“War is nothing but a duel on a larger scale. Countless duels go to make up war, but a picture of it as a whole can be formed by imagining a pair of wrestlers. Each tries through physical force to compel the other to do his will; his immediate aim is to throw his opponent in order to make him incapable of further resistance.” – Carl von Clausewitz, “On War,” page 1.

Alexandra Alter, writer of the Knight Ridder Newspapers, in her article on The Da Vinci Code (April 24, 2006), said several things, but three things in particular that deeply intrigued me and make me believe that this new movie’s supposed popularity has some pertinence to us here in Fayette County.

Sorry this is a little late, but planting the flowers got rained out on Sunday morning and things began to pile on top of each other.

Summer is knocking at the door. And, thanks to the GHSA, we finally get to have a couple of months to enjoy it. Recently, the Timekeepers in Thomaston moved the official beginning of athletic activities two weeks later into August for the 2006-07 school year. Now we can actually have a full “off-season” as well as take a guilt-free family vacation which has become more of an interruption than institution for this generation. Two full months…here are some ideas for taking advantage of this new dispensation of time.

Before the days of email, people used to “clip and file.” People would share clippings with me that would possibly be helpful in sermon preparation. I’m grateful that some still cut poems or stories out of newspapers and magazines and bring them to me. In my “Mother’s Day” file, I found this “clipping” authored by Rex R. Burns:

There they were, this little bunch of raucous church members, carrying signs that proclaimed “hate” and preaching judgment at the funeral of a soldier killed in the war in Iraq.

Everything about Blinks Mooney was average. He was five-foot-10, an average height for a grown man. He had a round, pudgy face and a somewhat pudgy body, average for someone who loved eating sweets but didn’t like to exercise. He had thinning brown hair and laugh lines around his eyes, all average for his age.

It’s the end of the road for Princess P; Paris Bennett that is. The 17 year old “American Idol” contestant from Fayetteville, Ga. sang her last songs on the Idol stage last night during the program’s weekly results show.

It was a Thursday evening a little over a year ago, and I had just finished checking baseball scores on the Internet and was ready to go to bed. My wife, Sabine, stopped me for before I changed into my raggy, blue Umbros and told me she thought her water just broke. We called the midwife and she told us to come on in to the hospital.

It’s down to the final five tonight on “American Idol” and with only three more performance shows and three eliminations until the finale, the contestants are gearing up to try and be one of the two who will compete on finale night, May 24.

In the spring of 1971, we were about to move our family to Georgia. I was charged with house-hunting while Dave was already at work at Owens Corning in Fairburn. Driving through southside towns and neighborhoods I thought we could afford, I saw a mishmash of faulty or no zoning which allowed an unseemly mix of small houses and convenience stores, shopping centers and apartment complexes, jammed and seedy neighborhoods.

It is a conversation I’ve had to have regularly with Barclay, the wonderful man who is my accountant.

Though I adore him, I will tell you that he needs to study the rules of Southern womanhood more closely when it comes to delivering dreaded news or criticisms.

Religion editor’s note: John Hatcher was unable to write a column this week. The following is an encore from May 18, 2005. Given the topic, it could just as well have been written this week.

I love to connect with people. I enjoyed my two years of hosting a sports radio show. My greatest sense of accomplishment as a coach was motivating players to accomplish more than they imagined possible.

History is being made all around South Fulton County these days. And that history is composed of three phases. One has come and gone, one is in process and the third will come next year.

It’s not often I find myself on the side of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), but today is one of those days.

A lone red and black ladybug slowly made its way across the top of the bedroom door frame. The full glass French door showed a magnificent view of the spring day. A cloudless blue sky and a forest of oak trees covered in florescent green baby leaves, being blown gently against a back drop of brown twigs. There, just beyond its reach, crawled another lady bug on the outside of the glass. Both were unaware that, just inches away, was the comfort of another one of its kind.

A record breaking 47.5 million votes were cast last night for the six remaining “American Idol” contestants. That is the highest number of votes ever cast on a non-finale night. Judge Simon Cowell apologized to Katharine McPhee for his harsh critique of her on last night’s show, and was treated to a dazzling, white smile from Katharine.

From thousands to six, “American Idol” is entering the final stages of season five and only six contestants remain. Paris Bennett, Chris Daughtry, Katharine McPhee, Taylor Hicks, Elliott Yamin and Kellie Pickler are vying to become the next American Idol and with only a handful of performances left each is within reach of that goal.

Here is a quote pertinent to The Citizen’s Open Records request to the Fayette County Commission for a copy of the forensic audit of the Sheriff’s Department:

Is it arrogance or ignorance?

It’s a question I’ve often been asked after residents witness whacky, stupid or rude actions by elected boards. Fortunately, these are few and far between.

Though a decision has yet to be made in Gwinnett County over whether the Harry Potter books should be allowed to remain in the libraries of schools in that county, I would like to suggest some other titles from the Accelerated Reader list of Gwinnett County schools that should be removed.

A couple of friends and I were having lunch in St. Louis, alternating between gazing out the window toward the historic arch at the river’s edge and talking about recent rude encounters we had each experienced.

Parenting is the toughest job in America. Single parenting, therefore, is twice as hard. Parenting in America is probably more difficult than any country. Parents, inaudibly or with loud voice, are crying out for help. Seminars and books provide little help. Real help comes from the Lord.

The 2005-06 school year is about to come to an end. Seniors are prepping for final (and I do mean final) exams, teachers are backing off the hot coffee at Starbucks and focusing more on the iced caffe’ mocha, and the most obvious signals of the approaching summer… please say hello to our old friends humidity and allergies.

Note to newcomers:
Try not to get tired of your neighbors’ remarks about how unusual this spring has been. It’s just been so pretty this year we don’t want you to be disappointed when next year contradicts us.

Has it really been 40 years since 1966? Lyndon Johnson was president. A first class stamp cost five cents. Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass won a Grammy for their record, A Taste of Honey. The first Star Trek episode aired. Walt Disney died.

From time to time, some people will suggest that all the world’s religions are of equal value and accomplish the same end. “All roads lead to God,” these folks say. “Whatever name you call him (or her), it’s still the same God,” others proclaim.

WARNING: this story is very timely, but it’s far from being funny. Funny will return next week; serious is here this week.

Last week “American Idol” contestants performed songs from the legendary rock band Queen. This week, they softened things up with former rocker turned crooner Rod Stewart and his newest series of albums, “The Great American Songbook.”