Editorial

EDITORIAL -  Many have watched the powerful television report of Brandt Jean's act of forgiveness toward Amber Guyger who killed his brother Botham Jean. The scene of him hugging her and extending forgiveness toward her has been replayed over and again and invoked a sundry of reactions from across the nation and the Texas community. 

The former Dallas police officer Guyger testified that she shot her victim by mistake, in his own apartment while he was eating ice cream. She was sentenced to ten years in prison and many thought it would have been much longer. Allison Jean, the mother of the brothers wrote on her Facebook page to her son Brandt, "Your load is lighter. Regardless of the views of the spectators, walk with God always. Forgiveness is for the forgiver and it doesn't matter what the forgiven does with it. "

EDITORIAL - My dad worked in underground coal mines for about 35 years. He retired and was done with that part of his life. He never sighed that he missed the good old coal mine. He lived 30 more years and he was very active. There is something powerful about putting a period or an exclamation point at the end of one juncture or chapter of life and then beginning a new chapter with the sun burning brighter than ever before.

Some people can't turn the page. It's possible to get stuck in life's thoughts and never be able to create a new state of mind that celebrates life and experiences happiness. 

EDITORIAL - Billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, recently hanged himself in prison. With a lifetime of prison ahead of him he chose suicide over going through another trial, more accusations and a lifetime behind bars.

When comedian Robin Williams killed himself, we were shocked. Williams had been dealing with depression for many years and his mental illness overcame him. 

EDITORIAL - Social media is just like mom's apple pie, it's not good to eat a whole pie every day. Over three billion people are social media users worldwide. While social media helps keep the world connected, social media addiction is becoming a global problem that keeps growing. As of 2018, one third of the global population used social media. 

Internet and social media addictions continue to grow as our dependence on technology increases. Over 210 million people suffer from internet and social media addictions worldwide.  A 2018 study found that teens who spend 5 hours per day using their phones were almost twice as likely to exhibit depressive symptoms than counterparts who dedicated only one hour on their phones.

EDITORIAL -  The fourth of July is here and all Americans hopefully will embrace the day without fear, total liberation and the American spirit.  Nik and Lijana Wallenda on Sunday night, June 23 in crazy, outlandish, courage, extreme athleticism and faith loudly proclaimed the American spirit - pursuing life and overcoming fear.

Of course it is sometimes easier said than done. Walking a high wire 25 stories above Times Square, New York and for 1,300 feet they talked, sang, praised Jesus and made the palms sweat of millions of Americans who were frozen to their televisions. They did what I would never even consider.

EDITORIAL - A few years ago I visited South Africa where the average house was surrounded by a concrete wall. South Africa has many villages and rural communities of impoverished people where the main goal each day is to find a clean drink of water. However, people throughout many of the towns and cities lived behind walls.

Brazil is another country I've visited a couple of times where steel bars in windows and walls around houses are prevalent. Thieves and robbers are common in Brazil and South Africa and it is understandable why they want walls around their houses to protect their valuables and families.