Opinion

Sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas, when the weather was brisk and the promise of cold air and clear skies remained for several days in a row, Owen County families prepared for the annual event of “hog-killing.” All year, efforts were made to fatten these delectable creatures whose succulent meat was the mainstay of many a winter meal.

It truly does take an entire community to educate a child. That point was never made clearer than at Owen County High School’s  KCCT Recognition Ceremony on Nov. 18 where more than 100 students were recognized for high academic achievement.

It is at this ceremony where over 70 proud guests (parents, grandparents, and other family members) were present to share in this special event.

Thanksgiving is full of traditions. There is turkey, dressing, football, uncles asleep in recliners, indigestion, and oh yeah, pumpkin pie.

 I have also begun another Thanksgiving tradition. In case you have not caught on, this is now my third installment of the Golden Gobble Awards celebrating the biggest turkeys in sports for the past year. Well, not exactly celebrating but rather ridiculing and maybe even making fun of.

The Golden Gobble for Team That Resembles an NFL Franchise goes to the Cincinnati Bengals.

On Nov. 11, 2010 I had the privilege to address the students at Owen County High School about the importance of Veterans Day. Also in attendance were several Veterans and family members as well as many Owen County faculty and staff. Before the assembly, the Veterans and their family members were treated to a very delicious meal and a tour of the facility if they so desired.

I wanted to publicly say thank you to Ms. Wallace and her staff for honoring the veterans this past week in such a memorable and touching way.

Since serving in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War in the 1950s, this is the first time someone has said, “Thank you for your service to this country.”

I was 16 years old when Carl Johnson died on this ribbon of a road that winds between the river and a limestone cliff. He was not much older. We never spoke a word to each other. At least, I have no memory of his voice. But his black eyes looked out on the world through long, angel lashes and all the girls agreed that he was beautiful. If you favored delicate-boned, olive skinned boys, that is, which I didn’t, preferring taller, sturdier types.

I will be so glad when this election is over. I am sick and tired of all the political ads — on both sides. I mute them or watch DirecTV now to get away from them. Neither party of any of the races have shown themselves adult enough to be a representative of this state or any other elected position, which doesn’t mean to say I won’t vote. I have voted in every election since I got the privilege at 18. If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain.

I would like to tell you about my experience with the Owen County Adult Learning Center and its staff.

First, let me start off by saying that I dropped out of high school back in 1995. Needless to say, when I came into the center this past February, I was nowhere near prepared to take the GED test.

I took the pre-test, had it explained to me where I placed, what actions to take next, and to come back on Tuesday to start classes.

Ms. Mason, it sounds to me as though you have judged all Christians. Maybe you talked to or heard five or 10 saying something. I believe there are thousands of Christians that don’t say such things.

I am a sinner saved by Grace. I’m not a model Christian or a Bible scholar, but Jesus said, “Judge not that ye be not judged” Matthew 7:1-2.

Did you open the door. We are to separate ourselves from such.