Opinions

Opinions about the Covid-19 pandemic varied greatly around the globe, though anything viewed as doubtful could get the author in trouble faster than small-town gossip. In fact, just asking questions about the virus often drew “conspiracy theorist” to those who were uncertain. Even today, finding objective views about the “public health emergency” are not free from political blame. Reading about it on Wikipedia still reveals plenty of finger pointing at Donald Trump. One does not need to be a doctor, have ears like Anthony Fauci or have stayed at a certain hotel chain to see the inconsistencies the media spread as truth.

If you don’t go to church, you won’t understand this column. I grew up in the First Baptist Church of my small Alabama town. Since my father was one of the pillars of the church, we were there as a family every time the doors opened. When I came of age, I was placed in the Girls Auxiliary which everyone just called GA’s. In GA’s, you learned about missionaries (especially Lottie Moon), Bible scriptures galore and opportunities to help at home. Once a year, we held a banquet which was always decorated in the GA colors of green and white, and I should recall what those stood for, but I don’t. I’m certain they represented the Queenly qualities which all GA’s aspired for, with Queen Esther as the female role model. Purity, honesty, faithfulness--it’s hard to argue with any of those.

London’s Buckingham Palace, the home of the monarch, has the most recognized changing of the guard in the world. Three times a week a formal ceremony involving sentries – soldiers with guard duties, are relieved by a new batch of sentries. Tourists love to witness the King’s Guard in their iconic red tunics and bearskin hats. Elsewhere, when there is a changing of the guard, it can bring a succession or a handover of leadership. It can be welcomed and it can often be a season of transition that is as awkward as a blind dog in a butcher shop. Change is inevitable, and the reshuffling of responsibilities is sometimes tenuous. A new president, business owner, coach or a person in charge, the mix of emotions runs the gamut. The outgoing person and the incoming have many different points of view, though the new person at the wheel – even with all their best-made plans, will soon have to deliver leadership.

Citizen requests prayers for local pastor

I ignored the first slur. I told myself, “It doesn’t matter.” I resisted the second slur. I urged myself, “Let it go.” But the third time a criticism was lodged against my faithful phone--within the same conversation--I took offense. Yes, I own an android phone. Many days, my phone and I get along famously; we Google and giggle; we search and lurch; we call and stall. On this particular day, however, we were under close scrutiny and criticism, too. “Oh, you have an android,” the voice said. I heard: you’re obviously an inferior second-class citizen.

A longtime friend of mind, whenever he was involved in a detailed discussion that was taking too long for him to understand, would often act as though he had reached a conclusion. Wearing a perfectly serious expression, he would say, “Or would you rather have an orange?” There are some things that just don’t make sense. What is interesting is that many people find those things easy to understand. Attending City Commissioner meetings is one aspect of my work of covering and reporting the news of Ennis. Focusing on the questions asked by Commissioners about the various agenda topics, along with their input, is a shortcut to see who is paying attention and their reasoning in reaching a conclusion.

What difference does it make when a school board does not properly vet someone prior to hiring the individual? Does it make any difference if the person is doing the job well? What if the person comes with an endorsement from a ranking staffer? Since the biggest act a school board is required to do is hire a superintendent, are they not also required to fully vet the applicants? The recent discovery of a school board in Des Moines, Iowa and its choice for Head of Schools, Ian Roberts, found fraudulent - has drawn great attention to the process.

It is a good thing to have cousins tucked into the nooks and crannies of the Southeast.