It’s 2008 and things have changed … or have they?
On Thursday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was asked about the Russian invasion of Georgia. Her reply was, “This is not 1968, and the invasion of Czechoslovakia, where Russia can invade its neighbor, occupy a capital, overthrow a government and get away with it. Things have changed.”
I was very young in 1968; therefore, I can only go by the recorded history of that year. However, I do remember my parents worrying over the price of things, layoffs, interest rates and inflation. Doesn’t sound like much has changed.
In 1968 the United States was caught up in a quagmire of a war in Vietnam. It divided the nation and cost millions in taxpayer dollars. Many American soldiers lost their lives. It was a war in which the United States could not afford to stay yet could not afford to pull out. In 2008 the war in Iraq sounds all too similar.
Like 2008, 1968 was an election year. A very charismatic, black leader was at the forefront saying he would lead the oppressed to the Promised Land. While Martin Luther King Jr. was not running for president, the comparison to Barack Obama cannot be overlooked. Mr. Obama is also a very charismatic leader and is promising change for America. Forty years of change ignited by Dr. King and others like him have enabled Obama to become the Democratic nominee.
Maybe race relations have changed or maybe we have just evolved enough to accept black and white and find another race to oppress. Our government has allowed millions of illegal immigrants to flood over our borders since 1968. Business owners take advantage of these illegal immigrants just like minorities were taken advantage of in 1968.
And yes, in 1968 Russia was invading another country, just like in 2008. So you decide. Is it really 2008 or just 1968 all over again?
ó E.G. Taylor
Salisbury
Sad ending for dog search
Last Sunday night, my neighbor’s dog, a golden retriever named Bailey, got out of his fence and went missing. His owner combed the neighborhood for him, driving around and calling. Posters were put up, messages went out on e-mail for help in finding Bailey.
Bailey had on his collar, with his name and address. His owners had done all they could to identify this dog.
On Friday, his owner found him in a culvert off Mocksville Road, just one block from his home. Apparently Bailey had been hit by a vehicle, ended up in the ditch and crawled into the culvert. Whoever hit Bailey did not stop or try to help, or if the driver did stop, he or she did not report it to anyone. If that person had stopped to see whether the dog was OK and the dog was still alive, all it would have taken was a call to the Humane Society or animal control. Just giving the location of the hurt dog would have brought help. Perhaps Bailey could have been saved if someone had just reported it.
All of us were concerned because we didn’t know if Bailey was OK. Had he been taken to a new home? Had he been taken by a person who would abuse him?
Now, the owners have closure. Bailey is back at his home, buried. His life was too short; he was only 5 years old. All it would have taken was for whoever hit him with their vehicle to call for help. It would be impossible to not notice hitting a dog the size of a golden retriever.
Shame on you, whoever you are, for leaving an animal in pain on the side of the road.
Bailey will be sadly missed by his owners, their children, grandchildren and friends in his neighborhood.
ó Linda Shapleigh
Salisbury