Powerful message
Sarah Foster’s story (on page 2A in the Feb. 19 edition) grabbed me like no other story in the Cherokee Scout ever has. Her honesty and frankness about her life, and the challenges she faces with Huntington’s, gave me a new energy to tackle my own hurdles.
I have health issues that some days make me want to just give up. I lost a pet recently, Sourpuss Seymour, a well-known Snowshoe Siamese who had a popular Facebook page. It was another reminder that no one lives forever.
Thank you, Sarah, for restoring my spirit with your words. I will treasure your story forever. However long that is.
Teresa Pullium, Andrews
County’s cost of education
Although every week in the Cherokee Scout there is at least one article concerning our never-ending quest for the perfect school solution, I don’t think that a majority of our residents are really aware of how much we pay for education.
Our Cherokee County Tax Notice currently lists: County Tax, Solid Waste Fee and Fire with its corresponding Rate and Amount.
I suggest that the Board of Education expenses be removed from the County Tax and have its own separate listing.
J.B. Robert, Hot House
A concerned citizen speaks
I am a registered Republican who did not vote for President Donald Trump. However, he was duly elected, and I respect this outcome.
Trump ran on a platform to fix the border and the economy. I agree with both. He also committed to shrinking the government and bringing peace to Ukraine and the Middle East. I agree.
However, I find Trump’s heavy-handed, bullying and ostensibly illegal tactics beyond the pale. In the process of shrinking the government, he is throwing the baby out with the bath water.
His views on what to do with Gaza are inflammatory and put us at risk with terrorists at a time when he is gutting the FBI, CIA and DOJ’s expert and experienced workforce. The Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration have privileged information that does not affect “efficiency.”
Why does DOGE need access? Invasion of privileged information will forever destroy the trust we accord both the IRS and SSA, debilitating these key institutions’ future ability to conduct legitimate business.
Trump seems to be promoting chaos and instability in the world rather than peace. How Gaza is rebuilt is not our business. It is a challenge for Israel, those of the occupied Palestinian territory, and the Middle East to resolve.
We can play a part in mediation, but it is up to them to decide what to do with their own land and people. Trump’s relocation of the Palestinian people and “Middle East Riviera” ideas are not only insulting to the Palestinians and illegal based on international law, but a provocation for Iran and terrorists.
Due to space constraints, I am stopping here. Please look for part two soon.
Lisa Scott, Andrews
From baby to adulthood
We have all heard the saying – baby needs a new pair of shoes. This is true as well as baby needs a bottle of milk at various times of the day and night. But imagine this same baby is 12 years old and still asking to be fed by bottle, with a pacifier on the side.
We all know this would be unimaginable to even comprehend. I give this example to bring up people who have attended Bible studies and are longtime members of a local church, and when they started out as a born-again believer everything was new to them. They were fed the gospel message weekly, just like an infant being fed milk, but somewhere down the line they never grew in their knowledge and faith. They still craved just the milk of the word, not the meat of God’s Holy Word.
Pastors, elders, deacons and Sunday school teachers have an awesome task of feeding God’s people that will bring out the best in them, but the folks who sit under these church leaders and teachers have the responsibility of growing in their faith and trusting in God’s glorious grace.
It’s like the old story about a horse. You can lead a horse to water, but they must partake of it themselves to quench their thirst – just like a believer in Christ must partake of God’s word and apply it to their daily routine.
When we stop learning about who God is, then we can be like a dry desert longing for the living water that flows from the grace of God. Some folks have their fire insurance, and they are content to learn no more, which I am sure displeases God, but He still loves them the same.
Frank Combs, Blairsville, Ga.