A vet soldier statue at park
Several weeks ago, my granddaughter showed me a picture of a concrete soldier. She saw it on television, and it was exactly like the one S&P Monument had set in Konehete Veterans Park for me. The one in the park was 5 feet tall, and this one was 2 feet. I decided to buy it, but didn’t know where to put it.
With the help of others, the memorial at the square was chosen. With Shannon’s help, the 2-foot soldier was placed upon the monument. I hope the people of Murphy can enjoy it as much as us veterans.
Oscar Valdes, Murphy
Game brings folks together
I am writing in response to the article by J. R. Carroll (in the Feb. 7 edition of the Cherokee Scout) about black players and their athletic and social impact on our mountain sports and cultural landscape.
I can attest to that fact by my personal experience as a young man playing football for the Murphy Bulldogs in the early 1980s. We (and I) were very fortunate to have the Texana community in our area, as they provided many fine athletes and citizens during my youth – before and since beyond.
I enjoyed playing with African-American football players such as Darrell Sudderth, Tony Johnson, Terry Summerous, D.J. Cox and Dino Allen, all who made a positive impact on our team and school. Carl Pickens and Mel Nicely were freshmen during my senior year and graduated with my younger brother in the Murphy High School Class of 1988.
As a senior, I was in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes club, which was led by Mrs. Frankie Roberson and coach Matt Rogers. I was delegated as a mentor to two freshman athletes, one who was Nicely. As fine an athlete as he was, I can assure you that he was an even better young man. I always thought very highly of him, and still do.
I had the good fortune of playing post-integration and can count a great many friends of mine as being members of the Texana community. I am very glad that they were my teammates and friends during my playing days and still are. We were certainly a better team because of their presence, and it showed on the field every Friday night – as it still does.
Lou Smith, Murphy
The writer is with the Murphy High School Class of 1985.
Find common ground for all
I count myself among the most fortunate people in the world because I make a living caring for dogs.
In addition to paying the bills, this work has provided me a surprise benefit – true and genuine bonds with humans. I do not share a world view or political position with most of my customers. But we do have a shared love and affection for their precious pets.
Through this canine connective tissue, we get the opportunity to really see each other as people. We value each other. We trust each other. And, dare I say, we love each other.
I have pondered this phenomenon a great deal. In recent times, we’ve all felt angry, fearful, betrayed. We tend, as tribal beings, to surround ourselves with “kindreds,” whether in person or online. This makes us feel safe, smart, affirmed.
At the same time, it highlights differences that naturally exist among us. We need to always remember that there are powerful forces which stand to benefit from pushing those divisions. In order to thrive, we must resist that.
I challenge the good people of Cherokee County to notice, seek out and amplify positive connections we have with each other. Maybe through a shared love of animals or nature? Maybe through a faith community or volunteerism? Maybe through a sports team or love of the arts? Maybe by doing something as simple as attending a Common Ground Community Supper, where people of all walks of life gather to meet and understand each other on a basic human level?
If you are interested in pursuing these but don’t know where to start, email me at info@acstpets.com and I will put you with people who share that goal of unity that every healthy community needs to not just survive, but thrive.
Katherine Taaffe, Murphy
Scholarships will help all
Regarding guest columnist Thomas Mills’ article “ Propaganda scholarships ...,” the N.C. Opportunity Scholarship will be a huge help to our children and their parents.
While Mr. Mills is probably writing for his Teacher’s Union friends, I doubt if he really cares about front-line teachers, and certainly not the children. I know of a young military family that moved from a Democratic-controlled state to Florida. Their Catholic school bill for two children went from over $20,000 to under $8,000.
Florida has a similar program as what North Carolina is establishing, if I read it correctly. These scholarships will help all North Carolinians, and will eventually strengthen the public schools, too.
Michael Berlin, Murphy
HAVEN helps 200 children
This year, because of partners like you, HAVEN has been able to serve over 200 children who have experienced child abuse and violence. This included forensic interviewing, child medical exams, counseling, court accompaniment, advocacy referrals and requests for beds, clothing, shoes, food, and so much more.
Without your generosity the children in Cherokee and Clay counties would not have access to these services.
As a community we all play a vital role in advocating for the victims of child abuse. By supporting HAVEN you are helping our center provide and coordinate services to the children in our communities.
In lieu of the raffle fundraiser, we are asking for your assistance through a letter drive fundraiser. If you’re able to give, we’d love for you to stay involved by donating to HAVEN Children’s Advocacy Center.
HAVEN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and accordingly your donation may be tax deductible. The tax identification number is 20-3751252.
The following are ways to donate:
- Donate online at havencac.org/get-involved.
- Send a check in a pre-stamped envelope (no cash).
- Call us at 828-837-5872 for more information.
On behalf of all the children and families served by our center we offer our sincerest thanks. Again, your generosity to the children of Cherokee and Clay counties helps HAVEN provide a child-friendly environment where children and families can receive services and support.
Courtney Myers, Murphy
New primary rules needed
A political primary is a preliminary election in which the registered voters of a political party nominate candidates for office. The key word here is preliminary. The current system allows small states such as Iowa and New Hampshire (assisted by the media) to award front-runner status to the victorious candidate. From there the candidates travel a path determined by which states wants to “leap frog” the other by moving up their primary dates.
Candidates are whisked across the country without any real ability to distinguish regional issues from national issues. Consequently, party platforms are determined by a make-it-up-as-you-go approach.
If the primary process were organized on a regional basis, candidates would be able to study the regional issues, campaign to confirm those issues and then receive votes based on the solutions they propose.
A regional approach would also prevent a premature selection of a front runner because success in one region certainly would not guarantee success in the next region. This would also further validate the process because each state would still have a say all the way down to the end.
Finally, the number of delegates awarded in each state should be determined by the percentage of votes won by each candidate.
Plus, convert the caucuses to primaries.
Accordingly, the political primaries should occur between January and Juneof each presidential election year. Each of the six regions would be assigned a particular month. A lottery held in June of the previous year would determine which month each region holds its primaries. An example illustrates the format:
January
Middle West (9): Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Wisconsin.
February
Southern (8): Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia.
March
Atlantic (8): Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina.
April
New England (8): Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont.
May
Northwestern (9): Alaska, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Wyoming.
June
Southwestern (9): Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah.
Joe Bialek, Cleveland, Ohio
Don’t support genocide acts
America has been invaded by 29 million illegals. Instead of enforcing our laws and increasing funding for our borders, Congress is sending Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan $95.3 billion for more bombs. With our national debt over $34 trillion, our warmongering Congress is working to destroy America’s economy.
I pray daily for the Palestinians who are living under apartheid, in an open-air concentration camp. Israel is committing genocide, murdering over 30,000 Palestinians, with 12,000 being children, using U.S. bombs. And 95 percent of U.S. churches support this holocaust.
Zionist Christians, what if you lived your entire life surrounded by a 20-foot wall and knew your oppressors had no intention of ever setting you free and viewed you as “human animals?” Would you rebel?
Israel claims they are just defending themselves. However, according to international law, oppressors do not have the right to defend themselves by murdering the resisters they have imprisoned.
Imagine if the Jewish people, who were herded into Nazi concentration camps and being slaughtered, made weapons and killed Nazis in an attempt to be set free. Would you call these Jewish resisters terrorists or freedom fighters? Would the Nazis be justified in murdering them for their rebellion? Of course not.
Sane people would cheer the Jewish captive’s rebellion. In a recent Israeli poll, 98.4 percent of Israelis support Israel’s acts of genocide. They are complicit in Israel’s crimes against humanity.
The IDF recently told Gazans to move south, and they have. Now the IDF is bombing the south, including tent cities. Barbaric!
Zionist Christians’ support of this genocide reminds me of the Germans who supported the Nazis’ slaughter of Jews. Shame on you who claim to have the love of Jesus. God will surely judge America for its support of terrorism and crimes against humanity. Repent.
Mary Mason, Murphy