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Sunday, July 20, 2008 11:37 AM
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Nation is grounded in its farmlandI am comforted to know that the beautiful and historic Knox farm will be forever preserved but remain unclear how the eight-generation farm family can be vilified for being great stewards. Land that could have brought millions if developed was instead permanently conserved for much less. As a child, my 95-year-old grandpa played with Robert Knox Sr. on that farm and still reminisces, "that's one beautiful place." Thanks to the Knoxes, it still is and will be farmed for generations to come. What a gift!
Rick Morris' July 14 letter clearly reveals the disconnect consumers have with their food sources. If every farmer took Morris' advice "to go out and find something else," we would have no food! One commissioner characterizes farmers as "rich land owners"; a Land Use Committee member called them "land barons"; however, most farmers will admit that they are instead "land poor." What farmland preservation funding does is save our small family farms, enabling farmers to pay off debt and grow their business.
I ask the commissioners to set up a Rowan farmland preservation fund where VOLUNTARY donations can be given in order to keep the fund alive. This could be noted on yearly tax statements with donations earmarked for farmland preservation, no matter how large or small the donation.
In the meantime, I hope our farmers who support this old and noble profession will explain to Mr. Morris why they stay in farming even though it's difficult; why they work grueling 15-hour days and how heartbreaking it is to watch these efforts wither in a drought. Farming isn't about wealth or greed; the reasons run much deeper. Franklin Roosevelt once said, "The nation that destroys its soil, destroys itself."
Roosevelt summarized perfectly our need to nurture our farms and our farmers.
— Adele Goodman
Mooresville (Western Rowan/ Corriher Grange community)
Gay or straight, bullying is wrong
North Carolina often is described as "a veil of humility between two mountains of conceit." In refusing to take the route of our northern and southern neighbors in instituting discrimination in our state constitution, I would like to submit North Carolina is a "veil of fairness between two mountains of discrimination." Something we can all be proud of as North Carolinians.
Yet this same state, in failing to protect our children with HB 1366 to prevent bullying, seems to be so influenced by the Christian Action League and the N.C. Family Policy Council that the people's will and the students' needs are not met. A Public Policy Polling survey shows 72 percent of North Carolinians, including a majority of identified Republicans, support the bill with the language presented. Obviously, the Christian Action League and N.C. Family Policy Council are out of touch with North Carolina, and in my opinion against the moral obligation to protect students.
The sad part is, most gay students are too unsure or reluctant to identify as gay, due to the pressures to be someone other than who they are made by God to be, and come out. It often is not the gay student who is bullied for being gay — it is the loner, the introverted, the unpopular.
Gay or straight, the moral issue is the bullying. Language that includes gay, lesbian and transgendered kids from being bullied is necessary to arm our school boards with the ammunition to address these issues. Too often, those ID'd by their fellow students as gay, often incorrectly, are admonished and told to change their actions rather than address the bullies. And with the ridiculous "recruitment" accusations of the right wing nuts, it makes it almost impossible for teachers to properly address, unless the language to support their efforts exits.
For the life of me, I cannot understand why anyone would object to keeping kids from being bullied.
— Rod Goins
Salisbury
Fisher responds to those in need
My brother, Bobby Jolly, was hit by a truck in the course of his work as a truck driver, leaving him unconscious with multiple broken bones. Dr. Ada Fisher came to visit him while he was hospitalized at UNC-Chapel Hill and helped him find legal counsel. She came for his surprise birthday party in Taylorsville. We think the world of her.
In order to save me money, Dr. Fisher willingly drove me to the National Federation of Republican Women's Convention in Nashville, Tenn., as well as shared a room with me there, and again when we went to Salt Lake City, Utah. Whenever we call her, she comes, and she has been there for me.
I've been a member of the Republican Party for years and have never met anyone quite like Dr. Fisher. I know she has helped others regardless of party or color, and I just love her.
If I could vote in Rowan County, I would vote for Dr. Ada M. Fisher for N.C. House District 77, and I hope that you won't miss the opportunity to do this in the general election.
— Margaret Bumgarner
Taylorsville
Share your views with Obama group
Vote: Middle English (Scots), from Latin votum vow, wish; date: 15th century (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
Last Thursday night, I was privileged to be among a group of American patriots as we vowed to work together to expand local voter registration, reach out to the educational and faith communities and hear the opinions of people old and young on the important issues facing our country today. I was happy to find that Rowan4Obama is a mixed group of citizens who have the common goal of making our nation a better place.
This group is participating in a public forum made possible through the Obama campaign's Listening to America program on Tuesday, July 22, at 5:30 p.m. at the East Square Artworks, 120 E. Innes Street. I am thrilled to know that anyone who is interested may attend this event where one may actually communicate with the Obama national campaign and share views about what's important to our country! Wow!
I am grateful also that the Rowan County Public Library at 201 E. Fisher Street in Salisbury is opening its meeting space to anyone interested in being part of Rowan4Obama on Wednesday, July 23, at 7 p.m. I hope all American patriots who support Obama will be there as well!
— Karen Puckett
Salisbury
Comments (14)
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Just enforce current laws
HB 1266 Unneeded : Thursday, July 24, 2008 8:01 PM
"Public Policy Polling survey shows 72 percent of North Carolinians, including a majority of identified Republicans, support the bill with the language presented." Who paid for the poll? They get the result that they pay for. The people's will and the needs of the students are well reflected by our current laws on bullying and this attempt to give special and unneeded protection to one group was rightly rejected.
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Michael Basinger
Re: common sense : Thursday, July 24, 2008 7:18 PM
If you had any "common sense" you would know that Lawrence King had already complained about being bullied and been to the guidance counselors office many, many, many times during the school year. NOTHING was done about the bully. Yes murder is against the law (what a smart person you are)! Can you say for a fact that he wouldn't have been protected, at least better by this law? I don't think either of us can! But the fact is people like you prevent children like Lawrence King from having the chance to live their life as they choose. You want to dictate everything! All children should be protected equally which is what this is all about, not just a "special" group. However, you and the educational system makes them a "special group" by not addressing bullying toward homosexuals due to your "fears and concerns" of having to explain something to your children that may make you uncomfortable! Much like sex education itself. People like you and the pro-life extremists don't want anything except abstinence taught. We all see how that is working out, don't we? Kids having kids and walking around with STD's! Why don't you get yourself some common sense instead of nonsense!
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Who's Right
Goodman wrong? : Tuesday, July 22, 2008 6:50 PM
"I am comforted to know that the beautiful and historic Knox farm will be forever preserved but remain unclear how the eight-generation farm family can be vilified for being great stewards. Land that could have brought millions if developed was instead permanently conserved for much less." Another poster thinks Ms. Goodman is wrong. Could this be?? "So if a future buyer of the Knox land, or a future heir, decides to sell for a purpose other than the use stated in that easement, it is nonbinding on successors in interest. It is only binding on the original grantor." Both can't be right. Anbody else want to comment on who is right?
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Libertarian.
: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:30 AM
"It seems you don't have any real ideas as to why this country needs changing. The only person to do such a thing is Mr. Obama." First of all, the country needs changing because we are doing (or not doing) some dumb things. For one, gas prices are $4 per gallon now. Why? One big reason is the refusal to drill for the oil we have in this country. Environmentalists think the world will end if we drill for oil. Why leave it in the ground? We need it. For another, we need to change from being dependent on the government for all our needs to accepting responsiblity for ourselves and working to improve ourselves and not wait on the government to come up with the answer. Government dependence is not a virtue. Personal responsibility is. I could name many others as well. Change can also be bad as well as good. Obama will certainly bring change, but much of it will be of the bad variety. Raising taxes is a bad change. Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory (as in Iraq) is a bad change. Need I go on? Obama is a socialists. I am not. ARe you?
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Common Sense
: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:15 AM
"All that is being asked is that homosexual children be protected from being bullied or killed like the 15 year old (Lawerence King) on Feb. 13th 2008,in an Oxnard California school classroom full of students (he was shot twice in the back of the head by a 14 year". So do you think this law would have protected the victim from murder? Isn't murder already against the law? Why do homosexuals deserve more protection than other childern? we simply need to enforce presnet laws against violence. Use Common sense.
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Straight but not Narrow
Bullying is wrong : Tuesday, July 22, 2008 9:43 AM
I totally agree with Rod Goins. It amazes me that "good Christians" can hate a group of people so much that they condone bullying or killing anyone, especially children.
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Tired of Republican Excuses
Also not an Obama maniac : Monday, July 21, 2008 6:58 PM
Sure, Hillary would have been a better choice. But we all got "Bush-whacked" as we entered the 21st Century, so many of our choices are driven by the loss of freedom endured under the autocratic Bush Administration. He and Cheney ignore Supreme Court rulings, and pretty much wipe their a**es with the Constitution after their morning "constitutionals." So explain how placing a novice at the helm could be any more dangerous than the dunce we've endured for the last 7 and 1/2 years? (Except that you prefer right-wing extremists over leftist?) Americans aren't buying the hype any more. We're sick of the same old hot button Republican issues that get your people frothed up and skeered into voting for your guys. 2008 is the year of change.
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Michael Basinger
Rod Goins is correct! : Monday, July 21, 2008 4:16 PM
The state of NC is considered the "veil of humility between two mountains of conceit." Unfortunately it probably always will be, thanks to people like Jesse Helms! The "right wings" are so afraid that their children might be exposed to something more than what they already see on television and may have to actually explain what these issues are really about. Not until one of their children (like Dick Cheney's daughter) comes out do they change their mind, if at all. Most of the time they try to shove them back into the proverbial "closet" for fear of their so called "friends" finding out they have a homosexual child! It would make more sense if the subject were approached in schools across the nation and children get the RIGHT information instead of their norrowminded parents "old school" ideals. No one is saying that the schools need to teach how sex between two (same sex) consinting adults is performed. All that is being asked is that homosexual children be protected from being bullied or killed like the 15 year old (Lawerence King) on Feb. 13th 2008,in an Oxnard California school classroom full of students (he was shot twice in the back of the head by a 14 year old). I guess it would be out of the question to ask you people to put yourselves in the shoes of Lawrence Kings relatives, I am sure you would rather be in the shoes of the killers parents. That is basically what you are doing when you do not protect children from their worst enemies..their peers! Before this happens to one of your kids (and don't say, not my child! that's exactly what my parents use to say) please think about what shoes you would rather wear, parents of a murdered child, shoes of a parent whos child murdered another or shoes of a human being that wanted all children protected!
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Land Use Planning is an appropriate tool : Monday, July 21, 2008 2:31 PM
If used correctly, land use planning is "right." As for the perpetual conservation easement, "For Property Rights" need not worry. The NC Constitution makes perpetuities void. So if a future buyer of the Knox land, or a future heir, decides to sell for a purpose other than the use stated in that easement, it is nonbinding on successors in interest. It is only binding on the original grantor. And only a Constitutional Amendment would overcome the bar against 'perpetual' conservation easements. So the people granting those easements, and the organizations paying the big bucks for them, should be cautious about the future owners being as dedicated to preservation as the original landowners.
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Greg Hicks
To Not An Obama Maniac : Monday, July 21, 2008 1:55 PM
It seems you don't have any real ideas as to why this country needs changing. The only person to do such a thing is Mr. Obama. Hopefully I'll be soon saying Mr. President. But nevertheless, the entire far left/far right jib jab is ridiculous. How can a country come together when all we do is seperate ourselves with these titles and refuse to listen to each others opinions and ideas for the sole titles we give each other. Mr. Obama has always listened to the voices of the "far right" and respected them and has agreed and disagreed but what makes him different is he listens. Unlike many politicians Mr. Obama listens to what people say no matter their title.
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For Property Rights
Is Land Use Planning right" : Monday, July 21, 2008 7:47 AM
Is this just really an attempt for one to control land he owns now to also still control it after death? Why should one try to put such onerous controls on what ones' relatives do with land generations later? This may not be a smart move for the descendents. Why tie their hands? The descendents may face very trying times and may need flexibility in dealing with their situation. Of course the socialists among us love to take control of us now, and also control the future as they think they know what is best not only for us, but for all future generations. I don't think they are that smart. Do you, Adele, Goodman? Do you have a crystal ball?
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Not an Obama Maniac
Mixed Up? : Monday, July 21, 2008 7:38 AM
"I was happy to find that Rowan4Obama is a mixed group of citizens" -- Mixed up would have been a better description. The nation does not need a novice at the helm leading us in the dangerous 21st century. And a far leftist at that. Even Hilliary would have been a better choice.
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Not for Special Interests
Protect All Children Equally : Monday, July 21, 2008 7:30 AM
"Language that includes gay, lesbian and transgendered kids from being bullied is necessary to arm our school boards with the ammunition to address these issues." This is simply not true. Current laws address bullying. Gays (I call them sads) and lesbians do not need to be singled out for special protection. All children are in the same boat regarding bullying. If you are going to single out one group, then all groups should be singled out, as all need the same protection. Why should some have more protection than others simple because they are gay (sad) or lesbian? All deserve EQUAL protection.
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The 'bullying act' was a ruse : Monday, July 21, 2008 7:13 AM
The so-called "bullying act" HB 1366 was a ruse of a bill that didn't have so much to do with protecting children as it did with imposing the gay, lesbian and transgendered politial agenda into our state law. Had the bill included "all children" in it's language then that would have been fine and acceptable to most North Carolinians. However, the bill's authors, made sure to include such phrases as "sexual orientation," "masculinity" and "feminity". One of the bill's authors (Susan Fisher) even said she would not support the bill without that language. Had this bill been passed and signed into law, the intolerant gay lobby would have been able to file lawsuits in state courts, demanding that public school curriculum be changed to include their radical agenda. In the hands of a supremacist judge, a court could have ruled that because NC public schools don't require reading as "Heather has two mommies" and "Daddy's roommate", then the schools are in violation of state law because they are "discriminating" against children who may be "gay," "lesbian," or "transgendered." Of course, that's exactly what the gay lobby wanted and that's why the pro-family movement rose up and defeated HB 1366.
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Editorial: The stain of graffiti
