Seek science and reason
As a rationalist, I was admittedly confused when the Delta variant came along and filled hospitals. Many unvaccinated are going to their needlessly early and tragic deaths. Why?
To further muddy the waters, some of the unvaccinated are self-prescribing sheep de-wormer, Ivermectin, or whatever Tucker Carlson is prescribing. Others had ingested bleach and a number of other crazy alternatives to the scientifically validated vaccine that obviously worked.
And therein lay the answer. The unvaccinated feared the vaccine because they feared science, as they assiduously had been taught to do by their old-time religion.
Christian religion has been at odds with science since Galileo and most particularly, Darwin’s lack of a Garden of Eden. No Adam and Eve, no original sin, no redemption needed. Goodbye Abrahamic religions.
And hence the “war’’ on science and reason, which plays out with deadly effect in elementary schools today. With no vaccine available for children under 12 yet, anti-science school boards forbid mandatory masking. Fear and magical thinking at its best. FDR had it right the first time: The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
If the United States is to stand tall in this emerging world, we need to do better. Global competitors without an anti-science bias have not been waiting for us to catch up.
Charles F. Larsen, Marble
Health-care appreciation
Just a note of appreciation for all our hospital staff and doctors, who work tirelessly to care for others in need.
A big thanks to our EMT staff and workers, also ambulance personnel and firefighters as well.
Thanks to our wonderful police department staff, who work hard to keep our community safe.
A big shout-out to the nursing home staff in our areas who are committed to caring for the elderly and many who are disabled, also our amazing Hospice folks, who make our homecoming easier.
Thanks to all the volunteers who take time out of their busy schedule to help in all these vital areas of concern, also our local county and city staffers, and workers in our community.
None of these facilities would be possible without men and women who are dedicated to serving our beloved community.
What I am most thankful for is God places certain folks in key positions throughout this vast universe that make a difference in people’s lives. These are indeed trying times for all of us, with all the health issues that we face today and other overwhelming issues that drain us of our joy in the Lord. Our joy comes from the Lord God, and that joy is expressed by millions who go the extra mile to see to others in need, wherever they are.
God also made a big difference when He came from heaven and made Himself to be a common man, yet sinless in all His ways, and that He was willing to die on a cross for all of mankind’s sins, so that whoever believes upon the name of Jesus Christ could live in glory forevermore.
A big hallelujah to our Creator God, who made a way where there seemed to be no way to heaven.
Frank Combs, Blairsville, Ga.
Only in America ...
Only in America:
- Could politicians, on both sides of the aisle, talk about the greed of the rich at a $35,000-a-plate campaign fund-raising event.
- Could people protest that American society discriminates against black Americans after electing a black president, employing blacks at roughly 20 percent of the federal workforce and blacks receiving 49 percent of all federal entitlements. Black entitlements are four times the sum to whites.
- Can emigrated terrorists kill Americans in the name of Allah and have the media pundits primarily react by fretting that Muslims might be harmed by the backlash.
- Could Congress force highly skilled immigrants, who want legal American status, to wait years in their home countries and pay thousands of dollars for the privilege, while Congress proposes a path to citizenship for unskilled invaders sneaking into our country.
- Could the people who believe in balancing the budget, legal elections and adhering to the country’s Constitution be thought of as “extremists.”
- Could you need to present a driver’s license to cash a check or buy alcohol, but not to vote.
- Could IRS collect more tax dollars from income sources than any nation in recorded history, but government spends a trillion dollars more than received annually. Total spending equates to $8.6 million per minute.
- Could top 25 percent of income earners pay 70 percent of all progressive federal and state income taxes and be accused of not paying their “fair share” by people who don’t pay any income taxes at all.
And finally:
- Could a “critical race theory” blame whites for failures of blacks and demand compensation, including reparations, after 60 years of affirmative-action collapses costing working Americans $50 trillion.
Terry Payne, Marble
Cawthorn’s deadly game
Madison Cawthorn and his communications director, Luke Ball, have made some disasterous decisions. They continue to play a dangerous game they believe they can win.
Instead of encouraging folks with positive, uplifting words and showing a sincere desire to work hard and do good things for North Carolinians, Cawthorn and his “handlers” made the choice to spew lies, then top them off with threats of violence and bloodshed.
If you believe young Madison is working hard for his constituents, think again. He’s missed 24 roll-call votes in the eight months he’s been in office. He’s been busy traipsing around the country, speaking at events, propagating the same lies, fueling anger, frustration and bad behavior. It’s clear he has lofty ambitions, and he’s trying to build a nationwide base.
Cawthorn is also gaining attention from far-right extremist groups in other countries. It’s evident he wants to go way beyond North Carolina. We’re just a stepping stone for him.
Keep your eye on Sept. 18, when Cawthorn and Ball plan to be with their “boys” in Washington, where they will protest the “horrible treatment of political prisoners.”
Annette Bell, Otto
Past tales of cats and dogs
This letter was written to Publisher & Editor David Brown after reading his column, “Fence is going to the dogs,” in the Sept. 1 edition of the Cherokee Scout.
About 30 years ago, I was on assignment in Chicago, and my wife purchased a Red Persian named “Bilbo” at a cat show in Fort Lauderdale. Bilbo was a hard cat to love and, to tell you the truth, he and I never really bonded although I gave him his breakfast (ocean whitefish) every morning.
He lived until his late teens and eventually, afflicted by several fatal diseases, succumbed to the vet’s syringe. He was cremated, and his ashes lie in state under the Hyacinth, where he spent his declining years, in our front yard under a tasteful monument.
Ten years ago, I noticed some activity one morning underneath my Oil House behind my garage. Upon further investigation, it appears that several feral cats, which we fed, had had a combined birth event and there were 11 mice-sized kittens scampering around with two mothers overlooking them all and presumably feeding them.
Eventually we were able to tame a male and a female. I trapped the rest plus the two mothers and took them to our humane society.
The male didn’t make it and was euthanized last year after a rough bout with tongue cancer. My wife, Hope, cried for a month. His ashes lie next to Bilbo’s.
The female is still with us and may be one of the world’s most spoiled cats. We had three dogs also, but that’s a subject for another email.
J.B. Robert, Hot House
D.C. is now new Sin City
It’s time for Las Vegas to relinquish its Sin City title. Without any doubt and very well-deserved, the name now
belongs to our fallen federal city/district of Washington, D.C.
While on the subject of political evils, I suggest you read Mark F. Levin’s eye-opening book American Marxism. More enlightening facts ignored and repressed by our government and mainstream media can be found on websites offered by some highly respected physicians, such as Richard M. Fleming, PhD, MD, JD, and other knowledgeable people.
Flemingmetbod.com, drtenpenny.com and naturalnews.com are a few sites to consider. Having all available information, you then can make smart, rational choices.
We know several previously healthy people who have had the vaccine and now have serious, ongoing health issues such as affected organs. One, a 40-year-old who didn’t want the vaccine but was talked into taking it, had a stroke and is now in a vegetative state.
According to Webster’s Dictionary, brainwashing is intended “to indoctrinate so
intensively and thoroughly as to effect a radical transformation of beliefs and mental attitudes.” This occurs when force-fed only one side of an issue, totally eliminating desperately needed facts.
You deserve to have the whole picture, and with it the truth.
Tamara Phillips, Murphy
Editor’s note: Part of this letter is being republished due to an inadvertent correction.
Study helps all amputees
More than 2 million Americans live with limb loss or limb difference, but two-thirds won’t receive a prosthetic device. There is not much information to explain why or if people are getting access to the care they need.
That’s why I’m urging Sen. Tom Tillis, Sen. Richard Burr and Rep. Patrick McHenry to cosponsor the Triple A Study Act (S.1089/H.R.2461).
The Triple A Study Act solves this problem by identifying the best care practices for people with living with limb loss and limb difference. It studies specific challenges, including how
often people are denied coverage for devices and outcomes like whether patients can return to work.Medicare, the VA system and private insurers benefit from this information.
As a member of the limb loss and limb difference community, my experience obtaining a prosthetic device was not as problematic as the ability to get one that fit me properly so that I can utilize same device. Five years later, I am still at a stage where my prosthetic is merely cosmetic. I have not been able to utilize it as I should be.
I have been blessed with the ability to receive help through my Medicare and Supplemental Health Insurance, and even at this I am still having problems. Therefore, I want other people living with limb loss to have the same opportunity so they can live the life they want to live.
The Triple A Study Act is important because it will improve the health of millions of people living with limb loss.
JoAnn Morris, Gastonia
The writer is a volunteer with the Amputee Coalition.