Turmoil over chief in East Spencer
You can dish it out, but you can’t take it!
Don’t go feeling sorry for Officer James Schmierer yet; please be advised that you reap what you sow.
Officer Schmierer alleges that he has been discriminated against because of his race; he also alleges that he has been harassed and embarrassed and called racist names. I can’t believe that he would even have the nerve to ask the town to compensate him with our tax dollars when he has done the very same thing to citizens in the town of East Spencer.
Officer Schmierer has made many racist remarks in the public’s hearing, and it amazes me that he is even still a police officer in the town of East Spencer. God help us if he is given the position of chief of police. I can’t begin to count the times that our citizens have been harassed and embarrassed by him. Do we owe him an apology, or does he owe us one? I am kind of confused here.
It will cost the citizens of East Spencer if he is, in fact, promoted to chief of police. It would cost us our pride, dignity and self-respect. That’s a heavy price to pay, Mrs. Mayor and Mr. Hunter. Is he worth it?
ó Sylvia Whitten
East Spencer
Honoring students
I was interested, yet disappointed, to read Mac Butner’s letter regarding the Cuban, Chinese and Vietnamese flags hanging along with the American flag and several others in the cafeteria at Southeast Middle School (SEMS). It is unfortunate that Mr. Butner chose to view this matter in such a negative light, especially since the staff and teachers at SEMS, under the direction of Principal Skip Kraft, work so hard to emphasize the positive.
As an immigrant of 33 years and a U.S. citizen of 23 years, as a person of mixed heritage ó Cuban birth and Jamaican upbringing, to mention a few ó I can tell you that the American flag symbolizes many great things to me, including freedom and opportunity. I love my adopted country, and I am extremely grateful to those who work to preserve our privileges. In my own ways, I give back to the community as I am able.
However, as a person who also loves the nations and peoples from whence I come, I am grateful to the administration of SEMS for honoring my birth country and for not condemning a people because of their tyrannical leader. I disagree with Mr. Butner in that I do not believe respect for another country implies disrespect for our own. Each flag in the cafeteria represents the nation of at least one student at Southeast, 15 nations in all. Thank you, Southeast, for honoring all our flags, and thereby honoring all of our students.
ó Alicia Z. Corriher
China Grove
Check those checks
I just printed out my credit card statement, which comes by e-mail. It showed a $5.03 finance charge. Since I pay off my bill every month, I called to ask why. Guess what? I accidently paid my last bill $1 short!
Yes, a $1 shortage caused a $5.03 service charge. The nice person on the phone took the charge off, but this was just about enough to cause me to cancel it and get a different card. If I didn’t think they were all equal crooks, I might do it.
I’ve had this credit card since 1989 and have rarely missed paying it in full each month. Of course, they don’t like that, either, because they don’t make money off me that way. I just thought I’d warn the readers. Be careful when you write that check!
ó Pat Watson
Rockwell