Annexation attempt shows disrespect
Readers, I can only stress the importance of the violation and disrespect the Salisbury city government and mayor’s office have demonstrated to the county commissioners and the county residents along the N.C. 150 corridor in attempting to force involuntary annexation. They haven’t even taken into consideration the financial impact it will have on young struggling homeowners and the elderly living on fixed incomes. Or the untold extra expense to be blessed unto the area homeowners for services we already have!
Let’s keep the eye on the ball, mayor. Bring businesses to the city, fill those empty buildings and homes with new taxpayers and promote the growth of the city and county by enticing commerce to come here. Don’t scare growth away by showing them that the people they will bring to live here will also be prey to this kind of injustice that will in the end prove to undo the growth that already is putting Salisbury on the map. Take care of your citizens ó don’t harm them!
County commissioners need to take action on this, and so do the governor’s office and state legislators.
Involuntary annexation is a moral crime that fails to uphold the foundation of the U.S Constitution, which protects its citizens from injustice.
ó Harry Rivera
Salisbury
Religion excuse
A world without religion? No morals as a result? At least the World Trade Center would still be standing. There would be no suicide bombers. If Iraq were atheistic, we would not be there.
Politicians have used religion to justify their ignoble objectives for centuries. Julius Caesar used it to conquer Gaul and slaughter a million or more of its inhabitants; but I bet he did not feel much like the son of the gods when they started working him over with those knives, any more than Jesus did when his own number was up.
William the Conqueror used it to justify invading England and slaughtering thousands of Saxons. In fact, Bishop Odo charged into the Saxon front line, flailing with a club, since church officials were forbidden to bear swords. Now, isn’t that better?
When Napoleon invaded Egypt in 1798, he told the Egyptian mullahs he was a devout Muslim. They must not have bought that con line, because he eventually had to head home, where he became a devout Catholic, of course. Hitler played the religion game also, telling voters that there can be no morals without religious instruction. Incidentally, the church banned Thomas Paine’s “The Age of Reason.” They have not done so with “Mein Kampf.”American politics, religion and business are full of distortions, corruptions and manipulations. Mike Huckabee has said that all 55 of this nation’s founders were pastors. Only one was a genuine minister.
If Benny Hinn, Pat Robertson and others like them had preached in the year 1850, they would probably have been run out of town.
Morals evolve. To give one example, no one today wants a woman hanged for preaching.
Never vote for any candidate who intends to use elected office to promote a particular worldview, with no regard to the possible consequences.
ó R. Howard Andrews
Kannapolis
Schools need change
Regarding Jeff Smith’s Feb. 11 commentary, “Students must be ready for changing world”:
My 8-year-old daughter attends elementary school. Some of the teaching skills are of the “old school,” in my opinion. She is literally bored. On her weekly reports, it is noted that she never raises her hand to ask questions and never participates. Each week the same story. Can we not update our teachers on today’s issues? Make school fun, yet teach what is within the guidelines.
I am a registered nurse, and although the human body has not changed, I had to change with the times in my nursing career. Can we not make schools fun? This teacher only began to smile after the article about “Rowan-Salisbury Schools to become customer friendly.” I finally got my first smile and wave.
I am just counting down the days until this year is over and, hopefully, my daughter will have a teacher next year who is a bit lively and makes it interesting. This is my child’s foundation. Not raising her hand or not participating is not going to make or break her future.
I must admit the principal is very friendly. She acts like she enjoys her job. I commend the new teachers. My fifth grader has a teacher who laughs and jokes with them. She enjoys school and, by the way, is an all-A, one-B student.
Make school fun, smile and act happy yourself if you expect those around you to smile.
Jeff Smith, thank you for your acknowledgement of this issue. I feel anything at this point in time will help. Come on, June!
ó Micky Stirewalt
Salisbury