God’s still in control here
It was reassuring to see you include in the Jan. 19 edition of the Cherokee Scout mention of the earthquake felt here last week.
I am located near Brasstown and though I felt none, it was the continuing long rumble – like rolling thunder – that awakened me and others in the house. It sounded like the old Pratt & Whitney Aircraft test engines back in the south Florida Everglades. We knew immediately what it was.
I had fallen asleep with prayers, having lost my husband to the Covid-19 and my precious grandson to Fentynal, and when I heard the long rolling roar I remembered our God is in control, and vengeance is His. Then I turned over and slept like a baby.
Betty Luckey, Murphy
Building was for veterans
Dear veterans:
I was quite disturbed and hurt when I saw a sign in front of the American Legion building saying it was for sale.
The building was given “free” to three entities – Disabled American Veternas, the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. I know this because I was one who signed on behalf of VFW Post 10222 in 2007. At no time was money discussed, since all three branches had the use of the building until now.
I was the quartermaster for many years, and anything we did was written down for all to see.
I don’t know what happened after I quit and a new quartermaster was put in place. I guess he did like I did and kept minutes of their meetings.
When they folded, I don’t know why. I gave the money I had to the American Legion so as to pay for the insurance and other utilities that were coming up. I couldn’t get anything for myself because everything was given to us free.
How can you give something that is given free and expect to get any money for it, especially among veteran brothers?
To ask for $30,000 from the American Legion and say that they own two-thirds of the building is a crime. Where in the world did they get the idea that the DAV owed anything for the building?
Oscar Valdes, Murphy
The real life ‘Dr. Doom’
Darth Vader is an iconic, popular fictional villain created by director George Lucas for the Star Wars franchise. A real-life medical villain has emerged during two years of pandemic hysteria kindled by the administration’s political science-not medical science.
The groveling leftist media fawns over their medical Houdini, so let’s examine today’s medical villain Dr. Doom – a nickname justifiably earned by Dr. Anthony Fauci.
More than 60,000 physicians and scientists promote “focused protection” of those most at risk, and seek to avoid or minimize the societal harm of the lockdowns, mask mandates and universal mandated vaccinations. These focused population tools are lost to the flip-flopping
Dr. Doom.
Dr. Doom promotes universal experimental vaccinations in the private and public sectors. “There comes a time when you do have to give up what you consider your individual right of making your own decision, for the greater good of society,” he said.
Dr. Doom’s bio is missing advanced degrees in molecular biology or biochemistry, but he continues to make unfounded medical statements that are based on virology and genetics.
The hysteria enabled by Dr. Doom derives from the suppression of scientific facts from the public square:
- Millions of people have become ill and thousands have died in the U.S. due to repression of prehospital treatment protocols centered on hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin.
- Immunity following Covid-19 recovery is far better than vaccination.
- Vaccination and extreme isolation are no protection from infection. An Antarctic research station with extremely strict criteria and quarantine still suffered an epidemic.
- European Medicines Agency regulators warned that frequent Covid-19 booster shots could weaken the immune system and exhaust people.
Dr. Doom has reversed himself many times but now claims, “I represent science.” This should give Americans plenty to ponder on.
Terry Payne, Marble
Deflecting and dividing
President Joe Biden’s administration is into a deflect and divide strategy, which is totally against what he ran on in the 2020 election, which was to unify America.
That went by the wayside almost immediately after Biden took office. He has led America into crisis after crisis and immediately deflects our attention to something else, like we all have ADHD and we’ll just forget and move on.
Biden continues to deflect everyone’s attention to Covid-19. That’s all he ever talks about. He requires Covid testing for anyone entering the U.S. – that is, unless you walk across our Southern border. Not only are these folks not tested but the administration actually continues to bus and fly them to states without even telling the governors.
Then his unmitigated Afghanistan fiasco occurred. Thirteen service members died because of a totally failed withdrawal, which showed there was no real plan in place.
The latest crisis, runaway inflation and supply chain issues, has been deflected to say we are all racists if we don’t federalize our elections and stop requiring IDs or oversight in our elections. This actually is the most dangerous of all.
We’ve always had voting issues but it seemed a whole lot better when we actually voted in person, on Election Day, with a valid ID.
For everyone who hated Donald Trump and still do, I get it. He was abrasive. But having the president constantly either scream, whisper or call people names is irritating. I guess it’s OK as long as his name is not Trump.
For those who still think liberal policies aren’t all
that bad, you may want to take a look at a few major cities with rampant crime. Let’s hope at some point our country can unite and try to get back to some semblance of normalcy.
Rick Alringer, Murphy
Monuments are historic
This is an excerpt from a poem, “A Monument Removed,” written by John Fisher, Confederate Veteran Magazine, January/February 2022 issue. He is commander of Horry Rough & Readys Camp 1026 in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
“I’ve never seen a life improved when a monument was removed, an alcoholic embrace sobriety when a monument was removed.
“I’ve never seen the homeless fed, a streetbound vet find a place to lay his head, from darkness of addiction the drug addict led, when a monument was removed.
“I’ve never seen a marriage saved when a monument was removed, nor has abuse suddenly vanished away, when a monument was removed.
“Will shattered families be made whole again? Will a father return to his children attend? A bruised wife gain Godly husband and friend because a monument was removed?
“Will gunfire ending the lives of youth cease when a monument is removed?
“Will blood that runs red in the city streets end when a monument is removed?
“Will our young ones learn, their life is their own; they are not held back by granite and stone, only chained down by hate?
“No! No good is done to our country, our states, when a monument is removed. We rob young and old of lessons untold when a monument is removed.
“Hate which drives the perverted to tear monuments down is a monument all of its own. It has no honor, nor worthy of degree, to be recognized as greatness by you and me, not to the high standing of Jackson and Lee, that is a monument that Must Come Down!”
Our chapter came across this poem and we realized how we feel. It is such ridiculousness to pull down monuments that are teaching history, bad or good. History teaches us not to make the same mistakes.
Ann Atchison,Young Harris, Ga.
The writer is treasurer of Smith’s Legion Chapter 2699, United Daughters of the Confederacy.
Fear not the biggest factor
We are living in trying times and with all these different types of viruses coming at us it is difficult to know exactly what to do.
Satan loves nothing better than to see our society in a state of panic, which alters our thinking based on fear.
Yes, we all need to be careful and wear masks if that be your choice, but we cannot allow Satan to stop events from happening in God’s churches.
What is the difference between having 300 people worshiping together on Sunday morning and not one person is wearing a mask? Why do we continue having dinners at church, yet we pick and choose which event is OK while others are being canceled due to covid issues?
We were meant as part of God’s family to meet in our house of worship no matter the issues. Satan wants God’s people to be scattered and not be as one in Christ, and I for one refuse to let Satan have his way in God’s church.
As for our house, my wife Jane and I will continue to worship every time the doors of our church are opened. Don’t let the fear factor control your life.
Yes, these are the last days we are living in before our Savior, Jesus Christ, comes back to gather His chosen ones unto Himself. God’s word says: Rejoice in all things and bring glory to our heavenly Father should be foremost on our minds. Greater is He that lives in us, then he that lives in the world.
Frank Combs, Blairsville, Ga.
Post-holiday reflections
January
Do you feel the cool dark days
And the glamour gone
That challenge our holiness
And the Christian dawn?
The good news first heard
Do we still hold dear
The night the angels said
Not to fear?
Keep the cave prepared for Him
Forever warm in your heart
And worship Him daily for
Your New Year’s start.
Reflect on His passion walk
In the coming days
And His promise to us
For heaven’s warm rays.
Cold January can be a holy bridge
For quiet reflection
To prepare our souls for.
Easter
The Life and the Resurrection!
Jura McCarthy Ashley, Murphy
United we must stand
The world is speaking up. Are you listening?
Yes, the world is speaking up, uniting and taking action against civil liberties being taken and against mandates.
To name just a few … the longest truck convoy in history in Canada, thousands gathering in Washington, thousands gathering in Paris, Brussels, Sidney, London – all over the world. Yes, here, too, in downtown Murphy, patriots were protesting the mandates.
In addition, the filibuster is preserved so minority parties can still be heard, the “Build Back Better” bill has been killed, courts are ruling against mandates and so much more. This country, and the world, are saying enough is enough.
This patriot is excited and bursting at the seams with patriotism. I am feeling full of hope once again.
Never underestimate the butterfly effect, basically meaning that no matter how small, the effect will be felt all over the world.
What can you do? Speak your truth at your local school board and city council meetings, call your senators and voice your opinions. These officials work for us.
Fly your American flag so that we see flags everywhere we look. Join a patriot group and join in on protests … peacefully and patriotically.
The next peaceful protest in downtown Murphy is from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 19 – show up. Permits are issued.
A few active groups in our area are Citizens for a Better America, Cherokee County Assembly, Convention of States or start your own group. Whatever is calling to you, just get involved.
Do you feel the calling? Be courageous. This isn’t about any particular political party. This is about being brothers and sisters of the humankind family and freedom. Keep your eyes and ears wide open for the truth. It is unfolding before us.
Have no fear. United we stand.
Penny Johnson, Murphy
The writer is co-founder of Citizens for a Better America.
Get facts, not propaganda
Bidenflation. No! There have been a number of letters/comments here and elsewhere blaming President Joe Biden for the continuing rise in gasoline.
We should look at the facts here regarding this instead of knee-jerk reactions and just passing on more Fox News lies.
1. OPEC has been withholding supplies in order to increase their revenues.
2. U.S. oil production has been dramatically lower due to covid.
3. The harsh winter has been tough on refinery production.
4. Supply and demand always rule pricing, not the proclamations and posturing of politicians.
These facts are presented from sources such as gasbuddy.com, msn.com, AAA gas prices, Reuters, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal and oilprice.com.
Fox News and Facebook are not reliable sources of facts. They are sources of lies, misinformation and propaganda.
I have not presented these facts to defend Biden and the Democratic Party, as I am not a believer in either the Democratic nor Republican parties. I do believe in facts and reality.
If these price increases were due to Biden, then why have prices in Europe more than doubled? Does Biden have control of prices in Europe?
Investigate facts at multiple sources people, not at Fox News and Facebook.
Jim Grazis, Young Harris, Ga.
Inmates get poor care
This letter is to shed light on the inhumane atrocities the N.C. Department of Public Safety Divison of Prisons are doing to inmates that are placed in their care.
The system is overcrowded, with 60-70 bodies per dorm. The tension and fear creates a fighting ring, the amount of assaults go virtually unknown, the mental fatigue of walking on egg shells to remain safe is a task in itself – and that’s not only for the inmates, but the staff, who are sworn to assure them of personal safety. The system is so understaffed that officers are forced to work extra shifts, going through the motions and not really paying attention to what’s really going on or looking the other way.
With so many inmates being warehoused with a year or less and packed in the dorms, Covid-19 hit like a time bomb, and yet the state will not test all inmates for the virus. Officers are without masks and other prevention methods.
Caldwell Correctional is one such facility. They do not test all inmates, they do not enforce prevention methods and they are understaffed. This week alone, another four officers and a nurse tested positive, which made the staff numbers drop even lower. Inmates are forced to live in danger from physical harm, Covid and mental stress.
The state could alleviate the stress by releasing non-violent inmates with a year or less to go. This would reduce the amount of positive cases, hospitalizations and cost of treatment. It would also create a better ratio of staff to inmates for better security, which would bring overall costs down.
Take a look at what’s going on inside the prisons. Where are the civil rights groups and the overall humane dignity of our state’s leaders?
A change is needed, help is needed.
Christopher Grant, Lenoir