Category: Editorial

By Harvey H. (“Hardy”) Jackson The “War on Christmas” didn’t seem quite so heated this year. Given the attention span of most Americans, maybe the folks who last year got their knickers bunched when someone wished them “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas,” just ran out of steam. Or maybe they took note of the definition of “holiday” that has been circulating found the Internet – “from Old English haligdaeg,…

By Harvey H. (“Hardy”) Jackson Wasn’t even Thanksgiving, and Christmas lights were up. In general, I’m against this. I come from a tradition where Christmas decorations don’t appear until the turkey has become hash, and they disappear before the big Bowl games ring in the New Year. In general. Which is sort of a mealy-mouthed, fuzzy-reasoned, exception-laced way of saying that though I wouldn’t be caught dead doing it, there…

By Steve Flowers Historically speaking, Alabamians have been more interested in the governor’s race than presidential politics. For years, from 1876 to 1964, we were a totally Democratic state, more so out of tradition than philosophically. The hatred for the radical Republican Reconstruction shackles invoked on the South made an indelible mark on white southern voters. It was so instilled, that there are a good many stories told throughout the…

By Harvey H. (“Hardy”) Jackson Thanksgiving was hardly over when it began. Regional magazines – Southern Living and such – started arriving with detailed instructions on how to have a “traditional Southern Christmas.” Newspapers chime in with “Feature” articles on the topic. On Facebook and in chat groups, internet friends swap recipes and ideas, all in an effort to make sure what is done “down here” ain’t like what they…

By Larry Lee When State Superintendent of Education Mike Sentance told the state school board Dec. 8 that the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Education had determined that the state’s high school graduation rate was inaccurate, reaction was swift and true to form. Members of the legislature who consistently oppose public education were quick to tell media that there should be consequences for  deceiving the public. (Would…