Our responsibility to the future

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There are many concerns in the news today and almost as many opinions regarding each of these issues as people. I’m certain this was always the case throughout the world, but not so much in our families and local communities.

There was a time when we stayed close to the farm, shopped local, were financially fettered from leisure travel, held strong family values and received an education consistent with Christian principals. We developed a strong work ethic, and desired to be reliable, trustworthy, and responsible. We couldn’t wait for proof that we were maturing. Personally, I couldn’t wait until I didn’t need a “babysitter,” or when I could ride my bicycle on the road, unaccompanied. I saw neighbor kids, no older than me, driving tractors, cutting grass, feeding and milking cows.

It seemed easy to make decisions, to know our strengths and limitations, and to distinguish between the sensible and the irrational regarding purchases, behaviors, goals, and trends. For most of us it is still easy. We can choose to live in the world without being part of the world.

As parents and grandparents, we want the best for our children so even though some social concerns will not affect us, given our age or stage in life, they will have repercussions on our offspring. More importantly, they do not have the wisdom or our years and quite possibly were not brought up as prudently as our generation.

Have you heard? It has been scientifically proven that our brains do not reach full maturity until around age 25, although the girl’s brain usually matures two years ahead of the male brain. The cerebellum which is responsible for coordination reaches full maturity around the age of 10 but continues to grow until a person reaches their mid-20s.

It is the prefrontal cortex which is responsible for decision-making and controlling impulses which is one of the last areas of the brain to mature, which means at adulthood may be 18 but our brains are still maturing. The limbic system is responsible for our emotions and motivation and although it matures earlier than the prefrontal cortex it continues to develop throughout adolescence and into adulthood.

It makes me wonder how any juvenile can be tried as an adult and how a 14-year-old child can decide which parent to live with in a divorce. But then you look at our government and discover at the end of the second quarter in 2022, the national debt was about $30.6 trillion. Based on the second-quarter GDP of $24.9 trillion, the debt-to-GDP ratio was about 123%.

The government seems to be attacking our youth with their handling of COVID-19, which put many of them on unemployment and caused a labor shortage which will have enduring ramifications for society. This occurred on the heels of the unproductive federal spending of $35 billion to combat the epidemic of substance abuse—which has claimed many of today’s youth. Now our political leaders are trying to call the nefarious act of abortion a reproductive right, so they can continue taking the future of the unborn and crippling the United States which isn’t even repopulating at an equal rate, meaning all social security, Medicare, and senior plans are unsustainable. I think it’s time for some levelheadedness to prevail.

“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” ~ Abraham Lincoln

“We do not have a freehold on the earth, only a full repairing lease.” ~Margaret Thatcher

“We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future.” ~George Bernard Shaw

UPCOMING EVENTS

Friday, Nov. 4, 4–6:30 p.m., (AYCE) Fish Fry at the Ansonia American Legion (118 Mackinaw Street). Dine in or carry out.

Friday, Nov. 4, 5–6:30 p.m., Tailgate Food at the Versailles Vets Club before the playoff game.

Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4 and 5, Karaoke at the Versailles Vets Club (downstairs) in the Bunker starting at 7 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 5, from 9 a.m.–noon, the Versailles Food Pantry is holding a Food Drive, 166 E. Ward St. Pull up to the blue door and pop your trunk. Members will remove the food for you.

Saturday, Nov. 5, noon, the Versailles Vet’s Club Membership Drive Party with food, although carry in snacks are appreciated. The OSU vs Northwestern will be televised and a few game boards. Renewals or new memberships will be taken for the VFW, American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary and the Sons of the Legion.

Saturday, at 7:30 p.m., Ryan Roth as Elvis appears at the Versailles Performing Arts Center. Free to the public.

Also Saturday (more accurately) Sunday, Nov. 6, 2 a.m., don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour as we end Daylight Savings Time.

Sunday, Nov. 6, 2–6 p.m., Karaoke at the Ansonia American Legion. The kitchen will be open during this time.

Monday, Nov. 7, 1–3:30 p.m., Memory Lane Dance held at the Greenville VFW. Music by Tom Everhart. Open to the public – $5 admission at the door.

Tuesday, Nov. 8 – Election Day!

Tuesday, Nov. 8, 9–10:30 a.m. (Widow/Widowers) Breakfast at the Wooden Spoon.

Tuesday, Nov. 8, 4–8 p.m.m Deep Fried Chicken at Creekside Drive N Go. Call ahead at (937) 526-4038. Dine in or carry out.

Wednesday, Nov. 9, 5–8 p.m., Wings and an Open Kitchen at the Ansonia American Legion. Carry out available.

Friday, Nov. 11, 4–7 p.m., the Versailles Vets Club will be holding their bean soup dinner in honor of Veterans Day. The Veterans enjoy making a meal and serving the public. They will accept free will offerings. Veterans Day is when Americans honor all living military veterans. So come out and thank the veterans.

Friday, Nov. 11, 7 p.m., Fountain Square is the Hometown Christmas Lighting Ceremony. Santa arrives soon after with carriage rides throughout the downtown.

Saturday, Nov. 12, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., St. Teresa Catholic Church in Covington (located at 6925 W. US Route 36) annual Christmas Bazaar. With lots of baked goodies.

Sunday, Nov. 13, Auxiliary Chicken Dinner

Happy birthday wishes Jim Grillot, Amy Schoen, TJ Richardson Suter, Mercedes Fellers, Isabel Capowski, Lori Cordonnier, Bonnie Paulus, Scott Francis, Connie Apple, Carlena Sneed, Kay Camacho, Danielle Keiser Denman, Lori Bensman, Janel Overholser Monnin, Mary Francis, Tom Magoto, Marylin Sprada, Rob Smith, Mickey Snyder, Gina Poling, Letha Whittington, CheyAnne Toner, Stacy Shonkwiler, Christy Hunt, Jim Trittschuh, Mike Phlipot, Sharon Henry, Christine Randall, Marge Harman, Kim Smith, as their birthdays approach as well as, anniversary wishes to Maddie and Chris Bartsch (5), Brittany and Alex Dirksen (10), Angel and Shane Borchers (22), Traci and Jeremy Cordonnier (26), Dawn and Tom Petitjean (29), Stephanie and Ken Swallow, Diane and Bob Magoto (47), Carol and Phil Borchers (50), Diane and Jim Grillot (51), and all those couples celebrating anniversaries this week. Congratulations to Versailles FFA for winning a national title, the “Models of Excellence” Award.

Please extend your sympathy to the family and friends of Jordan Elaine Berelsman (22), Bernice Frilling Frey (79), Barbara Ann (Nash) Monnin (60), and all those who have passed, especially those whose anniversary of their passing nears. Please give your prayers of comfort and healing for the sick and suffering, for those who struggle, the caregivers and those who mourn the loss of their loved ones.

As an act of kindness, vote your values. Please concern yourself with more than just your future.

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