NEWS THAT MAKES YOU THINK: THE WORLD IS WATCHING US!

 The following is an editorial.

Time magazine recently reported that CIVICUS, a global alliance/network of civil society groups, recently added the United States to its Watch List to monitor whether or not any American's human rights are violated and are prepared to help if necessary.

This action was taken because of everything the current Republican regime has done since Donald Trump became President January 20, as reported in our The Week In Review feature posted every Saturday and other fine media outlets.

Has America sunk so low so soon?

Now no country is absolutely 100% perfect.

Each has some problems that need to be addressed.

But to do so properly requires the finesse of a skilled surgeon using a laser scalpel only when absolutely necessary, NOT anyone freely wielding a Sharpie or a figurative chainsaw at will!

Lee Houston, Junior

Editor-In-Chief: The Free Choice E-zine.

17 March, 2025

The above was an editorial.

NEWS THAT MAKES YOU THINK: HOW DO YOU HONOR A PRESIDENT?

 The following is an editorial.

From time to time, The Free Choice E-zine takes a more in-depth focus on a particular news item. Such as the one that is about to be discussed.

Congressional Republican Claudia Tenney, representing the state of New York,  recently presented before Congress the idea of making President Donald Trump’s birthday a national holiday.

WHY?

George Washington

Abraham Lincoln

While each President is rightly honored in their individual home state, only two to date have received national holiday recognition.

George Washington as the founder of our country for fighting alongside his fellow soldiers to win America’s independence from England in the late 1700s before becoming the very first President of the United States, and

Abraham Lincoln, who abolished slavery and saw the United States through a civil war.

John F. Kennedy

While their individual birthdays were celebrated nationally until the creation of President's Day to honor all of America's leaders, out of all the other Presidents this country has seen so far, maybe only one more deserves their birthday celebrated separately too.

John F. Kennedy, a World War 2 Veteran who, as President, not only saw America through the Cuban Missile Crisis and prevented a potential war, but inspired what became the Peace Corps and the monumental event of human beings setting foot on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969.

Only time and history determines whether or not JFK or any other President should or will ever receive such an honor, not the whim of someone trying to please their leader.

Mount Rushmore

Especially since Tenney's Florida counterpart Anna Paulina Luna has proposed adding Donald Trump’s image to Mount Rushmore, which already honors Washington and Lincoln along with President Theodore Roosevelt for initiating the Panama Canal and guiding the US through major economic growth by busting large conglomerates while protecting the common employee and Thomas Jefferson, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence and the President who oversaw the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of a then fledgling America.

Again, maybe President Kennedy if a fifth face should ever be added to Mount Rushmore but, compared to establishing a holiday, that is an even more major historical decision that should not be taken lightly.

Lee Houston, Junior

Editor-In-Chief, The Free Choice E-zine

February 24, 2025

The above was an editorial.

AVERY CANAHUATI'S BUCKET LIST (NEWS THAT MAKES YOU THINK)

From time to time, something happens around the world that requires more space and attention than our Week In Review feature can devote to it. The following is one of those events...



We've all heard of the infamous "bucket list": an agenda of the things we've should have done, want to, or need to do before we shuffle off this mortal coil.
But to create and fulfill a bucket list for a child?

With the help of her parents, that is what five month old Avery Canahuati has set out to do.

Avery has been diagnosed with Type 1 Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a currently incurable disease that will disable her internal organs. The best prognosis prevents the young lady from seeing her second birthday.

Laura and Mike Canahuati have set out to not only raise awareness of this disease, but to make young Avery's short life as enriched as it can be. Sitting up, Easter, Halloween, Christmas... ALL the milestones of life that many achieve and some take for granted are to be experienced and cherished in whatever time Avery has left upon this world.

Avery (via her parents) recently blogged about having her first kiss, from a 19 month old boy who is also facing  the end of his life due to Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

While unfortunately the very last item on Avery's list, surviving the disease, will not be accomplished within her lifetime because current research is far from a cure, the Canahuatis hope that the blog AVERY CAN will raise awareness of Spinal Muscular Atrophy and new funding towards finding the answers to defeat this disease.

You can read Avery's blog at http://averycan.blogspot.com

Ms. Canahuati also has a Facebook page that you can visit.

Let us hope that where Avery leaves off, others not only continue the battle against Spinal Muscular Atrophy, but realize that life itself is the most precious gift we are ever given, and should be lived to the fullest.


The Free Choice E-zine would like to thank Lauren Sher of the ABC News Blogs for the initial Internet post that brought this story to our attention and wish Avery and her parents all the best in a bad situation.
lh,jr