Newspapers / West Craven Highlights (Vanceboro, … / June 21, 1984, edition 1 / Page 2
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Page 2, West Craven Highlights, June 21,1964 In the Cards By JONATHAN PHILLIPS Sometime within the past 48 hours, Father’s day cards were removed from firepiace mantles and the tops of television sets all over Craven County and deposited in trash cans or in cardboard boxes bound for the attic or the storage shed. If you haven’t taken them to the dumpster yet, hold off. I’ve got a suggestion. Next time you’re at the store, pick up a bottle of typewriter correction fluid-liquid paper or white-out, it’s sometimes called. Use this to white out the names and dates and what-not on all those father’s day cards. Then in June of ’85, fire ’em back out to all those fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, and so forth that are due cards. This will accomplish two related goals. First, you’ll save some time and trouble (the same principle, of course, works with cards for any holiday) and cash. Second, you’ll help to put a big dent in the greeting card industry, which sorely deserves it. ***** In the last month, we’ve spent approximately $15 on greeting cards. Between birthdays, weddings, graduations, anniversaries, and new babies, we’ve kept slimy shopping-mall card stores in the black. And I’m sick of it. First of all, greeting cards are full of sappy, schmaltzy, stupid, nonsensical crap that you would never write, say, or think on your own. Sure, you love your mama on her birthday, and wish your Aunt Betty a M erry Christmas, and are proud that cousin Clem finally finished high school, but a simple statement of those facts Is worth more than all the sloppy greeting card sentiment in the world. Secondly, the greeting card industry has manipulated the entire population of America so that we feel intense guilt if we don’t send a card for every holiday and occasion imagninable. Some "holidays,” such as Grandparents Day, Father’s Day, and Mother’s Day, certainly claim wonderful aims. But let’s face it, these days were invented by Hallmark and American Greetings to sell us pictures of mountain sunsets and baby bunnies at 90 cents a pop. But they’ve done their job, and we all send out card after card filled with dumb jokes and sappy poetry when a simple letter would mean so much more and say things the way we want them said. Rick was out of the will again. He had forgotten to send mother’s and father's day cards to his parents in Florida, and was residing in the family doghouse. Out of adversity comes creativity, however (the suffer-if-you- wanna-sing-the-blues syndrome). Rick came up with a brilliant money-making idea: A greeting card service. It works like this; Once a year, for a flat fee, you provide the firm with a list of every person you would be expected to send a card to, with every date and occasion marked. You would also check boxes for the general type of card—for example, someone might be due a humorous birthday card in August and a religious Christmas card in December. Then the company takes care of all card selection and mailing. They make a rubber stamp of your signature, and on the appropriate days they fire off these cards, stamped with your signature. Since they are dealing in volume, this would be cheaper than going out to buy and mail cards all year long, and you never forget. Once a year you take care of all the greeting card hassles. If Rick ever gets it going. I’ll invest heavily in it, if I have any cash left over from buying sappy poetry and pictures of baby bunnies. * * * * Even better, as I see it, would be a revolution. Instead of wasting money on those horrible cards, send out a letter or a postcard instead, and say the things you want said, the way you would say them. And if you must send cards, recycle! Keep your white-out handy, keep those cards in circulation, and deliver a financial knock-out punch to the manipulative goons in the greeting card industry. Let’s put all those artists and writers to work doing something useful, like cartoons on the back of boxes of Captain Crunch. The Old and The New By LELA BARROW At this time when everyone is interested in who will be our new President, also who will be our Governor. I have been reading “Story of Our Country” and I am enjoying It. Here is some history on our first President, that may interest you. When the office of President was to be filled for the first time, grave problems were to be solved. The hardships and suffering of the struggle for independence were in the minds of the people. They wanted to form a more perfect Union for the struggling people. They were willing to settle the difference of their own opinions for the sake of living peaceably together. There was one man upon whom all could agree as uniting the future of our country - one who had wisdom and experience necessary to be the first President of the United States of America. George Washington was the only ever unanimously elected President. He undertook the duties with a deep sense of their importance and difficulty, but with courage and devotion. Washington’s second election was like the first, without opposition, and for four more years he continued to guide the affairs of State. Upon his retirement two parties began developing, prepared to contest the election of the next President. The Federalists, or united people, and the Republicans. This was the old way. Now comes the new way of electing our President. When I was a little girl there were three parties—Democrats, Republicans and Third Party. Election Day was held in a house near my Father’s store. Whisky was cheap and the bigger Politicians could bring a wagon load of men to vote, his way, by giving them a drink of whisky. By sun down it was a rowdy time outside the store. My parents were Democrats - so the year the Third Party won in our township our whole family was buried under the oak tree. The little girl’s grave had a bouquet of flowers (weeds) on it. I knew that was me. Politicians did not go all over the United States seeking votes and spending money in those days - they didn’t have it to spend. Today, it seems to me they are buying the Presidency with the hundred-thousand dollars they are spending - yet not knowing who will be elected. Three men running on the Democratic Votes - only-maybe - to be beaten by the Republican Votes. Poor people giving “$60.00 or $100.00 trying to make their side win. The richer class of people won’t miss the amount they give - they can deduct it from their Internal Revenue Tax. During the first half century of our history it was the Democratic party. The party of Jefferson, who believed in freedom of local government—with same rights and privileges for all-characterized by a “passion for peace”. In the year 1800 the Republican party triumphed over the Democrats. In 1852 the Whig party was very weak. The Republican party awakened to the idea of anti-slavery and elected Abraham Lincoln as President. For a full history of “Abe Lincoln” as he was known by the Southerners read the History of the Civil War. He was also known as “Honest Abe”-he was a good man as well as a good President. Through the years, we have had some good and some better. Now, if you want more about politics of today read your newspapers. Pray the best man wins. the classifieds 244-0780 To The Editor: Raft Rac# A Success The 9th Annual WAZZ Great Trent River Raft Race has come and gone. By all accounts it was a success. On behalf of WAZZ Radio and the New Bern Shrine Club, we would like to thank you for your assistance in making this happen. Without the support of your organization, we could not attract the crowd that attends the Raft Race, and we do appreciate your help^^ Jack Quick, General Mailer Bill Poole, Race Director THE WEST CRAVEN HIGHLIGHTS Craven County's Family Woakly Naws^por P.O. Box 404/711, Main Street Across from Post Office Vanceboro, North Carolina 2858fi Phone (Sit) 244-0710, (918) 244-0808 W.L. Cannon, Jr Publisher & Business Manager Christine HIH Office Manager Sharon Buck Production Manager Sdith Hedgea Circulation Manager Circulation Zone ■sereNe, III Paste Up PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY Second Claaa Poolago Paid al Vanceboro, N.C. (Permit entered Mareh 1,1474) UP8P 412-110 SUBSCRIPTION PRICES SInglo Copy 204 1 Year Subscription.... $6>27 2 Years Subscription.. $10.48 3 Yeara Subscription.. $14.62 (Payable In advance. Subscribers desiring their Hiflllipb, terminated at expiration should notify us of this Intention, otherwise we will consider It their wish to continue to receive the paper and the be charged for It).
West Craven Highlights (Vanceboro, N.C.)
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June 21, 1984, edition 1
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