Letter to the editor

As painful as it might be, looking backward can sometimes be the catalyst for a better future. To begin with, I'm thinking about the accomplishments of the Georgia Legislature during this past year and I'm coming up a tad short. Gov. Sonny Purdue continues to provide comic relief in these troubling times. With only weeks to go before a new start can begin, one can only speculate on the odds for success in the new year. To move fom the ridiculous to the sublime, I would like to express my great respect and admiration for organizations like Habitat for Humanity for their continuing good works in the community and to Paul Brown of Auburn in particular as the head of the Winder chapter for his unflagging efforts to help provide housing for the less fortunate. Other organizations like the Boy Scouts of America and many charitable groups throughout the area have made a great difference in making life more bearable to those in need...and in these times that includes an ever increasing segment of our citizenry, Watching Hillary Clinton, under the gun at her confirmation hearing for Secretary of State, was political poetry in motion and undeniably a classic example of skilful responses to hard questions with the confidence we have come to expect from her. Husband Bill has been unwavering in his usual seemingly casual approach to the major issues and managing not to distress too many people, unless of course they were Republicans. Nobody needs to be reminded of how the war zones have widened and the threat of terrorism has escalated, nor has it escaped attention that the economy has gone to hell in a hand basket, but with a new, young President about to don the mantle of power along with an impressive list of cabinet members, at least at this stage, most of us are willing to lend our full support, at least at this stage, and render our high hopes for better days ahead. There's an old cliché that says, "that which does'nt kill us will make us stronger" There will always be forces out there trying to do us in . Looking back only confirms this assessment. Looking forward, with this in mind, may keep the buzzards at bay and guarantee our survival.

George Morin
Auburn, Ga.