Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 114, No. 085, Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 25, 2012 Page: 4 of 10
ten pages : ill.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Viewpoints
Page 4 ■ Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Sweetwater Reporter
DEDICATED TO PROUDLY DELIVERING LOCAL NEWS SINCE 1881
1—x Sweetwater 1
Reporter
P.O. Box 750/112 W. Third
Sweetwater, Texas 79556
325/236-6677
Fax: 325/235-4967
Website:
www.sweetwaterreporter.com
E-mail addresses:
publisher@sweetwaterreporter.com
business@sweetwaterreporter.com
advertising@sweetwaterreporter.com
editor@sweetwaterreporter.com
composing@sweetwaterreporter.com
TA
MEMBER
2010
TEXAS PRESS
ASSOCIATION
Ron Midkiff
Publisher
Gloria Rudel
ad director
TaQana Rodriguez
managing editor
Ashlye Headstream
circulation mgr.
Pablo Rodriguez
composing
Rleu Reyes
production mgr.
REFLECTIONS
Grid
Tinsley
Most of us first experience grief as a child with the death
of a pet who shared our childhood wonder. But it eventually
comes more forcefully in the death of a parent, a brother, sis-
ter or friend. If we live long enough, it will come to each of us
when we part with those we love most.
David, who wrote the Psalms, was famous for his grief over
the death of his son Absalom. Even though Absalom led a
rebellion against him seeking to unseat him from the throne
of Israel, when David heard that Absalom was dead, he was
inconsolable. He wept and cried, ""O my son
| Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I
had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son,
my son!" (2 Samuel 18:33). On another occa-
sion, when David grieved over the death of an
infant son, he said, "I will go to him, but he
| will not return to me." (2 Sam. 12:23).
Confidence in Heaven and the resurrection
does not eliminate grief, but it takes away the
sting. That is why the Apostle Paul writes,
"But we do not want you to be uninformed.
Dill brethren, about those who are asleep, so that
Dill you will not grieve as do the rest who have no
hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and
rose again, even so God will bring with Him
those who have fallen asleep in Jesus."
I once visited a cemetery in old Boston where the tomb-
stones date back to some of the earliest residents of The
Colonies. I discovered an interesting pattern. Those grave
makers erected before 1730 bore skulls and cross bones. They
were the picture of death and despair. The markers erected
after 1740 bore the images of angels and cherubim and were
often inscribed with verses about heaven. The only event that
could have made such a difference in the Boston markers is
the Great Awakening that swept the Colonies in the 1730s and
40s. Benjamin Franklin wrote of the Awakening that there
was a "wonderful...change soon made in the manners of our
inhabitants.... so that one could not walk thro' the town in an
evening without hearing psalms sung in different families of
every street."
Grief as a believer in Jesus Christ is deep and real, but it is
not a grief without hope. Even Jesus grieved when he stood
outside the tomb of his friend Lazarus. Although he knew
he would call Lazarus from the grave and raise him from
the dead, the Bible says, "Jesus wept." When Jesus wept, he
demonstrated to us that God not only knows our grief, he
feels it. We do not grieve alone or in isolation nor do we grieve
without hope.
Knowing His followers would experience grief, Jesus spoke
these words to them only hours before His own death, "Do
not let your heart be troubled; [a]believe in God, believe also
in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it
were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place
for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again
and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be
also."
Bill Tinsley is a 1965 graduate of CHS. His columns reflect
on current events and life experience from a faith perspec-
tive. Visit www.tinsleycenter.com. Email bill@tinsleycenter,
com.
letters to the Ed tor
Dear Editor,
The current look of the courthouse resembles an energy
drink can. Kinda fun I think. To save money? Could the
courthouse be covered with stucco or another attractive
style. Sale the beautiful stored slabs and update the jail to
the most modern is this area? Just wondering.
Pat Hutto
Sweetwater
Dear Editor,
One of the things I get asked in my office quite often is
for an explanation of "VA Math", where 6o%+io%=6o. So
here it goes and like my old Sergeant Major used to say, "It
is what is, but it ain't what it should be."
The disparity between your math and VA's is a formula,
set in law, for combining disability ratings for separate
service-related medical conditions. It's a more complex for-
mula than the simple addition of each rating percentage.
For example, VA doesn't add a 10-percent disability with
a 60-percent disability and conclude that a veteran has a
combined rating of 70 percent. Instead, VA calculates the
impact of each condition, starting with the most severe, on
what remains of a veteran's assumed "efficiency."
To understand this, assume that a veteran's most severe
condition is rated 60 percent disabling. From VA's perspec-
tive that veteran is left with 40 percent efficiency. The same
veteran has another 10 percent disabling condition. When
considered alone, the second condition leaves the veteran
90 percent efficient.
To calculate the combined effect of the two, VA multiplies
40 percent (.4) efficiency by 90 percent (.9) efficiency and
finds the veteran 36 percent (.36) efficient. Stated another
way, that veteran is 64 percent disabled.
The law then requires that the combined disability rat-
ing be rounded to the nearest percentage divisible by 10.
In the above example, that would be 60 percent, not the
70 percent result calculated achieved by adding disability
ratings.
So as you can see the more separate service connected
conditions you have the more difficult the math gets, and
es you can have a 0% service connected disability like my
earing loss. There is no dollar amount connected with a
0% rating but it does get you medical care. In the case of
my hearing loss it gets me 3,000 dollars worth of hearing
aids on each ear that I do not have to pay for. Well that's
not entirely true, but how do you put a dollar amount on
several close encounters with military grade explosives
being detonated.
Robert R. McBride
VCSO Nolan County
hi
C- FORCE
Be happy, be healthy
Q: Chuck, a few days
ago, I watched one friend
burst out in an angry
tirade and another buckle
under heavy depression.
Both extremes
have to be bad for
your health. Any
clinical support
for my theory? —
"Seeking Balance"
in Bellevue, Wash.
A: It has long
been known that a
high-stress life or
strung-out per-
sonality can lead
or contribute to a
number of reper-
cussions in life,
from high blood
pressure to failed relation-
ships and worse. Studies
have shown that negative
moods and traits even can
contribute to damaged
arteries and damage the
heart itself.
But a study conducted
by the Harvard School
of Public Health pub-
lished this past week in
the Psychological Bulletin
showed that being opti-
mistic and upbeat not only
is good for you mentally
but also may help protect
you against heart disease.
In ner review of 200
studies examining the
links between psychologi-
cal well-being and physi-
cal health, lead researcher
Dr. Julia Boehm said that
people who were most
optimistic had half the
risk of a first heart attack
than those who were least
optimistic. (Those results
were true regardless of a
person's age, socio-eco-
nomic status, body weight
or smoking status.)
The Associated Press
reported that "Boehm
found that people with a
better sense of well-being
GUEST COLUMN
Chuck
Norris
tend to have healthier
blood pressure, choles-
terol and weight, and are
more likely to exercise,
eat healthier, get enough
sleep and avoid
smoking."
Commenting
on a similar study
of roughly 8,000
British civil ser-
vants — published
in a 2011 edition
of the European
Heart Journal
— Boehm said,
"These findings
suggest that inter-
ventions to bolster
positive psycho-
logical states — not
just alleviate negative psy-
chological states — may be
relevant among high-risk
individuals."
Maureen Talbot, senior
cardiac nurse at the British
Heart Foundation, added
that this new Harvard
study "does confirm what
we already know, which
is psychological well-being
is an important part of a
healthy lifestyle, just like
staying active and eating
healthily. It also highlights
the need for health care
Erofessionals to provide a
olistic approach to care,
taking into account the
state of someone's men-
tal health and monitoring
its effect on their physical
health."
Indeed, this research
confirms what has been
known since ancient
Hebrew days, as stated in
Proverbs 23:7: "As a per-
son thinks, so he or she
is."
Though more corrobo-
rating research needs to be
done linking psychological
and physical well-being,
Dr. Elizabeth Jackson of
the University of Michigan
and American College of
Cardiology confessed that
even her heart patients
who are invested in their
care and have some con-
trol over their lives have
the best outcomes. Jackson
concluded, "Sometimes
it's hard, particularly in
tough economic times, but
taking a moment to just
relax and enjoy a sunny
day might be good heart
health."
I'm firmly convinced
that my good health, as
well as my success in life,
has resulted primarily
from my positive mental-
ity, perseverance and faith
in God.
Several decades ago, I
created the following posi-
tive "principles for life,"
and I encourage you to
do the same for your own
life. Despite having failed
before — often repeated-
ly — I am committed to
achieve these for life:
1) I will develop myself
to the maximum of my
potential in all ways.
2) I will forget the mis-
takes of the past and press
on to greater achieve-
ments.
3) I always will be in a
positive frame of mind and
convey this feeling to every
person whom I meet.
4) I will continually
work at developing love,
happiness and loyalty in
my family and acknowl-
edge that no other success
can compensate for failure
in the home.
5) I will look for the good
in all people and make
them feel worthwhile.
6) If I have nothing good
to say about a person, I
will say nothing.
7) I will give so much
time to the improvement
of myself that I will have
no time to criticize others.
8) I always will be as
enthusiastic about the
success of others as I am
about my own.
9) I will maintain an
attitude of open-minded-
ness toward another per-
son's viewpoint while still
holding fast to that which
I know to be true and hon-
est.
10) I will maintain
respect for those in author-
ity and demonstrate this
respect at all times.
11) I always will remain
loyal to God, my country,
my family and my friends.
12) I will remain
highly goal-oriented
throughout my life because
that positive attitude helps
my family, my country and
myself.
For a more holistic
medical approach, my
wife, Gena, and I recom-
mend Sierra Integrative
Medical Center (http://
www.Sierralntegrative.
com), in Reno, Nev. The
people there are pioneers
in integrative medicine.
They blend the best of con-
ventional medicine with
the best alternative thera-
pies.
Write to Chuck Norris
(info@creators.com) with
your questions about
health and fitness. Follow
Chuck Norris through his
official social media sites,
on Twitter @chucknorris
and Facebook's "Official
Chuck Norris Page." He
blogs at http://chucknor-
risnews.blogspot.com.
To find out more about
Chuck Norris and read
features by other Creators
Syndicate writers and car-
toonists, visit the Creators
Syndicate Web page at
www.creators.com.
Romney should show he s
a leader and here s how
If Mitt Romney is to
have any chance of beating
President Barack Obama in
November, he must win a
larger share of the Hispanic
vote than current polls sug-
gest he will. And
he won't unless he
solves his immi-
gration problem.
It's a problem
of his own mak-
ing. Fie decided
that beating up
on illegal immi-
grants would
boost his popular-
ity among those
suspicious that he
was really a mod-
erate Republican.
In doing so, he
injected an issue
into the campaign
that had largely fizzled —
and for good reason. Illegal
immigration is down to
historical lows — primarily
because the U.S. economy
continues to be sluggish, so
fewer people want to come
here.
Romney has plenty of
advisers trying to figure
out how best to soften his
negative image among
Hispanic voters. We can
expect to see him wolfing
down tacos and mumbling
a few phrases in Spanish in
the days ahead. But neither
tactic will do anything but
make him look foolish.
What he should
do is rid his campaign of
the likes of Kris Kobach
— the zealot behind several
state anti-illegal immigrant
laws being challenged in
the courts right now. The
Romney campaign already
has started to back away
from its association with
Kobach, but that's just the
first step. The next thing
he needs to do is to speak
honestly and openly to the
American people about the
true state of immigration
to the U.S. — legal and ille-
gal.
Here's my suggestion for
Linda
Chavez
what he should say:
"My fellow Americans, I
know I've spent a lot of
time talking about illegal
immigration during the
primaries, and I've used
some pretty tough
rhetoric. I've sug-
gested that 11
million people
who are here ille-
gally — many of
whom have lived
in this country for
decades — should
self-deport.
"But when I
think about what
those words really
mean, I've come
to understand
that it would
require parents to
leave behind their
American-born children
or else force them to go
to a country they've never
known and whose language
they may not even speak.
It would separate husband
from wife, brother from
sister, and lead to family
breakdown and instability
in many communities.
"It also would shutter
many local businesses, not
just those that depend on
immigrant labor but those
where illegal immigrants
buy their food, clothes, cars
and washing machines. It
would deepen the housing
crisis as they left behind
mortgages that never
would be paid and aban-
doned rental units that
would not be filled. Church
pews would be emptier, as
would federal, state and
local tax coffers.
"It's true that there
would be fewer tax dollars
expended on educating the
children of illegal immi-
grants or treating them in
local emergency rooms.
But every careful study that
has factored in what illegal
immigrants and their adult
children ultimately pay in
taxes over their life spans
and what they take out in
services shows a net posi-
tive, although a small one.
"So we need to figure out
a humane and practical
way to deal with this prob-
lem — not one that makes
a good sound bite but has
no chance of success. I am
committed, if I become
president, to get the best
minds available to come up
with some alternatives. I
know that most Americans
don't like the idea of
rewarding law-breakers, so
whatever solution we come
up with will have to carry
heavy penalties for those
who've broken the law.
"But we also have to real-
ize that the only way to
prevent this problem from
recurring when the econo-
my starts booming again —
as it will on my watch — is
to fix our legal immigration
laws. Our legal immigration
system is broken. The rea-
son so many people have
sneaked into the country
illegally or remained here
after their temporary visas
expired is that there are no
legal avenues for them to
come.
"We need a legal immi-
gration system that is mar-
ket-based, not one created
by a bunch of bureaucrats
and anti-population lobby-
ists. We need to make sure
American workers get first
crack at jobs — but when
they won't take certain jobs
or can't meet the qualifica-
tions for others, employers
need legal access to workers
who can and will. And we
need whatever system we
create to be flexible enough
to accommodate the busi-
ness cycle, with visas going
up during boom times and
down during recessions.
"What I promise, my fel-
low Americans, is to stop
pandering to ideologues
and hatemongers and
come up with a system that
is good for America and
Americans and reflects the
principles and values that
have made this country
great."
If he had the courage to
give such a speech, he'd
do more than improve his
standing with Hispanics.
He'd show leadership befit-
ting a president.
Linda Chavez is the
author of "An Unlikely
Conservative: The
Transformation of an
Ex-Liberal." To find out
more about Linda Chavez,
visit the Creators Syndicate
Web page at www.cre-
ators.com.
NOTICE
If you miss your
Sweetwater Reporter you
should call evenings from
5:30-6:00 p.m.
Monday thru Friday.
If you miss your Sunday
paper please call from 8-
9:30 a.m., and we will con-
tact your carrier.
236-6677
EDITORIAL POLICY
The editorial section of the newspaper is a forum for
expression of a variety of viewpoints. AH articles except
those labeled "Editorials" reflect the opinions of the writ-
ers and not those of the Sweetwater Reporter.
The SWEETWATER REPORTER
(USPS 5300-860) is published daily
except Saturdays and holidays by HPC
of Texas Inc. (Periodical Postage Paid)
112 W. 3rd, Sweetwater, Texas 79556
Postmaster: Send address changes to:
SWEETWATER REPORTER
P.O. BOX 750.
SWEETWATER, TX 79556
City Delivery $9.00 per month, $90.00
per year, 6-months $50.00, 3-months
$26.00. By mail In-County Rates
3-months $36.00, 6-months $65.00,
12-months $115.00. Out-Of-County
Rates 3-months $50.00, 6-months
$88.00, 12-months $140.00.
Correction Policy
Editorial:
As a matter of policy, the
Sweetwater Reporter will
publish corrections of errors
in fact that have been print-
ed in the newspaper.
The corrections will be
made as soon as possible
after the error has been
brought to the attention of
the newspaper's editor at
236-6677.
Advertising:
Publisher reserves the right
to reject, edit or cancel any
advertising at any time with-
out liability. Publisher's liabil-
ity for error is limited to the
amount paid for advertising.
DEDICATED TO PROUDLY DELIVERING LOCAL NEWS SINCE 1881
V
__ Sweetwater
Reporter
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 114, No. 085, Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 25, 2012, newspaper, April 25, 2012; Sweetwater, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth229749/m1/4/: accessed May 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Sweetwater/Nolan County City-County Library.