It’s our town and we need to take care of it
As you know I am not a mountain guy. I am what you local guys call a half-back and that’s okay by me. I moved here to be near my kids, grandkids, and great grandkids.
But after a while here I really began to really like this area and its people. Now here’s my gripe: you people who throw out your cigarette butts, your beer cans, your candy wrappers and bags full of garbage in our streets stinks. Do you live in a pigpen?
Come on, people. It’s our town and we need to take care of it. So, next time think about what you’re doing. Maybe with all of us taking care of our town, things will stay beautiful. Remember, I was a guy who thought a mountain was a pile of dirt with a tree on it. Now I think diferently. Let’s pitch in, okay?
Wm. Trapani — Franklin, N.C.
The name far above every name
The Christian name is the family name of the New Testament church. In a letter to the Ephesians, Saint Paul wrote: “I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named; Eph 3:14-15. It is the name far above every name: “Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. Eph. 1:21. It is the “blessed name: Blessed is he that cometh in the Lord.” Matt 23:38-39. It is a name of power! “He came unto his own, and his own received him not, but as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believed on his name.” John 1: 11-12.
The apocalypse goes more in depth concerning the family name. In the Revelation language, the forehead is symbolic to the mind. (Rev. 7:3, Rev. 9:4) “And I will write upon him my new name.” Rev. 3:12. “And they shall see his face: and his name shall be in their foreheads.” Rev. 22:4. “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” Matt 21:9. “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. “And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” Acts 11:26.
United we stand divided we fall.
Floyd Cruse — Franklin, N.C.
Compassion and kindness sorely lacking
This is the first time I have ever written a “letter to the editor.” This letter is not about politics and not about religion but rather about kindness and compassion, or perhaps the lack of kindness and compassion for our fellow human beings.
Recently I have been attempting to help an individual who is unable to work, has no income other than food stamps, along with a cell phone that comes with it. She inherited a mobile home, where she lives, has an older car which is not legal, because you must have insurance to get a license plate and to get insurance you must have money etc. Her electricity was “cut off” over a month ago because she couldn’t pay her bill and now there is a reconnection fee along with a deposit and all the bill that is in arrears, etc. Imagine living is a place where you can’t even plug in a fan and the temperature outside is 90-plus degrees. She has no family. A neighbor who lives about 1/4 of a mile away lets her come to his house and take a shower and cook a meal. He understand the meaning of compassion. What would some people do without a person like him?
A week or so ago I took this individual to an organization that we understood would give assistance in paying electric bills. Needless to say, no assistance was given. Instead, this person was made to feel as if she was totally worthless. Obviously the person who interviewed her had never been in need, never been down and out. She was told that she should find different living arrangements, maybe sell her car (I suppose to pay her electric bill) and that they didn’t like to “enable” people. Wouldn’t it have been much kinder to say “I’m sorry, I can’t help you.” Or maybe if their funds were so limited, to say “I’m sorry we don’t have the funds not.” All the way back home (which incidentally is about 10 miles out of town) she cried. Someone coined the phrase, and I can’t remember who ti was, “Never look down on anyone unless you are helping them up.” I suppose all our so-called “charitable organizations” are not familiar with that quote. Too bad.
In closing, maybe Mark Twain said it best: “Compassion is language the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” I wonder where the compassion was during that interview.
Thanks for reading this and I hope it will make some people begin to think. This could be me, it could be you, it could be anyone, your child, your parent, your sister or brother.
Len Barone — Franklin, N.C.
Political solutions can’t fix the problem
Knowing the importance of hearing all sides to a debate I make it a practice to listen to CNN, FOX and other news outlets.
In this manner I can avoid being called an opinionated old goat and suffering brain freeze. My instinct is to follow a rigorous scientific explanation of a problem rather than a political explanation. To me, at least, politics has never solved any problems and often makes them worse.
Referring to the recent Dallas mass shooting I listened carefully to what Hillary Clinton had to say and frankly, other than some flowery words, she had no real solution to the problem. Even requiring a two-year college degree to become a cop won’t help and letting the bad guy shoot first won’t work.
Donald Trump didn’t have any real suggestions either, although I will say that his idea of bringing jobs back to America would, in the long term, help alleviate the problem.
What most don’t even want to talk about is the invasion of Latinos in cities like LA have taken many of the jobs formerly done by black citizens. Consequently, black Americans and Latinos hate each other. Prisons must have separate areas for black and Latinos.
But, it is not politically correct to say any of this because politicians fear losing votes and huge campaign donations.
Practical solutions to our racial problem take a back seat to big money and votes.
Something else that no one wants to discuss, especially the Democrats, is that most of our inner city problems are due to drugs flowing freely across our border with Mexico.
Many Black Americans, provided with a lousy education and made to feel inferior due to constant welfare programs, have little options other than dealing in drugs. That, in turn, leads to desperation amongst our black American population.
The question becomes one of whom do we owe the most, the black Americans who helped build this country or the Latinos moving from failed nations in South America?
Sad to say, getting the Latino vote is more important to our politicians than solving the problem who will only throw more money at the problem.
Personally, I believe we owe more to black Americans and they should come first. We need to find ways to discourage the unwed mother problem and provide a better education.
Catholic schools in the inner cities have proven that it can be done. Of course politicians won’t talk about the education problem for fear of offending teachers unions.
With regard to the problem of cops shooting unarmed black Americans every profession has its share of people who are psychos and have a dangerously short fuse and they need to be weeded out.
One thing for certain, we can’t simply continue to throw money at the problem or look for political solutions, it simply won’t work.
Bob Wilson — Franklin, N.C.
