4A - Sunday, November 22, 2009 * Jackson County Floridan


FLOOR


DAN


Managing Editor: Michael Becker


Our Opinion


That time


    of year


Christmas just keeps coming earlier
each year.
  For those of us older to remember,
there was a time when people didn't
dare hang their Christmas decorations
until Dec. 1; merchants didn't begin
their ad campaigns until after that
date. Even the networks refused to air
their Christmas specials before the
first of December.
  But slowly, almost inexorably, we
started seeing "holiday creep." It soon
became acceptable to kick off the fes-
tivities after Thanksgiving. Then, it
moved up again -  some now believe
that once Halloween is over, the
Christmas season begins.
  No doubt, part of this is an effort by
businesses to drum up more sales. But
it also contributes to the growing disil-
lusionment with the holidays, as peo-
ple complain the whole thing has
become too commercialized.
  But if that weren't bad enough, it
appears the holidays are becoming
politicized, as well.
  During a time of the year when
we're supposed to be of good cheer,
with goodwill to all men, some have
launched a campaign to get people to
stop referring to it as anything but
Christmas.
  First, look at the etymology of the
word "holiday." It's from the Old and
Middle English words for "holy day"
- certainly an appropriate way to
refer to Christmas.
  Second, the phrase "holiday season"
is not some sort of slight to Christmas.
It refers to that six-week period at the
end of each year when Americans
commemorate a number of holidays
-  Thanksgiving, Christmas,
Hannukah, Kwanzaa and the new
year.
  It would be nice if we could take the
commercialism and the politics out of
Christmas, and just let Christmas be.
what it is.


    CONTACT YOUR

    REPRESENTATIVE
 Florida Legislature
 Rep. Marti Coley, R-District 7
 Capitol office
 319 The Capitol
 402 South Monroe St.
 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
 (850) 488-2873
 District office
 Building L, Room 108 Chipola College
 3094 Indian Circle
 Marianna, FL 32446-1701
 (850) 718-0047
 Sen. Al Lawson Jr. D-District 6
 Tallahassee office
 228 Senate Office Building
 404 South Monroe St.
 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
 (850) 487-5004

   LETTERS To     THE EDITOR
   Submit letters by either mailing to Editor, P.O. Box 520,
   Marianna FL, 32447 or faxing to 850-482-4478 or
   send e-mail to editorial@jcfloridan.com. The Floridan
   reserves the right to edit or not publish any letter Be
   sure to include your full address and telephone number.
   These will only be used to verify the letter and will not
   be printed. For more information call (850) 526-3614.


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       9


LETTERS TO THE EDITOR


Donations shouldn't
be unwanted 'junk'
Dear editor,
  I want to express my per-
sonal opinion to you and
your readers about a subject
regarding donations to local
thrift stores: Goodwill,
Habitat, Chipola Family
Ministries, ChristTown
Bargain Center, and Catholic
Thrift Store, to name a few.
  I sometimes shop these
stores. I also donate items to
them because it is for a good
cause.
  When I donate clothes, for
example, I closely examine
the articles to make sure that
it is not torn, not stained, has
no broken zippers, no miss-
ing buttons and is not com-
ing unhemmed.
  Wouldn't it be nice if
everyone did the same?
  Yet I have noticed on sev-
eral occasions where some-
one has donated their


unwanted items, items which
should have been discarded
or cut up to make old rags.
  And the shoes and acces-
sories are no better. I get
home with my store-bought
items and notice flaws in
them. You could say I should
have examined the items
before buying them; howev-
er, I shouldn't have to.
  Why do people donate
their "trash" - unwanted
items they would not wear -
to charitable thrift stores?
  In the true spirit of giving,
you should give your best,
not your worst items. I am
sure that others would great-
ly appreciate it.
Carla Raines
Marianna

Residents should
keep county clean
Dear editor,
  One of the first things we


learn, as children is to clean up
after ourselves. Unfortunately,
it seems far too many residents,
in Marianna and Jackson
County have forgotten this
basic lesson.
  Our roadways are teeming
with litter, and it is a,blemish
on our community. Even when
the county cleans up the ciga-
rette butts, fast food containers,
plastic bags and assorted
garbage, it is back the next day.
  Where is the sense of pride
and personal responsibility'? I
seriously doubt the culprits
would treat their own homes
and yards this way, yet they
think nothing of fouling our
shared streets and roads - all
because they can't be bothered
to put their litter in the nearest
garbage can.
  It's a sad day when people
don't care enough about their
communities, or their fellow
citizens, to keep the streets
clean. Perhaps a crackdown,
complete with some hefty fines,
is in order.


Tony Comerford
JCFR ambulance
crews are pros
Dear editor,
  I want to thank the members
of the Jackson County Fire
Rescue ambulance for their.
quick response and kind treat-
ment of my father, father-in-
law and mother-in-law.
  I called 911 for an ambu-
lance for my father in
December 2004, my father-in-
law in July 2009 and my
mother-in-law this month. All
three calls were answered
promptly, and with much com-
passion for the elderly patients.
  I know it is a thankless job
many times, but this is one
family who appreciates the
fact that you were there when
'we needed you. Keep up the
good work.
Eddy Penn ington
Tro.', Ala.


CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE


Florida Legislature
Rep. Brad Drake, R-District 5
Capitol office
313 House Office Building
402 South Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
(850) 488-4726
District office
NWFL State-Chautauqua Campus #205


908 U.S. Highway 90 West
DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433-1436
(850) 892-8431
U.S. Congress
Rep. Allen Boyd, D-2nd District
Washington, D.C. office
1227 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515


(202) 225-5235
Tallahassee office
1650 Summit Lake Drive, Suite 103
Tallahassee, FL 32317
(850) 561-3979
Panama City office
30 W. Government St., Suite 203
Panama City, FL 32401
(850) 785-0812


EDITORIAL                                                    www.JCFLORIDAN.com


Publisher: Valeria Roberts


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