GO VOTE! 2026 EDITION

 The following is an editorial.

Today, November 3 is a critical midterm election here within the United States of America.

If you've been following The Free Choice E-zine's The Week In Review feature every Saturday or any other news source(s) on a regular basis, then you know how the country, let alone other parts of the world currently are under the Trump/Republican regime.

Increased inflation with prices rising practically every day. Some because of tariffs imposed on countries that once experienced mutual trade deals with the United States.

Wages fixed or decreasing.

Deregulations that will have long term effects on this country, its citizens, the generations to come and possible global impacts upon the world's economy and environment.

HOPEFULLY THE PHONE NUMBER IS STILL VALID

All while Trump alienates allies, sides with Russia against the Ukraine, oversees illegal construction projects and wars...

The Republican Party has even been accused of gerrymandering voting districts and regulations in hopes of maintaining or even increasing their currently slim majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate to continue their present agenda.

But there is ONE way to legally stop this!

If you're registered and haven't already done so either by Absentee or Early Ballot, then exercise your Constitutional rights today and

GO VOTE!

Lee Houston, Junior

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

November 3, 2026

The above was an editorial.

IT'S TOO SOON! 2026 EDITION

 The following is an editorial.

Every year as the Christmas🎄 season approaches, The Free Choice E-zine readers send in notifications about Holiday decorations going up in stores across the country BEFORE Halloween!🎃

October 21 must have been a special day in the retail industry, for emails started coming into our office reporting sightings of Christmas merchandise on many store shelves throughout America.

However a couple of points about this must be noted.

01. All the emails only mentioned merchandise, with no word of actual Christmas displays or decorations being set up yet.

02. October 21 is the latest (to date) such reports have come in from our readership. In years past emails arrived usually BEFORE Columbus/Indigenous People Day, if not toward the end of September.

These 2/TWO points lead one to wonder how much of a negative impact the Trump/Republican regime will have upon the upcoming Christmas retail season, considering its effects on the economy so far.

But while there were many reports of Christmas merchandise being set up across America, only one email actually sent photographic proof too!

JL of Washington State says the above photo was taken at a local grocery store.

Research on my part shows that the image in the wrap around banner might have been used by the manufacturer of the desert snack before, although the slogan could be new, despite being a takeoff of an existing Christmas tune's lyrics.

In any event, with the world's higher prices and lower wages still active, it will be interesting to see how the 2026 Christmas retail season plays out.

Lee Houston, Junior

Editor-in-Chief: The Free Choice E-zine

27 October, 2026

The above was an editorial.

THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

 THE FOLLOWING IS AN EDITORIAL.

It is hard to believe that 25/TWENTY-FIVE years have passed since the cowardly terrorist attacks on American soil that are now collectively known as 9-11.

Time has lessened the pain, but the memories remain.

I remember my clock radio alarm going off around ten that morning because, being on the night shift at work at the time, I didn't have to be on duty until one pm that afternoon.

But instead of the music or even a commercial break I'd come to expect, the airwaves were full of nothing but the terrible news reports originating from New York City.

The television reports were no better, especially when the Twin Towers collapsed.

There was a surreal quiet in the air for days while all flights were canceled.

Some aspect of the crisis remained at the top of everyone's news reports for weeks on end.

That fateful night when NBC's Saturday Night Live finally aired its first actual brand new episode of the season seemed like a breath of fresh air to America. Declaring that, despite everything the country had been through, we would recover and move on.

Yet the aftermath took months to deal with, and some of the (health) consequences are still being felt today by all the rescue workers and other citizens in and around the affected areas.

The buildings were replaced with new structures.

The lost ones memorialized.

But like in any major disaster, the memories still linger.

It has become an annual tradition here at The Free Choice E-zine to post the poem below to remember the innocent lives lost and the brave men and women who gave all to not only help those they could, but to assist America and the world to move on.

THEY DID NOT DIE IN VAIN

A poem by Nancy A. Hansen

All humanity sighed

As souls left the earth
Lives taken swiftly
Unjustly so
They died not in vain
For tears and remorse
Wash clean the blood
On the crumpled edifices
Of steel and concrete
That makes civilization grand

But buildings do not define us
Within we are human
Warm and alive
Full of stories
Martyrs they became, oh yes
But so much more
Every last one
A living testament
To faith

In better times...

Hope
Pride
Charity
Accomplishment
And the greatest force on earth
Love

We watched in horror
Over and over again
As the events were replayed
And reactions were given
Stunned looks
Terror in the streets
Angry oaths
Silent sobs
Open weeping
Our brethren were stoic
Or they cried and pleaded
They were dead heroes or victims
But they were all alive
Just moments before
Without any foreknowledge
Of their place in history
Etched on our minds
Engraved on our hearts
For eternity

I wept with them
The ones who died
The living left behind
The shattered hopes and dreams
Like the rubble in the streets
Made us all stop and think
That could be me!
I watched stunned
And vowed as did others
We will overcome this
We are one people
We are humane and caring
This cannot be!

September 11, 2001

Who dares challenge that right?
To live free and open lives
To send fear into our hearts
And sorrow of the most profound
For after all is said and done
Nevermore will we trust
With the heart of innocents
That we are safe and protected
In this womb of our building
In this fortress of our sovereignty

Will the swords of justice
Smite down the aggressors
And bring us peace and redress?
Or just a sense of revenge
I do not know
But I do know this
They died not in vain
Who gave their lives for freedom
And to help their fellow man
For as the tragedy struck
And lives hung in the balance
Or were snuffed out
I saw birds rise from the buildings
Sun on their wings
Angels of nature
Reminding me that there is a better place
Where there is no grief or pain
And no thoughts of war
May they live there forever
Those poor wretched souls
Till we join them again

And amid all the rubble
The twisted beams of steel and concrete
The dust and the fires

September 11, 2015

Papers fluttered to earth
A poignant reminder
We once lived and worked here
Do not forget us
We live on in your hearts
Forevermore
We did not die in vain
If the world becomes a better place
Because we once showed you
How to care about your brethren
And to value all you have
No matter how small it is
Or how rude and humble
Life is a gift!

THE ABOVE WAS AN EDITORIAL.

AMERICA PAST 250

 The following  is an editorial.

In my capacity as Editor-in-Chief of The Free Choice E-zine I have written many editorials, but this one I had to stop and seriously think about because besides not wanting anything I said lost in the hoopla of the United States recently celebrating its 250th Independence Day July 4, I also wasn't quite sure exactly what to say before now.

This country has been through a lot even before America first declared and eventually gained its independence, and the paths to become both a growing nation and a world power have not been easily traversed.

There have been issues both domestic and foreign that have threatened to tear us apart.

Slavery, which eventually led to the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation, let alone the long road to reach declaring Civil Rights for everyone back in 1964.

The battle for women's rights still hasn't been completely settled. Ladies may have the right to vote, but the problems concerning rape and abortion, let alone equal pay for equal work have gotten worse over the last couple of decades.

And of course there is always the looming threat of war even after most of the world rallied to put down an evil would be dictator in the early 1940s.

But perhaps what's even worse is the growing problems within the United States right now.

Instead of solving them the current regime—and any dictionary will confirm that is the proper term for those in office right now at the Federal level instead of administration—is not only undoing all the accomplishments of the past but making things worse.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

The Save America Act; deporting the "undesirables" when this nation was founded by immigrants looking for a new life and the promise of a new start made by the lady in New York Harbor who said "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses earning to breathe free."

The ongoing stand against Diversity, Equality and Inclusion when the United States was once "The Great American Melting Pot." Favoring the rich and powerful instead of remembering that government is supposed to be "of the people, by the people, for the people" even while prices continue to rise, the highest executive in Washington DC recently reported earning TWO BILLION dollars last year and the divide between the economic classes widens.

Need I go on?

I truly hope and believe that things will eventually get better. That the United States and its citizens will find their way again. But the only way to do that is if Americans stay informed as well as protect and exercise their right to vote not only in the mid-term elections this November, but in the 2028 Presidential election.

Please remember: "United we stand. Divided we fall."

Lee Houston, Junior

Editor-in-Chief: The Free Choice E-zine

6 July, 2026

The above was an editorial, which is still protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. (All links were active at the time of posting.)

MEMORIAL DAY, 2026

 The following is an editorial.

While the specific date changes each year, every Memorial Day within the United States I post an editorial to honor the brave men and women who either are or have served this country within the various branches of America's military forces.

Especially remembered are the ones who lost their lives defending this country from those who would prefer to see it conquered and its freedoms eliminated.

Another growing topic each May is the increasing acts of physical violence which result in the deaths of innocent lives of all ages, genders, creeds, religious backgrounds and other social factors.

I'm not talking about just the wars and skirmishes abroad, but all the various shooting sprees and other attacks; whether by gun, knife, wildly driven motor vehicles, etc.

Why these events happen and spawn from minor disagreements to major issues is beyond me.

Perhaps it is just man's long standing inhumanity to their fellow humans.

But just because someone is different doesn't give another person the right to do evil against them.

As part of the Within The United States of America segment of THE WEEK IN REVIEW every Saturday, I post WE NEED MORE GUN RESPONSIBILITY NOW!

Wanting more conscious use and ownership doesn't seem unreasonable. Does it?

Each year as I make this post, I keep hoping things will get better.

While some years have been better than others, the fact these events—from muggings gone wrong to actual wars—still occur saddens me.

Yet regardless of the reason(s) why versus the success or failure of trying to prevent them, there is still one thing above all else that we must never lose.

Lee Houston, Junior

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

25 May, 2026

The above was an editorial.

DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING, JUNIOR DAY 2026

 The following is an editorial.

KING MEMORIAL, WASHINGTON DC

Once again we pause to honor a good man who is no longer with us, but sadly this year is different because those currently running the United States do not believe in "wokeness", let alone diversity, equality and inclusion.

Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior (1929-1968) was a minister and civil rights leader who believed that all were created equal, regardless of skin color, gender, wealth or whatever other factors society might use to attempt dividing its people.

"THE SOFT MINDED MAN ALWAYS FEARS CHANGE. HE HAS AN ALMOST MORBID FEAR OF THE NEW. FOR HIM, THE GREATEST PAIN IS THE PAIN OF A NEW IDEA."

Doctor King grew up in a world of segregation and even after some achievements to correct this issue, including then President Lyndon Baines Johnson signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law, realized there was still a long way to go before "the dream" was truly achieved.

"I HAVE A DREAM THAT MY FOUR LITTLE CHILDREN WILL ONE DAY LIVE IN A NATION WHERE THEY WILL NOT BE JUDGED BY THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN, BUT BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER."

Sadly Doctor King was assassinated in 1968, his work unfinished, but others strive to continue the task.

We are one race upon a singular planet within the vastness of the universe.

Regardless of who you are, we must all work together for not only the betterment of this world, but ourselves, our civilization today and the generations to come.

"WE MUST LIVE TOGETHER AS BROTHERS, OR PERISH TOGETHER AS FOOLS."

With current events in Minnesota and elsewhere, hopefully by next year's Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior Day I may have something more positive to post.

"DARKNESS CANNOT DRIVE OUT DARKNESS. ONLY LIGHT CAN DO THAT.

HATE CANNOT DRIVE OUT HATE. ONLY LOVE CAN DO THAT."

"I BELIEVE THAT UNARMED TRUTH AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE FINAL WORD IN REALITY.

THAT IS WHY, EVEN TEMPORARILY DEFEATED, RIGHT IS ALWAYS STRONGER THAN ANY EVIL TRIUMPHANT."

ALL QUOTES BY DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING, JUNIOR.

Lee Houston, Junior

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

19 January, 2026

The 2/TWO separate links above were active at the time of posting this article.

The above was an editorial.

BLACK FRIDAY 2025

 The following is an editorial.

At the stroke of midnight Eastern Standard Time within the United States starts November 28 and the
increasingly misnamed "Black Friday".

The practice began when retail stores opened well before dawn the day after Thanksgiving to start Christmas sales early, but it has been seriously extended over the years to begin up to at least the week before the actual holiday in November, if not earlier.

The staff and management of The Free Choice E-zine has no problem with any business making an honest income, but does wonder if perhaps this event needs to be reorganized since it has far outgrown its original intentions and time frame.

In any event, may we present our annual ode to Black Friday...

SOME DARE BRAVE THE GLOOM OF BLACKEST NIGHT,

QUESTING FOR BARGAINS UPON THEIR TREK,

TO HIT EVERY SALE BEFORE DAYLIGHT.

ME? I PLANNED WELL AHEAD.

NO NERVES, CREDIT, OR CAR SUFFERED WRECK.

JUST RESTFUL SLUMBER WITHIN MY OWN BED.

Lee Houston, Junior

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

The above was an editorial.

SAFETY FIRST REDUX

 The following is an editorial.

Back on September 7, I posted an editorial entitled SAFETY FIRST, concerning the possible dangers that might entail from the way the canned soups were stacked on the shelves at my local Walmart.

Over this past weekend, I happened to be back down that same aisle needing more soup and guess what?

YEP!

Cans were still stacked haphazardly on both the selling shelves and the overstock shelf above!

This time there is even merchandise sticking out over the edge of the upper most selling shelf on the left hand side of the photo!

You can click the photo to see a larger version of it.

Apparently common sense isn't as common as it used to be. 😕

Lee Houston, Junior

Editor-in-Chief, The Free Choice E-zine.

The above was an editorial.

TOO SOON! 2025 EDITION

 The following is an editorial.

When I went grocery shopping yesterday, guess what I saw at my local Walmart?

At Walmart 02022 and probably many others.

They were already well into turning the Garden section of the store into the annual Christmas Department!

Considering that yesterday was October 1 and Halloween isn't until the 31st, IT'S TOO SOON!

Now I have absolutely no problem with any persons or businesses wanting to earn an honest income, but seriously?

Couldn't setting this up have waited until the last week of October to start and still be ready before Thanksgiving on November 27 this year?

Lee Houston, Junior

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

The above was an editorial.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2025

 THE FOLLOWING IS AN EDITORIAL.

Time has lessened the pain, but the memories remain.

It has become an annual tradition here at The Free Choice E-zine to post the poem below to remember the innocent lives lost and the brave men and women who gave all to not only help those they could, but to assist America and the world to move on.

THEY DID NOT DIE IN VAIN

A poem by Nancy A. Hansen

All humanity sighed

As souls left the earth
Lives taken swiftly
Unjustly so
They died not in vain
For tears and remorse
Wash clean the blood
On the crumpled edifices
Of steel and concrete
That makes civilization grand

But buildings do not define us
Within we are human
Warm and alive
Full of stories
Martyrs they became, oh yes
But so much more
Every last one
A living testament
To faith

In better times...

Hope
Pride
Charity
Accomplishment
And the greatest force on earth
Love

We watched in horror
Over and over again
As the events were replayed
And reactions were given
Stunned looks
Terror in the streets
Angry oaths
Silent sobs
Open weeping
Our brethren were stoic
Or they cried and pleaded
They were dead heroes or victims
But they were all alive
Just moments before
Without any foreknowledge
Of their place in history
Etched on our minds
Engraved on our hearts
For eternity

I wept with them
The ones who died
The living left behind
The shattered hopes and dreams
Like the rubble in the streets
Made us all stop and think
That could be me!
I watched stunned
And vowed as did others
We will overcome this
We are one people
We are humane and caring
This cannot be!

September 11, 2001

Who dares challenge that right?
To live free and open lives
To send fear into our hearts
And sorrow of the most profound
For after all is said and done
Nevermore will we trust
With the heart of innocents
That we are safe and protected
In this womb of our building
In this fortress of our sovereignty

Will the swords of justice
Smite down the aggressors
And bring us peace and redress?
Or just a sense of revenge
I do not know
But I do know this
They died not in vain
Who gave their lives for freedom
And to help their fellow man
For as the tragedy struck
And lives hung in the balance
Or were snuffed out
I saw birds rise from the buildings
Sun on their wings
Angels of nature
Reminding me that there is a better place
Where there is no grief or pain
And no thoughts of war
May they live there forever
Those poor wretched souls
Till we join them again

And amid all the rubble
The twisted beams of steel and concrete
The dust and the fires

September 11, 2015

Papers fluttered to earth
A poignant reminder
We once lived and worked here
Do not forget us
We live on in your hearts
Forevermore
We did not die in vain
If the world becomes a better place
Because we once showed you
How to care about your brethren
And to value all you have
No matter how small it is
Or how rude and humble
Life is a gift!

THE ABOVE WAS AN EDITORIAL.

SAFETY FIRST!

 The following is an editorial.

Recently when grocery shopping, I noticed something amiss at my local Walmart.

Nowadays a lot of stores, regardless of what they sell, are trying to maximize their shelves to get the most out of the space possible.

Take a look at this cellphone photograph I took Friday, September 5.

It's not the unknown lady who wound up in the photograph I'm calling your attention to but the arrangement of all the can goods.

A lot of those various soups are a lot higher than they should be.

Here's a closer look at the same photograph.

The unknow lady is about my height. 5foot 8, give or take an inch.

About average height for regular every day people.

Everything above the green line I added with Microsoft Paint, which is the only alteration I made to this picture, is literally over our collective heads, making it difficult for the average consumer to reach anything above that green line.

Now then. Notice anything else amiss?

While it does say ASK FOR ASSISTANCE WITH ITEMS ON THE TOP SHELF (within the blue trimming), all those items on the top shelf could possibly fall and hurt someone if not handled properly.

ESPECIALLY the ones in the Microsoft Paint red circle I added.

Again, other than the Microsoft Paint highlighting, the photo is totally unedited and unaltered.

That was the soup section as is when I took the picture.

Hopefully more common sense will be used on this and other shelves in the future.

The above was an editorial.

MEMORIAL DAY, 2025

 The following is an editorial.

Every Memorial Day I post an editorial in regards to the brave men and women who are serving or have served within the various branches of the United States Military Forces.

Especially those who either willingly gave or lost their life to defend this country from those who would see it conquered and its freedoms squashed.

I have also spoken in recent years about the growing instances of physical violence which have resulted in the deaths of innocents both here and abroad.

Why these events happen and spawn from everything from minor disagreements to major issues without reaching a peaceful accord is beyond me.

Perhaps the worse, in my humble opinion, is just Mankind's inhumanity to their fellow human beings.

Different religious beliefs, different sexual and/or gender viewpoints, even comparing and contrasting the social or financial status of individuals could possibly create a conflict.

Yet regardless of the reason(s) why versus the success or failure of actually preventing something bad from happening, there is one thing above all else that we must never lose.

Lee Houston, Junior

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

26 May, 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.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JUNIOR DAY: JANUARY 20, 2025

 The following is an editorial.

January 20, 2025 is poised to be an interesting day in United States history.

First is the fact that today marks the 105th anniversary of the American Civil Liberties Union.

We are also still within the official period of mourning for the passing of former President Jimmy Carter. While US flags are supposed to remain at half staff until January 29, some folks have announced that they will violate Federal Flag Codes today and flag their flags at full staff instead because Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, replacing Joseph Biden.

But this is also the third Monday of January, the date set aside each year to honor the memory of Civil Rights Leader Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior.

A man taken from us much too soon.

While I have posted several memorial articles here on The Free Choice E-zine over the years honoring him, I cannot help thinking that in these troubled times we need a voice of reason like Doctor King possessed now more than ever.

THOSE WHO LOVE PEACE MUST LEARN TO ORGANIZE AS EFFECTIVELY AS THOSE WHO LOVE WAR.

Hatred and bigotry seem to lead the "hit parade" in regards to man's inhumanity towards his fellow human beings lately.

I HAVE A DREAM THAT MY FOUR LITTLE CHILDREN WILL ONE DAY LIVE IN A NATION WHERE THEY WILL NOT BE JUDGED BY THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN, BUT BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER.

Voter suppression, class separation, wealth dividing society, women's rights being suppressed, war and rumors of war...

DARKNESS CANNOT DRIVE OUT DARKNESS. ONLY LIGHT CAN DO THAT.

HATE CANNOT DRIVE OUT HATE. ONLY LOVE CAN DO THAT.

When will it end?

THE TIME IS ALWAYS RIGHT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT.

Hopefully peacefully within our respective lifetimes.

YOU ONLY NEED A HEART FULL OF GRACE AND A SOUL GENERATED BY LOVE.

While I am too young to remember him expect from a historical perspective, Doctor King is known and respected around the world.

WE MUST LIVE TOGETHER AS BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

OR PERISH TOGETHER AS FOOLS.

I BELIEVE THAT UNARMED TRUTH AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE WILL HAVE THE FINAL WORD IN REALITY.

THAT IS WHY RIGHT, EVEN TEMPORARILY DEFEATED, IS ALWAYS STRONGER THAN ANY EVIL TRIUMPHANT.

Lee Houston, Junior

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

January 20, 2025

The above was an editorial.

DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHOR KING, JUNIOR IN QUOTES.

All links were active at the time of posting.

"BLACK" FRIDAY 2024

The following is an editorial.

 In recent years, many stores opened in the VERY early hours of the Friday after Thanksgiving to offer potential customers bargains that were hopefully better than what was available at their competitors.

This became known as "Black" Friday, being opened before sunrise.

In time that practice was expanded to include Thanksgiving night, provided the stores even bothered to close the Wednesday before the holiday.

As of this year, some stores have even extended "Black" Friday to weekends before and past the Thanksgiving weekend.

Christmas has certainly gotten way more commercial than it used to be, with stores decorating at or before Halloween and Christmas commercials airing on television since November 1.

Even some radio stations switched to an all Christmas Carols format the week before Thanksgiving instead of doing so on the holiday itself.

Granted sales strategies, let alone buying ad space and air time, need to be planned way in advance; but all of the above just seems to cheapen the Christmas SPIRIT in our humble opinion.

In any event, the promotions are upon us and we are mere hours away from "Black" Friday, depending upon whose sales you plan to hit or have already been to.

Therefore, The Free Choice E-zine continues its annual tradition of posting our Ode To Black Friday poem.

SOME DARE BRAVE THE GLOOM OF BLACKEST NIGHT

QUESTING FOR BARGAINS UPON THEIR TREK

HITTING EVERY SALE BEFORE DAYLIGHT

ME? I PLANNED WELL AHEAD

NO NERVES, CREDIT, OR CAR SUFFERED WRECK

JUST RESTFUL SLUMBER WITHIN MY OWN BED.

Wishing you and yours the happiest of the holiday season ahead.

Lee Houston, Junior

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

29 November, 2024

The above was an editorial.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2024

 THE FOLLOWING IS AN EDITORIAL.

It has become an annual tradition here at The Free Choice E-zine to post the poem below to remember the innocent lives lost and the brave men and women who gave all to not only help those they could, but to assist America and the world move on.

THEY DID NOT DIE IN VAIN

A poem by Nancy A. Hansen

All humanity sighed

As souls left the earth
Lives taken swiftly
Unjustly so
They died not in vain
For tears and remorse
Wash clean the blood
On the crumpled edifices
Of steel and concrete
That makes civilization grand

But buildings do not define us
Within we are human
Warm and alive
Full of stories
Martyrs they became, oh yes
But so much more
Every last one
A living testament
To faith

In better times...

Hope
Pride
Charity
Accomplishment
And the greatest force on earth
Love

We watched in horror
Over and over again
As the events were replayed
And reactions were given
Stunned looks
Terror in the streets
Angry oaths
Silent sobs
Open weeping
Our brethren were stoic
Or they cried and pleaded
They were dead heroes or victims
But they were all alive
Just moments before
Without any foreknowledge
Of their place in history
Etched on our minds
Engraved on our hearts
For eternity

I wept with them
The ones who died
The living left behind
The shattered hopes and dreams
Like the rubble in the streets
Made us all stop and think
That could be me!
I watched stunned
And vowed as did others
We will overcome this
We are one people
We are humane and caring
This cannot be!

September 11, 2001

Who dares challenge that right?
To live free and open lives
To send fear into our hearts
And sorrow of the most profound
For after all is said and done
Nevermore will we trust
With the heart of innocents
That we are safe and protected
In this womb of our building
In this fortress of our sovereignty

Will the swords of justice
Smite down the aggressors
And bring us peace and redress?
Or just a sense of revenge
I do not know
But I do know this
They died not in vain
Who gave their lives for freedom
And to help their fellow man
For as the tragedy struck
And lives hung in the balance
Or were snuffed out
I saw birds rise from the buildings
Sun on their wings
Angels of nature
Reminding me that there is a better place
Where there is no grief or pain
And no thoughts of war
May they live there forever
Those poor wretched souls
Till we join them again

And amid all the rubble
The twisted beams of steel and concrete
The dust and the fires

September 11, 2015

Papers fluttered to earth
A poignant reminder
We once lived and worked here
Do not forget us
We live on in your hearts
Forevermore
We did not die in vain
If the world becomes a better place
Because we once showed you
How to care about your brethren
And to value all you have
No matter how small it is
Or how rude and humble
Life is a gift!

THE ABOVE WAS AN EDITORIAL.

MEMORIAL DAY 2024

 THE FOLLOWING IS AN EDITORIAL.

Once again it is Memorial Day in the United States of America.

I have written several of these editorials since The Free Choice E-zine started in 2008.

Last year's was one of the hardest.

While those who serve within the respective branches of any country's military, let alone the police and fire departments, expect and are prepared for danger, that doesn't mean the innocent bystanders that are served and protected to the best abilities of our men and women in uniform are.

Statistically things may be better than this time last year but it is still happening!*

Almost 5000 lost just by February of this year is TOO MANY!

America, let alone the world itself, is far from perfect.

The current situations in the Ukraine and the Middle East prove that, let alone all the "saber rattling" other countries are doing.

Although World Peace is unfortunately still a long way off from having any chance of being achieved, the United States Congress needs to take further action on creating additional gun responsibility than it has already managed to because the next time a major "reign of terror" event happens the survivors, let alone their families, will need more than "Thoughts and Prayers" to see them through!

Even after last year's Memorial Day editorial addressing this issue, there are still too many broken hearts and empty beds within this country as it is.

THE ABOVE WAS AN EDITORIAL.

Lee Houston, Junior

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

All links were active at the time of posting.

*Denotes 2/TWO separate links within that sentence.

BLACK FRIDAY 2023

 The following is an editorial.

The holiday sales tradition known as "Black Friday", where many retail businesses opened LONG before sunrise the day after Thanksgiving, took a step back over the last few years along with a lot of other things due to the COVID pandemic.

However the practice seems to be making a comeback this year with many retailers advertising early Black Friday sales since Halloween ended.

While not against the SPIRIT of the holiday season, I personally have no idea when, how or why the world has gotten so commercial in recent years with Christmas themed ads starting November 1 and many Free Choice E-zine readers sending emails about radio stations that switched to an all Christmas music themed format as early as Saturday November 18 when in years past no one would play a yuletide tune before the late afternoon of Thanksgiving at the earliest since most stations waited until that Friday morning to begin their holiday programming.

In any event, the promotions are upon us and we are mere hours away from Black Friday, depending upon whose sale you plan to hit before sunrise.

Therefore, The Free Choice E-zine resumes its annual tradition of posting our Ode To Black Friday poem.

SOME DARE BRAVE THE GLOOM OF BLACKEST NIGHT
QUESTING FOR BARGAINS UPON THEIR TREK
HITTING EVERY SALE BEFORE DAYLIGHT

ME? I PLANNED WELL AHEAD
NO NERVES, CREDIT, OR CAR SUFFERED WRECK
JUST RESTFUL SLUMBER WITHIN MY OWN BED.

Wishing you and yours the happiest of the holiday season ahead.

Lee Houston, Junior

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

24 November, 2023

The above was an editorial.