Learning more about the Colonels

I have always found it an honor to be a Kentucky Colonel. I have a very nice document “suitable for framing” which says that this is the highest honor awarded by the commonwealth of Kentucky. The list of honorees reads like Who's Who: John Glenn, Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods, among others. Even Prime Minister Winston Churchill was a Colonel. It is a noble affiliation.

But with that being said, I was embarrassed by the lack of knowledge I possessed regarding this extraordinary organization.

Every year the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels provides funding to Kentucky charitable organizations and educational institutions. The Colonels financial support comes from individual Colonels all over the world and from contributions made by Kentucky citizens.

Their mission statement notes that the Colonels are “irrevocably dedicated to and is organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes.” The Kentucky Colonels is a 501 (C)(3) non-profit charitable organization which does much good by aiding and promoting the Commonwealth and its citizens.

During a ceremony last week, the Colonels handed out over $400,000 to 54 Kentucky organizations. CAReS’ work in Boyd County was acknowledged by the Kentucky Colonels with a grant which will fund its Healthful Living project. The Colonels' benevolence will go a long way toward educating our clients about the benefits of a clean and wholesome lifestyle.

Until last week, I only knew two things about the Kentucky Colonels. One was a conventional, more stereotypical view of the order and the other that I was one. Obviously, that has all changed and it is humbling.

Kathleen J. Schneider, Economic Development, CAReS

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Help get Glen Beck off of Fox News

I am consistently amazed at what is called “news” these days, especially on cable news TV stations.

FOX “news” in particular never runs a story that is not accompanied by opinionated facial expressions, snide remarks or some other clue as to how they feel about issues. This is wrong.

The American people are being swayed and many don’t even realize they are being duped. Not only are they being duped by drug, oil, credit card and insurance companies but by “newscasters” like Glen Beck. This man is a wolf in sheep’s clothing who continually distorts the truth. He is a dangerous and scary person who is truly stoking the flames of racism and paranoia.

He even creates and promotes his own political events under the pretext of validity. He is a clown and needs to be stopped. His misinformation is dangerous to our society and he needs to stop! He is obviously on the side of big money while saying he’s against big government. Please help get this hateful person off the air.

Paul Callicoat, Huntington, W.Va



Indigenous people snubbed by U.S.

In President Obama’s speech to the United Nations on Sept. 23, he spoke of a “new direction.” Two years ago, four nations voted against the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States of America. The Australian government has since reversed its vote and now support the international human rights standard toward indigenous people.

The American Indian Movement asks the question of the Obama administration: Will it recognize and support the international standard approved by the vast majority of the world’s nations?

The United Nations 64th year brings world leaders together to our sacred homeland to discuss the effects of the world’s problems to humankind. The American Indian Movement respects the right of all world leaders to speak, including Evo Moralas, president of Bolivia, Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela. and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, president of Iran. We respect the right to speak at the United Nations of all the world leaders visiting our homeland.

We often talk in terms of the first world, or the west; or the second world, the east; or the third world, or the non-aligned nations. Another important dimension to this concept is the fourth world of natural and indigenous people — peoples whose populations oftentimes go beyond geo-political boundaries. While these struggles have been going on for hundreds of years, the international community has, for the most part, ignored this reality.

One of the greatest crimes against humanity occurred right here in the United States. Support for the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People is a start to right this great wrong.

Clyde Bellecourt, co-founder , American Indian Movement, Bill Means, International Indian Treaty Council, Chief Terrance Nelson, Vice chairman, American Indian Movement



If it’s not made in U.S., don’t buy it

When are Americans going to wake up and quit buying things from overseas? That’s the only way we can put our people back to work.

Don’t buy anything if it doesn’t have “Made in America” on it. If we all work together, we can stop the moving of American jobs overseas.

It’s a shame our forefathers had to struggle to get America started and now it all goes overseas. Please, before you buy anything, check to see if it’s made in the U.S.A. Our government could stop all this trade from overseas by putting a big tax on things coming over here.

It looks like some in our government are trying to overthrow our Constitution and way of life. We are in worse shape now than we have ever been. Now they are trying to make us buy health insurance. I am 78. Do you know what it would cost me to buy health insurance? Try to buy it and you will see. Social Security is going bankrupt and they are trying to do away with our freedom and religion.

What do our children have to look forward to? How are they going to feed their children with no work? They can’t raise their own gardens and have no money to feed and raise their own livestock.

Come on, people, let’s work together and take America back.

Iris A. Cordial, Flatwooods