Opinion

Surprising treasures in fresh viewpoints

I saw a castle rising out of the sea – or so I thought.It was a photo that popped up on my computer screen:a breathtaking shot of the southern coast of Australia. Anisland sat in the middle of the water, waves lappinggently against its rugged edges, and rightin the middle stood something that looked likean old-world fortress, straight out of …

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Museums – Protectors of our heritage

Several years ago it was announced about the executionof a Syrian archeologist, historian and curator of oneof the most spectacular archeological sites in the MiddleEast. ISIS took this eighty-one year old scholar to thecity square of Palmyra and during the busiest time of theday ISIS decapitated him. His headless bodywas hung from a pole in town. His crime wasspending his …

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Jim Brown – Time to Retire!

What’s the saying? All good things must come to anend? We experience a number of “lasts.” In the secularworld, I recall The Last Picture Show, the Last of the Mohicans,The Last Samurai. In the religious world, Christianitysays there are four last things: death,judgment, heaven and hell. We give the dyingfaithful last rites, and we recall the Last Supper.Taverns have a …

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Respect

In 1965 Otis Redding wrote and released his song “Respect”. The music was rearranged and released by Aretha Franklin in 1967 and became the hit song that we probably remember today. Though the arrangement changed, the message was the same; respect is import- ant in anyone’s life. “Respect” is defined as “due regard for the feelings, wishes, or rights of …

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Reruns, recipes and the charm of routine

Evenings at our house tend to follow a familiar script – a lineup that features John Wayne one night, Charlie Chaplin the next and a Disney moment when the mood’s right. Yes, we’re talking about Hubby’s movie re- runs. And by “reruns,” I mean the same hand- ful of films that seem to play on a never-ending loop.

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So much to cover

In the early days of writing it seemed that the subjectsto write about were endless. There was so much thatcould get fixed and we would see a much stronger futurefor our children and their children. This ranged fromthe price of gas at the pumps to the strangling regulationsto how the country could learn about votingfrom Louisiana. Then a new administrationcame …

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Why I write

My love of writing and sharing experiences beganmany years ago. In the fourth grade I joined 4H andwas elected reporter. Every month I would walk frommy home in the middle of Farmerville to the Gazetteoffice and present my 4H article to Ben Lee, the ownerof the Farmerville Gazette. These in turnwould be published. I loved it and over timeI discovered …

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Reviving the streak, reclaiming the goal

It’s not Jan. 1. It’s not the first day of the month. It’snot the first day of the week. It’s not the first day of aseason.Nevertheless, I am beginning something new– at least new for me after an absence of severalyears.I’m going to watch my weight. And by that, Imean I’m planning to watch it go down insteadof going up.

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A tough pill to swallow

A child will get sick; that is given. It’s part of thechild’s rite of passage. The child will play and play hard,oblivious to the illness that is overtaking the strengthand vitality of the young human. Eventually the child’sillness will progress to a point that it must be given medicineand if no medicine is dispensed, the childwill become sicker, weaker, unable …

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Louisiana and the turmoil in the Catholic church

We all know that there is a crisis in the CatholicChurch right now. Allegations of sexually abusive clergyare pouring in worldwide. Unfortunately, the roots ofthis terrible tragedy engulfing the Catholic Church havestrong ties to the Bayou Sate. Here’s how NationalPublic Radio in Minnesota titled their investigativestory on sexual abuse by priests: “ItAll Began in Lafayette, Louisiana.” And it did,back in …

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