Robertson case: What is tolerance?

In a world of competing truth claims, where society values the notion of inclusivity and tolerance — which sometimes is at odds with religious beliefs in general, and Christianity in particular — it begs the questions, is there a prescriptive paradigm for co-existing as citizens, especially relative to pluralistic contexts? And what about the notion of tolerance?

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via The Citizen http://www.thecitizen.com/blogs/fitzroy-john-willis/12-24-2013/robertson-case-what-tolerance

What visioning will do for Fayette County

Engaging a community in a visioning process is one of the guiding principles of master planning. As a very active participant and business leader in the community, Piedmont Fayette Hospital looks forward to being a part of the Fayette Visioning Initiative that will serve to help us further define our future.

Why is participation in this process important to Piedmont Fayette? Twenty-five years ago a group of Fayette County citizens created the Fayette ‘93 visioning plan, which provided a roadmap for Fayette County’s high quality of life, work and play community that many of us enjoy today.

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via The Citizen http://www.thecitizen.com/blogs/michael-burnett/12-24-2013/what-visioning-will-do-fayette-county

America’s unfortunate apology culture

Raising kids these days comes with challenges. For example, while we try to teach them inner strength, independence and self-reliance, the pop American culture is teaching them sensitivity and the right not to be offended.

That is the root, I suppose, of political correctness, the dimwitted but popular limits on speaking the truth lest some feelings get hurt, followed by a pathetic penchant for apology.

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via The Citizen http://www.thecitizen.com/blogs/terry-garlock/12-24-2013/america%E2%80%99s-unfortunate-apology-culture

A gift that will keep on giving

Each year during the period of conspicuous consumption known as Christmas shopping, I try to think of a gift that will not be returned, exchanged or forgotten before next Christmas.

One year it was a goat for a poor African farmer through World Vision. Another year it was a sewing machine for a woman in Ghana who wanted to lift herself out of poverty by starting a small business.

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via The Citizen http://www.thecitizen.com/blogs/cal-thomas/12-24-2013/gift-will-keep-giving

School choice: It’s about more than scores

The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice recently released an eye-opening analysis of why and how parents choose private schools. The analysis by the national nonprofit organization is worth the read for Georgians especially. It is Georgia-based, undertaken by Georgia Public Policy Foundation senior fellows Jim Kelly and Dr. Benjamin Scafidi, and uses the results of a survey of Georgia parents of K–12 private school scholarship recipients.

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via The Citizen http://www.thecitizen.com/blogs/benita-dodd/12-24-2013/school-choice-it%E2%80%99s-about-more-scores

Mandate delayed but Obamacare destruction goes on

Some 60 percent of Americans — nearly 160 million people — get insurance through their jobs. Thanks to Obamacare, that number is about to nosedive.

The president’s signature law is hiking the cost of health insurance for American businesses of all sizes. They’re responding by dumping coverage for workers, spouses, and retirees.

Even though the employer mandate, which requires all firms with 50 or more full-time staffers to provide health coverage or pay a fine, has been delayed by one year, the employer health insurance market is slowly bleeding out.

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via The Citizen http://www.thecitizen.com/blogs/sally-c-pipes/12-24-2013/mandate-delayed-obamacare-destruction-goes

Resolutely carrying on . . .

For those of you who are faithful to this column, you will, no doubt, recall that last year I made brand new resolutions. I tossed out the old ones that I had failed at repeatedly and trudged ahead to new ones, optimistically believing that success was mine for taking.

Let me just update you on a couple of those.

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via The Citizen http://www.thecitizen.com/blogs/ronda-rich/12-24-2013/resolutely-carrying

Come enjoy a Xmas light show

A Dietz family Christmas invitation:

The Dietz family warmly invites you to come by our house in the Highgrove subdivision to enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas.

With 36,000 dancing, flashing, and twinkling lights drawing 120-plus amps and connected to over half-a-mile of extension cords, you are sure to enjoy this year’s show.

The show runs nightly from 6-10 p.m. through Dec. 28.

On cold nights, you can listen in the comfort and warmth of your own car by tuning your FM stereo to 99.1, or you can come on your golf cart when the evenings are pleasant.

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via The Citizen http://www.thecitizen.com/articles/12-24-2013/come-enjoy-xmas-light-show