Georgia newspaper editorials

Nov. 18

Savannah Morning News on “beach rights” for dogs

Tybee Island is not exactly dog-unfriendly. The city does have two dog parks, after all, totaling some 10,500 square feet of running room.

But when it comes to allowing dogs on the beach, for years it’s been strictly no-go.

City council members are apparently afraid irresponsible dog owners might allow their pets to become a nuisance to other beachgoers — at both the teeth and the tail ends. There are an awful lot of people walking around barefoot on a summer weekend.

But other beachside resorts have found a way to accommodate dogs without inconveniencing other visitors, through designating certain areas and times of day when the four-legged companions are allowed to romp in the waves.

In Georgia, Jekyll Island, St. Simons and Hunting Island State Park all allow dogs on leashes. The same holds true for Hilton Head Island, S.C.

If visitors to these beaches can keep their dogs (and the dog poop) in check, surely Tybee visitors and residents can as well. Tybee’s city council should consider a pilot program setting a given location and time slot to allow dogs on the beach - possibly during the fall and winter down time between major tourist seasons.

Enforce the same fine as littering on the beach — up to $100 — for any dog owner who fails to clean up after his dog, and reassess the idea at the end of the pilot period.

If dog owners abide by the rules, there’s no reason Fido shouldn’t be allowed on the beach. If problems arise during the pilot period, end the program.

At least then, dog owners would feel like they’d gotten a fair shake.

On the Net: http://savannahnow.com/opinion/2009-11-18/dogs-beach-throw-em-bone ---

Nov. 16

Athens Banner-Herald on House Speaker Glenn Richardson

In issuing a news release making some shocking revelations about his personal life on Friday afternoon, Georgia Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson was following a sneaky ploy regularly used by politicians who find themselves in hot water.

The thinking is that by dropping bad news on a Friday afternoon, the errant politician won’t face serious scrutiny from the media until at least Monday morning, because reporters and editors - like everyone else in the working world - strive to get out of the office as quickly as possible on Friday afternoons. Issuing a news release on some unsavory matter on Friday afternoon thus allows the person who is the subject of the release at least a couple of days to “get ahead of the story,” telling it on his or her terms with only minimal media scrutiny.

All that is known about what Richardson called his “situation” is that the speaker has, in his words, “struggled with the disease of depression,” an affliction which “became so severe that I took substantial steps to do harm to myself and to take my own life.”

Over the weekend, various news outlets reported that police were called to Richardson’s home last Sunday evening and that Richardson was taken to the hospital. But police and Richardson’s spokesperson would not provide any further details to the media.

But whatever remains to be revealed about the speaker’s personal life, there is one aspect of his Friday news release for which Georgians should thank him.

In confessing to a suicide attempt, Richardson also wrote, “Depression is a disease which affects millions of people everyday in this country. Like most people who suffer from depression, I regularly see a physician and take prescription medications.

“While depression seems to be resolved on occasion, when personal trials or tribulations arise, it flares back up. That is what occurred with me. ... I am thankful that because of medical intervention I have instead been able to now receive help and support.

“Just as the estimated 17 million other Americans who share the challenge of depression, I am ashamed and embarrassed. ... It is my hope that by coming forward and admitting my depression and attempt to take my own life that others may have the strength to seek treatment, too.

“The effects of depression peak during the holiday season we are now approaching. If you know someone who is struggling, reach out to them. Listen to them. Take their fears and concerns seriously.”

Again, a cynical response to Richardson’s news release might be to consider the possibility that he’s talking frankly about depression, and urging others who might be suffering to get help, in order to mitigate any political damage he might suffer as details of his “situation” come to light.

But that cynical view, justified or not, doesn’t negate the fact that Richardson has performed a valuable public service in attempting to lift the stigma from depression, urge those who suffer from the disease to seek help, and ask people to be on the lookout for signs of depression among friends and family.

Over the years, the Athens Banner-Herald’s editorial board has been critical of the speaker and his politics on numerous occasions.

But whatever might happen in the days ahead, and whatever his reasons for doing it, Richardson deserves the thanks and gratitude of the people of this state for talking frankly about depression and urging people to take steps to address it.

On the Net: http://onlineathens.com/stories/111609/opi(underscore)516945838.shtm l ---

Nov. 12

Marietta Daily Journal on Gov. Sonny Perdue’s visit to Iraq

Gov. Sonny Perdue, often criticized in these pages through the years, gets a salute today for his surprise visit to Georgia National Guard troops in Iraq.

It was his second such surprise visit, the first coming back in 2005.

Iraq is still a war zone, to be sure, but is also a far safer place than it was then, thanks to the fortitude of a president (George W. Bush) willing to do the politically unpopular thing and strongly reinforce our war effort there in 2007; and thanks to the bravery of the uniformed men and women of our country (and to an increasing number of similarly-minded Iraqis). The progress purchased by those sacrifices is easily apparent, the governor noted during a conference call to reporters on Tuesday.

“The violence has gone down significantly,” he said. “You see people driving around, lights are on in the shops and there’s a sense of normalcy that ... is very apparent.”

Meanwhile, the morale of the Georgians stationed there is high, he said.

“The spirit and morale of our troops is palpable,” Perdue said. “They feel like there is light at the end of the tunnel and they feel like they’ve made a difference.”

Georgia’s 48th Infantry Brigade now is stationed in Afghanistan, and the governor dropped strong hints that he was headed to visit it next. In fact, he may well be there by the time you are reading this.

The governor’s trip coincided with Veterans Day, appropriately enough. So did the latest meeting of President Obama’s study group about what to do about Afghanistan: whether to follow the recommendation of Gen. Stanley McChrystal and adapt a “surge”-type strategy for that country, or whether to adopt a half-way, “Surge-Lite” strategy that would kick the can down the road, getting us no nearer victory and hopefully no closer to defeat; or whether to tuck tail and withdraw completely, which is what many of the loudest voices on the political left are clamoring for.

We would hope this president shows the same spine that his predecessor did when it came to choose between losing a war and winning it - and put in place a new Surge.

On the Net: http://mdjonline.com

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