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Sunday,November7, 2010W
dallas
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The Dallas Morning News
Community opinions
Aforum for readers in Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties
Charles Dean Bowen
Accountant, Farmers Branch
Introduction:
“Ihave lived withHIV/AIDS for about 15 years with thehelp of a lot of prayers, teas, tisanesand medicine from time to time. I lovetogo hiking and being surrounded by nature. Gardening, cooking andreading are some of my hobbies. I try to stay active politically, as I think it ismy duty as a free citizen.”
Onthe tea party:
“I love tea andam all for public interest. I wish,however, that this movement wasmore like a real tea party — inviting, joyful, cordial and caring. I don’t seemuch of those attributes in this cur-rent movement.”
Philosophy:
“Isay find wisdom,get active, use reason and stay friend-ly! Texas comes from
Tejas
,atermfrom the Caddo Indians that means‘friends.’ Let’s keep it that way.”
J. Paul Holcomb
Retired software engineer, Double Oak
Interests:
“I am a retired softwareengineer and have focused primarily on poetry writing since my retirementfrom Rockwell Collins in 2000.”
Activities:
“I served three years asthe president of the Poetry Society of Texas from 1999-2002. Later, I wroteacolumn for Fort Worth Poet, thenDFW Poetry Review for five years.”
Writing sample:
“I suppose I can blame it on the song where the guy sings about placing a pink carnationonhis white sport coat just to getstood up by the only girl he ever loved, but when I was a senior in high schoolIcouldn’t find a pink carnation any- where in town. No florist carried pink,only fuchsia.”
Vincent L. Hall
Free-lance writer, DeSoto
How others see him:
“People would de-scribe me as thought-provoking and contro- versial.”
On his upbringing:
My mother was a strictand unrelenting disciplinarian. … My mother was good at intermingling biblical parables and black proverbs so that they engrossed and em- bellished one’s capacity to comprehend. Some-times Mama would say, ‘Boy, a word to the wiseis sufficient, but if I have to say two, I’m gonna be on your blessed assurance!’”
Tothe black community:
“We’ve got busi-nesses brought to our community by owners who wouldn’t tolerate them near their ownhomes. They take your money and build private,elaborate enclaves to educate, enrich and enter-tain their families. The wealth their childrenenjoy perpetuates the poverty your childreninherit. These folks don’t respect you or yourchurches.”
Judy Gaman
Writer and public speaker, Southlake
Occupation:
“I am director of businessdevelopment at Executive Medicine of Texasand the mother of 10 (his, mine, and ours).Balancing home, work, and community involve-ment has become an art form for me. As anaccomplished writer who has authored three books and numerous articles, I strive to deliver what readers need to know in a way they canunderstand it.”
Characteristics:
“People I know woulddescribe me as energized and always willing tohelp. They’d say I not only step in to get thingsdone, but I take part in the creative process —always asking how we can do it better.”
On writing:
“Writing is my passion, and I write from the heart. If I had it my way, I wouldspend hours on end writing from some remotecabin in the woods while sipping on a latte.However, for now, my home office and a hot cupof tea will have to do.”
LaNelle Pierce Chambers
Writer and speaker, Fort Worth
Others would say:
“That I am creative,organized, warm-hearted — and that I’m rarely boring.”
Credentials:
“I am an award-winning writerof short fiction, poetry, and devotional material;avocal musician and entertainer; and an in-demand lay speaker for an interdenominationalorganization. I am resolved never to stop learn-ing, growing, or contributing for so long as Godgives me breath and capability.”
Reading list:
“I read continually, both non-fiction and fiction. Most recently, I read asprawling novel and sequel about Fort Worth; a biography of Richard III;
The Worst Hard Time
,ariveting account of life during the Great De-pression; and an examination of the complex-ities in the life and thinking of John Calvin. Irecently read President Bill Clinton’s autobiog-raphy,
My Life
.”
Barbara Dornak Christian
Retired banking executive, Carrollton
Career notes: “
Iam a formerJPMorgan Chase executive who tookearly retirement in early 2006. Mostof my career was spent in commercial workouts, so I have a number of banker/customer survivor tales fromthe turbulent 1980s.”
Recent experiences:
“In the lastfour years, I have spent several weekscaring for a cousin and two dearfriends in hospice care. While such anexperience might not be for everyone,Iseem to have a calling for it — and Ithink I have more insight now on theimportance of dying with dignity.”
Column ideas:
“Surviving the1980s as a Texas banker, hospiceangels — true heroes and ‘From Mo-ravia to Texas — Family HeritageSeries’ (the first installment would bethe story of tracking down relatives ontwo visits to the Czech Republic).”
Marjorie Stanfield
Movie distribution professional,Midlothian
Personality:
“People who don’tknow me very well think I’m quirky,and I am, I guess. However, once they know me better, they know that I haveagood heart and, if given an assign-ment of any kind, I’m like a blood-hound with a scent. There’s no stop-ping me until I get it done.”
What she’d say to employers:
“Don’t turn people away based onsome ‘prescription’ written for whatdefines success, be it in a good volun-teer, or a good employee. Computersare great, but what about human beings?”
Column ideas: “
Older people inthe job market, why can’t anyone see what’s wrong with our schools and ‘dounto others’ goes a long way.”
Amanda Bresie
TCU graduate student, Grapevine
Her many roles:
“A history Ph.D.student, wife, adoptive mother, teach-er’s kid, avid biker, feminist, non-militant vegetarian, intrepid roadtripper, kickboxer, starter of homeimprovement projects.”
Where her Voice comes from:
“As a student, I live in the world of ideas. As a wife and mother, I live inthe land of dirty diapers and grocery store runs. I spend a lot of my timereconciling the two.”
Unusual credentials:
“I am prob-ably the only person who grew up inDallas with a pay television. We had topay a quarter for each half-hour of television, and we only received $2each week. My sister and I would planour schedule to make sure we got themost entertainment for our $4. PBS,however, was free, so we filled up onNOVA and the Electric Company.”
Brynne Sissom
Novelist, Irving
Background:
“Most people find me surpris-ing because my view of life is one that sees peo-ple capable of cooperation, capable of deeperthinking and deeper relationships than televi-sion and news spots. I can be firm in my opin-ions, yet defend them with fact and furtherquestioning. I can hear the other side. I canrelate to other cultures.”
Unique experience:
“In Albania, in PeaceCorps, I lived in a post-communist world; my host family lived on subsistence farming, plusthe salary of a forest management guide. They were culturally Muslim, yet in the capital, GreekOrthodox and Catholic cathedrals shared space with a beautiful mosque.”
Point of view:
“Myperspectives on oneness,onAmerica’s purpose in blending many cul-tures, using inductive reasoning to create our world more equitably, may stir conversation.”
They’re raising their voices
T
oday we introduce our 2010-2011 Community Voices. Along with Student Voicesand Teacher Voices, these volunteers write regular columns and are featured inSounding Off, our Sunday community Q&A. To learn more about Voices, includinghow to apply, visit
dallasnews.com/voices
and follow the Voices on Facebook.
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