Commentary from Alma

I have read every single word of your Talking Stick and links this morning. It is so very informative and thought provoking. I have lost my password and cannot log in to comment there, but I have very little to say, after all.

I wish I knew who Obama's closest advisers are. He is not operating alone. If he announced a decision on Afghanistan at this time, it would move attention away from the healthcare issue. I am impressed with Joe Biden's position on Afghanistan, and I have to believe that stronger decisions will be made on other issues if the healthcare bill passes.

Actually, anything else Obama tackled since the healthcare arguments were in full force would have delayed it even more. We have columnists complaining that he has taken on too much at the same time the gay rights people, and others, are complaining loudly that he hasn't taken more on.

The House healthcare bill may pass this evening, and we'll have to go through the melding process with whatever the Senate passes. I've come to the conclusion that whatever is passed will be good because it will be the first step ever taken in the right direction. Amendments will have to come in later to make it better.

As for the tragedy at Fort Hood, I already have received an email naming other people with Arabic names and saying that our armed forces are being infiltrated by the enemy. I agree that Hasan's act was the action of a Islamic jihadist, and my heart goes out to the Hasan family. They are now in danger because it was their relative who went bizerk. The grief of the families of the dead will pass, but I'm not sure the Hasan family's grief will ever go away.

This country's culture around guns desperately needs to change. For some of the insecticides that are used to kill bugs, users have to pass classes before they can get a license. To get a gun to kill people, a user only has to buy one and ammunition. Something needs to be done to remove the devotion to guns, to remove the idea that guns grant strength and machoism, to encourage a person who feels wronged to seek counseling. And the counseling should be free.

Another thing I am receiving emails about is our illegal residents. The rightists don't want them to receive any kindness at all even if their children are American citizens who have grown to adults in this country. Worse than that, some of the illegal adults were brought here as infants and can't get any kind of assistance, not even college aid. The rightists do not give any thought at all to a large underclass that, itself, will eventually become rebellious, doing far more than operating in gangs and stealing.

I know I'm not offering new thoughts, but felt I had to make a response. BTW, I found the article about the Anderson Cancer Center so informative. When I consider Randy's cancer, I look at all his other troubles and think that he has lived a good life. I want his days now to be as good as possible, but death is part of life at this stage. I am not afraid for either him or me, but younger people fighting the cancer battle make me so sad. The article brought back strong memories of touring the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Tennessee. A local company flew me up to talk to Danny Thomas and then I toured the facility and talked to the young patients. I thought I would never forget it, and the Anderson article brought it all back.

Another BTW, as government employees have had to take furlough days because of the economy, I have only been grateful that Gainesville employees have not had to take furlough days. Amy barely makes it all the time, and this week Gainesville employees have been asked to take two furlough days before Christmas. It sure makes it rough for those low on the ladder. Amy says she'll make it, and I'm only thankful that she's keeping a positive attitude.
Alma