Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/241669
Election Year and the Living Is Easy by PITT DICKEY It's that most wonderful time of all — Election Year. Finally, we get to enjoy something? What are the chances that the Tar Heels will learn how to shoot free another twelve months filled with mud slinging, negative throws by the end of the season? What is the sound of commercials with creepy voice overs, ads with blurred one hand clapping? black and white pictures of the opponent and crisp From a pragmatic standpoint consider this quote cheery pictures of our candidate. Civility will rule the from former USSR Fearless Leader Nikita Khrushchev: land. To get us in the mood for this festival of democracy, "Politicians are the same all over. They promise to ponder what to expect in the coming months during our build a bridge even where there is no river." Our own count down to Election Day. politicians routinely promise to fix things that ain't We shall be engulfed in punditry from here to eternity broke. Big pharmaceutical companies invent fake until the mid-term elections are held. Congress' diseases to sell us pills to cure what doesn't ail us. popularity will assume the qualities of the Polar Vortex Politicians create fake problems so they can fix them. and drop into the minus numbers like Minot, North Birds gotta fly. Fish gotta swim. Politicians gotta lie. It's Dakota in January. The TV Talking Heads will tell us in their blood. They can't help it. Consider the political what to think until the body politic, imitating Popeye, remedy once prescribed by Will Rogers who said, crankily proclaims: "I've have all I can stands, and I can't "Stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us It's almost election time, and you know what that stands no more." Then we will take another robo call out." Fortunately for us, stupidity abounds in Congress. means ... bumper sticker season. from a politician. If our leaders will follow Mr. Rogers' advice, their own From a philosophical standpoint, consider this quote stupidity will lead us back onto the path of sunlight and from John F. Kennedy, "Too often we enjoy the comfort daisies. of opinion without the discomfort of thought." When you hear a candidate Our snail mail box at home is already beginning to groan from the weight of spouting bumper sticker slogans in an effort to convey a political position, political flyers from out of state groups who are urging us not to let America remember what JFK said. It is quite comforting to think in terms of slogans. perish by voting for the wrong candidate. The email begging for political alms It eliminates the need to think about an issue before taking a position. Verbal has never stopped. Just $3 contributed today can save the Republic from the bumper stickers, they're not just for breakfast anymore. awfulness of our opponents. Give till it blurts. Here are some of my favorite bumper sticker thoughts from the right: I may have been kidding about looking forward to another election year's "Obamunism (with a hammer & sickle); "Don't blame me, I voted for heaping pile of negativity. I am reminded of what Davy Crockett said after he the American," and the heart-warming "Ammo — Currency of the New lost an election. "You may all go to Hell and I will go to Texas." Texas might Millennium" (with a picture of bullets). From the left we have such political be fun. You could see Ted Cruz and Rick Perry in their natural state. I would gems as: "Want less government? Move to Somalia," "Is that true, or did pay to see a two headed goat, so the possibility of seeing these two colorful you hear it on Fox?" and "If corporations are people, show me their birth characters spewing bumper sticker thoughts is mighty appealing. certificates." Just for fun, try engaging the driver of a car with any one of these Maybe Rodney King's request that we all get along will come stickers in a discussion of Obamacare. See if you can get their blood pressure true. Or more likely as Will Rogers concluded: "Diplomacy is above 200/120. Extra credit if you cause a cerebrovascular accident. the art of saying 'Nice doggy' until PITT DICKEY, Attorney, ContributWhat are the chances that people regurgitating bumper stickers as rational you can find a rock." Don't take the ing Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@ thought are going to be able to compromise with each other to accomplish upcoming elections for granite. upandcomingweekly.com. Community Conversations: A Chance to Be Heard by STEPHANIE CRIDER Sometimes a good idea or a solution to a problem never makes it to the right person. It's not because anyone intends it to be this way, but because the person with the idea or solution doesn't know who to contact or how to get in touch with them. This month, the community has a chance to be involved in a forum to change that. On Monday, Jan. 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Ministerial Council and the City of Fayetteville, in partnership with local organizations and institutions, will host Community Conversations Kickoff. Volunteer and Chairperson for the Fayetteville Cumberland Human Relations Commission, Cathy Waddell believes this is an opportunity the community will not want to miss. The commission has put a lot of thought in to when and where to hold the event to make it easier for anyone who would like to attend. "Because Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a day on rather than a day off we thought it would be an ideal time to do some things that make a difference," said Waddell. "We felt it was a great time to schedule this because people will be there (at the prayer breakfast) so people who want to participate can stay after." The facilitators will ask attendees: • What is being done to improve ways that citizen and resident input are included in the City's decisions and plans for bettering Fayetteville? 6 JANUARY 15-21, 2014 • How can we make sure that the community's needs are listened to and addressed appropriately? • In what ways can residents, city leadership and local organizations and institutions work together to help our city become a healthier, more vibrant, inclusive and sustainable major North Carolina city? • What is your vision of Fayetteville in 15 years? "This is the initial community conversation," said Waddell. "The information we get will generate the other conversations. The information will be given to the mayor and other members of City Council and we hope they will take it to help make decisions about things in the community." The format and process used in the Community Conversations is a continuation of previous Study Circles and will continue throughout the year. Space is limited for the Jan. 20 kickoff, so pre-registration is required by contacting the Fayetteville-Cumberland Human Relations Department during normal business hours at (910) 433-1696. Citizens can also engage in the Community STEPHANIE CRIDER, Editor COMConversations Online by visiting MENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly. com. FayettevilleOutFront.com. WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM