Do not accept own ignorance
In “Our Views” on July 6, a writer said about the Jan. 6 hearings: “Fox News shows us what is happening. The others tell you what they want you to think.”
I have a few questions to all who are thinking the same way. How did you come to this conclusion? Was it on your own? Was it something you heard someone else say? Do you know the witnesses have been highly placed Republicans within the White House and Department of Justice?
Michael Luttig a very highly respected conservative U.S. Appeals Court judge (retired) who was an advisor to Vice President Mike Pence? The acting and the former attorneys general? State secretaries responsible for vote certifications?
Do you know all of these had firsthand experience throughout the entire time in question? If we don’t, and if we haven’t watched the hearings for ourselves, how can we hold the position we do?
Do we know that Gen. Michael Flynn pleaded the Fifth Amendment when asked if he believes in the peaceful transfer of power? That Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows both asked for presidential pardons?
The easy course is to believe our favorite news program or best friend. But I say to you that in doing so we allow, accept and propagate our own ignorance.
I am not suggesting what anyone should think, nor am I taking a side. I believe that when it comes to matters of such great importance, we need to decide for ourselves.
Just because we don’t want to believe something, does that make it not true? Is it not incumbent on each of us to make up our own mind. Would a single one of us if selected as a trial juror send someone to prison based on something in the news without hearing the evidence?
I want to believe we are better than that.
David Bellino, Murphy
State needs to investigate
Yes, local residents deserve better.
Personally, I would prefer that the N.C. Local Government Commission steps in and declares that Cherokee County has ceased to function as a viable governing unit.
It appears the talent pool to run a county government does not exist here. We have people, some doing the best they know how and others too willing to blame and proclaim that they would have solved the problem if you had elected them.
Aspersions were cast ... nepotism, cronyism, incompetence, negligence, dereliction of duty, a lack of transparency and no accountability.
Are these accusations valid? If so, the Local Government Commission has the authority to get to the bottom of such matters, as it did with East Laurinburg.
I fear that given what has happened, and where we are headed, only more damage will occur. It is time to save ourselves.
Ron Gaynor, Murphy
Clean energy good for jobs
The United States is in grave danger of being left behind in the clean energy revolution, with the resultant loss of millions of jobs.
China is far and away the leader in the production of wind and solar equipment as well as electric vehicles and batteries, producing millions of Chinese jobs. America needs those jobs. Every dollar invested in energy conservation and clean energy results in twice as many jobs as the same dollar invested in fossil fuels. The World Resource Institute said the United States could add 4.5 million jobs per year if it invested in clean energy and adopted low-carbon growth strategies.
Investment in clean energy is also the best way for America to free itself from the wild fluctuations in prices from fossil fuels caused by such events as the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In the long run, it will also lead to lower overall energy costs. It would also take money away from countries like Russia that are dependent on the sale of fossil fuels to fund their war machines.
Freeing ourselves from fossil fuels would also dramatically improve the health of Americans, for the burning of fossil fuels can cause many health problems.
In September 2021, the New England Journal of Medicine and more than 200 other health journals worldwide published a joint editorial calling for action to limit greenhouse gas emissions to protect human health. Each year, an estimated 8.7 million people die worldwide because of fossil-fuel-generated particulate matter, and 200,000 of these occur in the United States. This will continue to increase if we do not act to combat climate change.
Please ask U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) to support climate legislation that will help America fight back against Chinese domination, bring millions of new jobs to America, and save millions of American lives.
Dr. Vernon Dixon, Hiawassee, Ga.
The unborn deserve life
Having never read licensed counselor Mary Ricketson’s column, I decided to give her July 6 article about “women going backward” a try. Being very biased and missing vital information, I learned to never read another one.
As abortion advocates do, she neglected to inform women of the emotional trauma abortions can bring for years to come, even for the rest of their lives. I personally know two who have struggled with guilt, shame and regret for several decades. Though they thought abortion was the easy way to rid themselves of an unwanted situation, they continue to pay a very dear price.
Ricketson also intentionally ignored the very viable adoption solution, whether the issue is incest, not having enough resources to care for a child or any other excuse she believes is good reason for murdering the innocent. Shame on you, counselor.
Why should the helpless unborn have no future because of another’s mistakes or bad choices? Does she really think this is fair or justifiable? I don’t.
So the abortion issue is going back to the states, where it never should have left in the first place. No, women are not going backward.
But maybe the pure who deserve life will have an opportunity to go forward and have a future, with self-serving interests put on a back-burner, where they belong.
For more than 100 years, medical science has known conclusively that every individual’s life begins at the moment of fertilization, when the sperm and ovum meet to form a single cell.
If you believe at all in God, then trust His word, which tells us, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:13-14). I think that clearly says it all.
Tamara Phillips, Murphy
God always is in control
We might not like certain changes in our lifestyle. Our job, which we have had for many years, is now changing over to technology, and workers will have to adjust or be left behind, or even let go if they can’t make the grade.
Changes are occurring more and more in our world, and there is nothing we can do, but to pray for faith and courage to stay true to God’s word and know in our heart that the Almighty God of creation is in complete control, though all around us is spiraling out of control.
We serve a God who does not change. He is the same yesterday, today and evermore.
Many changes in churches have been made and some have not been accepted by folks since Covid-19 arrived about two years ago. Changes can be good if we look at them with an attitude of gratitude.
Yes, we all love being able to go to early service or others to a later service, but this doesn’t bring all of God’s people together. I personally believe being in the same location has given me a chance to meet folks from both services in one building. A building or a sanctuary should not stop us from worshiping God but should bring us all under the same roof to bring honor and glory to God.
Remember that the Holy Spirit is leading us into all truth and if the Holy Spirit is telling you to move to another church, then by all means go. We must be obedient to the Holy Spirit, but if you are calling the shots about leaving, then please take time to really pray about it.
We all have to make decisions that are based on Scripture. Not on our own thinking of what is best for ourselves, but what the Holy Spirit is telling you to do.
I take full responsibility for this letter. It is not intended to change anyone’s mind, but to fervently pray for the leading of the Holy Spirit in the right choice to make – not to put ourselves first, but what God would have us do so He gets all of the glory for the great things He has done.
Frank Combs, Blairsville, Ga.