The AC Phoenix
December 2002
Page 57
Dear Ms K,
My
Answer
I have lots of friends. Some are married and others have been
married but now divorced. I really want to get married but I'm afraid I
might end up the same way. We have been dating three years but we have known each other for seven
years. He really wants to tie the knot. He is a very nice guy, has a good job and enjoys going to church.
We both are in our late 30's. Either one has never been married, of course no children. I just want to make
sure that this will last. Ms K, what is your answer about this? I won't sign my name because my friends
just might figure it's me.
Still Holding Out
Dear Holding Out,
I'm afraid you will be holding out from now on if you are comparing yourself with others. Ms K or
anyone else cannot tell you what to do with your future. I will tell you that no marriage is guaranteed for
anyone. You will have to try and make the best of anything you encounter. I'm sure your friends who did
n't succeed in their marriage did not know or intend for it to end as it did. We have to try for ourselves and
not base our lives on what we want to do with what others are doing. As we know, marriage is a
commitment. We know it takes two to make the marriage successful. I feel like we have to work very hard
with anything we do in life. Failure happens when we never try. I would strongly suggest that you pray over
this and ask God to lead and guide you. By all means, talk with your Pastor.
For ali readers, have a safe and Blessed Holiday Season and by ail means include your family and
loved ones. I must say again thanks for your prayers for me di'ring my iilness due to the accident. Please
continue to pray for me during my recovery. Thanks again.
Write to: Ms. K. My Answer
RO. Box 16144
Winston-Salem, NC 27115-6144
Bcbol^ tbe Glory
of tbr Stasoti
May you and yours
find the spirit and joy
of the Miracle of Christmas '
and bask in the glow of peace,
love and understanding.
We arc truly greatful for you.
Goler Memorial
AME Zion Church
Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Seth O.
Lartey, Pastor
Christmas Eve - Worship Service -7pm
December 31st -
Watchnight Service -10 pm
630 N. Patterson Avenue • Winston-
Salem, NC 27101 ■
(336) 724-9411
2 Brothers Citgo
Convenient Store
Comer of Waughtown St. &
Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive
Phone: 650-1225
OflFering the best
HOT WINGS
& WEDGES
and the
LOWEST
GAS PRICES
Open 24 Hours
Remember Christ
Our Savior was Bom On
Christmas Day
We Wish all the Blessings of
diis Holy Season to our
Favorite Annointed Lady
Preacher
EVANGELIST PARTHENIAS.
GALLOWAY
We need to hear you
preach at the ‘Star’ before
die end of 2002.
Celebrate die Miracle
IMEVi^Si
f/i£'
The City Must Fight Back
Baltimore Times
When a cowardly arsonist set a fire to the
Dawson home on East Preston Street and
killed a mother, her five children and recently
her husband, who succumbed to his injuries,
was an act of terrorism more threatening
than anything that Iraq or North Korea can
do and struck the hearts and minds of
Baifimoreans. The Dawson family had
objected to drug dealers stashing their
poison on their property and they wanted the
drug dealers to more away from their home.
The Dawson family did what the police
and others charged with suppressing crime
suggested they do. They called frequently
when they saw illegal activity in their block.
In return for their proper actions, they were
attacked by thugs who firebombed the
house twice. The drug dealers acted with
callousness and an apparent disregard for
the police and prosecutors who are
supposed to deter them. They acted as if
they owned the block and the Dawson
family were the group of intruders.
A suspect is in custody and others may
yet be arrested for the atrocity. Many in the
community have expressed grief and anger
and elected officials and clergy have tried to
rally the citizens of this city to see the
Dawson family as martyrs who should
inspire community opposition to the drug
trade that is crippling many neighborhoods.
The drug gangs have crossed a line from
which they will not retreat. They only grow
more brazen as law-abiding citizens retreat
from their neighborhood sidewalks and allow
drug pushers and thoir customers, many of
whom are suburbanites who do not want
drug dealing on the street corners of their
neighborhoods, to control the streets.
There are more law-abiding residents of
this city than there are violent thugs. The
decent people of Baltimore must take a
stand and this involves risk, but so does
doing nothing because unrestrained thugs
will shoot up neighborhoods wounding and
killing unintended targets. Passivity will not
solve the problem. The only way that the
streets of the city will become safer is for
government and citizens to stand together
and show determination to fight the scourge
of drug dealing and the violence it spawns.
The Dawson family took a stand and they
paid the ultimate price. If their fellow
Baltimoreans stand united in the cause for
which they sacrificed, their deaths will not be
in vain. The outrage about the murder of this
courageous family must turn into
determination to carry on their fight.