Just ask yourself:
Are we there yet?
Recently, I considered entering a writing contest titled “Are we there yet?” but I could not draw on anything with depth, so the deadline expired. It wasn’t until Jan. 21 that it hit me. I was driving my son to the Martin Luther King parade, and we started talking. My son was surprised to hear that Dr. King stood for nonviolence. We pulled up, although there was no parade activity. We parked and talked. Luckily, a lady told us the parade had been canceled.
As we drove home my son made this comment, “I hate the world!”
I asked him why.
He said, “No one cares about celebrating Dr. King. They canceled the parade and didn’t bother to tell us!” (Editor’s note: The parade was rescheduled for Feb. 9 because of bad weather.)
On Jan. 22, the Salisbury Post paid homage to Dr. King. I couldn’t wait to let my son read the articles, but most of all I wanted him to know what sparked in me after reading them. I read Dr. King’s speeches for the first time. I began to think, “What am I doing to keep the dream moving?” In Dr. King’s last speech, he stressed the continuation toward unity and the issue of injustice. Like Moses, he visited the mountaintop and saw the Promised Land. Dr. King’s vision still hovers over this world, and there is a nation that has not yet reached its freedom. We must cease this stagnancy toward the dream; we must be unified again by fighting injustice with the gift within us. It angers me to read that some people still protest the celebration of Dr. King. Here it is 2008; there are threats to all Americans from foreign enemies who see no color, but these protesters are Americans fighting the color of skin. So I ask, “Are we there yet?”
ó Tia Glass
Salisbury
Taking back streets
I and other concerned citizens in our community have seen a difference since Salisbury Police Officer Hunter, Officer Ford and Lt. Dummett began working the streets.
Take a ride to different areas of the West End: Horah Street, Locke Street, Partee Street or Old Plank Road. We no longer have people hanging out in bunches. Drug dealers aren’t running up to cars like they used to do. If the dealers or gang-bangers get the word on the street that Ford and Hunter are working, they stay away. You better believe that when these officers come out to investigate a crime, somebody is going down for that crime.
We need more officers like these that will stand up to gang-bangers and dealers on the street.
These officers work different events in the community because we feel safe when they are around. That’s why most community events request Ford, Hunter and Dummett for security.
ó Kim Fields
Salisbury
Religion & politics
I am an atheist/free thinker/secular-humanist/ethical culture practitioner. I believe that all religion is delusional, with adherents living in a dream world and trying to change reality by the pure power of belief.
Consider the consequences when we mix this wishful thinking with politics.
ó Cody Yasinsac
Kannapolis