Forum provided great lessons in citizenship
Kudos to the organizers and hosts of last Tuesday evening’s candidates’ forum held at East Square Artworks!!
Although I could have wished for a much larger crowd in attendance, everything about the event was well planned and executed. The organizers very thoughtfully involved students in all aspects of the work, and it was very evident that they were both engaged and learning a great deal through the process. By ushering, reading questions to the candidates, carrying a mike to each speaker, and some even making notes on candidates’ answers, the students and adults were actively involved in an important public event.
The organizers and attendees included a diverse group of Hispanic, African-American, and caucasian Rowan County residents, and the questions asked and answered were relevant and thought provoking. Whether you are a Democrat or Republican or unaffiliated, if you were not in attendance, you lost an important opportunity to hear differing thoughts and beliefs on the challenges facing our county, state and nation.
There were marked differences in the solutions and/or beliefs represented. Everyone present had the opportunity to better hone their own beliefs and discern those of the candidates in order to be able to make an informed decision when casting their ballot in November.
I know there will be other forums, and I will probably be in attendance at those, too, but I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to give a heartfelt thanks to the organizers and hosts of this event because of the thought and intention put into making it a diverse representation of all Rowan County citizens and the use of it as a tool to help develop students in their civic responsibility. I hope to be a part of many more such events!
ó Lina Drinkard
Salisbury
A way to thank those who serve
The men and women of the Yadkin House are giving a luncheon for our firefighters, police and EMS on Sept. 17 at 12 noon to show our appreciation for what they do for us.
We have a head count of 25-30 or more who plan to eat. We do this every year. One deed deserves another, and we care that they put their lives in harm’s way to help others. When the fire alarm goes off, they come and check on us.
The food that is left over after we have eaten will be shared with Rowan Helping Ministries so that no food is wasted.
God bless them all.
ó Johnsie Lassiter
Yadkin House
We all have right to our opinions
Freedom of choice is what makes America great. I hope whichever candidate or party that wants to keep these rights for every American will be elected.
It does not matter if I favor or disagree with a certain religion or what my views are on war, abortion, tax use to help those in need, gun control, evolution, sex education, etc. As an American, I have a right to decide what I personally believe. I respect your right and the rights of any one else to agree or disagree with me.
You are a free American and have the right to believe as you choose. Freedom to be against or for abortion, the outcome of the war, what books one reads, what religion one practices ó this is what freedom of choice means. I worry when anyone wants to pass laws that will take away the choices of others in order to ensure that their own personal views and choices are the only ones available to people.
I hope everyone will decide which candidates will do the most to preserve the freedoms of all Americans and use their vote to elect people who will defend our constitutional rights.
ó Ken Dennis
China Grove
Record defies Palin’s claims
Gov. Sarah Palin portrays herself as a reformer, a Washington outsider. But when Palin was mayor, she hired a lobbyist and went to Washington annually in support of $27 million earmarks for her town of Wasilla, population: 9,000. As governor, she has requested almost $750 million in federal spending ó the largest per capita request in the nation by a longshot. She was actively in support of the “bridge to nowhere” before it became a national joke. Why would someone lie about these things when, in this day and age, it’s so easy to look up the facts?
As for the McCain campaign and change: Republicans have had control for eight long years. The changes I’ve seen are all negative: a ruined economy with record foreclosures, sky-high gas prices, unemployment that just jumped to a five-year high, an endless war and a much-worsened environment. Its time for change all right ó in the form of an all-Democratic government.
McCain has voted with Bush 95 percent of the time. I shudder to think how much worse things can get in four or eight more years if McCain is elected.
ó April Sherrill
Mount Ulla