Dr. Tara's Thoughts & Ideas, etc... by Dr Tara

TIMES LEADER ARTICLE
Thanksgiving turkeys we can live without
DAVID ISEMAN Opinion

OK, Thanksgiving's over. Enough with all the platitudes and gratitude.

I'm tired of hearing "I'm thankful for this" and "We're all thankful for that" and "Oh, thank you for being thankful."

How about a list of things we're not thankful for?

Call me an ingrate if you will, but have you tried to get a simple bag of popcorn in the long lines at the new movie theater yet?

So, all together now … two, four, six, eight, who don't we appreciate?

• Litterers, and their co-conspirators, the spitters

• Teenage pottymouths

• Whoever programmed some of the Wilkes-Barre traffic signals to send pedestrians, especially older folks, scurrying to make it across four lanes of traffic.

• Young people rushing through the day to whom older, more fragile folks have become invisible

• Critics with knee-jerk reactions to complicated issues, like methadone clinics, ethanol plants, teachers pay

• Dog owners too cool to use a leash in public places

• Hugo Selenski

• Good ol' Uncle (pick an elected official here), who always seems to find a way to get lazy Nephew (again, take your pick) a spot on the public dole

• Wilkes-Barre officials who have allowed the brick pavers to rise above ground throughout the downtown. They're not only tripping hazards, they're tearing into tree roots.

• Paul Weakley

• The guys at the Martz Trailways bus terminal who constantly use a loudspeaker to scold motorists parking in the bus slots. Is shouting at customers somehow more effective than a good old-fashioned sign?

• Mother Nature, when she sends water too fast for our storm drains, small streams, the Susquehanna

• Jessica Hardy, who under the guise of Make-A-Wish is accused of making up names of dying kids to steal donations

• Those overly protective parents who actually board the school bus with their kids and then take their time getting off while your hopes of getting to work on time tick, tick, tick away

• Cell phone addicts, especially the ones who walk down the street shouting into mouthpieces. Used to be the sight of someone talking to himself was a pretty good sign of insanity. Not these days.

• Mark Pazuhanich

• Store managers who man the "return desk" with only one staffer, no matter how long the line

• TV newscasters who tease that the big story – that one you really need to see NOW – will come right after the commercial

• Joseph Gacha Jr., who knife in ugly hand, stole a beautiful young woman's future and life

• Persnickety folks who complained the Gateway Cinema into oblivion

• Clergy who ensure that church doors are closed more often than open

• Slots promoters, who seem to have all but forgotten about those who like to bet on horses

• Joanne Curley, who has the gall to try to get out of prison despite conviction for the worst case of torture murder I can recall

• Those insanely energetic folks with perpetual smiles, with water glasses always half full, who display undying cheer, boundless optimism and unshakeable faith

OK. OK. I admit it. I'm jealous. I sure wish I could see that glass half-full, trust government and don a working pair of rose-colored glasses.

But, sorry, if you work for a good newspaper you have to leave those at the door.

And, I say, thankfully so.

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Iseman can't take credit for coming up with all the items in this column himself. He got help from coworkers, even his mom. Call him at 829-7176 or e-mail him at diseman@timesleader.com.

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My email to him:

SUBJECT: Regarding your opinion piece on 11-24-06, "Thanksgiving turkeys we can live without"

Hmm, what would you like to say to Hugo Selenski's daughters about you including their father on your list, "Thanksgiving turkeys we can live without"? Because I think they are the most hurt by the negative comments by the media, let alone the rest of his family.
You certainly didn't give an explanation as to why you thought he belonged there. Even though his trial has yet to start and has been further delayed (but understandably so), it seems that you may have already convicted him. What a shame.