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Only Loughner Is To Blame for Tucson Shooting

In Business, Media, National News, Politics, State News, Uncategorized on January 12, 2011 at 11:51 am

Commentary By Gery L. Deer

DEER IN HEADLINES

As authorities work to piece together more details on the Tucson, Arizona shooting that killed six and critically injured Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, people should be mindful of the dangers involved with courting rumor and speculation.

Pundits are inundating the airways and cyberspace with opinions, speculation and finger pointing in an effort to use this horrific event to discredit the platform of their opponents. Politicizing this event in such a way is shameful.

While there is little doubt that the shooter, 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner, is a deeply troubled and unstable individual, no evidence has been uncovered at this point to support theories of conspiracy. Nor has he been officially tied to any sort of anti-government organization or political party.

Yet, there is further talk about this man being encouraged to violence by the politicians themselves through metaphor or badly worded speeches and writings. However, to blame Sarah Palin, Barak Obama or anyone else for this man’s twisted behavior is pointless and disrespectful to all involved, particularly the victims.

The events of January 7th were perpetrated by one man whose dissatisfaction with the world around him combined with his mental and emotional issues to push him over the edge of reason and compassion.

No doubt the Hollywood left will soon weigh in about the fact that the man used a gun. A gun control argument regarding this situation is pointless. If Loughner was as mentally disturbed as has been reported, he would have found a way to do this, whether by way of a gun or some other weapon. And if the gun could not be bought legally, he would have obtained it illegally.

Just a reminder, Presidents Reagan and Kennedy were both shot while surrounded by the United States Secret Service – the best-trained and best-armed security officers in the history of the world. Crackpots will always find a way.

Through all of the mindless conjecture being bantered about on television news and talk radio, one argument does have some merit. Political rhetoric and unrest is at a long-time high in America right now. Not since the Vietnam War have Americans been so politically divided.

Clearly America’s political landscape is toxic and shows no immediate signs of improvement. Even so, how one chooses to respond to the current state of government separates activists from lunatics. There is no way to know what Loughner hoped to gain by attacking Congresswoman Giffords, but it is likely he expected to be killed in the attempt.

No one made this man act as he did. It was his choice – whether he proves out to be sane or not. His political or emotional motives are little comfort to families and friends of his victims who struggle to cope with the loss and injury of loved ones.

The big question now is to determine how something like this can be prevented from happening again? Unfortunately, there is just no way to do that. As long as there is a voice of the people, there will be no way to please everyone and fanatics always manage to float to the top, like flotsam in the currents of history.

Occasionally, those fanatics turn out to be great heroes, like our own founding fathers. Usually, however, they are just misguided malcontents who never see the bigger picture or have any understanding of how their actions affect others.

Winston Churchill said, “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.” As long as people are free to speak their minds, people will voice their discontent. Practiced peacefully, protest brings about healthy change and keeps politicians on the straight and narrow. When protest turns violent however, as it did in Tucson, innocent people pay the price.

Gery L. Deer is a freelance writer and columnist based in Jamestown, Ohio. More at http://www.gerydeer.com

Xenia BNI Informational Session Set For Friday at XACC Office

In Business, Local News, Media, Uncategorized on January 12, 2011 at 11:48 am

XENIA, OH – Jim Weghorst, executive director of the Miami Valley region of BNI, or
Business Network International, has announced the formation of new chapter of
the organization in Xenia. Local business professionals are invited to attend a
free informational session beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday January 14 in the
meeting room of the Xenia Area Chamber of Commerce office, 334 W. Market Street.
Weghorst will show participants how referral based networking can increase
visibility, credibility and profitability in today’s difficult economic
environment.

The international BNI organization was started in 1985 by professional
networking guru Dr. Ivan Misner and has grown to more than 5,000 chapters
world-wide.  The goal of BNI is to help members develop a profitable,
direct-contact referral network free of internal competition because only one
representative from each profession is allowed per chapter. Through the BNI
structure, a network of professional connections will grow well beyond the core
group and extend small business contacts to unrealized potential customers.

Local writer and public relations consultant Gery L. Deer, of Jamestown, is a
long-time member of the Greater Dayton Professionals Chapter of BNI which meets
in Beavercreek. Deer has served several positions in his chapter’s leadership
team over the years and will be attending Friday’s session to answer questions
and offer a member’s perspective.

“A membership in BNI compliments other networking activities such as chambers of
commerce and service clubs while offering the opportunity to grow by focusing on
the exchange of qualified referrals rather than cold leads,” said Deer. “My
chapter closed 2010 with over a million dollars in referred sales and my hope is
that a chapter in the Xenia area can do the same.”

BNI also offers members access to extensive educational programs in the areas of
business growth and networking. For more information call Jim Weghorst at (513)
314-1236 or go online to www.bni.com.

Jamestown Commercial Writing Firm Announces Re-Launch

In Business, Local News, Media, Uncategorized on December 29, 2010 at 10:39 am

GLD Enterprises Commercial Writing managing copywriter Gery L. Deer at his Jamestown office.

JAMESTOWN – After nearly a year of retooling, the management of GLD Enterprises Commercial Writing in Jamestown is looking forward, and in a new direction. Established in 1998 as a media production and talent referral agency, the company has changed names and focus to concentrate solely on business copywriting and public relations consulting services.

Freelance writer and speaker Gery L. Deer is the managing copywriter and owner of the firm. While much of his early background is in engineering and technology, he has had more than two decades of experience in freelance journalism, public relations and commercial business writing.

“We were already handling a good deal of work in the areas of business writing and public relations, so it wasn’t a difficult transition but it meant redirecting our focus, especially in the new economy,” said Deer. The company has already provided services to major players in the Dayton regional business market including accounting firms, chiropractic clinics, marketing and advertising agencies, construction firms and specialty companies.

No stranger to the business community, Deer has worked with some of the best known organizations such as Standard Register, IBM and Whirlpool Corporation. As a freelance writer, he has provided content and editorial services to every major print publication in the Dayton region and had his share of notoriety.

In 2010 Deer was nominated for the Ohio Public Image Network Award in Media and considered for a Pulitzer Prize in journalism. His weekly, self-syndicated op-ed column, Deer In Headlines, is featured in more than a dozen print and online publications. His work in the entertainment industry spans the gambit from stage to television and includes event development, script consulting, stunt work and variety performance.

“Over the years, nothing proved to be more important to the success of any business than a consistent message,” Deer said. “We work alongside marketing and public relations personnel to bring more focus to a company’s message inside and outside the business.”

Reworking the operation required some outside input, so Deer enlisted the resources available through the Small Business Development Center at Wright State University’s Raj Soin College of Business. Over three months students from the college were assigned to help analyze the company’s business plan and make adjustments where needed.

The result was a thoroughly different company, complete with a new marketing objective, updated products and a fresh website full of information and testimonials reflecting more than a decade of work in the commercial writing industry.

Thanks to an efficient network of contacts, GLD Enterprises Commercial Writing, nicknamed The Concierge Copywriter ™, will be able to assist companies located anywhere in the country. According to Deer, however, they will focus on the areas of Dayton, Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio at first.

“The southwest central Ohio region is underestimated and underserved in the areas of business copywriting and media relations, especially the small and medium sized companies,” Deer said. “There are blossoming new industries forming in the wake of a diminishing recession and I believe we can help them grow.”

Deer also noted that the new spin-off firm will operate out of their main office in the studios of GLD Enterprises & Productions in Jamestown. For more information, contact Gery L. Deer by calling (937) 902-4857 or visit www.theconciergecopywriter.com.