NORFOLK
In Ed Allison's classroom at Granby High School, pictures of Barack Obama adorn both the current-events wall and a display devoted to student mentorship.
This morning, about 25 of Allison's students will meet the Democratic Party's presidential candidate in person. Obama will make a campaign stop in Norfolk to discuss his plans for preparing students to meet 21st-century challenges, according to a campaign spokesman.
The Illinois senator first will visit Allison's freshman leadership seminar and then will talk with a handful of student leaders and about 150 parents and teachers in Granby's media center, Principal Ted Daughtrey said. The events are by invitation only and open to the media.
Campaign workers called Norfolk Superintendent Stephen C. Jones at home on Friday night to ask if Obama could solicit opinions from parents and teachers about what it takes to be a successful school system.
The Obama camp selected Granby because of offerings such as the freshmen success curriculum and the International Baccalaureate program, said Clark Stevens, a campaign spokesman.
The principal found out about the visit Sunday night.
"First thought," Daughtrey said, "was this is a great opportunity for people at Granby to have exposure to Sen. Obama and the political campaign. Second thought was it's a logistical nightmare."
Daughtrey directed the senator to Allison because he played a major role in starting an effective student mentorship program. He's also on a team of Granby High teachers who helped about 81 percent of their first-year freshmen move on to the 10th grade. Nationally, ninth-grade students tend to fail more than students in other grades.
The campaign asked that officials announce only that "an important public figure" would make an appearance, so many students found out Obama was coming when the media reported it Tuesday.
He is the school's second political guest of the year, Daughtrey said: Republican U.S. Rep. Thelma Drake visited teachers on their first day back to school.
Nearly 50 years ago, thousands greeted Sen. John F. Kennedy when he spoke on the Granby High athletic field days before he was elected president.
Allison, who also teaches world history, said he wants his students to see past the politics.
"Here's another positive role model for these kids to see," he said, "another positive image."
Amy Jeter, (757) 446-2730, amy.jeter@pilotonline.com
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Twomiler
I agree and even my lovely things will be passed on or willed onward to someone else who will love them after me (no point in taking my diamond ring in the coffin with me, is there?).
I hope that those smart enough to start businesses are smart enough to leave them to people who won't run them into the ground. Like Disney has perpetuated, etc. People who are rich and know that their kids have entitlement mentalities tend to leave them money but no responsibility. I don't disgree with that tactic, except I might leave them far less money . . . It's good for them to learn to fend for themselves (and get off of the drugs/alcohol/sex addictions, etc.). Cheers, MGM
None
of us will take anything of monetary value past death. All will be left to whom or whatever. Scriptures teach all are obligated to assist those less fortunate than we. They teach our obligation to pay taxes, to whatever government we have. So, why do so many people have such a big problem with kindness & obligation? Some rich persons got their wealth through whom they were born. They've done nothing, I mean nothing, to "deserve" what they have. Some are so rich, they could blow millions of dollars on frivolity, yearly, & never come close to not being rich. Sense of honor nor shame; kindness of heart or even tax breaks, have made these people help anything or anyone, ever. They use loopholes to pay lower,(if any), taxes than working people. That's fair?
I agree, Twomiler
I'm back. Doing pretty well. No throwing up this time, just tired.
I agree about animal lovers needing to help more animals than just their own personal one(s), but I also know there is nothing to do about it when they leave millions to their own pet or pets (except feel sorry for them that they don't seem to have connected with any people, let alone any other animals . . .). Cheers, MGM
Hope
you're doing okay 2day, Mary. She's not the only person that left a fortune to her pet. Many people are outrageously rich, not due to any effort on their part but through inheritance. That's okay. Yet some heirs feel no need to benefit any part of society outside of themselves. That is the epitome of selfishness. If 1 wishes to show love for their pet, why not leave monies to an organization that would use it to help many pets? A veterinary hospital or the like?
an ira quote
Cut and paste your reasoning behind you stance. I owuld like nothing more than debate the issues w/ you. Now we are moving forward.
an ira quote
Ira said :"Why not quit w/ the two line posts that offer no information. We already know who you support. If he is so great show us the money. Maybe you will change some minds."
Why don't you practice what you preach? Lets hear some reason for your support of McCain/Palin.
Twomiler
Had my chemo today, just getting back at you!!! (smile)
Two comments: 1) as crazy as it is, Leona Helmsley leaving her money to her dog was her choice to make (free country means even free to be certifiably loony if we don't harm anyone in the process) 2) at least two PETA folks will now pile onto me because they don't think the idea of leaving your dog your money is crazy. Cheers, MGM
McCain - leadership we cant keep track of
Was against Bush tax cuts, now for
Opposed, now for offshore drilling
Was for but now against his own immigration bill
Against repeal of Roe v. Wade, now for it
Opposed, now OK w/ warrantless wiretapping
Opposed, now for indefinate detention of terrorists
For prohibiting waterboarding but not anymore
For closing Gitmo but no mas
For kicking Russia out of G8, then against, now for it
For normalizing relations w/ Cuba, now against
For diplomacy with Hamas & Syria, now against
Was against more troops in Afghan, now for it
Opposed MLK holiday before supporting it
Defended privatizing SocSec, now against, yet still supports
A person
in this country, found to have 1/32 Black blood, is indeed considered Black. If Obama had tried to live as a White person,(according to your statement, he should be able), he would not have been accepted as White, by the average American person. Plain & simple fact. With your own words, you kicked your point about the numbers of minorities at conventions to the curb. Latinos, Asian - Americans, Native Americans, African - Americans, Pacific Americans & other minorities, should, in no way, have been present in the numbers that attended the Democratic Convention & acceptance speech of Obama. There were large numbers of Whites, too.
Reno
Do you have anything to actually contribute to this, or any subject? A legitimate point of view, expressed in a manner of port & decorum, is essential. Perhaps I've missed some of your posts in which this was done. Perhaps not.
Why McCain rallies are predominantly white--for marcm
It's simple, really. MATH.
Blacks comprise only 13% of the US population. The law of probability suggests that, at any given event across the U,S., there would be about 5.5 white people for every black person.
I am SO SICK of people of color (and I mean ANY color) making everything about race. If I disagree with Obama, it doesn't have anything to do with the color of his skin---it has to do with his policy platform and his overall beliefs. Or maybe I just don't like the dude. And, by the way, just exactly who decided that Barak Obama is black? He's half white. His white grandparents helped to raise him. So when he said, "That's how white folks will do you," in his book, he was dissing his own family. Swell guy. And he was dissing my fat white behind as well.
There are certain white Republican candidates that, if they were challenged in an election by, say, DC Mayor Adrian Fenty (who is black), I would vote for Fenty in spite of the fact that I'm a lifelong Republican. I am impressed by Fenty, his work ethic, his vision, his servant's heart. But to my knowledge, Adrian Fenty's parents weren't card-carrying Communists (before you flame me, you better read up on S
No-Bama
Simple: NoBama
Period.
my decision was not easy, but
atleast I had a decision to make whereas you knew before the R cadidate was who you would be voting for. As far as my one or two line sentences, they beak the heck out of the same sarcastic comments about "free stuff" & "Increase Taxes". I've had enough, 8 years of Bush, guess you haven't. John McCain is running for POW of the year who has voted in agreement of Bush over 90%. That's enough for me! If there is the slightest chance Obama can "start" to make change in the mess the R's and Bush have made of this country, then he has my vote. It's going to take decades to get this country back on recovery of the worst president this country has ever seen and I will not support or vote for the same from McCain. It doesn't matter who the next president is ther will be increase in taxes, there is no other way. As far as Palin, well, I hope you think she qualifies as president with McCain being 72 years old and not the best of health. Good luck with all of that!
Mary,
you're right that some CEOs are greedy but they're not the only ones. Too often, one reads or hears on the radio or sees on TV, a wealthy person, (whether they earned their wealth, won it or inherited it),leaving, in their will, millions of dollars to their pet & no one or anything else. I love animals. Yet, I'm not going to leave a fortune to my pet. Outside of my children, other relatives, house of worship, charities & alma mater, I do believe I could find better places to leave my money. I mean scholarship funding or school or city libraries or hospitals, fire & rescue or something. You know, one doesn't have to be rich, to be greedy.
Maybe Gertz
Just maybe, one day you will see that my desire to seek out the hard answers and weigh an issue based on the facts has a positive effect on your life as well.
Why not quit w/ the two line posts that offer no information. We already know who you support. If he is so great show us the money. Maybe you will change some minds.
maybe ira
One of these days you will understand that people in this world are just as important to our society as you.
Twomiler
Then we agree--there are *some* CEO's who are greedy and immoral and should lose their golden parachute (think Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac). The post I responded to from earlier (Pamela) was a clear-cut liberation theology post in that she was speaking as though there is only a limited amount of income in this world and it should be evenly divided between all, by force if necessary.
The dilemma is, of course, how to get the handful of evil CEO's to straighten up and fly right. I am not for government regulating things, per se, as they generally build in so many levels of compliance that companies have a hard time getting any real work done.
I am glad that it seems that *most* CEO's get it--that they are asked to give more because they have been given more. We live by that in our family, too. Cheers, MGM
support mccain??
McCain is running for POW of the year award. When I was in shcool I think it would have been great to have a presidential candidate stop and talk to us. That's exciting, but probably not to hard core republicans. You know, the group that claims if you don't think, act, and do as they say group then you are an idiot or worse.
My views
don't arise out of a liberation theology. They arise from the Old & New Testament & other scriptures. I grew up in the Catholic & Episcopal churches. I studied theology in college, not just Christian theology either. Many of the rich are generous. Before Bill Gates, Peter Allen, & Warren Buffett, there were the Rockefeller, Ford, Chrysler, Kennedy families & many more. All I said was that a person given much, is required to give much. Whether that's knowledge, talent, monies or something else. I have a problem with CEOs running cos. into the red getting platinum parachutes upon their being fired. I have problems with multi-billionaires complaining about paying their employees a living wage. My wife & I are retired. We still give over 25% of our net income to various charities, each year. If we were wealthy, we'd give more.
Twomiler
You are entitled to your views, but I am entitled to point out that they arise from the "liberation theology" camp where Rev. Wright is resident (with a distinct throwback to Marxist doctrine). Who would you make the person in charge of deciding when a rich person has made too much money and must (morally, you say) give some of it away??? Yourself, right. Everybody always wants that job. Problem is, none of us would agree on how much is too much.
You also assume that the rich don't give to charity. Warren Buffett and Bill Gates should be good examples otherwise. But I don't think they would say they *owe* the money to charity--they give it because it feels good to give away large chunks of one's largesse. Like in church, when you pay a tithe, or more, to help the less fortunate.
I am not rich--I'm probably just like you--but the rich exist for a reason. I am not after guilting them out of their money. Cheers, MGM