St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
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Friday, Aug. 29, 2014
Opinion Our View Careful planning, scheduling can make school year successful After a long summer, parents are probably a bit apprehensive – and likely relieved – their children are soon headed back to school. Such a time can bring stress for both parents and children. However, there are ways to reduce that stress during the first week of school and – indeed – throughout the rest of the school year. Here are some tips for ensuring a happy, productive school year: • Make sure children have a nutritious breakfast before leaving the house. It need not be a big breakfast. It can be as simple and easy as toast, cereal and a glass of milk or orange juice. • Always tell your children you love them and give them a hug before they go to school. • Get to know your school, its staff and your children’s teachers. Attend all orientation meetings and don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions. Be sure to consult the school’s student-parent website throughout the year to know what is expected as far as homework and other assignments from classroom to classroom. • Set a specific time each school afternoon or evening for the children to sit down in a quiet place and do their homework. Let them help decide the specific times for homework and for recreation. While they are doing homework, be sure you are in the vicinity, available to help them and to encourage them. Offer them nutritious snacks while they are doing their studies and projects. • Once studies are done (or before) strongly encourage the children to do physical fun out of doors or in the house, if possible. Electronic games and TV watching are OK, but their use should be strictly limited to perhaps only two or (max) three hours per evening. Parents should set good examples and try to do physical recreation with children whenever possible: taking walks, riding bikes, playing ball or other games in yards or parks. • Bedtime, especially for younger children, should be strictly enforced. A lack of sleep – along with poor nutrition – is one of the biggest hurdles to effective learning. • For younger children, read to them or listen to them read as often as possible. Children and parents develop strong bonds while reading, and it leads to a love of both reading and learning in the children. • Network with other parents to compare strategies for school success and to discuss how to handle any problems that arise. • During the year, show enthusiasm for children’s efforts and achievements, even seemingly minor ones, to boost their self-esteem and confidence. Always gently praise children and never yell at, scold or humiliate them. • If a child’s behavior seriously changes toward a dark side, seek help immediately to find out if the child is being bullied or if there are other problems – medical or psychological. School counselors are always eager to help with such concerns. • One of the best ways to keep on track through the school year is to start a scheduling-assignments calendar for each child. Children and parents can then sit down and write down which assignments, projects or extracurricular events are coming up in the month to better be prepared for them. It will also allow parents to make plans around times when their children will be busiest with school-related tasks. Writing down tasks is one of the best ways to de-clutter and streamline one’s days. We sincerely hope all children and parents in the district have a happy, productive school year.
Fairness and ethics
Newsleader staff members have the responsibility to report news fairly and accurately and are accountable to the public. Readers who feel we’ve fallen short of these standards are urged to call the Newsleader office at 363-7741. If matters cannot be resolved locally, readers are encouraged to take complaints to the Minnesota News Council, an independent agency designed to improve relationships between the public and the media and resolve conflicts. The council office may be reached at 612-341-9357.
ISIS may be cutting its own throat When the black-clad killer used a knife to saw off the head of journalist James Foley, his vicious action just may have signaled the eventual death knell for ISIS. The widely disseminated video of that vile murder has outraged civilized people throughout the world, so much so it’s possible some unexpected alliances will soon be forming, all of them united against ISIS, which stands for “Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.” Even some countries like Iran, hostile to the United States, are in danger of ISIS spreading its foul poison far and wide. The lunatic (but dangerous) ambition of ISIS is nothing less than the destruction of all Western societies. Are you listening, Europe? Like Adolf Hitler, who thought his Aryan State would last a thousand years, the mania of ISIS leaders is just as ridiculous. Grandiose dreams like those, stupid as they are, often spawn genocidal catastrophes; we should never forget the magnitude of relentless horrors visited upon the world by the Nazi thugs in trying to achieve their Aryan “perfection.” The decapitation of Foley is just the latest in a string of crimes committed by ISIS extremists during their rampages through Syria and a large part of Iraq. They have exploded civilians; they have butchered women and children; they have abducted women to use or to sell as sex slaves; they have gunned to death, en masse, captured Iraqi soldiers; they have decapitated many people they regard as heretics; they have perpetrated mutilations and torture; and they have also reportedly buried people alive and even crucified some. There is no end to their sadistic savagery, which they relish. That kind of barbarism, which harks back to Genghis Khan, is a wake-up call to the world. ISIS has declared itself to be
Dennis Dalman Editor the new Muslim Caliphate, founded and to be perpetuated by constant “jihad” (armed struggle). The leader of ISIS, Iraqi-born Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (now also known, megalomaniacally, as Caliph Ibrahim), is vowing his jihadists will extend the Caliphate throughout the Middle East under iron-clad Sunni Sharia law, Sunni being one of the major sects of Islam. Such a scheme is bound to fail, partly through its own absurdity, partly because such top-heavy ambitions eventually sink under their own weight or are ripped apart by their own contradictions, power struggles and ideological schisms from within. However, in the meantime, groups like ISIS can cause enormous destruction and suffering, as we have already seen in the news. Who can forget the heartbreaking stories and images of the Yazidi people forced onto Mt. Sinjar in northern Iraq where they were doomed to starve or be massacred if they dared come down the mountain into the clutches of ISIS? Thankfully, the United States, Britain and France came to their rescue. ISIS wrongfully believes the Yazidi are devil worshippers, therefore in the twisted ISIS belief system, deserving of slaughter. In some cases, ISIS rebels will give a captured “infidel” a chance to convert to Sunni Islamism. It’s only insecure fools who would “force” someone to convert, an
almost comic absurdity. If ISIS has any doubt about the sincerity of the conversion, it’s a bullet through the brain, off with the head or even worse. What is frightening about ISIS is the experts tell us they are well funded, highly trained and possess powers of recruitment through their well-developed media-propaganda machine, which includes social media of every conceivable kind. It’s an alarming fact many of their members and/or sympathizers come from other countries, including the United States. The killer who murdered Foley, judging by his accent, was obviously a British national. One of the suicide bombers was a young American man. What kind of people anywhere on the planet would be attracted to this band of butchers? What is wrong with their minds, their hearts? But, then again, we shouldn’t be too surprised as there are neo-Nazi groups right here in the United States who actually think Adolf Hitler was quite a fine fellow. As President Barack Obama said, ISIS is a cancer that must be cut out, as long as it may take. This time around, it’s likely even the usual congressional obstructionists will agree with Obama and authorize at least air strikes, as well as material aid to Iraqi soldiers and the Kurd fighters north of Iraq. But ISIS can only be weakened and destroyed if other countries join together in that effort. The video of Foley’s decapitation just might help jump-start some powerful alliances against these blood-drenched criminals. It’s got to be done one way or another because it’s only a matter of time before ISIS starts exporting its terrorism here, there and everywhere. How bad is ISIS? Well, let’s put it this way: al Qaeda broke its ties with it, disturbed by its acts of arbitrary brutality.
Letter to editor
Emergency food shelf drive in two weeks Community Food Shelf Drive set 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, Sept. 13 The Food Shelf Board & Volunteers Food: “any substance - taken in - to enable (something) to live and grow. Anything that nourishes.” Nourish: “to provide with substances that are necessary to live and grow.”
- Webster’s New World Dictionary
Most residents reading this promotional notice are all too aware the price of food has gone up significantly in the last
few years – to an all-time high. By most estimates, prices have gone up significantly while median household income has fallen for a five-year low, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. For the first time, there are more part-time workers than full-time employees. While we all can argue about the means of improving the economy so as to diminish the need for food shelves, the need persists here and now. Cogent arguments do not in and by themselves fill hungry bellies. There does still exist in this age of
moral relativism, some non-negotiable truths – among them, the moral imperative to feed those in need given our capacity to do so. The food shelf board and volunteers respectfully ask for your generous support. Whatever is on our shelves to distribute to those in need is in actuality your gifts to them. Please don’t “give ‘til it hurts” but “give ‘til it feels good.” Thank you. Checks may be made out to St. Joseph Food Shelf and mailed to Church of St. Joseph, 12 W. Minnesota St., St. Joseph, Minn. 56374.
Fire-spitting blather turns me off “You are entitled to your own opinion but you are not entitled to your own facts.” Saying that assumes one person’s facts are more factual than another person’s facts. As a published opinion writer, I hear that on occasion. Readers will offer their opinion of my work based on what they believe as a fact. I have a simple question. What are the facts? How do you know what you hear is true? I have come to the realization one’s opinions/facts are solely dependent on one’s source of information. Most people depend on television for their news. Some even go a step further and read a newspaper. Some might even read more than one newspaper. Still others go to the Internet for their news and information. True news junkies might use all of these sources to make their decisions. On its face this would appear to be a good strategy. But there are problems with this approach too. I had a friend who was an avowed, unapologetic liberal. The only news and information he consumed was from sources that further reinforced his existing point of view. He read only the New York Times. He visited only ultra-liberal websites for news. His television choices were MSNBC and the major networks. He would never have tuned into FOX News or AM talk radio. He never got to hear any view which was in opposition to his prejudged thought. In his
Ron Scarbro Guest Writer mind he thought he had the facts and would argue those “facts.” Of course I have many friends on the other side of this issue as well. People who only watch FOX News and listen to only talk radio with such stars as Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. They cannot find a newspaper to read because most of the major papers are staffed by liberals and left-thinking individuals. This is a dilemma. The mindset of these friends is of course to the right side of the political spectrum. I’m quite sure both sides believe they have truth on their side and are prepared to defend their point of view at any time. All of this contributes to the ever-increasing schism in our country. We seem to be two countries under one roof. Liberals decry the Republicans as obstructionists. Conservatives see Democrats as big government taxers and spenders. Both sides seem entrenched in their views with no possibility of concession or compromise possible.
Who is served by these entrenched positions? Does the country benefit? I think not. Regular readers will doubtless recognize me as a conservative fellow. Some might be surprised, however, to learn I also hold some liberal positions as well. In fact I try to fine-tune my positions on a regular basis. All I need is to hear a better argument for one position than for the other. The problem is trying to find an advocate who is willing to present a cogent argument that will alter my view. I can tell you clearly that name-calling and fire-spitting blather doesn’t do anything but turn my receptors off. For the good of the country, I would recommend a softer approach to our problems and to their solutions. I recommend compromise and in some cases concessions. It starts with us. Our political “leaders” take their cues from us – their constituents. We form our positions and our philosophies based on our source of information. That’s good but at the same time we should always be alert to a better mousetrap. Who knows, maybe there is a better way. Scarbro is retired and spends most of his free time with his grandchildren having moved from Sartell to St. Simons Island, Ga.. Writing and commenting on the news of the day is a pastime. Visit his weekly blog at ronscarbro.blogspot.com for more commentary.