May 24, 2002

	Mailing address: Stephen Pape PO Box 1048 DeSoto, TX 75123	Email: Speak to me.

Memorial Day 2002 We should all be especially thankful and really appreciative of the people that have sacrificed to give us the freedom we enjoy this Memorial Day. Now more than ever, we should appreciate and show our respect for those that have sacrificed for our benefit. We know we live in the best country because we have seen and experienced the worst of mankind since our last Memorial Day. We do have much for which to give thanks today. Lets take time to do so. While we are free, we still live in a busy hectic day and often we find ourselves overwhelmed with all the things to do and places we feel we have to go. Even our holidays are action packed. This weekend we will be off to the relatives or friends for a "relaxing" visit, but we first have to run to the mall to check out the holiday specials. We have to go by and look at the new cars and while there, check to see if the number we received in the mail is the one posted for the free Ford Excursion. (You never know, the odds of 1 winner out of 100,000,000,000,000 sound pretty good.) Once at our final destination, we will find that we need to make an emergency trip to Wal-Mart or the Convenience store to get lighter fluid, charcoal, hotdog buns, or ________________(you fill in the blank). Why do we place so much stress on ourselves? Why don't we ever leave the cell phone at home? Why do we wait in line for twenty minutes at a "convenience" store to buy dozens of lottery tickets? Why do we have to buy a Excursion when the mini van we used to drive ran perfectly well? In a related way, Why does all the money we make seem to be already spent? Also, why don't we stay away from the busy crowded malls when we know that there will be no parking spots and the lines will be exceptionally long? If we are out of buns, why don't we eat our hotdogs with bread? If we don't have lighter fluid, why not use newspaper? Why do we drink Coke rather than Cola that costs half as much? Am I nuts? Is there anyone else out there that has wondered these things? I think there is one answer to almost all of these questions. It is summed up in one word. One word makes our life hectic. One word causes us to want more than we currently have. One word makes us go places we otherwise would not go. This word: ADVERTISING. Think with me a minute. Does this word affect your everyday life? How many messages are you bombarded with each day that cause you to do things you otherwise would not do. Better yet, how many of the things you do because of advertising are really better than you would have otherwise done? We still live in a somewhat free society. Why are we in bondage to credit card debt? Why do Pawn Shops exist? Why is there an Intendo 1, Intendo 2, Super Intendo, Super Doooper Intendo35 and on and on? Advertising tells us that we need the best. That we deserve the best. But do we really deserve the best if it causes us to live hectic, high stress lives, spoils our children, and causes us all to want more and become less satisfied? Are we that much happier than we were as kids when we played with a tire or kicked a can down the street? When will we finally be content? Do we have to be on a Cruise? Do we have to be driving a special car? Can contentment really be bought? No, I was wrong. Advertising is not really the cause of all of our problems. In reality, advertising can be good. Advertising can inform. Advertising can teach. But you must consider the motivations when evaluating good versus bad advertising. When you watch or hear advertising, ask, what are their motivations. What is the motivation of Ford when they send you an invitation to see if you have won an Excursion? Do they really want to give one to you? What is the motivation of Budweiser when they have drunk frogs belch out their name? What is the motivation of the State of Texas when they show actors jumping into the air after pretending to have won the lottery? I think the answer is simple: They want your money. Budweiser doesn't care if you pour the beer on the ground and Texas doesn't care if you ever win the lottery. Ford wants to get you into their showroom so their salesman can sell you their product. They simply want you to bring them your money. That is their motivation. So, unless you need a new Ford, throw the "Free Excursion Letter" in the trash. Never buy more than a single ticket on the lottery (so many are sold that your odds are not significantly improved with any additional). Drink less beer, coke, and cola and enjoy cool clear water. Most of all, think before you buy. Even if it is on sale, Even with 6 months no payment, 12 months no interest, you will still have to pay for the products you buy and in the end, they will have your money. Sure there are some advertisers that have motivations other than getting your money, but those seeking your money should not be considered trusted family friends. Treat them like telemarketers because they really are operating for the same reason. As you reflect on Memorial day, reflect on how your life would be different with a little more patience, a little more restraint, and a little more doing without. Ignore the advertising and you might find yourself (and your family) a little more free, a whole lot happier, and much more content. Happy Memorial Day Weekend. I hope that you, like me, will take the time to reflect on the reasons we live our lives, reflect on the important things in life, and re-visit the goals we want to accomplish in life. I hope you recommit to consciously attempt to make sure to plan each day according to our own good sense (and reflections) rather than swaying in the direction of the latest advertising we have been bombarded with. Slow down, smell the roses, leave the cell phone at home and try eating a hotdog on a piece of bread. You might find that you like it. Election night results are posted in "Whats Happening" on the Chamber web site. Glenn Heights- The best way to know how someone will behave? Just look at their past actions. Click on the text. Since there is a runoff between Mayoral Candidates Jesus Humphrey and N. L. Craddock, I think the article from the Dallas Observer including them is still appropriate to post here. Grab a seat and enjoy the insightful reading including an inside revealing glimpse of Humphrey's willingness and personal involvement in keeping things stirred up around town. Sheffield?, Stone Creek?, Lawsuits?, Grab a seat and read the Court of Appeals Ruling. Click on the text. Read for yourself. Was it a Win? Link to the Waco Appeals Decision that the City of Glenn Heights is appealing to the Texas Supreme Court. You can decide. Read closely and you will see quotes from Mayoral candidate Jesus Humphrey that the court cited. In them, Jesus Humphrey vividly illustrates his true devisive nature as he attacks the Mayor and other Council Members. Quoted in the Judgement is: "Council member Humphrey candidly conceded in his testimony that the council was at a stalemate regarding the rezoning of the property. Humphrey was specifically asked why the council had not voted on the rezoning of PD 10. He responded: A ....the main reason I think is because the Mayor does not feel comfortable with doing it, and because of that--subsequently, because of that, there are two members that are going to follow him mindlessly. And so we don't have the votes to do anything with it except just stalemate." End Judgment Quote. So, when faced with the opportunity to defend the Council's actions, Humphrey used his testimony time rather to attack his collegues on the Council as "mindless" just because they had resisted his attempt to risk the entire City to improve his neighborhood property values. (FYI, In his testimony, Humphrey also made other attacks specifically on the Mayor and when pressed, announced he was considering running for Mayor as well.) Question to consider: Is it best for Glenn Heights to have a leader that has already proven his willingness to make political attacks against his colleagues and the City leadership when millions of tax payer dollars were at stake? Please consider these questions when deciding how you will vote in the runoff. Death of a City Father. Dear Friends and Neighbors, Long time resident and civic worker James Calvin Hill passed away in his sleep at his home Saturday morning in Glenn Heights. Funeral services will be Tuesday morning at 10:00 AM at the First Christian Church in DeSoto. Burial will be at a family plot in Gilmer Texas later on Tuesday. Calvin was involved in the forming of the City of Glenn Heights and has spent countless hours supporting and working behind the scenes of City government. I believe he was on the City Planning and Zoning Commission from it's inception to about 1997 (around 28 years). He was a major financial contributor for the Restroom/Concession Building, that was built by volunteers in 1999 at no cost to the City. He and his mother have funded portions, or all, of many community related events over the years. Calvin loved people and he loved Glenn Heights. He showed his love by working to make the City better and fighting for causes and people he thought loved the City as well. Calvin also was a Charter Member and Agent of Record for the Glenn Heights Chamber of Commerce and he served on the Chamber Board until recently. He had been asked to serve a three year term again a few months ago but felt his health and taking care of his mother would not allow him to serve at that time. I personally know that together, he and his mother have had a positive influence on everyone around them including the willingness and ability to give good counsel, the funding of worthy projects, paying tuition, paying medical treatments for children and others in need, scholarships for students, giving continuous words of encouragement, and only God knows the untold thousands of other things. This world would be a much better place if there were more people like Calvin Hill. Calvin will be sorely missed in this community. When it is your time to go, and mine, I think it is a worthy goal to live so that the same can be said of each of us. Stephen Pape

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