Not everyone was well-mannered
An unobservant journalist is as disturbing as one who provides a biased presentation.
Sadly, the unprofessional combination is often used to mislead readers or viewers. That's shameful.
This seems to be the case involving Cherokee Scout Editor Randy Foster who wrote "No Kings participants were generally well-mannered" during the recent No Kings protest in Murphy.
I was there and, without a doubt, that is not factual. Unless, of course, you think actions such as constantly screaming extensive obscenities at and giving "the finger" to drive-by opposing protesters by No Kings participants is acceptable and in good taste. I definitely don't.
And I refuse to fully explain the perverted act shown by a man at the roundabout who pointed to his genitals while shouting descriptive, nasty words. Hate was on full display.
Such hostile conduct proves those involved in it are crude, combatant and ignorant. So mindlessly lacking that they don't know enough to be ashamed of their outrageously bad choices.
If Foster believes this is "well-mannered" behavior, the new Scout owner should send a reporter with higher standards to cover such events. Maybe then a more truthful, accurate account will be printed.
Tamara Phillips, Murphy
To the one who has stayed silent
If you have been raped, sexually assaulted or abused, please hear this: it was not your fault. Not because of what you wore, where you were or who you trusted.
If you have stayed silent because of fear, shame or the belief no one would understand, you are not alone. In small towns, silence can feel safer – but you should not have to carry this pain by yourself.
You are not ruined. You are not forgotten. Your life still matters.
At Reach, we want you to know: there is help, there is hope and we are here.
Cecilia Crawford-Faulkner, Murphy
The writer is executive director of Reach of Cherokee & Graham Counties.
Supporting a dictator
Vice President J.D. Vance was in Hungary as gesture of support for Prime Minister Viktor Orban days before a crucial election in which his party trails badly in most polls.
Vance going to Hungary to support a right-wing ogre – Orban, 16 years in his current "democratically elected" position, and who is besties with pooty-poot – is another salvo in the constant stream of insults to democracy that are characteristic of the GOP. Well before The Supremes (NOT Diana Ross et al) told us that corporations were people and were entitled to use unlimited amounts of secret money to further their obscene wealth accumulation (best ROI ever!), there were those in our government who sought to manipulate, without the oversight of our elected representatives, the actions of the United States in various underhanded ways, i.e. Iran-Contra. (How's that going, Ollie?)
The difference today is that these creeps are determined to choose the path of the United States, entirely free from influence by "We the People." This without any viable expertise in, well, basically anything except BIG LIES, "Only I can fix it," for example. Oh, and also the grift, the Trump family cryptocurrency, which allows unlimited amounts of foreign monies to be funneled straight to the pockets of the Grifter-in-Chief (SHOULD be TM) and family.
There is so much this administration is attempting that is not at all within the ideals of the founders as well as today's citizens. They, the GOP, were allowed to take the U.S. to this place because we the people let them get away with it.
It's up to all of us to bring the U.S. back to a place of respect and care for people, by electing representatives who look to the future a belonging to people, not to wealth and not to corporate influence. If this sounds like a big hill to climb, remember that the U.S. is filled with good people, that we have done both good and terrible things, and that we can move steadily forward toward the light. Just do your best to understand and support the many good people of this country of ours.
Bil Aylor, Bryson City
The writer is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, 1966-73.
Pregnancy and Parenting Center of Andrews
We want to thank the Cherokee Scout and Randy Foster for the recent article about the Pregnancy and Parenting Center of Andrews (PPC) and our Pro-Abundant Life free services that help families in our community. We are excited about serving families from the old Andrews Health Department facility. In addition to the PPC's family services listed in the article, we are excited to emphasize four other PPC Andrew’s services that have a positive impact on our community.
The PPC offers post-abortion counseling and support. It is estimated that 1.13 million clinician-provided abortions are performed each year in the United States. It’s also estimated that 1 in 4 (25%) of U.S. women will have an abortion in their lifetime. There is an unspoken need for post-abortive healing for both women and men … to help them be forgiven and set free. The PPC provides highly confidential support for post-abortion recovery. Please contact the Center at 828-321-3848 orppcandrews@gmail.com for more information and total confidentiality.
Another important Andrews PPC service is our fatherhood support program, by men and for men. The PPC partners with a national Pro Abundant Life non-profit to provide expectant and new Dad classes and support. We also offer local mentoring and coaching services to help men be the leader of the family, loving husbands and fathers. Call the PPC Andrews to reach one of our local men’s mentor coaches (828-321-3848).
Additionally, the PPC of Andrews provides English as a Second Language (ESOL) classes and will begin General Educational Development (GED) test assistance in the Fall.
Finally, we thank the Cherokee Scout for their long-standing support of the Pregnancy and Parenting Center in Andrews and helping us love our neighbors. Job well done Scout in “Serving all the people of Cherokee County.”
Bob Weinkle, Andrews
The writer is the Men’s Program Coordinator of the Pregnancy and Parenting Center of Andrews.
Democrats thawing ICE
The reason TSA is not getting paid is because Democrats in Congress are refusing to vote for more money to fund iCE unless the Republicans agree to reign in the flagrant abuse of American citizens that ICE was doing in the streets of Minneapolis.
ICE is President Donald Trump's private army of thugs. This whole "immigration crackdown" has virtually nothing to do with immigration. It is an excuse for the wholesale invasion of ALL AMERICAN'S personal freedoms.
If ICE/Trump can terrorize those people, he can terrorize you and me.
David Jockusch, Peachtree
A more immediate threat
While Washington debates the next foreign intervention, a far more immediate threat to American livelihoods is steadily advancing at home: the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and robotics.
Last month alone, 92,000 jobs disappeared. That figure is not an isolated event but part of a troubling pattern of consistent job losses since last April. Behind many of these losses lies a quiet transformation of the workplace. Machines, algorithms and automated systems are increasingly performing tasks once done by human beings- from manufacturing and logistics to accounting, journalism, and even medical diagnostics.
Technology itself is not the enemy. Throughout history, innovation has improved productivity and living standards. But the scale and speed of today's technological displacement are unprecedented. Artificial intelligence does not simply replace physical labor; it is beginning to replace cognitive work as well. Entire professions that once seemed secure are now vulnerable.
Yet Congress appears far more focused on funding endless foreign wars than preparing the nation for this profound economic shift. Military conflicts dominate the headlines while the structural transformation of the American workforce receives comparatively little attention.
If policymakers continue to ignore this issue, millions of workers could find themselves displaced without a safety net, retraining opportunities, or a clear path forward. The result could be widening inequality, social instability, and a growing sense that the economic system no longer works for ordinary Americans.
The challenge posed by artificial intelligence and robotics is not science fiction – it is happening now. Washington must begin treating it with the urgency it deserves.
Dianne Jackson, Murphy