Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 21 December 2000 — Page 2

The Muncie Times, December 21, 2000, page 2

EDITORIAL Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Best Wishes to Y’ali

The 21st century is upon us, bringing with it, the most unusual presidential election that has deeply polarized the country, leaving us wondering if it will be possible for the “losers” to accept the 43rd president of the United States of America. In a few days, we shall be bidding farewell to the year 2000 and welcoming the arrival of the year 2001 and all it will be bringing. Come Jan. 20, President Bill Clinton will end his 8-year roller coaster two terms as the 42nd U. S. president. Meanwhile, his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, has made history by

The Muncie Times accepts and publishes “Letters to the Editor” under the following conditions: ■ The letter must indicate the writer’s name, address and phone number where the writer can be reached during the day. Addresses and phone numbers will not be published. 8 If the writer wishes the letter to be published under a pseudonym, that wish will be honored. However, the writer’s

becoming the first lady to be elected to the U. S. Senate. She is now the Democratic senateelect from New York state. Her husband becomes the first expresident to become the spouse of a U. S. senator. It is great to be alive at this time when so many exciting things are happening. We have just witnessed the closest presidential election in recent history. We have seen the embarrassment visited on those pundits, commentators and pollsters who claimed to know how the 2000 presidential election would pan out but were, in fact, clueless..

full particulars must be included in the letter, along with the suggested pseudonym. > Letters must be brief, preferably no more than 300 words long and should, if possible, be typed and doublespaced. Hand-written letters will also be accepted. ■ The editor reserves the right to edit all letters for brevity, accuracy, taste, grammar and libel. IE TIMES

We have seen diversity take hold, as this becomes a more multicultural, more multi-ethnic and more multiracial country. We have been through 8 years of unparalled economic growth, which has record employment. But we have also seen so much hate, such as evidenced in Jasper County, Texas, where three white men used their truck to drag a helpless and hapless African American man to death. As we get ready to say goodbye to the year 2000, we find ourselves facing sharp political divisions, such as those that faced the country when the

■ All correspondence should be addressed to: The Editor, The Muncie Times, 1304 N. Broadway, Muncie, IN 47303. ■ Unsolicited manuscripts will only be returned if the writer includes a self-addressed, stamped envelope with correct postage.

STAFF

Republican-led U. S. House of Representatives Congress impeached Clinton but failed to remove him from office because the U. S. Senate refused to go along. Today, Republicans have a hair-thin majority in the U. S. House of Representatives but are tied 50-50 with Democrats in the U. S. Senate. It will require extraordinary statesmanship and compromise if the Congress is not to become a victim of gridlock. Someone will have to take the leadership to bring the country back together, after the political polarization engendered by the recent election and the Florida results. But even as we wonder what problems and opportunities the new year will foist upon us, we have time to put politics aside and think about the forthcoming Christmas and Kwanzaa celebrations of the year 2001 At this time of the year, let us not forget those who are less fortunate. Hovering on the horizon are the Christmas holidays, the Kwanzaa celebrations and the New Year festivities. Each of these or any combination of them, is cause for numerous occasions to celebrate, even over-indulge and be happy. That is what

many of us will do between Christmas and the New Year. This is the time when we should be demonstrating unflappable and unprecedented generosity. We, at The Muncie Times, are urging all Munsonians and Delaware County residents to reach deep into their pockets and think of those who are less fortunate than them. Let us put such people on our lists, instead of leaving them as afterthoughts. Let us reach out to them in hope and prayer. They do not have the luxury of making up Christmas or Kwanzaa presents to buy and give to relatives and friends. They do not have the time to think about the New Year, because their present lives are brutish, dark and seemingly hopeless and helpless. Their children and grandchildren cannot even hope for a Christmas or Kwanzaa toy. Meanwhile, the Publisher, Editor and Muncie Times Staff wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas, Memorable Kwanzaa and a Most Prosperous and Peaceful New Year. We look forward to serving you again in the year 2001 and beyond.

M U N C

Publisher Bea Moten-Foster Editor John T. Lambkun Advertising Bea Moten-Foster and Richard Casey Layout Tina J. Bassett Typesetting Samantha L. Overbay

Contributors: Bea Moten-Foster, Bernice Powell-Jackson, Dr. T.S. Kumbula, John Lambkun, Judy Mays and Hugh Price. The Muncie Times is published twice monthly at 1304 N. Broadway, Muncie, Ind. 47303. It covers the communities of Anderson, Marion, New Castle, Richmond, and Muncie. All editorial correspondence should be addressed to: The Editor, The Muncie Times, 1304 N. Broadway, Muncie, IN 47303. Telephone (765) 741-0037. Fax (765) 741-0040.

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