you can convince these like-minded people that what you are saying is really their idea, bingo, you have a semblance of unity. At least between the two of you.
My point is: we need unity in Munday. We need a unity of purpose to survive as a town. When people talk about survival the theme is usually “survival of the fittest.” That means someone comes out on top and is king of the hill. We don’t need a king in Munday. We need a whole town surviving against the odds. The odds are all those things that work together, as in unity, to destroy small towns like Munday.
Now, the unpleasant part of my whole point is this: Munday has an abundance of wanna-be kings. Some will not play with the rest of us if they can’t be the quarterback calling the plays. Others refuse to play if they have to agree with Joe Schmo’s ideas. Some won’t play this game because, well, we’ve played it before and it wasn’t any fun then. People’s excuses, reasons, for not cooperating are many and, well, quite rediculous.
People of Munday, it is time for ALL of US to put aside our selfish feelings and ideas, and pull together. If we want to survive as a community we MUST cooperate with each other. And to cooperate we MUST stop talking about each other and tearing each other apart; this is negative and works against Munday. Instead we need to build up each other, encouraging everyone. Like-minded folks will put the best interest of Munday first and foremost. It will be for US, WE WILL overcome. WE WILL survive, together!
When you put in a good word for Munday, you are putting in a good word for all of US. We are one, WE are for the survival and growth of Munday. It’s onward and upward: there are no alternate routes.
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