~I9YW~:~P9# OPINION Eating crow is actually not that bad, provided you grill it and slop on a lot of kick-like-a-mule barbecue sauce. I had my crow break- fast recently because I had foolishly predicted that (1) the tight presidential race would break decisively one way or the other, and a landslide didn't happen; and (2) that it would break in favor of John Kerry, and it definitely did not do that. So, mea culpa and pass the Alka-Seltzer. Now you know why I'm not a professional gambler. To be a successful gambler, you not only need to know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em, as the song says, but you must also always retain the ability to see the world as it is without regard to how you wish it might be. In this instance, I clearly forgot the lessons of my childhood. My father had a unique way of saying "no." When I asked for something he wasn't going to buy for me, or when I wanted to do something he wasn't going to allow me to do, he would always say, "You're old enough for your wants not to hurt you." In short, understand the differ- ence between reality and desires and be guided by reality. I so wanted President Columnist George Bush not to be re- elected, I shut my eyes to reality. The reality is that a majority of Americans like, or at least don't mind, killing foreigners, provided the cost is not too high; they don't give the flip of a middle finger about the opinions of the rest of the world; they don't understand deficits and the dangers they pose; they prefer simplicity to complexity; and they would rather believe than think. Well, we owe the president congratulations for his victory, and to each other, a prayerful "good luck." I don't intend to spend the next four years hammering the presi- dent. His faults will eventually be plain to all. He will not See REESE, Page 7 Eating Crow Not Bad If You Put Sauce On It Maul: Fight The Urge To Go Splurge At The Mall SEND US A LETTER The Courier welcomes letters to the editor and guest commen- taries. Letters and commentaries can be on a wide range of subjects, and should be made as legible as possible. Please include author's signature, and telephone number for verification purposes. Sub- missions will be edited to meet legal, grammatical and stylistic requirements. Send submissions to: 101 N. Wheeler St. Plant City, FL 33566 E-mail: tmarrero@mediageneral.com Fax: 754-3725 THE COURIER Published every Thursday by Sunbelt Newspapers. Carla Floyd Publisher cfloyd@mediageneral.com Russell Holecek Managing Editor rholecek@mediageneral.com Tony Marrero Editor tmarrero@mediageneral.com News: 752-3113 Advertising: 752-3113 Classifieds: 259-8295 Circulation: 657-4500 @ Sunbelt Newspapers 2004 Sunbelt Newspapers is a Media General publication. a DEREK MAUL Columnist T his week, I have been thinking about advertis- ing. In a nutshell, the industry sets out to redefine our culture and then once the general population buys in charge a steep admission price for the privilege of being American. Partially in protest to such manipulation and partially in response to pure fatigue, I'm officially declaring the remainder of November hype-free. After the election we all need a chance to calm down before even thinking about Christmas. Talk about too much too soon being piled on right after too little too often. I don't know about you, but I'm still exhausted from all the marketing, signs, speeches and offensive commercials leading up to the big election. I swear if someone wearing a Santa suit gets in my face before at least well into December I'm liable to blow some kind of a gasket. With Halloween now behind us thankfully the coast is clear for a relaxed and uncluttered couple of weeks including the less complex celebration of heartfelt thanks. I for one am going to be progressively thankful to the extent the merchants keep those annoying little Purchase or Refinane *FREE APPRAISAL Fixed Payments 1 95% $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 No oints367.13 551 $735 No APlitso Fee No Application Fee No Income Loans Bad Credit No Credit Investment/Second Homds Foreign National Loans 100% Financing DMP MORTGAGE CORP. Bill Bettler Call 7 Days A Week 9am to 9pm for a FREE Quote President 813-514-0402 800-606-6564 | Licensed Correspondent Florida Lender APR 4.655% 30 yr Adjustable Rate Mortgage. Interest subject to change without notice. *Appraisal reimbursed at closing. Plant City Cancer Treatment Center est. March 1996 Randy V. Heysek, M.D. F.A.C.R.O. Board Certified in Radiation Oncology Co-Director Kathryn L. Kepes, M.D. Board Certified in Radiation Oncology Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology Co-Director I- Plant CityJ 0WIII~ I ulI l * Prostate Seed Implants 3D Conformal Therapy Intensity Modulated Radio Therapy CT Simulation Advanced Modem Technology Breast Brachy Therapy Cancer Care Close to Home Medicare, Medicaid, most HMO's Call 813-719-7705 for appts./consultaions 1- elves and reindeer out of my hair. Maybe we could all agree to take a deep breath and simply enjoy this beautiful month. Reality, however, is that I've already been Ho-ho-hoed by the automated Santa, jingled by a snowman and happy-holidayed by a seriously irritating elf. The powers that be in the world of retail have already declared "open season," oiled their shotguns and loaded up with 12-gauge cheer. And whose fault is that? Are we victims here or are we defenseless by choice? Does the debt-strapped public buy into holiday hype because vendors force the issue or do all friendly businesspeople See MAUL, Page 7 -4 ,.mproi v. tr.p moir, rai.jn..p oi tr. n.7., SK-=-= *" .'