Bettye Foster Baker
For the past 60 years, women of the Cottagers Inc. have answered the question, what does it mean to serve community?
Before arriving on the Island in July, I drove through National Military Park where monuments from northern and southern states dominate centuries-old fields of brilliant green, soon to turn golden, and where wild native plants populate the fields buffered by rock walls and split rail fences, looking much as they were in 1863.
Sacrifices are not in vain, they pay off in the end.” This was one of the poignant remarks of Gabriel (Gabby) Douglas, who this year became the first African American woman to win the Olympic individual all-around gymnastics title in an explosive performance. She is only the fourth American woman to achieve this distinction. In spite of perceived slights of omission by a leading newspaper which excluded Gabby from the team picture, and coverage by the contracted networks which excluded Gabby from the initial shot after team U.S.A.
Dear President Obama:
With so many top-notch advisors to routinely advise you, how audacious of me to think I might offer some nugget that might get your attention, yet I believe citizen perspectives can be instructive.
To do something big and to do it now, at a time of national economic peril is the thing great presidencies are made of. You are correct. The state of the economy does call for action, “swift and bold,” and you say on your Web site that you will act, “Not only to create jobs, but to lay a foundation for growth.”
The midterm elections are over. The president and Democrats did not so much lose as they abdicated to Republicans and the extreme right–wing of the Republican party, the Tea Party, by not effectively communicating a persuasive message of their vision for the nation, accomplishments, and the heavy lifting they were doing on behalf of the American people.