DBJ doesn't usually run sports articles, but the recent trashing of his new hometown, team, coach, ex-coach and fans in Sports Illustrated by highly-touted new running back Ricky Williams highlights a problem in our society which needs addressing.  Actually, it was Williams' attempt at an apology which highlights the problem best.  "Being young and immature and not grown up yet," he said, "sometimes I'm really fickle."
  Excuse us?  Since when is someone who is twenty-three years old not grown up yet?  Young, yes, but not young enough to have the maturity level of a five-year-old.  It's hard to fault Williams too much though when the message society has been sending for a long time now is that no one under fifty seems mature enough to assume responsibility for his or her actions.
  We as a society need to begin letting our young people take responsibility.  We need to quit telling them that their lack of self-esteem is someone else's problem.  We need to tell them that self-esteem is earned by accomplishment, by work and effort, by productivity.  These lessons need to begin in early childhood.  Children live up to what is expected of them and obviously very little other than running fast was ever expected from Ricky Williams.

  We at DBJ welcome our new Governor and our new Executive Director of the Department of Economic and Community Development and we want to support their efforts in education and economic development.  We are, however, a little alarmed at some quotations in the last issue of our own magazine.
  Every new director, of course, wants his own imprint on the Department, and every Governor wants his own man in place.  All of this is natural.  However, the term "retooling" gives us the jitters.  Throughout the history of this agency, retooling has brought the agency to a standstill with each new administration.  Despite excellent staff and a couple of excellent directors, the agency has been whipsawed so frequently that it was largely ineffectual throughout half of its history.
Jimmy Heidel was there long enough to actually get some programs going, and while no one is perfect, he did an excellent job.  DBJ wants to urge the new administration not to pull down the house in order to renovate it.  Build on what is there.  This foundation has taken many, many years to put it in place.  Economic development is a long-term effort, a house that can't be built in a day.

  We at the DBJ are delighted to recognize the inauguration of Dr. David Potter as the new president of Delta State University.  In his brief tenure at the University, change and new vision have been the hot new watch words of his new administration. No doubt, his significant experience gained as Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs at George Mason University will provide a tremendous boon to the expansion and improvement of educational outreach in the Delta. We at the DBJ salute this new DSU president and we most strongly support him in his efforts to make a difference in the Delta. Welcome Sir.