 |
 |
|
|
THE TOP STORY: Expensive attrition INSIDE ... School-choice bill defeated By Chris Graham/AFP Legislation that would have offered tax credits to businesses contributing money to scholarship funds for working-class and middle-class students to attend the schools of their choice died without a motion in a Senate committee on Tuesday. The Senate Finance Committee failed to take action on House Bill 1942, a measure introduced by Staunton Republican Del. Chris Saxman ... IN FOCUS: Get your flu shots here  By Chris Graham/AFP The sign outside the Staunton Health Department office on North Augusta Street advertises the availability of flu vaccines to the general public. There is a catch, though. "We don't have a lot of doses left, so we're encouraging people to call and set up an appointment to come in," Central Shenandoah Health District director Dr. Doug Larsen said Tuesday ... NOTES FROM THE PRESS: Where your money is goin' By Chris Graham/AFP The Waynesboro Redevelopment and Housing Authority is among 19 Rural Virginia-based housing organizations that will receive a total of $3.6 million in federal funds for special-needs housing-rehabilitation projects; and the United States Agency for International Development wants to earmark one-quarter of its food-aid funding for fiscal-year 2006 to purchase foreign food ... EYE ON THE VALLEY: Virginia is for Special Love By Chris Graham/AFP It's tough dealing with cancer at any age. But try being a kid with cancer. "We try to provide a normal camp experience, but with bells and whistles," said David Smith, the executive director of Special Love, a Winchester-based nonprofit that offers more than 20 unique programs throughout the year for children with cancer and their families. EYE ON VIRGINIA: 'Hoos ready to challenge UNC By Patrick Hite/AFP contributor Out of the frying pan, into the inferno. That's how Virginia men's basketball coach Pete Gillen described his team's situation heading into tonight's game at North Carolina. Many experts and fans alike had already stuck a fork in the Cavaliers after a 1-7 start in ACC play. Virginia was a Sharrod Ford missed three-pointer away from starting the conference schedule winless in eight tries. ROCKINGHAM BEAT: From the WSVA newsroom ... By Karl Magenhofer Adult-biz ordinance to be discussed Semi-gag order imposed in Rice case Simmons guilty on three federal charges Port Road widening proceeding OBITUARIES: Feb. 16, 2005 No obituaries were reported to The Augusta Free Press. AROUND TOWN: Community-news notebook By Chris Graham/AFP Staunton man among area graduates of state-police academy Tech council to fete innovators in April VSDB learns about food banking COMMUNITY: The Daily Grind By Chris Graham/AFP Want to know what's going on in the community? From fitness to children's activities to details of club and community organization meetings and more... this is the one place to check out every day. Don't miss ... The Daily Grind.
Membership Advertiser Links ACC Nation
News
Links
|
The South shall rise again ...
Or has it already?
Guest View Armond Simmons Special to The Augusta Free Press
Have the blue and gray become the blue and red? Many in our country today are asking why the vast and ever-increasing number of "Red States" that appear to be slowly nudging the few remaining "Blue States" into the Atlantic and Pacific? Well, from a historical perspective, it's simply in their genes. More specifically, it's in their rebellious, or "rebel," gene; an independent rebel gene that crossed the Atlantic in rebellion against a lack of freedom. A rebel gene that fought a war against the British Crown, rebelling for our right to secede from that overpowering government. A rebel gene that led the rebellious argument, as evidenced by The Federalist Papers, against the formation of a union of states (United States) for fear of eventually returning to the overbearing demands of a federal power from which we fought to escape. A rebel gene that reluctantly agreed to the formation of a union, but only after rebelling for the promulgation of a protective constitution that would guarantee that any federal power would be limited to essentially a few basic tasks: provide for a common defense, promote and facilitate commerce between the states, etc. A rebel gene that rebelled against the gradual creep of the feared overbearing federal power of this "United States" government in violation of the Constitution. A rebel gene that rebelled and fought a war ("Blue States" against "Gray States") against an overpowering United States central government that denied our states the inalienable right to secede from an overbearing government. A rebel gene that lost a war - and bleeding, turned "Gray States" to "Red States," for the restoration of the rights of our individual states; a war that, sadly, set the stage for the encroaching federal "Blue States" monarchy with which we contend today. And now, an even more determined "Red States" rebel gene that gets up, brushes itself off and continues incessantly today, rebelling against those same creeping "Blue States" encroachments feared by our founding fathers that threaten freedom. A "Red States" rebel gene, the urge from which emanates the patriotic, moral and appropriate rebelliousness that we witness today in these expanding "Red States," as they continue to adamantly cast their votes of rebellion and that guarantee that our democratic republic will continue to survive and flourish as our rebel founders intended. A "Red States" gene from which moral values and the dream of our founding fathers have flourished despite "Blue States" past domination and have expanded from the South to the heart and the far reaches of this nation, diminishing "Blue States" to near insignificance, a feat unattainable by a bloody civil war. Unlike President Lincoln, President Bush, in accordance with the will of our founding fathers, will honor the "Blue States"’ right to secession if so inclined.
Armond Simmons resides in Pell City, Ala.
The views expressed by op-ed writers do not necessarily reflect those of management of The Augusta Free Press.
What do you think? Share your thoughts on this story at letters@augustafreepress.com.
(Published 02-16-05/Opinion) Click here to email a copy of this story to a friend |
| ||
|
