The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
49th Annual Democrat Fish & Chicken Fry
DEAR EDITOR,
On September 7, 2003, the Henderson County Democratic Central Committee will be having their 49th annual chicken and fish fry at Delabar Park in Oquawka from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
The guest speakers will be State Senator John Sullivan, U.S. Representative Lane Evans, and Comptroller Dan Haynes who is runnning for a U.S. Senate seat. The Master of Ceremonies will be Don Johnston.
Everyone is invited to come for some good chicken and fish and to meet those who represent us in Springfield and Washington.
RICHARD BIGGER, JR.
Chairman, Gladstone
The Importance of Law Enforcement
DEAR EDITOR,
Although I am certainly not an authority on law enforcement in Macomb, that has not stopped me from writing my opinion before.
It is unusual to have someone protesting law enforcement on one corner and someone with a sign supporting law enforcement on the opposite corner of the square.
Of course that is one of the freedoms we enjoy as Americans.
However, how often do you beat a dead horse? The same act over and over, no matter what it is, tends to be monotonous and irritating.
The downtown merchants, farmers market, etc. do not need this kind of distraction. We do not need Rams fans, etc. getting a negative view of our city.
It reminds me of the Indian Prayer which says to not judge your neighbor unless you have walked a mile in his moccasins.
If you have watched the T.V. show COPS, you get somewhat of a feel as to what police officers go through in laying their lives on the line for us each day.
How would you like to be insulted, spit at, kicked at and various other ways of resisting arrest.
It reminds me of when I was a high school senior and working as an attendant at a Mental Health Hospital.
There was an elderly psychotic patient who was rather dangerous.
My supervisor instructed me to use binds in temporarily tying his hands and feet to the bed. He was trying to kick me in the face and over exerted himself.
In feeling for his pulse, there was none!
With the influence of multiple types of drugs, severe mental problems, etc. police officers never know what to expect and must be prepared for anything.
One of the prime examples of accusations of police brutality was the Rodney King case in California.
If recollection is correct, there were three young black men who were stopped in their car. Two of them did not resist arrest and there was no problem with them and arresting officers.
However, Rodney King very much resisted arrest (reports indicated that he was on angel dust).
The video that was taken did seem to show extreme police brutality and King was awarded a huge monetary judgment in court.
However, sometimes videos do not show the whole picture. They may not show the actions which precipitated the extreme action taken by police officers.
In my opinion, our court system goes over board in being sure our law breakers have all of their rights protected with rights of victims and families being secondary.
The same holds true with police and law breakers.
There is entirely too much negativity in our world today.
Think of what our society would be like without law enforcement!
Why not do your your good deed for the day and tell a cop you appreciate his or her intestinal fortitude in protecting us each day and upholding the laws of our incomparable city and nation.
Weyman George
Macomb
Grandparents' Day 2003
By Elaine Slater Reese
We celebrate Fathers' Day in June and Mothers' Day in May. But how many know that Grandparents' Day is designated the first Sunday in September? Of course, it's another gimmick for the florists and greeting card publishers to make money. But it's still a great idea! Grandmas and grandpas love and spoil their grandchildren. Why not give them a little special recognition?
I always felt cheated that my grandfathers died before I got to know them. But I was blessed with two wonderful grandmas.
Each family chooses their special names for the grandparent. Our name was Nana. When I think of them, some specific memories come to mind. I remember Nana Slater's small frame, silver wire glasses, and her cheekbones. We often went to her house after school. She must have cooked other food at times, but I can only think of the great waffles (not from the toaster).
Now I have the little green pitcher she used for the syrup she made from brown sugar and water. In her long, narrow pantry was the green cookie tin ALWAYS filled with her brown sugar cookies. I have the recipe and have never made a batch that tastes a thing like hers.
She had a table of gloxinias that were always blooming.
She sat in her little rocking chair making hooked rugs or reading her Bible. Now that rocking chair and that Bible are here.
I can remember Nana Barber heating the curling iron over the kerosene lamp and using it on her beautiful long yellow hair.
She always bought me bags of candy orange slices.
Sometimes she told me just what she thought about my behavior. Once she broke her leg, got tired of the cast, got a saw, and removed it!
She believed people were only happy when they were full. In her kitchen I learned a lot about cooking and a lot about eating!
None of these things I remember mean much to anyone else. But more important than these details are two facts about both my grandparents. THEY ALWAYS LOVED ME AND THEY ALWAYS HAD TIME FOR ME.
So whether your grandparents are in a wheelchair or out riding a Harley, take some time to let them know you appreciate them - especially on Sept. 7th.