We once again more thankfully celebrate another birthday for America. This year in the life of our nation has been one of uncertainty, discomfort and serious adjustment. Although this July Fourth of 2009 finds us in a financial recovery mode, we have not lost the faith on our ability to bounce back and emerge even stronger.
America the beautiful and great has survived many obstacles, wars, recessions and national crises of all types. Through and by our united efforts during these testing and traumatic times in our illustrious history, we again redefine and display the true fiber of democratic freedom, pledged allegiance and determination.
Our American patriotism and trust in God have been and shall continue to be our daily source of strength, faith and hope for the future. It is impossible to divorce our attitude of gratitude from the celebration of our nation’s birthday.
The courage and dedication of our founders must forever flow through our veins of national pride. It only takes one generation to begin the deterioration of our American honor and dignity and the slow erosion of our love of country and determined efforts to maintain and enlarge that pride.
Let the bands play and the fireworks burst forth in all their glory. May the awesome beauty and flickering explosions of brilliant light punctuate the darkening night sky and be a reminder and symbol of our democracy and its enlightened and illuminating influence to all the world throughout our nation’s history.
We will celebrate the Fourth of July with the usual gusto and fanfare. But in the midst of all the picnics and joyous celebrations, we should momentarily whisper a prayer of gratefulness for the blessing of being born or adopted Americans.
July 4, 2009 may find us a bit bruised, but we are bruised together. It may find our armed forces in harm’s way all over the world, but we are attacked together. It may find us struggling for hope in the future, but we will still find hope together. Together we stand or divided we fall, for we are proudly and eternally devoted Americans. God bless our America on her birthday. He has surely shed His grace upon us.
— Elton Slusser
Opinion
We are proud and devoted Americans
- Opinion
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Superintendent, BOE must find accord if schools are to progress
We’re a little confused.
In October, an item appeared on the agenda of a Marion County Board of Education meeting to hire an administrative assistant of Human Resources and Student Support Services. But the item was pulled from the agenda with no public discussion about why, and the position was not filled. -
George Esper: Outstanding man as correspondent and WVU professor
Many West Virginians would no doubt be shocked to learn that the outstanding correspondent from the Vietnam War was a West Virginia University graduate from Uniontown, Pa.
His name was George Esper, one familiar for many years around the WVU School of Journalism for his tenacious coverage of the Vietnam War that established him as a highly revered print reporter of the 20th century. -
Hiding state records has no place in a democracy
In private business and personal life, people may hide some activities, exercising their right of privacy. But government is different.
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Results about Twitter, free from censorship
So Twitter announces that it will allow country-specific censorship. What followed was #outrage, #disbelief, #protest, #RighteousIndignation, #TwitterBlackout and #rage.
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West Virginia must develop plan to fulfill highway needs
There is no dispute that improving West Virginia’s roads is one of the state’s biggest needs.
We use them daily — out of necessity and for pleasure.
They’re also vital to West Virginia’s economic health. -
Best interests would be served if FGH and city both move on
In December, Marion County Circuit Court Judge David Janes ruled that the Fairmont General Hospital Board of Directors can appoint its own members and that the City of Fairmont’s charter no longer applies to the hospital.
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Educational partnership a step in the right direction
Officials involved in a new educational partnership between Pierpont Community & Technical College and FirstEnergy Corp. call the endeavor a “great opportunity.”
We think it’s even more than that. -
Meth causes senseless waste, terrible damage in West Virginia
Terrible damage is inflicted on West Virginia — and upon abusers and their families — because dopeheads feel compelled to blank out their minds with drugs of many sorts. We can’t understand the sad need that impels them. It causes a senseless loss to society and individuals, filling prisons and wrecking jobs.
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Limited funds for workforce training can’t be wasted through drug abuse
There’s only so much money to go around when it comes to workforce training. And with the national economy still in a bit of a slump, there’s even less money to go around and even more of a reason to make the money invested in these programs count.
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A better way to choose presidential candidates?
Forty-seven more primaries to go.
If you feel like it’s been a wild Republican primary election season, with accusations of sexual misconduct, candidates coming and going, who makes how much and more, just remember one thing. There are 47 more primaries to go. - More Opinion Headlines
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Superintendent, BOE must find accord if schools are to progress
