Editorial

I am a puzzle addict. I have been one for years. For a long time I fought this addiction. Once, when my newspaper subscription ran out - and that is my sole source of the means to satisfy my habit - I was able to break away for some time. However, once my subscription was renewed, I went back to my old ways. No longer is it worth the time struggling against unbreakable chains. Accordingly, I have reversed course and am now proud of what I am doing. Sometimes, I make it known that I would like to involve others, but there I try to show a little restraint.

It has been almost been two weeks since I have written the words “E.J,” “Supreme Court,” “gambling,” “cashing checks” and “felony.”

I am having withdrawals, and I recently learned that I am not the only one.

Vermilion Parish residents are still talking about the trials of Francis Touchet and E.J. Broussard. Everyone has their opinion if the State Supreme Court made the right decision or not.
In my opinion, I think they got it right. Despite their recent ruling, there are those who are still asking questions about the case.

It is with a sense of celebration that I am writing today. You are all invited to celebrate too. After a difficult couple of weeks, I am emerging from a bout with depression, that “old gray dog” that has followed me off and on for most of my life.

There are two interesting things in my rock collection that can make this column worth reading. “Things”? Why not “rocks”? They are in a rock collection.

They do resemble rocks. They resemble each other too. Both are hard as rocks, and as heavy. I even bought one of them from a rock shop. The other had been a door stop until I “adopted” it.

As a species, we are both curious and social. We want to interact with our fellow humans, and we want to know what other people are like. At the same time, we try to simplify. There are stereotypes we are tempted to believe, especially about “those people” whom we dislike anyway. We identify, classify, and sometimes dismiss people if we can associate them with some trait that will label them for us.

Of course, we stay vigilant to stamp out unpleasantness. But labeling is a human trait, and we are all human.

On May 1st the Vermilion Parish Police Jury will call for a property tax to raise $15 million dollars to build a protection levee and projects in the southern part of our parish. Our jurors are good and honorable men, and their efforts to protect our lives and properties are noble, but misguided.