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.
ó 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 ó 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.
ó 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.
ó 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!
ó Karen Puckett
Salisbury