Text The Times.

Text The Times.

Bill McFerrin’s editorials usually have a (so called) Christian theme, which is fine because I’m also a Christian. I just wonder if his Christianity starts and stops with the issue of abortion (and maybe God’s wrath). Granted, life inside the womb should be taken seriously. But does that urgency diminish at birth? I wonder what he thinks about the quality of life of a newborn, our responsibility to the sick and the poor throughout life, and the lack of dignity shown to the “have nots” because being poor also means being marginalized. An embryo or fetus being terminated inside the womb draws his rebuke, but if that same embryo dies 20 years later in a manufactured war for oil and power, there’s nary a peep from him. He’s pro life, but yet probably a staunch supporter of the NRA (if I’m wrong, I owe him an apology). Jesus spoke of the poor and downtrodden repeatedly. He didn’t mention abortion once. I’m glad my Christianity revolves around love, forgiveness and being humble before my Lord; not self righteousness and a wish of condemnation toward those who disagree with me.

[ Editor’s Note: The great thing about an editorial ( or not- so- great, depending on how you feel about the writer’s topic) is that it allows the writer an opportunity to highlight an issue about which he or she feels strongly. Abortion is an issue that many people take an almost militant stance on ( on both sides of the argument). Abortion is currently legal, as the mother’s right, under current U. S. law, so those who are against it are going to be doing whatever they think is necessary to convince mothers not to get one. If, tommorow, the U. S. Supreme Court ruled that abortion was not a Constitutional right, those who believed differently would be the ones doing whatever they think is necessary to convince everyone that it was the mother’s right to choose the procedure. You are certainly within your rights to disagree with him, but I doubt very seriously that Mr. McFerrin ( or many other abortion opponents) would be swayed by your argument. And if you really do, I mean really do, “ wonder if his Christianity starts and stops with the issue of abortion,” then I’m guessing you are missing the message from his weekly column]

*** Cannot imagine a small town like Turrell paying a mayor $2,000 a month! If you don’t like the pay, resign and let someone else do the job. It was only higher for a little bit because of extra work the old mayor did. I wouldn’t think the city of Turrell needed a full time mayor. Why doesn’t she get a job? Isn’t being a mayor a public service job?!? [ Editor’s Note: I have a hard time arguing what a job is worth and what it should pay. In a world where you can make millions of dollars playing sports or acting in movies but teachers, police offi-cers, soldiers and such make a fraction of that, it’s clear we have odd ideas about where the value of a job lies. But to your point… I could be wrong, but I agree with you that political office, especially in a town of a little over 600 folks, is not set up to be a career position]

*** I now understand why these small downs die, it’s because the leadership in most cases seem to have different agenda they spend more time fighting each other than carrying out the duties they were elected for, they are totally disfunctional The reason the polls show Trump behind Hittlary is that the people voting for Trump have jobs and aren’t out on the streets answering dumb questions. [ Editor’s Note: Sigh… are you familiar with Internet memes? First off, it’s pronounced like “ meem.” I only mention that because I spent a good deal of time pronouncing it “ me- me” in my head before I heard it out loud. Anyway an Internet meme is a stock picture ( which can be from virtually anything, TV, politics, cats, etc.) where people “ caption” with different messages. One of my favorites is the “ Condescending Wonka” meme, in which a smarmyfaced Willy Wonka ( the ‘ 70s Gene Wilder version. The Johnny Depp Wonka is a Dumpster fire) offers a quick condescending retort to some statement. I have included an example here as a visual aid]

and with the local citizens throwing in their personal bias it’s just not possible for these community’s to succeed. [ Editor’s Note: I wouldn’t say small towns necessarily die because of poor leadership — at least not in every case. I also wouldn’t limit the poorleadership- killing- a- town to small towns. But your insights about agendas and in- fighting and personal bias are spot on]

***

870-225-1456

Here’s what everyone is talking about this week: