Thursday, December 21, 2006
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Thursday, December 21, 2006 |
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Community | Obits | Editorial & Columnists | Society | Sports | Education | Classified Ads | Calendar of Events | Features | Newsbriefs | Legals | Archives | Subscriptions | Photo Gallery |
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to Nowhere “World peace” I’ve gotten several Christmas cards lately from friends who have family members serving in either Iraq or Afghanistan. They all say the same thing — “please pray for our loved one.” During Sunday School last week we discussed the fact that Iraqi and Afghani mothers and families are saying the same thing... A former neighbor, who moved to Pennsylvania, has a son in the Marines who has already served one tour of duty in Iraq. Ben is leaving in January for a second tour. Needless to say, his mother is not a happy camper (his dad is worse). We’ve known Ben since he was a small, chubby little boy. He’s now a tall, muscular Marine — towering over his dad. Our son’s best friend Chad has recently returned from Iraq. Chad spent many a day and night at our house while they were growing up and none of us enjoyed worrying about him over there. Last week, a man who has quickly become a friend, dropped by the office. I was somewhat surprised to see him, mostly because I thought he was in Afghanistan at the moment. Calvin James is serving with the U.S. military in Afghanistan — as soon as he’s out of the service, he and his family are moving back home to Holly Springs (there was a story about Master Sergeant James in the Oct. 19 issue of The South Reporter). Calvin just dropped in to say “Hello” and bring me “a little something” from Qatar, near the Persian Gulf. I spent a good bit of Tuesday afternoon looking up Qatar, the Sea of Galilee (I have a photo of Calvin standing in the hills about the Sea of Galilee) and Afghanistan, on Google, with our news writer Sue Watson and Rev. Milton Winter standing by and advising. I was surprised to find out that Qatar is one of the richest countries in that oil-rich area. There is no poverty level and over 70 percent of the population is at least on the millionaire level. Qatar has five airports, however, only three of them have paved runways. It is, to all appearances, a peaceful, small, extremely wealthy and well-run country. I wish Ben and Calvin were stationed in Qatar instead of Iraq and Afghanistan! I wish my church friend Dee’s son Robert was there also — Robert was home on leave in Harmontown a month or so ago and returned to Afghanistan a newlywed. Calvin brought me an exquisite set of tiny stone cups and a small stone pitcher — absolutely, stunningly beautiful! This Christmas, I wish I could give him, Ben, Robert, etc. a gift — world peace sounds so trite, but wouldn’t it be wonderful? Report News:
(662) 252-4261 or south@dixie-net.com
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