Jeff's Commentary - 1/31 - Class War

There is a class war going on in Egypt. The youth and poor have risen up to topple the regime that has been in place well over 30 years. Chaos, confusion, extremists and looting have taken to the streets. There are lessons to be learned in America as we watch this unfold as well.

While there is flurry of activity to cut social and human services across the U.S., be very careful to where this will lead. What has always made our country great is that we look out for the less fortunate, the poor, and the people in need. Education is a key component to that success as well. When class structure gets so two sided with no middle left, people will one day demand change.

I’m not saying that we are close to the chaos that Egypt faces today. But the more and more I see and hear people talk about how angry and upset they are over how America is changing, how Arizona is a mess.

We need to rein in spending but not at the entire expense of the poor and our children. We have to figure out ways to take care of people so “death panels” do not become a reality. We need to insure that our public school system stays viable for those that cannot afford private alternatives. We need to have a government that continues to offer the best ways and means to grow business in our local communities.

I saw that on Friday, Arizona legislators yet again put out bills that question President Obama’s citizenship. Can’t we get beyond this? Arizona again is in headlines regarding challenging immigration status of children born in the U.S. of parents that are not citizens. Several states have backed off joining this bandwagon. Why? The cost? The constitution?

Time Magazine this past week wrote an interesting article on the state of Arizona. They titled it “Arizona’s Great Divide. Big rifts, bigger challenges. Can the state heal in time?” It should be a must read for all of us that want Arizona to succeed. It talks about Arizona being in a constant culture clash, a land of political opposites. We have to recognize that to grow and succeed we need to figure out a way to work together and come up with new and innovative ideas that we all can live with.

If not, just look at what is happening in Egypt and the rest of the Middle East and Europe. The disenfranchised eventually will take action. It’s happened here in the 60s with the civil rights movement and anti-war sentiment. Let’s figure it out before that boiling point heats up where that kind of action and reaction comes back to American cities.

Jeff

Jeff's Commentary - 1/11 - The Empty Chairs

I was angry on Monday as the Tucson gunman, Jared Loughner smirked as he was being booked in a Phoenix courthouse. So devoid of any human feelings, this individual does not deserve the 15 minutes of fame he has framed. An animal. I do believe there is a place in hell for this young man.

The shooting in Tucson which included Gabrielle Giffords impacted so many families. As a father of five children, there was nothing more heartbreaking than to read about the death of the innocent girl over the weekend. Christina Taylor-Green was nine years old. A third grader at Mesa Verde Elementary School whose desk and chair will now be empty for an eternity. How sad. How tragic.

I think of future Christmas' little Christina will not have. The birthday parties with family that will now be empty dates. The graduations that will never happen. The family she will never have. Why?

I teared up as I read that her mind was already focused on her career, where she aspired to be involved in helping those less fortunate than herself.

Dorothy Morris (76) and Phyllis Schneck (79) were mothers, wives and people who brought great happiness to their families. They are now gone. Their chairs will be hard to fill.

Dorwin Stoddard (76) was still the protector. When the shooting started, he covered his wife who was also hit and took the impact of more bullets which killed him. What valor.

And Gabe Zimmerman, who at 30 had so many chairs to fill in his life. He was a Director of Community Outreach for Congresswoman Giffords and now lives in a community he will no longer touch.

So we have to come together and learn from all the empty chairs. How do we treat people? How do we stop the violence? How do we temper the tone in America?
How to treat one another with respect among disagreement?

I believe in the hereafter. My opinion. My beliefs. I believe that little Christina is beginning her new career now to help others less fortunate than herself. She’s doing it in a different dimension. That new chair is now hers and is no longer empty.

Jeff