From My View

Is it just me or does it seem like more people (especially children and young women) are coming up missing?  How do parents protect their children when some of them are taken from their bed while the rest of the family is fast asleep?

I saw an old movie years ago about Martians whose spaceship hovered above the earth and literally sucked various and asunder folks up the tube.  Now I am not suggesting that this is what is happening today but it does give one pause for concern.

Almost without exception the news folks say, “They simply vanished off the face of the earth”.  People I don’t know about you but that is a scary thought!  Where do you begin to look for a loved one who has been taken?  I’m sure by now you have noticed that I have more questions than answers.

Does anyone out there have a clue about the number of sex offenders living right here in Helena-West Helena?  There are 9,474 in the state of Arkansas with 67 of those registered being in Phillips County and 38 of those in Helena-West Helena. I know because I looked it up on http://www.acic.org/ then click Sex Offender Registry tab, click Sex Offender Search, go to the bottom and click I agree.  At this point, you can enter city, zip code and county where you will see a map with colored pinpoints.  If they are registered you can click the pinpoint to open their information.  Keep in mind registered sex offenders don’t always commit offenses against children, most of ours are against women.  And of course this site is only good if sex offenders are registered. I’m sure people who are sex offenders visit or move to our community and DON’T register – like the person of interest in the case of the missing soldier in North Carolina.

Horribly we have been touched with one such tragedy.  Locally, for more than a year now, 35-year-old Kimberly Jean Lindsey has been missing and foul play is suspected.  The case has gone cold with little or no more leads.  At least our children are not being snatched on an almost daily basis like so many in our nation.  Times have certainly changed from when we were kids, when we played out in the yard, walked 3 houses down the street and played with our neighborhood friends until supper time.  It is a sad state of life when you have to literally watch your children 24-7, and even then some get taken after you have taken precaution to protect them.

I wonder sometimes just how many young women are out there buried in a shallow grave or tossed into a river or lake never to be found.  Losing a child has got to be the ultimate pain, but to never know for sure what happened to them.  How do parents and loved ones go on with their lives without that final closure, knowing for sure, always wondering if their child was taken and is alive, living somewhere else?

All I can say is BE CAREFUL.  WATCH WHERE YOU GO AND WITH WHOM.  DO NOT THINK IT CAN’T HAPPEN TO YOU BECAUSE IT CAN.  AS FOR THE KIDS, YOU HAVE TO THINK FOR THEM. THAT’S A PARENT’S JOB.  DO YOUR VERY BEST TO PROTECT THEM AT ALL TIMES AND AT ANY COST.

Remember the “Where’s the beef?” slogan.  Well where’s the money going in Helena-West Helena?  I read a quote from someone who said that “government should be like your stomach.  When it’s working properly you are totally unaware of it.”  I couldn’t agree more.  So folks it looks like our little Southern town has a gigantic tummy ache, dare I say maybe even a virus.

How do ordinary, tax-paying citizens find out about the city’s status?  Like how much money do we owe, to whom and for what?  I know the current administration inherited a TON of debt from the former administration.  Has any of that been paid back by those who spent it?  And the money that was withheld from the checks of employees (Federal, State and Social Security) where did that go before the current administration took over?  Whose responsibility was it to see that these taxes were paid?  I have worked in payroll so I know what should have been done.  Also, when someone had an expense it seems they should have to get approval from a department head and provide a freaking RECEIPT.  It seems like a simple, common sense practice that should not be difficult.  The mayor is not the only one responsible here because I’m sure there has to be more than one signature on any checks issued for payments and payroll.  Having two signatures provides a check and balance system and makes more than one person responsible for distribution of funds.  If the people responsible for signing checks don’t know if the expense is an approved expense, they should question the expense and not sign.  When they do sign they become responsible for any misappropriation that is occurring.

If the mayor thinks that firing a number of people will solve the problem, then why is he trying to get additional money by proposing to raise rates for water?  This would be totally unfair because a large segment of the people who live in this town have an average monthly income of $718.  They do good to pay $40-$50 every month already for water and sanitation fees.  This would mean the majority of the people in our community – poor people who live BELOW the poverty level – would bear the weight of helping to alleviate the debt we have.  Not fair!!!

In my view, there is way too much secrecy in our government.  We are a small town and should have the right to know where the money is going.  I respect individual privacy but sometimes it feels like we (the citizens of this community) are not informed about issues even when we ask.  Short of attending the council meetings, I feel sure there is a way we could be more in the loop – it’s called full disclosure.   We the citizens have a right to know what’s what.  Thanks to the local newspaper we at least have some idea of what is going on and (in some cases what is NOT going on).

I used to watch the council meetings on TV for what little good this did.  The sound was so terrible when someone was speaking people watching couldn’t understand a word being said.  A good idea but a complete waste of money since the public could not follow along with the meeting.

Lastly, if checks and balances are in place and those in charge collect and pay bills properly, there should be enough money coming in to keep the city running.  The mayor and the council should not expect the little people to pick up the tab to drag us out of this mess.

Why are there so many unanswered questions regarding the killing of Trayvon Martin?  What is so complicated about understanding the law called “Stand Your Ground” being used to justify a man shooting an unarmed, teenage boy on his way home from the store?  And why is this shooter still not charged for this crime?  Don’t get me wrong I believe we have the right to protect ourselves.  But when you become an instigator the other person has the same right to defend himself or herself.

According to the person who signed the “Stand Your Ground” Florida bill into law, Former Gov. Jeb Bush, said it should not apply to the case of a teenager killed by a neighborhood watch volunteer, George Zimmerman.  Specifically Bush stated, “This law does not apply to this particular circumstance.  Stand your ground means stand your ground. It doesn’t mean chase after somebody who’s turned their back.” 

George Zimmerman is reported to be a self-appointed neighborhood watch volunteer.  There have been reports he made repeated calls to the police about suspicious black males in the neighborhood.  If he was really concerned about his neighborhood when he called the police to report another “suspicious” person he should have stopped pursuing Trayvon Martin the minute the dispatcher told him NOT to do it. 

I still have an enormous problem understanding how Zimmerman could have felt the least bit intimidated since he outweighed Trayvon by almost 100 lbs. And HE is the one with the gun.  Now there is a report that Trayvon tried to take the gun, hit Zimmerman in the face, broke his nose, and banged his head on the ground.   So if Trayvon did do any of those things, does this mean he wasn’t supposed to stand his ground and protect himself from a menacing man who came up behind him with a gun?  If Zimmerman had been patient, done what the dispatcher told him to do and not be trigger happy, this young man would still be alive, plain and simple.  

A state representative and co-author of the “Stand Your Ground” law, Dennis Baxley, said “Zimmerman negated his ability to claim immunity under the law by chasing Martin.  This law is for innocent, law-abiding citizens who are under attack by a perpetrator.   Anyone who is out pursuing and confronting people is not protected by this statute."  See, plain and simple.

The police department’s actions are appalling.  Instead of investigating this case, they just took Zimmerman’s word about the whole situation.  They are criminals in my mind because they did not even check Zimmerman to see if he was on drugs or under the influence of alcohol but they did check Trayvon, the dead young man lying on the ground.  They even took Zimmerman’s word that he had never been in trouble with the law.  Yet when he was 21, he was charged with assault on a police officer during an altercation over the arrest of one of his friends for underage drinking.  Because he was a first time offender, he did not receive a felony conviction. 

Zimmerman was also accused of domestic violence by a fiancée.  She filed a court injunction against him, he in turn filed one against her, and once again he escaped from a conviction when their injunctions expired.  The local police knew Zimmerman because of his constant calling and his vigilante attitude.

As for neighborhood watch programs, George Zimmerman needs to learn neighborhood watch means just that “watch”.  Neighborhood watch programs do not encourage approaching anyone that is suspicious and that you should notify authorities immediately.  Plain and simple, it’s ok to watch and protect your neighborhood but you should never confront truly suspicious people because then you become the provoker. 

Many people think Planned Parenthood is all about birth control and abortion.  WRONG!  This organization, which is 95 years old, is not only for women’s health but for men’s health as well.

Most of the time when we hear about Planned Parenthood we immediately think about birth control and abortion.  The truth is this organization is all about health.  Many women, such as more than 130,000 women in Texas alone, rely on the services offered by Planned Parenthood.  Some of the services include lifesaving screenings for breast, ovarian and cervical cancer, facts about female infertility, menstruation, menopause, urinary tract infections, yeast Infections, vaginitis, STD’s, and pelvic exams.  Sadly, Texas Gov. Rick Perry recently decided to implement a new law which excludes Planned Parenthood from the state’s Medicaid Women’s Health Program.  Hopefully these women will be able to get care from other providers because we should all know by now - routine visits not only prevent illness but identify problems that can in many instances be treated.

Women are not the only recipients of the valuable services of Planned Parenthood.  Men can also receive services and learn about birth control for men, (who knew this?), checkups for reproductive or sexual health problems, colon cancer screening, erectile dysfunction services, including education, exams, treatment, and referral, male infertility  screening and referral, routine physical exams, testicular cancer screenings, prostate cancer screenings, urinary tract infections screening and treatment and vasectomies.

Other general health care services vary by location and may include anemia testing, cholesterol screening, diabetes and hypertension screening, physical exams, including for employment and sports, flu vaccines, help with quitting smoking, high blood pressure screening, tetanus vaccines and thyroid screening.

So the next time you hear something about Planned Parenthood, remember their goal is not just geared to be about reproductive health of women, it’s about up-to-date information about the health and wellness of women and men.

Horrible, horrible news!!!  Kirk Cameron thinks homosexuality is a sin.  He thinks “it's unnatural, that it's detrimental and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization."  Well guess what folks – he’s right.  And he has EVERY right to express his true feelings when asked a direct question.  The gay community and those that think Kirk is wrong, needs to understand once and for all, they are not the only people that have a right to free speech and they do not have the right to keep telling me or you we are wrong if our views don’t match their views. 

What Kirk said is Bible based and it is his duty “as a Christian” to tell about the word of God.  People that believe in God and believe the Bible is the holy, inspired word of God cannot pick and choose the parts they don’t like and throw them away.  

When Kirk said it is not natural, you should refer to Romans 1:24-27 that says:  24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the NATURAL way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 27 And the men, instead of having NORMAL sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved. Notice verse 26 says “natural” followed in verse 27 with “normal”.  My reference is from the New Living Translation.  And let us not forget the story of Sodom and Gomorrah turned into ashes because their sin was so flagrant.

I don’t hate homosexuals nor do I hate black people, Chinese people, fat people, ugly people, tall or short people.  Heck, I don’t even hate people that discriminate against me because I am a person with a disability.  Just because Christians think homosexuality is a sin does not mean we hate those that are homosexual.  We believe that the greatest commandment is “do not put any other God before Him and love one another, even our enemies.”  I don’t think homosexuals are my enemy but I have an obligation to be true to myself and to the word of God and not be afraid of those that don’t always agree with me.  Believe me there are lots of other sins we think are wrong.

Well, it's almost here again.  No not Christmas….daylight saving time.  I try not to hate things but I have to say I hate daylight saving time, especially when we lose an hour.  My body just gets used to getting it back in November and it seems I very quickly lose it again.  I know it’s not relevant whether I like it or not. I also know it's been around a long time and will probably be here a lot longer than me.  But I'm absolutely positively sure of one thing about daylight saving time….I wish we could stay at one time or the other.

It is confusing and can be really funny.  When people ask you the time and you tell them they want to know if that is the old time or the new time.  Some folks don’t even change their clocks. They just wait for the time to change back. It could get confusing if you aren’t careful.

I remember when we were kids and my mom was trying to get my brother, Denny Joe, up so he could get ready for school.  After several attempts he finally got up, went straight to the window, looked out and said, Momma, you have got to be kidding. It's still dark out there!

Speaking about time….I remember reading a funny story about an elevator operator (Yes, Virginia, we used to have live elevator operators). Anyway, it seemed that almost everyone who used the elevator would ask what time it was.  The operator finally had enough and went out and bought a battery operated clock and mounted it on the wall of the elevator.  The very first person to get on the elevator looked at the clock, turned to the operator and asked, "Is that clock right?”

I know I have no choice in the matter.  So I have decided this year I will adopt the attitude that daylight saving time is just something we all have to accept.

But you know, we might be able to start a petition for permanent daylight saving time in Arkansas.  Think about it, staying on summer hours all year with no time changes.  Naaah, even if I could change it I really don't think it would be worth the effort.  Life is just too short.

Be careful if you have people with a grudge against you who work at a food store.  Recently, a couple of my friends went to a local food store and bought a $3 container of slaw, drinks, and scratch off tickets.  When they left they got a burger at another food place and proceeded down the road eating their burgers and talking.  Suddenly blue lights appeared in their rear view mirror and lo and behold a police officer allegedly got out of his car WITH HIS GUN DRAWN and demanded the passenger step out of the vehicle.  The officer did not identify himself nor did he tell the passenger why they were being stopped.  When the passenger asked what he had done, the officer spat out “shut the f_ _ _ up and put your hands behind your back” (he must like the F-word as he used it repeatedly instead of letting the passenger know why he was being stopped.)   The passenger was promptly handcuffed and held for almost an hour before he had any idea of why he had been stopped.  Must have been a real slow day for criminals because almost the whole police force, including 4 CID cars were on this call.  The passenger finally heard one of the CID officers mention slaw being shoplifted from the food store.  THAT is when he was able to say, “reach in my pocket I have a receipt for everything I bought.”   All this drama, all these officers, all the lights flashing, over – wait for it – slaw.  Seems someone at the food store must have had a grudge against this man so the police were called and it was reported as a case of shoplifting.  All the above is, of course, alleged by my friends.

Now I can MAYBE understand chasing someone down, drawing guns on them as soon as you get out of the police car, IF there had been a robbery, a murder, a rape, someone kidnapped, but – slaw?  Even though I am not a police officer, I do believe they are supposed to identify themselves and tell you why you are being stopped.  A simple, common sense procedure such as, “Sir, we have a report that you shoplifted some slaw” would have quickly resolved the situation because the man HAD A RECEIPT.  Think about all the manpower it took for this call. 

Another alleged incident involving local police department includes a man who was stopped and the officer approaching the car told him he is being pulled over for not wearing a seat belt.  The man touched his seat belt that he was wearing and said, “I’m wearing my seat belt.”  The officer replied, “Well it’s my word against yours” as he wrote a ticket.

Allegedly, what’s going on with the local police?  They are supposed to serve and protect the citizens from crime.  Seems like they don’t care about the criminals because they sure could have missed a SERIOUS crime while they were chasing the slaw bandit.

It won’t be a surprise to many people about being treated differently what with all the ridicule and bullying going on these days.  But I get tired of having to explain to people that just because someone is in a wheelchair or has some type of other disability doesn’t mean they are stupid.  People, yes even people with disabilities, are just that, PEOPLE.  We are just like everyone else.  We go to school, we get jobs, we get married and have children, we buys cars, houses, clothes, food, and even go on vacations.  And yet, even in this day and age we still get treated like we are stupid and get no respect.  I am ABSOLUTELY positive the people reading this just want to live their lives with dignity and respect, like me. 

            There is no good reason not to treat people equally, like you want to be treated whether you are disabled or not.  One of my most memorable experiences on being stupid happened on a family vacation in a restaurant.  We were sitting at a round table and the waitress came to take our order.  My turn came last but before I could tell her what I wanted, the waitress kept looking at her pad and asked, “What does she (meaning me) want?”  While my mouth was hanging open in dismay, my wonderful mother replied, “I don’t know you have to ask her.”  Of course I promptly gave her my order.  The waitress never realized what she had done so there was no apology.

            So how should you act or treat people with disabilities?  Follow simple, common sense social behavior like:

1.  Treat people with disabilities with the same respect and consideration that you have for everyone else.  Make eye contact and speak directly to the person, not through their companion.

2.  Don't assume people with disabilities need your help. Ask before acting.

3.  Try sitting or crouching down to the same height of people in wheelchairs or scooters when you talk to them.

4.  Do not lean on a person's wheelchair unless you have their permission - it is their personal space.

5.  Avoid actions and words that suggest the person should be treated differently. It is alright to invite a person in a wheelchair to "go for a walk" or to ask a blind person if she "sees what you mean."

6.  You do not have to speak loudly to people with visual impairments. Most of them can hear perfectly well.

7.  Offer to read written information for a person with a visual impairment, when appropriate.

8.  If you are asked to guide a person with a visual impairment, offer your arm instead of grabbing theirs.

9.  Face people with hearing impairments when you talk to them so they can see your lips.

10.  Slow the rate at which you speak when talking to a person with a hearing impairment.  It’s ok to communicate in writing, if necessary.

            These tips and more can be found on the Department of Labor Office of Disability web site located at:  http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/comucate.htm

            Like the Bible says in Romans 12:9-10:  “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”  If we all treated others like we want to be treated, I wonder how great would our nation, our world be.

People with disabilities have a power they may not realize they have the right to vote. Even if you are not disabled, voting is a powerful right and can drastically affect the outcome of elections as seen in our most recent election.  Unfortunately, people with disabilities votes are never recognized in election analyses making us essentially invisible because our impact is not considered.

There are several laws in effect giving people with disabilities the right to vote especially with regard to polling place accessibility, accessible voting machines, and the right to privacy like everyone else. 

The Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984 requires polling places across the United States to be physically accessible to people with disabilities for federal elections.

The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 makes it easier for all Americans to vote with the basic purpose of increasing low registration rates of minorities and persons with disabilities. This act requires all offices of State-funded programs that are primarily engaged in providing services to persons with disabilities to provide all program applicants with voter registration forms, to assist them in completing the forms, and to transmit completed forms to the appropriate State official.

And let’s not forget one of my favorites, the Help America Vote Act of 2002, civil rights legislation to ensure voters are treated equally across the United States of America.  This law increases State’s responsibility for election administration.  Requirements include replacing punch-card ballots and providing accessible voting devices for the physically disabled at all polling sites.

A couple of the key provisions focus on voting machines:

• The act authorizes federal funding for states to upgrade voting machines.

• Voting machines must provide voters with an opportunity to privately and independently vote with at least one voting machine at every polling place that has enhanced requirements for accessibility for voters with disabilities.

Arkansas received funding authorized by this act, but accessible voting machines are still nowhere to be found here in Phillips County.  How would you like it if you had to tell someone who you want to vote for?  When a person with a disability does choose to vote here, they are met with voting machines on stands that cannot be moved to make them accessible.  If a person with a disability goes to vote here, they must take someone with them to assist with reaching the machines OR ask someone working at the polling place to assist them.

There are voting machines that could be accessible to and usable by people with disabilities but the local election commission has yet to provide them.  The very company that provides our voting machines has a model that could be provided for people with disabilities.  According to the Arkansas.gov web site, ╥Every polling site in the state will offer at least one touch-screen voting machine that is accessible for voters with physical and visual disabilities.╙ Even though this law was passed in 2002 and Arkansas received funding authorized by HAVA, our touch screen voting machines are all the same height, not one machine is setup for people with disabilities.  When a person in a wheelchair goes to vote in Phillips County, they should not be faced with a machine setting up too high nor should they have to bring or get assistance from someone else.

Voting polls should be architecturally accessible too.  Accessible polls should have disabled parking, curb cuts which allow access into the location, and getting around inside the location. I’ll never forget one time I went to vote and upon arrival a man had fallen out of his wheelchair into the street because the curb cut had more than a one inch rise at the end.  Thankfully, other people coming to vote rushed over to him and helped him before a car came along and hit him.

People with disabilities wake up and let your voice be heard.  Pardon the pun but if you are in a wheelchair it is time to stand up and fight for your rights as Americans.  Vote every chance you get and stop being invisible.

Even though people have read and know about one of my main pet peeves, I feel the subject of abusing disabled parking should be revisited for this first blog installment. 

            It’s a simple fact people, when you illegally park in a space reserved for people with disabilities, you are breaking the law, yes even if it’s “just for a minute”.    Come on face it, be truthful with yourself, it takes much more than a minute to go in a store, find what you want and checkout.  REALLY!

            Sadly, a lot of abuse occurs by people who “borrow” the blue placards or disabled plates from a friend or family member so they can park close to the doors of businesses.  Some believe if they are shopping for a friend or family member it is OK to do so.  The truth is people must have a mobility impairment and be present with the vehicle using the blue placards or disabled license plates to use these spaces.  For instance, if Uncle Joe has a valid, blue placard, Aunt Sue is not allowed to use the blue placard unless Uncle Joe is going to be with her.  Now I know there are conditions that may not be visible to the naked eye such as a heart condition.  But there is nothing more frustrating than seeing a blue placard in a car and 3 or 4 people hop, skip, and jump into a store.  Believe me, these people do not have a heart condition or mobility impairment.  They borrowed or stole Uncle Joe’s blue placard! 

            There are necessary requirements to obtain a permit to park in designated disabled parking spaces.  If you have a walking disability, lung or heart condition, you may qualify for a disabled license plate or placard.  Of course these conditions must be verified by your physician using a form provided by the Department of Motor Vehicles.   You should be aware that local officials have pledged a “zero tolerance policy” and will be enforcing this law by giving out tickets for this offense – so watch out.

            I will be nice and give you a heads up of 4 things to remember which will help you stay out of trouble and keep from getting a ticket:

1.  Disabled people must be with the vehicle.  Family and friends are not allowed to use a disabled plate or placard to park in disabled parking spaces.

2.  Be courteous.  These spaces are reserved for people EXITING the vehicle.  If you are not getting out, park in a regular space because someone else may come along that needs to get out while you are just sitting there.  My mother NEVER parks in disabled parking spaces if I’m not getting out.

3.  Watch out for the lined area next to disabled parking spaces.  These areas are there to allow space for lifts or loading and unloading a wheelchair.  So stay off these lines, you may be preventing someone from getting in or out of the vehicle.

4.  Van accessible spaces are only for vehicles that load or unload a wheelchair or other related mobility device.

            Unfortunately, until there is a cure for all the debilitating conditions that can happen to us, disabled parking is a necessity for many people living with pain and disability.  People need to wake up and realize disability does not discriminate against anyone.  You can join this segment of society at any time whether you are black, white, young, old, male, female, short, fat, ugly, or pretty.  Life is hard enough.  Yet people continue to be ignorant of other people’s needs and rights.  Remember, disabled parking is not a fringe benefit of being disabled.  Don’t make life harder and don’t abuse disabled parking.