Editor's blog July 09
Lee Hartman
Managing Editor
LHartman3@cox.net
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These are my thoughts. We'd like to hear yours!
Scroll to the bottom to leave your comments on any of these topics.
Why Should I Care?
I wondered why I should care about the death of Michael Jackson or Farrah, or pop culture in general, in the bigger picture of what's important in this life. But our Gospel Soundcheck writer, Joanne Brokaw, wrapped it up very nicely:
“It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that American pop culture, and indeed pop music, wouldn't be the same without Michael Jackson. From his signature moon walk and white glove to his video for "Thriller," which came along at the birth of MTV and helped shape the video music industry,
What's sad it that mingled in with all his historic successes are decades of bizarre behaviors and allegations of child molestation. A hundred years from now, people will be talking about his music, as well as his multiple cosmetic surgeries and tabloid antics. No matter what he accomplished, his memory will be forever linked to several snapshots in time: hanging his baby over the balcony; the transformation from young Michael Jackson of the
It's the same with Farrah, in a way. Farrah Fawcett had a long career as an actress, earning multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Yet we will always remember her one season on "Charlie's Angels" and that red bathing suit pin up shot that originally appeared in 1976 in Life magazine. Why is that?
Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson weren't the only ones who died yesterday; they were just the most famous. And yet we all leave this life having touched hundreds, or maybe thousands, of people. And we all will be remembered for snapshot moments in our lives.
When we meet God on the other side, will he say to us "Well done, good and faithful servant?" Or will the photo album of our lives offer just a few shining moments in an otherwise mediocre life dedicated to nothing more than self-promotion?
In the end, how will we be remembered?”
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For the poor deluded fool who wrote of "reality,” wondering how a God of love could allow such evil in the world: How hard is it to understand that a God of love, who wanted to create creatures who would love him voluntarily, also had to give them the option to do evil? But for Him to then provide a way for sinners to come back to Him, through Christ's death on the cross, and have eternal life in Heaven, where there is no evil.....well, if that's not love and benevolence, I don't know what is. I pray you will open your mind and heart and let God speak to you, so you do not miss out on Heaven.
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For those who have asked how to make Topeka better if we’re not willing to increase taxes, here are a few things just off the top of my head:
1. Annex parts of the county that really are part of the city, like my neighborhood. Spread the costs out.
2. Consolidate city and county government – save money and no more “us against them.”
3. Elect new council and commission members and elect people who don't waste money.
4. Get rid of the city manager.
5. Use the same software as the county and save millions.
6. Learn how to plan, so you don't have to tear up streets that you have just fixed, then repair them again.
7. Don't waste money on study after study, just do things right the first time, and get input from citizens and local businesses.
8. Take local businesses into consideration when streets are upgraded, and you won't drive them out of business, thus more revenue is collected.
9. Raise the fee for buses, library fees, etc. for the people who use them. “Pay your own way.”
Just a few things off the top of my head. We pay enough taxes already, if they would just use it wisely, everyone would be more on board with new ideas.
