We’ve all heard of cases where children are bullied to the point that they commit suicide, and like many, we never thought it would happen here.
Unfortunately, last week it did. This 11-year-old — who always had a smile and a funny story about his baby sister biting him, — was also being tormented by other children to the point he took his own life. This isn’t just a tragedy for his family but for all of us. The school, the school system and the legal system all failed this young man, and that should weigh on all of us. Someone should be held responsible — parents of the bullies, the school or society.
This is a problem we created. We can also create the solution. Parents, don’t let this happen to another child. The heartache this family is going through is unimaginable and should have never happened. It’s on all of us to put an end to this madness!
— Jerry Cook

Salisbury

This government shutdown is just awful. It has begun to cause the citizens some heartache and troubles. I have seen that it could cause our food prices to go up; it could cause millions of children to go hungry; and it could close down some of our national parks. Is this not just ridiculous, or not?
Is there a bright side or silver lining to this awful scenario? On the surface it looks like a train wreck happening and getting worse, but here is the bright side. Our government (the best in the history of the world) is set up with checks and balances. One group or party, even though they may be in the majority, cannot control everything. The minority has the right to debate, discuss and alter the events. Our founders and constitutional writers knew that times like these would exist, and have happened in the past, but the system is built to accommodate these situations.
I’m really disgusted that hard working people are out of work , children may go hungry, and our national parks are closed (with many folks missing out on well-planned vacations and chances of their lifetime) because of the inability of our Congress, Senate and the executive branch to come together to meet a deadline. This is the result of a great division in the hearts and minds of our country. I’m so glad that the good old Constitution will cause them to come to some kind of consensus and get our government back on the road.
Hooray for the wisdom of our Founding Fathers and the great document they most thoughtfully wrote.
— John Garmon

China Grove
Some of the Tea Party’s and Republicans’ dire predictions about the Affordable Care Act’s impact on the economy may become reality. Some companies will reduce hours of employees, lay off people and make other economic choices that hurt employees when they have to offer health insurance. If they do that, it is to protect their profits because nothing in the ACA requires such actions. Right now, the TP/Republican actions to force the government shutdown are dramatically hurting the economy through the hundreds of millions in federal payroll dollars that are not entering the marketplace every day.
The TP/Republican axis claims they are fighting to protect individual rights because of the requirement that everyone must have health insurance. Throughout most of the nation, drivers are a required to have insurance. Why is that so different? Is that a violation of rights? I submit that the ability to get health care is a greater right than freedom from buying health insurance.
One additional claim of the TP/Republican axis was articulated by Michelle Bachman and other Republicans in recent TV interviews. They stated that among all of the flaws in the ACA, there was a glaring unfairness in it. Members of the House and Senate were now going to be treated like other citizens and forced to buy health insurance. Is it possible that the stiff resistance of the TP/Republican axis is, in part, due to the unconscionable audacity of treating U.S. senators and representatives like everyone else?
To end this debilitating impasse the Republican leadership must allow a clean continuing resolution to come to the floor. Why won’t they allow a vote? Are they so unsure of the validity of their position that they must use parliamentary tricks?
— Richard D. Sorensen

Salisbury

Missing high school football games, our family decided to attend the recent East Rowan/Concord game. The outcome was not favorable to East, but I did want to compliment the student body. We had good seats close to the 50-yard line and close to their pep squad. The pep squad was dressed in ’60s-era clothing, some made by students while moms maybe had a hand in others. They were cute. Most important, though, were their actions. They had a good time and did not cause a scene or use bad language. The leader allowed a special-needs person to join her, and he had a good time, too! It is so refreshing to see young people have a good time. The news is always telling the bad things. I congratulate the parents, but most of all the students and the school they attend. East Rowan High students restored my faith in tomorrow’s leaders.
— Ellen Scercy

Granite Quarry
The Oct. 3 headline “Rowan team doesn’t win paramedic competition” does the team, their colleagues and peers and the citizens of Rowan County a great disservice. I had the honor and privilege of competing with Aaron and Dan at EM Today. In the 13 minutes allotted for the scenario, they were asked to manage three critically ill patients with limited resources. By all accounts, they represented their department and the citizens of Rowan County exceedingly well. Aaron and Dan are consummate professionals, but to make it to this level requires more than technical or professional expertise. It requires the character necessary to compete against your peers in a public forum, open for any and all critique. As was shown last Sunday, Aaron and Dan truly possess this character. The editors of the Salisbury Post should take the time to acknowledge their accomplishments with the respect that these two gentleman have certainly earned.
— Christopher Watford

Wilmington