SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

[YankeeDawg]

I posted this earlier today in an existing thread, but felt it deserved its own...

"I've been thinking about posting this since last night but was not sure if I should.  However, after reading several of the posts in this thread, here  goes...

I think the tragic and untimely death of Matt Thomas, as unfortunate as it was, served to be a "turnaround" for the town of Vidor.  Many people that I have spoken with since shortly after his death right up thru today have taken a more positive view of Vidor as a whole.  As sad as his passing was for his family. teammates, friends and others he came in contact with, I think they can take some solace in knowing that this young man, of all people, may have been responsible for at least partially erasing the "image" that your town has portrayed (factually or not) in the past.  Isn't it ironic that, for a town that has been deemed as racist by many, it took the accidental death of a young, African American high school student/football player to reverse the thinking of so many both within and outside of the Vidor community.  If I may say without offending anyone, I truly believe that this was the Lord's plan for Matt from the beginning..HE does work in ways we may not fully understand...but it doesn't matter..we have seen already the positive changes that have taken place and I'm sure there will be more to come...I feel that Matt is sitting with his Maker, smiling down on what they see and him now knowing what his purpose on this earth was really all about.

Thank you for allowing to speak my heart... "

R.I.P. #28 and Thank You 

[Riding Solo]

One of the best post I have ever read on setxsports. Thumbs up man.

[Riding Solo]

There is so much negativity in the world today and even on this website. It is so refreshing to hear a positive post like yours, I applaud you.

[NDNation]

Great Post! I think thru all that has happened with Vidor this year that they have earned the respect that they so much deserve!

[liltex]

+1 great post

[Riding Solo]

That being said in 2012 this should not be an issue anymore. 

[DoRightTrojanFan]

Great post... a lot of truth!

[robanadana]

Absolutely agree YankeeDawg, well said. I think Matt's death was a pivotal moment that has shown the change our community has been working so hard for was actually happening. It was great to have the large number of Ozen players and supporters in the stands with us rooting for victory against Livingston. Everyone I know that was in attendance was very supportive and appreciative of the reception they were given while our guests. The Communist News Network expose back in '06 was particularly damaging and I felt it hurt not only Vidor but the entire area. Vidorians are hard working, blue and white collar mostly religious people who take a lot of civic pride anymore. Look through any of the schools in our area and you will find kids whose parents who work in the same refineries, etc. and that there is not much difference between Vidor or Nederland or Central or WOS. People in our area live relatively well and the old thought process that an entire town can be connected to something as ludicrous as racism in 2011 is just wrong. There will always be that small group of individuals that we all have in our collective towns who bring us shame but most SE Texans are salt of the earth and we Vidorians are no different.

[Pirates34]

Great post thank you!

[snafu]

great words! and you are so correct!!!!!!! +1

[vhs]

Thank you

[baddog]

Great post Yankee.

[YankeeDawg]

Appreciate all your positive comments.

[APanthers]

[quote name="YankeeDawg" post="1132396" timestamp="1322364053"]
I posted this earlier today in an existing thread, but felt it deserved its own...

"I've been thinking about posting this since last night but was not sure if I should.  However, after reading several of the posts in this thread, here  goes...

I think the tragic and untimely death of Matt Thomas, as unfortunate as it was, served to be a "turnaround" for the town of Vidor.  Many people that I have spoken with since shortly after his death right up thru today have taken a more positive view of Vidor as a whole.  As sad as his passing was for his family. teammates, friends and others he came in contact with, I think they can take some solace in knowing that this young man, of all people, may have been responsible for at least partially erasing the "image" that your town has portrayed (factually or not) in the past.  Isn't it ironic that, for a town that has been deemed as racist by many, it took the accidental death of a young, African American high school student/football player to reverse the thinking of so many both within and outside of the Vidor community.  If I may say without offending anyone, I truly believe that this was the Lord's plan for Matt from the beginning..HE does work in ways we may not fully understand...but it doesn't matter..we have seen already the positive changes that have taken place and I'm sure there will be more to come...I feel that Matt is sitting with his Maker, smiling down on what they see and him now knowing what his purpose on this earth was really all about.

Thank you for allowing to speak my heart... "

R.I.P. #28 and Thank You
[/quote]Great Post +1

[JollyRoger81]

[quote name="YankeeDawg" post="1132396" timestamp="1322364053"]
I posted this earlier today in an existing thread, but felt it deserved its own...

"I've been thinking about posting this since last night but was not sure if I should.  However, after reading several of the posts in this thread, here  goes...

I think the tragic and untimely death of Matt Thomas, as unfortunate as it was, served to be a "turnaround" for the town of Vidor.  Many people that I have spoken with since shortly after his death right up thru today have taken a more positive view of Vidor as a whole.  As sad as his passing was for his family. teammates, friends and others he came in contact with, I think they can take some solace in knowing that this young man, of all people, may have been responsible for at least partially erasing the "image" that your town has portrayed (factually or not) in the past.  Isn't it ironic that, for a town that has been deemed as racist by many, it took the accidental death of a young, African American high school student/football player to reverse the thinking of so many both within and outside of the Vidor community.  If I may say without offending anyone, I truly believe that this was the Lord's plan for Matt from the beginning..HE does work in ways we may not fully understand...but it doesn't matter..we have seen already the positive changes that have taken place and I'm sure there will be more to come...I feel that Matt is sitting with his Maker, smiling down on what they see and him now knowing what his purpose on this earth was really all about.

Thank you for allowing to speak my heart... "

R.I.P. #28 and Thank You
[/quote]
+1

[JollyRoger81]

[quote name="robanadana" post="1132561" timestamp="1322372137"]
Absolutely agree YankeeDawg, well said. I think Matt's death was a pivotal moment that has shown the change our community has been working so hard for was actually happening. It was great to have the large number of Ozen players and supporters in the stands with us rooting for victory against Livingston. Everyone I know that was in attendance was very supportive and appreciative of the reception they were given while our guests. The Communist News Network expose back in '06 was particularly damaging and I felt it hurt not only Vidor but the entire area. Vidorians are hard working, blue and white collar mostly religious people who take a lot of civic pride anymore. Look through any of the schools in our area and you will find kids whose parents who work in the same refineries, etc. and that there is not much difference between Vidor or Nederland or Central or WOS. People in our area live relatively well and the old thought process that an entire town can be connected to something as ludicrous as racism in 2011 is just wrong. There will always be that small group of individuals that we all have in our collective towns who bring us shame but most SE Texans are salt of the earth and we Vidorians are no different.
[/quote]
+1

[Guest octfeb]

[quote name="YankeeDawg" post="1132396" timestamp="1322364053"]
I posted this earlier today in an existing thread, but felt it deserved its own...

"I've been thinking about posting this since last night but was not sure if I should.  However, after reading several of the posts in this thread, here  goes...

I think the tragic and untimely death of Matt Thomas, as unfortunate as it was, served to be a "turnaround" for the town of Vidor.  Many people that I have spoken with since shortly after his death right up thru today have taken a more positive view of Vidor as a whole.  As sad as his passing was for his family. teammates, friends and others he came in contact with, I think they can take some solace in knowing that this young man, of all people, may have been responsible for at least partially erasing the "image" that your town has portrayed (factually or not) in the past.  Isn't it ironic that, for a town that has been deemed as racist by many, it took the accidental death of a young, African American high school student/football player to reverse the thinking of so many both within and outside of the Vidor community.  If I may say without offending anyone, [b]I truly believe that this was the Lord's plan for Matt from the beginning..HE does work in ways we may not fully understand...but it doesn't matter..we have seen already the positive changes that have taken place and I'm sure there will be more to come...I feel that Matt is sitting with his Maker, smiling down on what they see and him now knowing what his purpose on this earth was really all about.
[/b]
Thank you for allowing to speak my heart... "

R.I.P. #28 and Thank You
[/quote]I completely agree with this.. I thought the same thing... And may I say, please never apologize for talking about God in fear you may offend someone. That's whats wrong today, people are afraid they will offend someone when they speak about God, outside of Church.
Mark 16:15  And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

[MHS32]

[quote name="YankeeDawg" post="1132396" timestamp="1322364053"]
I posted this earlier today in an existing thread, but felt it deserved its own...

"I've been thinking about posting this since last night but was not sure if I should.  However, after reading several of the posts in this thread, here  goes...

I think the tragic and untimely death of Matt Thomas, as unfortunate as it was, served to be a "turnaround" for the town of Vidor.  Many people that I have spoken with since shortly after his death right up thru today have taken a more positive view of Vidor as a whole.  As sad as his passing was for his family. teammates, friends and others he came in contact with, I think they can take some solace in knowing that this young man, of all people, may have been responsible for at least partially erasing the "image" that your town has portrayed (factually or not) in the past.  Isn't it ironic that, for a town that has been deemed as racist by many, it took the accidental death of a young, African American high school student/football player to reverse the thinking of so many both within and outside of the Vidor community.  If I may say without offending anyone, I truly believe that this was the Lord's plan for Matt from the beginning..HE does work in ways we may not fully understand...but it doesn't matter..we have seen already the positive changes that have taken place and I'm sure there will be more to come...I feel that Matt is sitting with his Maker, smiling down on what they see and him now knowing what his purpose on this earth was really all about.

Thank you for allowing to speak my heart... "

R.I.P. #28 and Thank You
[/quote]


Great post YankeeDawg  :)

[YankeeDawg]

[quote name="octfeb" post="1133426" timestamp="1322487045"]
[quote author=YankeeDawg link=topic=92284.msg1132396#msg1132396 date=1322364053]
I posted this earlier today in an existing thread, but felt it deserved its own...

"I've been thinking about posting this since last night but was not sure if I should.  However, after reading several of the posts in this thread, here  goes...

I think the tragic and untimely death of Matt Thomas, as unfortunate as it was, served to be a "turnaround" for the town of Vidor.  Many people that I have spoken with since shortly after his death right up thru today have taken a more positive view of Vidor as a whole.  As sad as his passing was for his family. teammates, friends and others he came in contact with, I think they can take some solace in knowing that this young man, of all people, may have been responsible for at least partially erasing the "image" that your town has portrayed (factually or not) in the past.  Isn't it ironic that, for a town that has been deemed as racist by many, it took the accidental death of a young, African American high school student/football player to reverse the thinking of so many both within and outside of the Vidor community.  If I may say without offending anyone, [b]I truly believe that this was the Lord's plan for Matt from the beginning..HE does work in ways we may not fully understand...but it doesn't matter..we have seen already the positive changes that have taken place and I'm sure there will be more to come...I feel that Matt is sitting with his Maker, smiling down on what they see and him now knowing what his purpose on this earth was really all about.
[/b]
Thank you for allowing to speak my heart... "

R.I.P. #28 and Thank You
[/quote]I completely agree with this.. I thought the same thing... And may I say, please never apologize for talking about God in fear you may offend someone. That's whats wrong today, people are afraid they will offend someone when they speak about God, outside of Church.
Mark 16:15  And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
[/quote]

Thanks OCTFEB, I fully understand and appreciate your comments.                       

And Amen !! to the scripture you quoted.