Can i get tap water please

I just want to give thanks to Metro Councilman Mike Jameson for making the legislation to stop metro from buying bottled water. By moving to tap water, metro will be saving $30,000 – $40,000 each year. In a time where this country is in a recession, it is great to see our local government trying to save money wherever it can. I hope that metro will try and find other ways to save money so that more money will be available for better things.

Don't ask, Don' tell

What has “Don’t Ask, Don’ Tell” cost you:

- Over 12,000 military personal have been discharged because of this policy

- $79.3 million was spent to recruit replacements during 1994- 2003

- $256.4 million was spent to train the replacements during 1994- 2003

- $17.8 million for training officers

- $14.3 million for "separation travel" once a service member is discharged

Over $ 300 million was spent just because of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. In a time where recruiting numbers are low, the military is discharging too many people. I hope that when Barack Obama takes office, he will help repeal this discriminatory law.

My views on english only bill

Here are a few examples at what could happen if the English Only ballot is passed:

- If an international visitor is in Nashville and needed help from our government, they would not be able to get the help they needed in their native language.

- If Nashville wanted to contact a foreign-based company about moving their headquarters to Nashville, we could not contact them in their own language.

- If someone who did not speak English was a victim of a crime, the government could not communicate with them.

- Nashville could not communicate with their many sister cities around the world.

- Our government could not help the many political refugees from around the world that have now called Nashville their home because the government could not speak to them in their language.

The mayor and the majority of the city council are against this ballot. Please join me and vote against this ballot. Early voting starts on January 2^nd and Election Day is January 22^nd.

I am thankful for...

It is that time of year that I will list the six things that I am very thankful for:

I am thankful that the American people voted in Barack Obama as the next president

I am thankful that we live in a free country where people can vote

I am thankful that women still have the right to choose

I am thankful that Barack Obama wants a college playoff system

I am thankful that the Titans are actually winning

I am thankful that I have the opportunity to write in this newspaper

special election

On January 22, there will be a special election in Davidson County dealing with the English Only Bill. If we are voting on a law, there should be as many people voting as they can. This special election will not show a true consensus of Davidson County. I believe that many people will not know that this election is taking place and not enough people will be informed enough to vote on this issue. I hope that voters will inform themselves and get out and vote. Early voting begins January 2^nd and will only take place at the election commission. I will be voting against this bill and I hope you will too.

Guns for kids

Lately I have seen some remarkable events taking place across the United States dealing with guns. In Northern Arizona, an eight year is charged with killing two people. In Florida, a 15 year old girl is charge with the shooting death of her former friend in the hallway of her school. These are the events where I ask, “Where are the parents?” These are the events where I wonder where these children received their gun from. The parents of these kids need to keep their guns safely hidden or teach their kids about guns. These children need to know that you should never handle a gun without the parent’s permission. I hope that if you are a parent with a gun, keep it hidden, teach your kids about guns, or just don’t have one.

History in the making

As a young person, it is a great thing to see history in the making. As Barack Obama officially won the election, you could hear cheering all throughout MTSU's campus. It was a great sound that so many people actually cared about this election and went out and voted. There were so many people around campus surrounding televisions watching history in the making. November 4, 2008 will be one of those stories I will tell my kids and grandchildren. But, my happiness was shorted lived on campus because of two separate incidents, one of those I believe had to do with Barack Obama's race. It saddens me that there are some people who still hold racist views in this society and that they attend my college. I hope that we can move past these events and come together behind Barack Obama. Even if you did not vote for him, he will be our next president and give him a chance to lead our country before you judge him.