Wishing you and your a Happy Thanksgiving.  Don't worry about "The Woman" she's probably really nice and probably nervous!!  Oh, how I remember that!  So far my boys haven't done that "thing"!!!

As    Dave (Arnold - '65 - of VA) asked, I would also ask for your thoughts and prayers for my friend in the Virginia Choral Society.  He was told 2 weeks ago that he had Leukemia (he is 43 and has a 15 year old daughter who sings with us as well).  He has been in Sentara hospital since that time and started aggressive chemo last Monday.  However, early yesterday morning when he got up, he went into cardiac arrest and they could not get his heart started for 10 minutes.  When they did and hooked him up to the respirator he began having seizures.  Last night at rehearsal we were told he is in serious condition and sedated.  Needless to say we are all very concerned as he has been with us for years and is active in the theatre community in NN as well.

His family needs our prayers and all good thoughts.  A miracle would do nicely!

Sarah

   Oh, my, Miss Sarah!  I'm so sorry to hear this.  We'll certainly keep that family in our thoughts and prayers as well.

   Thanks, Sarah Sugah!

   Thanks, Joe!  Y'all have a fabulous time!

GLENN DYE

   That would be wonderful, Glenn!  We'll continue to keep you in our prayers so that will become a reality for you!

MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,
MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.
MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP,
MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS,
MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,
MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER
STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS.
Happy Thanksgiving!  

   GIGGLES!!!  Thank you, Herbie Darlin'!  You are one of the great blessings of my life!

Dear Carol,

 

I don't think that because we pride ourselves as a country that allows its citizens to express various views, means that you must, or should, provide a forum for those views with the NNHS65 website and newsletters.

 

I strongly believe that the great service your website provides to NNHS alums is seriously compromised when used to share, express or extol particular religious or political views.

 

Once you allow that type of exchange to begin, it is very difficult to retreat.  My friend   Ev (Evelyn Fryer Fish - '58 - of TX) has shared her immigration views with many of us, and we respect her position and certainly understand where she is coming from.  However, there are probably many who are interested in NNHS news and information that have quite different, and perhaps equally valid, views on immigration policy.  I don't think it appropriate for you to use this website to provide a forum for Ev or anyone else on views unrelated to the purpose of the website.

 

Certainly the information you provide on ways we can support the troops are appropriate and welcome.  A discussion of whether the troops should be doing what they are doing and whether they are deployed properly is not an appropriate topic for this forum.

 

I think you can make some pretty common sense guidelines and if you don't, you will lose a valuable segment of the group you should be serving.

 

And, as always, I thank you for all you do to keep our passionate but ever declining number of NNHS alums connected.

 

Joe Drewry

   Thank you, Joe.   This question was raised almost two years ago, and we addressed it in great detail then.  In the intervening time, our subscriber list has increased to nearly 500, and we celebrate even more now than we did at that time.

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FROM http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/12-26-04-NNHS-Happy-Kwanzaa.html

From Me ('65) of NC - 12/26/04:

   There has been some private discussion lately as to what may or may not be appropriate subject matter for our Newsletters.  Perhaps the time has come for me to address this publicly as well

   Freedom of Speech is very precious to me.  I shall include comments from all my subscribers, whether I agree with them or not. 

   When I began the website in July of 2000, I spent a great deal of time worrying about what might offend one or another of my handful of subscribers.  We now have well over 300 subscribers, so the dynamics have both changed and multiplied.  Given the increase in the frequency of the Newsletters coupled with my own extreme openness, it has become all but impossible for me to hide my own personality and beliefs from you, and I'm no longer certain that I wish to do so anyway.  I'm not certain what value there may be in reconnecting if we're not really connecting at all except on the surface.  That is especially true in the case of the Newsletters, which are far more informal and personal and playful than the rest of the web site.

   Many people are offended by many different things.  This year I made a conscious decision to celebrate in the Newsletters as many holidays as possible.  I know many people – some of my own extended family members, even – are offended by Halloween.  I included a Halloween Newsletter for those who are not.  If I recall correctly, one-third of my class is – or was – Jewish.  That’s why I included a Hanukkah Newsletter.  I included several which have alluded to Christmas.  Today we're having a Kwanzaa Newsletter, because at least one of our subscribers is black.  That doesn’t mean that he necessarily celebrates Kwanzaa, but that is hardly the point.  I’ve included it for educational purposes, if nothing else. 

    I envision this Newsletter as a forum through which many of us may share our various viewpoints.  The spectrum has become quite broad, representing a wide range of ages and even other high schools.  If people ask to participate, I shall not deny them that right.  If they wish to remain silent, I shall not coerce them into mandatory participation.  And if they wish to speak, I shall not silence them.

   All subject matter which we cover is not going to be of interest to all of us all of the time.  Some is it is not even particularly interesting to me.  I am not, however, so conceited as to believe that it therefore is of no interest to anyone.  If but one of you finds it of interest, I believe it is worthy of inclusion.  Chances are excellent it will be of interest to two or more of you. 

    There is no governing Board of Directors who hired me.  Mine is not a paying job.  No one commissioned me to create a web site or to start a Newsletter.  With a bit of encouragement, I did so entirely on my own.  It has evolved over time into a much larger entity than I ever dreamed possible.  I devote a minimum of eight to ten hours daily to it.  While I do have a core panel of about ten to twelve people (whose opinions I greatly respect) who function as a sounding board for me from time to time, I really answer only to my own conscience.  Therefore, I set my own standards for inclusion.  I do not include vile or profane language, for instance.  I do not generally post truly derogatory or hurtful remarks about people, though I will include all the praise anyone wishes to heap upon another.  I do not include racist or sexist remarks.  But I think it is foolish to try to pretend we all agree with one another on every subject.  We do not.  We would be extremely boring if we did.  I believe it is the very fact of the diversity of opinions and beliefs which serve to educate and inform one another, not to divide us.  There is a built-in self-regulatory feature or two – skimming over a section which is boring or offensive to you, deleting those messages which do bring you offense, or choosing to unsubscribe.

    Meanwhile, I shall continue to set my own standards, and to print as many differing opinions as I am offered – in the interest of the Free Speech which I treasure.  Many of you have earned the right (and secured for the rest of us) through your service in the various branches of the United States Military the privilege to speak your minds.  I wouldn’t dream of censoring any of you.

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FROM http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/12-28-04-NNHS-What-Are-You-Doing.html:

From Ron Miller ('59) of NC - 12/26/04:

FROM http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/12-29-04-NNHS-I-Will-Survive.html:

From Dale Parsons, Jr. ('69) of HI - 12/28/04:

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    AND LATELY:
 

From Chandler Nelms (Hampton HS - '63) of MD - 09/11/06 - "SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT":

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FROM http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/09-22-06-NNHS-Happy-Rosh-Hashanah.html:

From Chandler Nelms (Hampton HS - '63) of MD - 09/21/06 - "the article":

You’re quite correct about the penal colony thing, but regardless, that was then and now is now. And regardless of Christian or Judeo-Christian religious background, the point is more whether you’re Black, Yellow, or White, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, or Muslim, if you don’t like Australia and can’t abide by her principles and laws, then leave. America should take the same stance. By the way, I’m equally sick of “Press one for English,…………”

Chandler Nelms

   Oh, certainly, Chandler Darlin'! We didn't miss the whole thrust of the article; we were simply struck by some of the peripherals!

   Your point was well taken.  On the same subject, I have another item I think you'll appreciate coming soon.  And I'll probably find one of a slightly differing - and not so popular - point of view as well.

   Thanks, Gorgeous!

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FROM http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/10-09-06-NNHS-Happy-Columbus-Day.html:

From Christine Wilson Starkman ('68) of CA - 10/07/06 - "Hi!":

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FROM http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/10-11-06-NNHS-Sail-On-Sailor.html:

From Chandler Nelms (Hampton HS - '63) of MD to Christine Wilson Starkman ('68) of CA - 10/10/06:

   Well, of course you have the right to express any opinion you want, Chandler Darlin'!

   Early on I set up a number of "rules" to follow.  Most of those have changed and evolved as we and our mission have also changed and evolved.  I had thought religion and politics might prove offensive and divisive, when we were attempting to be loving and unifying.  We have long since strived to educate one another about many things, including our various religions, hopefully without feeling that we were forcing them upon each another.  I believe now we have grown close enough to one another in our One Big Happy Family that we can recognize and respect that we all have political opinions - some of which may  be and probably are conflicting - and still love and delight in one another.  My own opinions on many topics are often so far out that very few people would agree with them, but I still feel that they love me, even though they know I'm weird.

   So while this may indeed be a risky time bomb, I certainly don't want you to feel that we're trying to stifle your right to free expression - any of you!

   Thank you, Gorgeous!

  (But I'm still not going to print anything vulgar or risqué, so don't y'all start sending me a buncha outrageous stuff with any expectation of seeing it here!  WILDER GIGGLES!!!)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

   Or in other words, Joe, I've already made my guidelines.  The purposes of the website change and grow as the years pass.  At the moment, all that is forbidden is lewd or pornographic content.  While I haven't the space to include everything which comes along, I'm not going to stifle or censor people when I feel that what they want to say is important enough to them that they ask to share it with their friends.  We will not dwell or such topics or repeat them too often, but we will allow them a voice.

   From time to time people leave our midst.  If we lose some, as from time to time we have, that's their decision.  People join us as well.  But we are who we are, and to try to be anyone else would be neither prudent nor healthy.

   Thanks again for your input and remarks, Joe!   Even though I disagree, I do value them - and you!

SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS  ARE FROM MEXICO. THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL DOCTORS AND BUSINESS PEOPLE . SOME STILL LIVE IN BEAUTIFUL TOWNS IN MEXICO .I HAVE VISITED  THEM AND  HAVE BEEN TO THEIR COUNTRY CLUBS AND SHOPS. I STAYED IN THEIR LOVELY HOMES AND HAD MANY A TASTY MEAL AT THEIR TABLE.  I HAVE EVEN BEEN TO THEIR BEAUTIFUL ORNATE CHURCHES AND WATCHED THEIR CHILDREN CATCH THE SCHOOL BUS. YES, THEIR ARE MANY UNFORTUNATE ONES THERE THAT TRY TO COME HERE FOR A BETTER PLACE TO RAISE THEIR FAMILY. MANY WORK HARD, SO PLEASE DON'T THINK THEY ARE ALL ALIKE JUST LIKE ALL OF US ARE NOT ALIKE. 

GOD LOVES ALL OF HIS CHILDREN AND I THINK HE WANTS US ALL TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. ALSO.

BE KIND THIS HOLIDAY AND HELP THE LESS FORTUNATE.

IRONICALLY, MY FATHER WAS AN IMMIGRATION INSPECTOR. HE HELPED MANY IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS  GET THEIR PERMANENT VISAS, LIKE NICK 'S IN YORKTOWN AND MANY GREEK RESTAURANTS IN TOWN.

HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY, AND BE KIND.

JAMEY

   Thank you, Jamey!

   Here in North Carolina we have a sizable population of Spanish-speaking immigrants from many Central and South American countries.  Some of them are legal, and some of them are not.  Some of both groups are among my dear friends, and I really usually don't know which are which.

   All this week I've been thinking of a beautiful young woman from Mexico I met shortly after I moved here.  She no longer lives here, but she deeply impacted my life and views.  She's in her late twenties, the wife of a blond serviceman, and mother of three little boys.

   I vividly recall a church meeting of woman when she tearfully expressed her gratitude for living in this country.  She described her childhood in Mexico, one of hunger, uncertainty, pain, and abuse without recourse.  She repeatedly reminded us of the great privileges which we, even the poorest of us, enjoy in this country.  She related how her California sisters-in-law had never accepted her, and called her "a stupid, ignorant Mexican" because her her English was still heavily accented.  The fact that she spoke flawless German, Italian, French - and of course, Spanish - while they themselves spoke only English, was somehow lost on them.  She touched us all with her passion and fervor.

   Kindness can never be underplayed.  It always seems to be in shorter supply than necessary, which is one of the saddest of all situations.  It costs so little to be kind and courteous, and yes, loving toward one another. Understanding requires a bit more effort, but it must begin with being kind.

   Thanks for the reminder, Jamey!

Just to let you know I'm thinking of you this day and wishing you all a good gathering of food and faith. ( say one for me).

I am Thankful for all who gather here at this site and share this very special family; thankful for the blessings you have bought me so that I ( or any of us) am never alone. God Bless.

Linda May ' 66

   What a sweet thought, Linda May!    You've been on my mind quite a bit this week - which has been a most hectic one for me.  I'm still going to try to get through on the telephone to you next week.  We never have had that chat!  Thanks again, Lady!  God bless you, too!