[Mama_Bear]

---

[Mama_Bear]

If you would like to be added to or removed from the Finest ping list, freepmail me.

[Pippin]

Lori, did you ping the folks from the Dose thread over here?

[bmwcyle]

bttt

[jwfiv]

Wow!!! Whatta beautiful letter to our President! You've summed up my own thoughts, as well as your own...thank you, Pippin.

Thank you, Ms. Bear, for your lovely presentation of Pippin's inspiring words.

Rather perfectly timed, I think...)

Swiped a couple of screen caps off my magic monitor...the first is a pic of a dream our CinC had last night, during REM sleep, about 0245 hours, on board the USS Lincoln...the second is a look at a genuine 21st Century Action Hero, the Presidential series: Commander Dubya.

Big Howdy to all Hostesses and Freepers...I thank the Lord above for America, for our President, for Free Republic...and, for Meekie's good Maltesers, and GailA's coffee and biscuits every day...))))

[The Thin Man]

Good day, Pippin. I hope you got the standard penny for your thoughts. :)

I suspect you couldn't even get that from that cheapskate Billie. :-)

[grantswank]

A ROSE GROWS IN THE EBB AND FLOW OF RACE RELATIONS

It’s Georgia. So does that say it all? I don’t think so.

That’s why Gerica McCrary cried. It hurt. It would hurt anyone who was idealistic enough to think that a new day had come, a new page had been turned, that a progressive generation had got hold of a level-headed concept so as never again to return to what was. That’s why Gerica cried.

The page turned forward and then slipped back. A year ago, she helped organize an integrated school prom.

It worked. Many of the students and adults who attended woke up the next morning thinking that the next spring would yield the same — a fellowship of blacks and whites, something unheard of “in the olden days.”

But it appears as if the olden days have caught up with Albany, Georgia. No integrated dance this year. Yet not everybody’s going with the segregated plan of a white’s only prom. There are those who have planned an alternative prom — integrated. Confusing? Yes. Part of the ebb and flow of race relations.

The integrated prom plans does help ease the hurt somewhat. It always does, that is, when there are the hold-outs for what makes sense in human relations. Yet Taylor County High has its split this spring season — those for an all-white prom and those who say that it’s more fun and more civil to go to an integrated social event.

Every year the juniors plan the prom detail. In 2002, they had one dance — the first integrated prom in the last 31 years. Tucked away in the countryside, 150 miles south of Atlanta, it went off quite well. No incidents except for a lot of good times had by all.

But as human nature often teaches us, race relations have their own seasons. Nothing is predictable — in cement. Each generation and each dimension of each generation makes up its own mind, decides for itself. So this spring, the junior class did not have the united front for an integrated prom.

Now the youths have to decide between, not only events, but friends. With 439 students, 232 being black, the confusion is a bit of a bump in the social relations road.

Nevertheless, out of such confusion often comes the blooming of a rose. This situation does have its rose. A black student is distributing invitation fliers to any who will take them. The papers welcome both blacks and whites to a May 9 prom at nearby Fort Valley State University. For those who can make the 50 mile drive to Columbus, it should be one very nice evening.

Maybe some sophomores will attend, get the happy bug, and so plan as juniors next year to ditto the pleasant, open heart of a dance that is totally color blind. Nothing like it.

[grantswank]

o



a field of daffodils brushed plain


a field of daffodils brushed plain
against the pine tree borders high
enveloped me on grassy knoll
as gentlest breezes sang their rhyme.

i closed my eyes, meandering
through memories past, sun's corridors,
until i dreamt in nature's arms,
content, at peace, as lost from time.



o

[grantswank]

against the silence of the moon

against the silence of the moon
i heard the river's melody.
it was a friend i'd heard before --
nocturnal 'panion, blessed with stars.

the beavers rode the current's edge,
community in watery holes,
a sphere removed from mortals' greed,
a refuge sure 'side nature's bars.

[knighthawk]

[grantswank]

a hazy cast lay easily

a hazy cast lay easily
upon dawn's merest evidence,
a proof from nature's subtle labs
that morning stirred not far behind.

there was a robin scoping in
the majesty of early hours,
a breakfast 'neath the surface laid,
a new dust draped as comfort, kind.

[Pippin]

Ping! I decided to ping yopu all over to the finest to see that open letter to the President.

[grantswank]

CONSERVATIVE VOICE BILL BENNETT: YOU’RE GAMBLING ADDICTED



Bennett, conservative author of bestseller, “The Book of Virtues,” is a gambling addict.

He goes through millions of dollars, claiming he is not misusing his money, reporting all to the IRS and simply following through with a lifelong love for gambling, beginning with church bingo as a youth.

But those who know addictions are not all that convinced that Bennett is addiction-free. They are also not all that impressed with his gambling addiction put alongside his championed conservative issues. Bennett has made a lot of image and dollars by underlining conservative if not biblical moral postulates in his speaking engagements and numerous books.

Las Vegas and Atlantic City are his homes away from home. Casinos are his friends. He has open door policies to numerous gambling houses, including plush overnights in the best of hotels. He’s a “preferred customer” in at least four casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, according to NEWSWEEK’s current issue.

The former drug czar and Secretary of Education under Reagan and Bush has an opened credit line with a minimum of $200,000 at his favorite casinos.

Conservatives are shocked this week at reading the detail of Bennett’s “feed on gambling.” This is the man who has championed restraints on America’s “overdoings.” He has lectured on how to enjoy the good life by reigning in on the undisciplined lifestyle.

When it was a conservative, balanced ethical voice needed to outweigh the liberal overhangs, one could always count on hearing level-headedly from Bill Bennett. But now his aggressive voice and biblically based ethic are pretty much in big-time question, especially by the very audiences who used to give him rounds of conservative applause.

Appeals to the public to understand that he is within his limits, not doing anything illegal, is not using the “milk money,” that is, taking from family finances to feed his habit, are not going over very well this weekend now that the newsmagazine tells all.

There are plenty of non-gamblers and ex-gamblers who are concluding that one of their favorite conservative voices has a real problem and should get help. At least he should quit his conservative speaking circuit and give up on a twelfth book writ if it has to do with conservative values.

Bennett has enjoyed private limos and tens of thousands of dollars in complimentary overnights with other amenities, according to THE WASHINGTON MONTHLY.

One casino runner said, “There’s a term in the trade for his kind of gambler. We call them losers.” Bennett contests that, saying he breaks even.

I don’t think so, Bill. You’re not breaking even ethically, if even financially. You are broken on many levels with this weekend’s revelations, if not with your wallet then with your conservative audience.

Considering that Bennett earns more than $50,000 per speaking engagement and thousands in royalties from his publications, perhaps those wins have brought about a major Bill Bennett moral loss.

I am left with not so much anger against Bennett as a deep sadness for his own addictive personality and for the audience who trusted in his value example. As far as I can see, this week’s media account leaves many losses spilling all over the floor.

[grantswank]

A ROSE GROWS IN THE EBB AND FLOW OF RACE RELATIONS



It's Georgia. So does that say it all? I don't think so.

That's why Gerica McCrary cried. It hurt. It would hurt anyone who was
idealistic enough to think that a new day had come, a new page had been
turned, that a progressive generation had got hold of a level-headed
concept so as never again to return to what was. That's why Gerica cried.
The page turned forward and then slipped back.

A year ago, she helped organize an integrated school prom. It worked. Many
of the students and adults who attended woke up the next morning thinking
that the next spring would yield the same - a fellowship of blacks and
whites, something unheard of "in the olden days."

But it appears as if the olden days have caught up with Albany, Georgia. No
integrated dance this year. Yet not everybody's going with the segregated
plan of a white's only prom. There are those who have planned an
alternative prom - integrated. Confusing? Yes. Part of the ebb and flow
of race relations.

The integrated prom plans does help ease the hurt somewhat. It always does,
that is, when there are the hold-outs for what makes sense in human
relations. Yet Taylor County High has its split this spring season -
those for an all-white prom and those who say that it's more fun and more
civil to go to an integrated social event.

Every year the juniors plan the prom detail. In 2002, they had one dance -
the first integrated prom in the last 31 years. Tucked away in the
countryside, 150 miles south of Atlanta, it went off quite well. No
incidents except for a lot of good times had by all.

But as human nature often teaches us, race relations have their own
seasons. Nothing is predictable - in cement. Each generation and each
dimension of each generation makes up its own mind, decides for itself. So
this spring, the junior class did not have the united front for an
integrated prom.

Now the youths have to decide between, not only events, but friends. With
439 students, 232 being black, the confusion is a bit of a bump in the
social relations road.

Nevertheless, out of such confusion often comes the blooming of a rose.
This situation does have its rose. A black student is distributing
invitation fliers to any who will take them. The papers welcome both blacks
and whites to a May 9 prom at nearby Fort Valley State University. For
those who can make the 50 mile drive to Columbus, it should be one very
nice evening.

Maybe some sophomores will attend, get the happy bug, and so plan as
juniors next year to ditto the pleasant, open heart of a dance that is
totally color blind. Nothing like it.

[Pippin]

It's over here Ohio!

Ping!

I don't know how to post links.