Wal-Mart's Filthy Bathrooms

I went in the Wal-Mart on the Atlanta Highway today, and was horrified at the DIRTY Ladies' Bathroom. There was paper strewn everywhere, water all over the place, graffiti on the walls in the stalls, and it was beyond messy. Several of us were disturbed about it and two of us asked for a manager (not the first time, I might add, that I have had to get a manager because of the dirty bathrooms).

For a company that makes the amount of money Wal-Mart does, this is inexcusable. Sam Walton would roll over in his grave if he could see what "management" has done to his beloved stores. My trips there have gotten fewer and fewer, and this may just keep me out of there for good. The store on the Troy Highway was wrecked years ago, now this one. What will happen to the Ann Street and Chantilly Parkway ones?

People should take more pride in their environment; they made the mess and I wish there were some way to drag those in there to clean it up; but, since that "ain't gonna happen," as some would say, it is up to the store management to keep the bathrooms clean.

Prejudice in the Churches

I belong to a small church and on Sunday evening. for the sixth year in a row (on a rotating basis), we worshipped with our neighboring black congregation. It was a most inspirational evening, and so uplifting. There was great music, prayer, reading of the Scripture, laughter, and good food. And our minister delivered a powerful message, which I wish everyone could have heard. (Last year their minister delivered the message in our church.)

There were so many, many good people there, and it had nothing to do with race. We were just God-fearing, God-loving people, all trying to make the world a better place. Prejudice is taught and if all of us would remember the following, our church, our community, and our world would be a much better and safer place:

• God made us all in HIS image. The same brush that colored our neighbors black, colored us white.
• Heaven has no back door.
• “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me,” should be more than lyrics to a song usually sung during the Holidays. It should be a commitment. Just like prejudice and hate begins in the heart, so does peace.
• And with every serviceman or woman whose life is lost in Iraq, the blood that flows is not black or white: it is red.
• So let’s make this holiest of seasons a time of self-reflection and commitment to the Bible’s teachings that we are to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and that we should learn to love our neighbors as ourselves.

O. J. Simpson

Is everyone as incensed as I am about the latest O. J. Simpson fiasco? How dare Fox Broadcasting and Regan Books pay this murderer $3.5 million to tell how he "would have killed" Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman? My God, she was the mother of his two children. I really wonder what the jurors who let him walk free think of this piece of nonhumanity now. For 12 years he has thumbed his nose at the "system," by refusing to honor the civil judgment against him. He makes money and squirrels it away somewhere and people are stupid enough to continue to be mesmerized by this murderer. I don't care that he was "acquitted." Being acquitted doesn't mean he isn't guilty and I think most right-thinking people know that.

What message does this send to his children, to the Goldmans, to justice? I know that I, for one, will not tune into Fox for anything and I surely won't help pay his bills by purchasing the book. He is disgusting and how he can smirk over the slaughter of two people just makes me want to heave.

What a nightmare for his children, Nicole's family, the Goldman family. At least I know that he will have to answer to a Higher Power one day and I dare say he won't be smirking then.

ELECTIONS

I, for one, am beyond glad the elections are over! Not too many surprises. I was sick to death of the mudslinging--especially the campaigns of Drayton Nabors, Luther Strange and John Tyson. I'm glad Troy King was re-elected because he supports law enforcement and having lost a nephew in the line of duty, I want someone tough on crime. Riley has done a good job and I am glad he's back. And I welcome back Jim, Jr. I would rather take my chances with him than someone who never discussed issues--just mudslinging.

And it warms the cockles of my heart to have a woman as Alabama's Chief Justice. But, with all of them, we have entrusted them with our values and I say we need to hold their feet to the fire.

At least we'll have a two-year respite from the tawdry mudslinging, I hope. Lord knows, it will take two years to clean up all the signage.

The Latest Lee High Band Fiasco

What is going on with the Lee High Band? It is so disturbing to see this. I can remember when Lee and Lanier were THE schools in the area--reputable--and powerhouses in football. Now, suddenly, we have band members playing vulgar music and refusing to adhere to the standards of the school and to do as they were told by the band instructor. And, because of a few irresponsible students, the band was sent home during the final Lee game. I don't blame the director. Yet, at the same time, for those who try to do the right thing, their final game was disrupted by those students who do not respect authority, the feelings of their fellow students, and certainly have no respect for the Lee High tradition.

Young people: you'd better get it together. YOU are the future of this world, like it or not, and you need to start thinking beyond the MOMENT. Life goes by in a blink of an eye and unless you learn respect and good manners in this world, you're in for a very miserable life.