Port Aransas South Jetty (Port Aransas, Tex.), Vol. 14, No. 17, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 26, 1984 Page: 2 of 18
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Editorial
Page 2A, Thursday, April 26, 1984, South Jetty
& Tidemarks
TOLERANCE, FORGIVENESS
are among man’s most noble traits.
Since I am often a very tolerant sort
of fellow, and just as often
intolerant, I feel justified in claiming
Fm a pretty average sort of guy.
Now, for example, despite the
nobility we attach to a famous tea
party conducted by our fore bearers a
couple of hundred years ago, I tend
to frown upon boycotts^ especially
those of a noisy sort. Even sq,. and
despite its acclaim, I have yet to see
the film “On Golden Pond,” starring
Henry Fonda and my favorite
actress, Katherine Hepburn. I have
boycotted the film because Fonda’s
notorious daughter Jane played a
minor role. It must go without saying
then that lost week I applauded when
the American GI Forum called for a
boycott of Jane Fonda products.
Editorially, the Corpiu Chrutx Caller
is more tolerant than I. Acknowledg-
ing that “Fonda's shrillness in
opposing U.S. involvement in South-
east Asia transcended the bonds of
good judgement and good taste,’’ it
was “forced to the conclusion that,
when all the pluses and minuses are
sorted out, it might be best just to
let the thing^jider1* ’ The editorial
then went 5n to admit that during
the Vietnam War Fonda went to
Hanoi to “lend moral support to the
North Vietnamese government.’’
Sorry folks, there are times when I
can't turn the other cheek. Even
though it happened a long time ago I
can not be tolerant of a woman who
lent aid and comfort to an enemy
while American POW’s were being
tortured almost within her earshot,
or dying hidiously in the not distant
jungles. And to be additionally frank
I fume, mildly speaking, at the
thought of American women whose
misspent dollars keep Fonda in
luxury.
j, NOW DOROTHY STANICH,
caUei^Thnet telly critic, is an old
friend. I enjoy and usually admire
her views. I used to tease her,
calling her “The First Lady of
Television.” I didn’t agree with
Dorothy a couple weeks agcr'wljen
she did a fast bum over interviews
with former President Nixon on “60
Minutes." Nixon making money from
interviews and books angers Stanich
as much as Fonda does me, and
when you get down to it for the same
reasons. Ah, but no. Fonda turned
against her country. Her actions
were not the same as those who
morally and intellectually opposed
our fighting in Vietnam. Nixon on
the otherhand, got caught up in a bit
of skullduggery no different and no
worse than that in which most if not
all his predecessors experienced. The
difference being that he played it
dumb and got caught. Raying it
dumb, a good phrase for his
involvement in Watergate is to me
the most amazing part of the whole
affair, because Nixon,.i»'an intelli-
gent, even brilli0jftvman. These
words I know are testing the
tolerance level of many of you, so I
might as well go the whole
hog--Richard Nixon in the cool
dispassionate light of history will be
marked for greatness. Forget Water-
gate.
A FEW DAYS AGO GUESTS ON
William Buckley’s “Firing Line”
were the United States Ambassador
to France and a French journalist. In
Europe, and especially France,
Richard Nixon is admired and
respected. The realistic French,
Letters
Congratulations!
This is to congratulate the cast and
crew of “The Diary of Anne Frank.”
You have all done a wonderful job in
the last year and I'm sure you'll do
just as well this year. Congratula-
tions to all for the awards you have
wun and especially to Mrs. Mclntire
for the job she has done.
All Llit way w Statei
Sincerely,
Christine Burleson
El Paso
Beach conditions
Please renew my subscription and
make the gift subscription for six
months only. My friend is Navy
property and won’t be there any
longer than that.
My entire family, en masse, will
descend upon your fair city the first
two weeks of June. The knowledge of
this reality is the adhesive holding
together the frayed strands of my
psyche.
I am, however, plagued by one
reservation (no pun intended). The
condition of the beach has steadily
worsened as the years go by. T
realize this has not evaded notice, as
its discussion has been diligently
pursued in your paper and else-
where. As if you needed my
kibitzing, here are a couple of
observations.
First, trash barrels, no matter how
you group them, are totally inade-
quate unless pick-up is made several
times a day. To expect them to hold
the amount of garbage produced on a
peak day, is as rational as trying to
empty the Laguna Madre with a tea
cup. There are basically two kinds of
litterers. The first is John Q. Citizen,
who after a long day on the beach,
sucks kis trash ,o« fi>p of his
brethren* This, of course, is on or
about a filled and overflowing trash
barrel. A little breeze here, a dog
there, and it's scattered everywhere!
Adequate dumping facilities will
answer this problem.
The second example of Homo
Trashus is more sinister. They
respect nothing! They range from
slovenly disregard for themselves
and all around them, to out and out
rape of public and private property.
These individuals bring nothing to
your economy. The only money they
spend in Port “A”, is juurs. No, you
don’t have to increase the size of the
police force. Just pass an ordinance
levying huge fines on vandal/litter-
ers. Put one or two officers in shorts,
in an old car. Believe me, news
travels fast and money talks! It won’t
be long before word gets around. Not
only will it send a message to the
adult (term appjied loosely) litterer,
but mom and dad will quit using you
as a cheap baby sitter, the first time
junior or sissy brings them home a
nice big ciUtion that they have to
pay.
The fact that this kind of individual
will not wish to return, is no ones
loss, and is absolutely vital if Pbrt
“A” is to survive as a resort. ‘Nuff
said! rm puttin’ my soap box away,
and packing for June.
Sincerely yours,
Frank E. Irvins
Dallas
Pet pals
I would like to take this
opportunity to personally thank
all the contestants for their
participation in our First Annual
“Pets Are Wonderful’’ Pet Show
and Dog Wash. Thanks to you
our First Four-Footed Friend
Festival was a great success.
As you are aware, this event
is to support a new animal
shelter in Port Aransas as well
as to promote responsible pet
ownership in the community. A
responsible pet owner means a
safe and happy pet.
In the future there will be
many more activities I will ask
the community to participate in.
I am looking forward to your
continued support and
participation.
Once again I would like to
thank you for your interest and
support. Let’s keep it up!
Sincere thanks,
Luther Garner
City Animal Control Officer
Port Aransas
Silver lining
To the beautiful people of Port
Aransas: I take the South Jetty
and read every word and I love
it! I have been reading about
what some of the older citizens
think about the Spring Breakers.
Wilma and I worked with young
folks for 25 years of our lives, in
sports, with the young folks at
church, and with the W.M.C.A.
young folks. I have heard Wilma
say many times “There ain’t no
mean ones." With a little love we
used to straighten them out. I
can see where some folks might
be a little irritated when some of
the Breakers take part of their
fences, or their signs or their
wood piles and burn them on the
beach on cold nights.
I read where the police pick
up a few for passing a red light,
for speeding, driving in the
dunes, drugs and burning a door
from the new wooden toilets. All
of a sudden I think back to when
I was a teenager, gollee, did
people hate me, too. And then I
think about when my kids were
in school in the big city. Did they
do some of the things that I did
when I was that age, and then I
did begin to worry. We are old
now, but let us think back.
Spin off
by Mary Henkel Judson
IT’S A CLASS ACT.
The Port Aransas High
School’s one-act play, that is. By
the time you read this it may be
the bearer of a state title. If it’s
not, I’d like to see the play that
wears that crown.
The play was performed for
the Port Aransas public last
Thursday, one last time before
competing at state UIL
competition Tuesday, April 24,
in Austin. We hope to have the
results of that competition
squeezed into this issue.
Diary of Anne Frank” was the
best high school performance
I’ve ever seen, in fact if the
drama club wanted to make a
little money this summer they
would have no trouble charging
admission to the production.
In earlier competition on its
by C. M. Henkel Jr.
without the American propensity to
ipake heros or devils of their leaders,
dismiss the whole Watergate caper
ah just that, a political caper. As a
result they can view the Nixon
record, its worthy accomplishments
objectively. Heaven knows, this
nation today could use the Nixon
leadership in foreign affairs. If I here
imply distaste for President Reagan's
foreign policies, let me only add that
they are not as terrifying as they
might be under the leadership of a
Mondale or a Hart. Essentially
Reagan’s trouble is that he lives in
the wonderful but unreal world of
those delightful tales read by the
youth of more than half a century
ago, the Rover boys, Tom Swift-to
those of you old enough to
understand the reference.
HQtE LET ME GO BACK TO
the earlier mentioned French journal-
ist. Ir. discussing European attitudes
towards Americans, which are not
always exactly loving, he volunteered
that almost any European faced with
the choice of having to become a
citizen of another country would
unhesitatingly choose the United
States. Ibis is a circumstance which
is demonstrated almost daily, and
not just by frightened and starving
Central Americans and East Asians.
to the editor
I have been in a hurry at times
and went over the speed limit, I
have probably gone through my
share of red lights. I don’t
remember burning the door of a
wooden toilet, and the only
drugs I knew about were aspirin
and castor oil.
I come from a town of 13.000
folks and we have some of the
same problems. A broken car
window, shooting a beebee gun,
speeding, red lights, stealing a
bike ana all that stuff. Out of all
the thousands who come to the
beach, there are probably two
percent who get in a little
trouble. Let us think of the 98
percent good kids. Please don’t
discourage them from coming
for a few days. Besides having a
lot of fun they spend thousands
of dollars in the town of Port
Aransas and surrounding areas.
Perhaps a few special laws
like no fires on the beach, no dune
buggies and maybe a few others
and I’m sure things can be
worked out for the town folks
and the kids. Remember, I am on
your side, too.
Walt Coon
Beatrice, Neb.
Classifieds
Pay Off!
Buyers and sellers meet
every day in the Classifieds.
Find what you need and sell
what you don’t need in the
Classifieds.
South Jetty
749-5131
way to state, someone remarked
that "there is not a weak
character” in the play. It can’t
be said better. It seems unfair
that only one can be named best
actress or actor.
Going into the play I expected
what has been in my experience
the usual high school
performance: the cast reciting
lines and waiting to recite lines,
all heavily and unrealistically
made up. Instead of hair they
wear what resembles gray mops
and odd-looking dark streaks on
their faces intended to indicate
age.
Instead, I was treated to
actors and actresses who came
alive as they became the
characters they portrayed
whether delivering lines or not.
That’s what really impressed
me. They were good when they
weren’t saying anything! I was
supposed to be taking pictures
of this production and became so
involved I almost forgot to do
my duty.
While I have seen several high
school productions, this was the
first one-act play I’ve seen. The
on-stage scene switching in full
view of the audience is
something else to behold. The
PAHS cast and crew are,
besides being superb
performers, a precision team
that blends together smoothly.
One tiny slip-up by any member
of cast or crew could cost
precious moments and seriously
throw a performer off. I didn’t
see any slip ups, but I did see
each performer and crew
member going that extra mile to
insure smooth sailing for the
whole show. That really makes
for a class act.
The better part of 100 people
saw the play Thursday and I
don’t believe there was a dry
eye in the audience that came to
its feet and stayed there when
the last line was delivered.
Those kids are good, really
good. That comes from natural
talent within, from hard work
without, and it comes from Mrs.
Mac. Mrs. Mac is Karen
Mclntire and she is the drama
director. She took last year’s
one-act play to state and won,
and she deserves another title
this year. She is certainly
fortunate to have such talented
students to work with, and we
are indeed fortunate that she is
in Port Aransas with
enthusiasm, dedication and a
special talent to bring out better
than the best in her students.
I won’t pick a best actor or
actress because I can’t decide
among a cast of bests. They all
are: Weslie Nixon as Anne
Frank, Joe Rummler as Mr.
Frank, Laura Lee Magness as
Mrs. Frank, Jennifer Sherrill as
Margo Frank, Jim Beckner as
Mr. Van Daan, Rebecca
Sheppard as Mrs. Van Daan,
Sandi Smith as Miep, Tom
Furlow as Peter Van Daan,
Duncan Neblett as Mr. Kraler
and Rob Clark as Mr. Dussel.
The casts’ best supporting crew
members are Anne Hickman,
Kelly Berly and John James.
Alternate cast members are
Loyd Humphreys, Faith
Creighton and Shelly Mayer.
Mrs. Mac, I hope you and your
kids get it all - you deserve it!
Letters policy
The South Jetty, as always,
welcomes letters to the editor.
However, it has come to our
attention that our policy on the
ietters is again in need of
clarification.
All letters must be signed and
include an address and
telephone number where the
writer can be reached during
business hours. Letters are
edited for spelling, grammar,
libelous content and of course
for keeping within the standards
of good taste for publication in a
community newspaper.
The only letters we decline to
publish or ask that a writer re-
submit are those containing
libelous material.
It should be pointed out that
libelous material, whether in a
letter, a news story, column,
editorial or even paid
advertising, is not acceptable for
publication. We will not
knowingly publish any libelous
material in any form, paid or
unpaid. That is our
responsibility, we have lived up
to it and will continue to do so.
----mhj
There were these three
fellows in the post office, looked
like they were holding down the
writing table to keep some
miscreant from walking off with
it. Two of ’em wpre politicians
and the other one a regular
citizen. A large and slightly
belligerent regular citizen.
Now if I hadn’t known better,
having read the sign out front
that says “No Campaining"
(sic), I would have thought they
were having a warm discussion
on the merits of candidates in
this Saturday’s election.
I didn’t stick around to see
how it came out but I heard
enough to know that one of the
politicians and the regular
citizen are now seeing eye-to-eye
on the mayor’s race. The other
politician, not really involved
politically, was just sorta
working around the edges
trying to figure out which way
the wind was shifting.
All of which seems to be a
reminder that whether or not
we agree with Will Rogers, who
observed once that "all Politics
is Apple Sauce,” we owe it to
ourselves to vote. To have our
say in choosing the people who
will serve us as leaders for the
next two years.
One of the difficulties in
choosing a candidate in local
elections is that most of them
usually seem to share similar
views about the issues that are
and will be confronting our
town.
Usually it comes down to
personalities for a lot of folk in
their candidate-picking. Or
maybe it boils down to
connections. A fact of political
life since day one.
It is a documented fact that I
am most often on the losing side
in political races. For example: I
voted for McGovern in ’72, Ford
in ’7S, and John Anderson in ’80.
However, I have managed to
steer clear of Harold Staasen
through the years.
Be that as it may, as
Shakespeare might orate, I do
have a suggestion for your
voting in this Saturday’s
election.
Chose the candidates, based
on personel knowledge if
possible or the opinion of
someone you trust, that seems
most likely to work for all the
people in our town.
We are a diverse community
and, in some ways, we are
becoming a polarized
community. Different factions
are clamoring for things to be
done their way and their way
only.
Those people sitting on the
City Council - and it is most
unfortunate that this will again
be an all-male group - need to be
open to opposing points of view.
They need to be honestly
motivated by the desire to do
what they believe is best for the
community • and not what will
benefit the few at the expense of
the others.
That's as good a voting
criteria as I can come up with:
vote for those people you feel
will be most likely to represent
the whole community, honestly
and with integrity.
But, above all, vote!
Otherwise, you automatically
lose your griping privileges!
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Judson, Mary. Port Aransas South Jetty (Port Aransas, Tex.), Vol. 14, No. 17, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 26, 1984, newspaper, April 26, 1984; Port Aransas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth840342/m1/2/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Ellis Memorial Library.