The Gilmer Mirror (Gilmer, Tex.), Vol. 137, No. 99, Ed. 1 Wednesday, December 10, 2014 Page: 4 of 10
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Page 4A — THE GILMER MIRROR, Gilmer, Texas December 10, 2014
Wmwpdltriifts
Not satisfied
Obamacare fails to create ‘warm fuzzies’
Since the maj or provisions of the Affordable Care Act have
been in effect the public’s satisfaction with their personal
healthcare costs is actually down a very small amount.
While there are definitely some people who feel tangible
benefits from things like the Medicaid expansion, they are
a small minority. Most Americans haven’t felt tangible
benefits. Even though growth in overall health care cost has
slowed down, regular people as a whole are still paying more
for their health care in the form of higher deductibles and
premiums than ever. On a personal level things are at best
only getting worse less quickly, not actually better.
If you are going to pass a big law named the “Affordable
Care Act” you might want to have it do things to make care
more affordable for the majority of people.
Jon Walker
Jon Walker is Senior Policy Analyst at Firedoglake.com.
America s children: the trials
OF GROWING UP IN A POLICE STATE
By John W. Whitehead
After a year dominated with news of police shootings of
unarmed citizens (including children), SWAT team raids gone
awry, photo ops of militarized police shouldering assault rifles
while perched on top of armored vehicles and reports on how
the police are using asset forfeiture laws to pad their pockets
with luxury cars, cash and other expensive
toys, I find myself wrestling with the ques-
tion: how do you prepare a child for life in
the American police state, especially when
it comes to interactions with police?
Do you parrot the government line, as the
schools do, that police officers are community
helpers who are to be trusted and obeyed at all
times? Do you caution them to steer clear of a
police officer, warning them that any interac-
tions could have disastrous consequences? Or is there some
happy medium between the two that, while being neither fairy
tale nor horror story, can serve as a cautionary tale for young
people who will encounter police at virtually every turn?
Children are taught from an early age that there are con-
sequences for their actions. Hurt somebody, lie, steal, cheat,
etc., and you will get punished. But how do you explain to a
child that a police officer can shoot someone who was doing
nothing wrong and get away with it? That a cop can lie, steal,
cheat or kill and still not be punished?
Kids understand accidents. But police shootings of unarmed
people—of children and old people and disabled people—can’t
just be shrugged off as accidents.
Aiyana Jones was no accident. The 7-year-old was killed
after a Detroit SWAT team launched a flash-bang grenade into
her family’s apartment, broke through the door and opened
fire, hitting the little girl who was asleep on the living room
couch. The cops weren’t even in the right apartment.
Ironically, on the same day that President Obama refused
to stop equipping police with the very same kinds of military
weapons and gear used to raid Aiyana’s home, it was reported
that the police officer who shot and killed the little girl would
not face involuntary manslaughter charges.
Obama insists that $263 million to purchase body cameras
for police will prevent any further erosions of trust, but a
body camera would not have prevented Aiyana from being
shot in the head. Indeed, the entire sorry affair was captured
on camera: a TV crew was filming the raid for an episode of
The First 48, a true-crime reality show in which homicide
detectives have 48 hours to crack a case.
While that $263 million will make Taser International, the
manufacturerofthebodycameras,awholelotricher,it’sdoubtful
it would have prevented a SWAT team from shooting 14-month-
old Sincere in the shoulder and hand and killing his mother.
No body camera could have stopped a Georgia SWAT team
from launching a flash-bang grenade into the house in which
Baby Bou Bou, his three sisters and his parents were staying.
The grenade landed in the 2-year-old’s crib, burning a hole
in his chest and leaving him with scarring that a lifetime of
surgeries will not be able to easily undo.
No body camera could have prevented 10-year-old Dakota
Corbitt from being shot by a Georgia police officer who tried to
shoot an inquisitive dog, missed, and hit the young boy, instead.
Alberto Sepulveda, 11, died from one “accidental” shotgunround
to the back, after a SWAT team raided his parents’ home.
Cleveland police shot and killed 12-year~old Tamm Rice, who
was seen playing on a playground with a toy gun. Surveillance
footage shows police shooting the boy after getting out of a
moving patrol car. Thirteen-year-old Andy Lopez Cruz was
shot 7 times in 10 seconds by a California police officer who
mistook the boy’s toy gun for an assault rifle. Christopher
Roupe, 17, was shot and killed after opening the door to a
police officer. The officer, mistaking the Wii remote control
in Roupe’s hand for a gun, shot him in the chest.
These children are more than grim statistics on a police blot-
ter. They are the heartbreaking casualties of the government’s
endless, deadly wars on terror, on drugs and on the American
people themselves. Not even the children who survive their en-
counters with police escape unscathed. Increasingly, their lives
are daily lessons in compliance and terror, meted out with every
SWAT team raid, roadside strip search and school drill.
Who is calculating the damage being done to the young
people forced to watch as their homes are trashed and their
dogs are shot during SWAT team raids? A Minnesota SWAT
team actually burst into one family’s house, shot the family’s
dog, handcuffed the children and forced them to “sit next to
the carcass of their dead and bloody pet for more than an
hour.” They later claimed it was the wrong house.
Then there are the hands-on lessons being taught in the
schools about the role of police in our lives, ranging from active
shooter drills to incidents in which children are suspended,
handcuffed, arrested and even tasered for what used to be
considered childlike behavior. For example, police officers at
a Florida middle school carried out an active shooter drill in
an effort to educate students about how to respond in the event
of an actual shooting crisis. Two armed officers, guns loaded
and drawn, burst into classrooms, terrorizing the students
and placing the school into lockdown mode.
It’s getting harder by the day to tell young people that we live
in a nation that values freedom and which is governed by the rule
of law without feeling like a teller of tall tales. Yet as I point out
in my book A Government of Wolves: The Emerging American
Police State, unless something changes and soon for the young
people growing up, there will be nothing left of freedom as we
have known it but a fairy tale without a happy ending.
John W. Whitehead is an attorney and author who has writ-
ten, debated and practiced widely in the area of constitutional law
and human rights. Whitehead’s concern for the persecuted and
oppressed led him, in 1982, to establish The Rutherford Institute,
a nonprofit civil liberties and human rights organization whose
international headquarters are located in Charlottesville, Va.
Wh itehead serves as the Institute’spresident and spokesperson,
www. rutherford. org
ONE OF
the
highlights
of the
Yulefest
program
on Dec. 3,
1988, was
singing by
the
Bethlehem
Baptist
Church
Choir. This
photo was
published
in The
Mirror on
Dec. 14,
1988.
(Mirror
photo by
Mary
Laschinger
Kirby)
The View from Writers Roost
By Willis Webb
Being raised in a small town
where most people didn’t have
much, forced many to scrape
and scramble to make a living.
Pride in supporting yourself
and your family was a strong
motivation for
most folks I
knew in my
growing up
years.
Standing
on your own
two feet was
the mantra of
that period I am inclined to
describe as “hard-scrabble”
times.
This promoted an attitude,
from childhood on, of “Don’t
mess with me. I’m the Lone
Ranger and I can take care of
me and Tonto.” Perhaps that’s
a poor example since Tonto
often took care of the Lone
Ranger, but I digress.
Withstanding pain was a big
test for kids growing up. We al-
lowed ourselves to be subj ected
to physically painful tests to
show not only that we could, for
instance, handle a hard punch
to the upper arm, but also that
we possessed a desired attitude
of mental toughness.
Of course, that didn’t usu-
ally extend to stupidity as one
“deranged” childhood friend
exhibited when he scooped
up a fistful of sand, put it in is
mouth, chewed and grinned as
dirty drool drained from the
corners of his dumb mouth.
Then, even more stupidly,
he swallowed it. Without a
gizzard, I’m sure he passed
silicone for a week.
Then came high school.
Motivation in that adventure
came in many forms.
On the football practice
field.
Coach: “Run through that
cyclone fence! Hike!”
Player: “Yessir!” Bang!
Sproing! Splat!
Coach: “Get up! Are you
hurt?”
Player: “Naw! Ain’t nothin’.
Send me in, Coach.” As, he
limped toward the bench, the
trainer and the Ace wraps.
In the high school hallway,
filled with metal lockers.
Pretty girl: “Oooo, you’re
so manly in your football
uniform!”
Dumb guy: “Aw, shucks.”
Followed by a clang and a thud
as the diverted glance at blonde
hair, a tight sweater, skirt,
bobby sox and loafers, sent him
stumbling into a metal locker.
“Dang, that hurt!”
School nurse: “Do you want
to go to the doctor?”
Dumb guy: “Naw. Just
gimme three bandaids and
point me toward the football
practice field.”
At the college frat mixer.
Dumb Joe Cool: “Can I get
you a drink?”
Foxy Coed: “Sure. A Cuba
Libre, please.”
Dumb Joe Cool: “Got it.” On
the way to the bar, trying to
remember how to mix a Cuba
Libre, he trips over his own
feet and falls into a tray of dirty
glasses and ash trays. He picks
himself up, looks for Foxy Coed
and catches a glimpse of her as
she exits the party on the arm
of the school football star.
Plump Coed Waitress: “Hey,
Rudolf Nureyev, wanna buy
me a burger and a malt? I’m
closing up.”
Dumb Joe Cool: “Why not.”
And, he feigns complete
coolness as he limps toward
the car, holding onto Plump
Coed Waitress’ shoulder.
Several years later, in his
suburban home:
Mechanically-challenged
Hubby, sticking his head out
the back door into the garage
where his beautiful, intelligent,
sexy (former coed) wife has her
head under the raised car hood:
“How you doing with that oil
change and those spark plugs,
Baby?”
Beautiful, intelligent, sexy
wife: “I’ll be finished in a bit.
How about changing the baby,
then fix dinner and, while it’s
cooking, vacuum the den. But,
be sure to keep an eye on the
baby and the dinner.”
Humble Hubby: “Yes,
dear.”
After dinner:
Beautiful wife: “I’m going
to watch Law and Order: SVU
and Blue Bloods. Why don’t
you put the baby to bed, cor-
rect your columns I proofed
and hit the send button to
those 101 subscribing newspa-
pers (dream on). You should be
able to get to bed by midnight.
Don’t wake me. I’m tired.”
Ah, life in the fast lane. Ain’t
gonna hurt none of me.
Willis Webb is a retired
community newspaper editor-
publisher of more than 50years
experience. Hecanbereachedby
email at wwebbl937@att.net.
Ws 1^0 1^01^0 1^01^0 I^Q
Dear Editor:
“Indictments, arrests an-
nounced in synthetic drug
investigation.”
So, I can assume the drug
war is over now, right? Per-
haps not.
Two owners of legitimate
Longview businesses were
arrested for selling a product,
admittedly very harmful, but
technically legal for the pur-
poses it was prescribed (much
like alcohol and tobacco).
The amount of cash confis-
cated shows there was appar-
ently a considerable demand
for this product.
The article explained that
the forfeited assets of cash
and property seized from the
businesses to be valued at $5
million.
“This is not about what
was seized,” said special agent
Daniel R. Salter of the Dallas
division of the Drug Enforce-
ment Administration. “It was
about taking the drugs off the
streets and putting bad people
in jail...”
Sure.
The$5millionforfeited assets
had nothing to do with it...
The so-called “War on
Drugs” has evolved into a farce
that barely disguises its actual
contemporary purpose, which
is to justify a certain form of
government theft and constitu-
tionally lawless over-reach.
Flamboyant drug raids like
this one are useful primar-
ily in providing perpetual job
security and enrichment for
police, judges, lawyers and
prison guards (also known as
the criminal justice-industrial
complex).
Assetforfeitureismerelythe
most irksome and dangerous as-
pect of this phony posturing.
No one has “the” solution to
the so-called drug problem that
allegedly exists. I’m inclined
to support efforts to take the
profit out of drug sales as a
starting point. Drug raids like
this won’t do that.
Indeed, the supply void cre-
ated by this raid will be quickly
filled by other “black market”
sources in short order.
Perhaps approaching the
subj ect from a combination of
angles: medical/health care,
educational, rehabilitation,
and spiritual — would reap
better results.
I know for certain this
truth: What we are doing now
is NOT WORKING!
The grandstanding and
preening of our law enforce-
ment and politicians as pic-
tured is perfectly ridiculous
considering the zero impact it
will have on the problem.
I am adamantly opposed to
the abuse of drugs, and I am
distressed as most everyone
is for the harm it does to indi-
viduals and to society. Sadly,
it’s apparent the poor of spirit
among us will continue to
seek self-medication to escape
reality.
I am equally distressed by
the futility of drug prohibition
efforts as reported—pretend-
ingthe raid represents progress
being made on solving a prob-
lem when in reality it’s merely
a grabbing of “low hanging
fruit” for publicity reasons.
In many ways the loss of
constitutional freedoms and
corruption of law enforce-
ment resources makes the
cure worse than the disease.
The individual states are
supposed to be the “petri dish”
for experimentation on differ-
ent ways to approach various
societal problems.
The current experimenta-
tion with drug legalization in
Colorado and Washington State
might provide some guidance
as to the direction to follow.
In the meantime, reports
like this drug raid only cause
annoyance for its phony ratio-
nalization and futility.
Vance Lowry, Gilmer
Rear Vision Mirror
TEN YEARSAGO
City of Gilmer hired Jeff
Ellington as interim city man-
ager, replacing Ron Stephens
who left to become manager
at Midlothian... Yulefest was
shifted to Friday night so as not
to conflict with the Buckeyes’
Saturday game and a pep rally
was held at the fountain after
the parade ... Gilmer’s Man-
uel Johnson threw for seven
touchdowns as the Buckeyes
defeated the Tatum Eagles in
the state quarterfinals in Na-
cogdoches ... Deaths included
Morris Ward, 73; LaVerne N.
Wakeland, 86; Texas A&M
study concluded race was a
major factor in Texas politics
... Mary and John W. “Pete”
Gipson participated in 71st
annual Texas Farm Bureau
convention in San Antonio
. . . New signal lights began
operating at intersection of
Hwys. 271 and 154 . . . Union
Grove’s Lindsey Sampson,
Daniel Spiers and Jaclyn
Burnam received American
FFA Degrees . . . Gilmer Jr.
FFA member Branson Parker
received a buckle for being
named Champion Intermedi-
ate Beef Heifer Showman at
Yamboree.
TWENTY YEARS AGO
Mild weather brought big
Yulefest crowd... Pet. 1 Comm.
Gaddis Lindsey called atten-
tion to problem of beavers
flooding out low-lying timber-
lands ... Fire destroyed Morris
Jones’ house in Bethlehem .
. . Deaths included R.G. Car-
nes, 51; Mrs. Alma Green, 89
. . . Mr. and Mrs. Paul David
Williams’ home featured on
20th Century Club tour had a
traditional Texas Christmas
theme... County retained plan
to check truck weights despite
protests, including a dissent
from Pet. 4 Comm. Tommy
Eatherton ... Mrs. Liz Gard-
ner’s “Growing and Serving
with Baptist in a New Europe”
was theme of WMU meeting
at First Baptist Church . . .
Harmony High School Choir
made its debut performance
at Kiwanis Club meeting . .
. Morgan Shipp and Sarah
Slocum were winners of first
Gingerbread House contest at
Yulefest... Buckeyes Homero
Cavazos and Wayne Henry
made all-district in football.
THIRTY YEARS AGO
Troy Wayne Wingate, 15,
of Kilgore drowned in a pond
southeast of Gilmer, possibly
as a result of a seizure . . .
Union Hill’s 19-7 win over Ap-
ple Springs in Jacksonville put
them in Class A semi-finals
against Flatonia... A former
Upshur House hotel owner
was convicted in Jefferson
of murdering his 2-year-old
son; jury recommended 15-
year sentence as punishment
. . . Sally Greene was admit-
ted to D.C. Bar . . . Fires de-
stroyed the Junior Stracener
residence on FM 2088 and the
Jerry Jones residence on FM
1795 . . . Deaths included Lee
Walker, 87; Frank Coynor, Jr.,
48; Clifford D. Smith, 80; Sher-
man James, 83; J. W. Allday, 75;
Mrs. Lorine Mitchell, 62; Nina
Hale, 84; Hurshel Arrington,
72; Mrs. Christine Stephenson,
12... UT-Tyler graduates from
Gilmer included Stephen A.
Stokes, Carol Ann Dugger and
John F. Finney.
FORTY YEARS AGO
The Big Sandy Wildcats
advanced to the state cham-
pionship game against Celina
with 12-7 win over Moody at
Coriscana... Ore City Mayor
Jack Couch asked Upshur
County Commissioners Court
to consider helping his city buy
a new rural fire truck to replace
a worn-out one . . . Gilmer
Firemen Elton Wilburn, Jack
Taylor, John Corley and Henry
Fink received certificates for
more than 25 years’ service
each... Christ Parsons, senior
accounting student at UT-Aus-
tin, received $250 scholarship
from Peat, Marwick, Mitchell
and Co. . . . Charlie Green,
owner of Green’s Gro. at Bettie,
died at 69; Joe Bob Brison, 91,
former Gilmer school trustee,
carpenter, farmer and busi-
nessman, died; Tom Duncan,
52, Dallas area resident and Up-
shur County native (known as
“Mr. Kiwanis”) died unexpect-
edly while attending a Kiwanis
meeting in Hereford . . . GHS
students Tim Thomas, David
Smith and Kendall Williams
were to perform in Region IV
honor band.
FIFTY YEARS AGO
Sheriff-elect Doyle Johnson
(See Rear Vision, Page 5)
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Parker, Vic. The Gilmer Mirror (Gilmer, Tex.), Vol. 137, No. 99, Ed. 1 Wednesday, December 10, 2014, newspaper, December 10, 2014; Gilmer, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth880138/m1/4/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Upshur County Library.