Newspapers / The Brunswick beacon. / Jan. 28, 1993, edition 1 / Page 5
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MORE LETTERS Writer Responds To 'Ballistic' Feminists Who Criticized His Letter To ihc editor: Nothing is more hilarious than the ballistic responses of feminists who have (finally) been challenged! The critic will have his motiva tions impugned, his character ques tioned and the substance of his re marks twisted out of shape or mis represented. I would ask these angry feminists to note specifically that I did not make any negative remarks about Hope Harbor or Ms. Acton's role there except that she used the posi tion as a propaganda platform, spewing forth a lot of feminist rant ings that did not pertain to her job. One writer completely distorted my reference to the feminist control of public schools and the consc qucnccs of the girl-hoy differentials in mental development. She also demanded my reference to single-parent guidance. I did not infer that women arc "often the sole means of support," etc. 1 was refer ring primarily to mothers whose support is the government. Isn't it amazing how some femi nists can screech so loudly about things never mentioned and avoid the real issues? And the issue I brought forth is that a public position of scrvicc is not a proper platform to disseminate propaganda. And the propaganda lacks honesty and objectivity. And the feminist thrust and its language arc prime causes of domestic strife. I am sorry that the definition of a human being (according to those who responded to my letter) is limit ed to those who knuckle under to the feminists without a whimper. My mother (also a single parent for 8 years) didn't raise me (married for 47 years) that way! Karl E. Brandt Shallotlc Not A Feminist, But Not In Agreement To the editor: This is in response to the letter from Karl E. Brandt in the Jan. 14 issue. Is it just mc or docs it sound as if this man doesn't like women very well? PHOTO BY BILL FAVEft The full moon can remind us of the rhythms at work in our lives. The Rhythms Of Life BY HILL FAVER Most of us arc familiar with some of the rhythms of life?like the seasons, life cycles of plants and animals, and phases of the moon. We watch spring come and daf fodils bloom and grass begin to grow and we are reminded how life "begins" or "awakens" again. Or, we gather thoughts of autumn MSEArj as the time of year when life "ends" or "rests" again. Seldom do we think of the day-to-day pro kavkr cesses happening all around us that also depend upon the rhythms of life. Our life processes themselves arc dependent upon rhythms?our breathing, our heartbeat, the processes of digestion, our eyesight, hearing, speech, sense of touch, rhythms of sexual fertility and reproduction. We share most of these rhythms with all animals. More and more evidence is indicating we also have rhythms of thought and creativity which affect our en crgy and productivity. Humans have the unique ability among animal life forms (so far as we know) to recognize and use rhythms to our advantage. We can go beyond the nat ural instincts for survival found in most of the animal rhythms. Hal Borland, in The Enduring Pattern, warns us, Man his done *ome remarkable things, but he has never escaped his link with the basic rhythms, lie nev er will. What he has accomplished has been within the framework of those natural laws, and his primary achievements have been in the study and use of those laws. And he still must live in the environment to which he was born?this planet, this earth. When we walch the waves washing the sandy shore at high tide or see the full noon rising over a cypress swamp we can appreciate the importance of rhythms in our natural world. We can also appreciate the value of the unseen rhythms at work in our lives to keep us healthy, creative, and productive as fellow inhabitants with all life sharing the earth with us. Enjoy Honeymoon While It Lasts Here was jusi one of the "face in the crowd" interviews filling in the space between events, but she said more in a couple of seconds than most of the pundits who preceded or fo1 lowed her on the six hours of videotape I recorded inauguration day. "I'm a Watergate baby," she said. "I watched Nixon resign on televi sion when I was ten years old, and this is the first time I've fell good about our government. It might only be for today, but today it's great." I was a college student when Nixon resigned. I remember arriving at my folks' Hoiden Beach cottage on a September Friday afternoon just in time to watch Gerald Ford pardon him unconditionally. I had just turned nine when Jack Kennedy was shot and the world stood still. There was no school, but we didn't go out to play. Our neigh bors, the BuUers, drove to Wash ington to file past his body lying in state. I was watching the 196X Demo cratic Primary on TV the night Bobby Kennedy was shot. Later that summer, I watched policc billy clubbing kids the Demo cratic convention with the hearty blessing of Mayor Daley and many others. Just a couple of months earlier, when Martin Luther King was assas sinated, I had gotten in a fight with the boy next door who, probably parroting his parents, said something to the effect that the world was bet ter off. He peppered his speech with racial epithets and bad grammar. We yelled and threw dirt clods at each other from one front yard to the oth er. The next summer, Neil Arm strong walked on the moon, Hur ricane Camille ravaged the gull, and Ted Kennedy went home to bed af ter Mary Jo Kopccknc drowned in his car. The next May, four students were shot and killed at Kent State University by National Guardsmen during a protest against the Vietnam war. Then on Nov. 15, a quarter of a Lynn Carlson million people marched on Wash ington to protest the war. The next day, Americans learned about the massacre of hundreds of civilians at Mylai two years earlier. In the summer of '71, when 1 was a rising senior in high school, the 26th amendment to the Constitution lowered the voting age to 18. The young woman being inter viewed on inauguration day was just a half a generation younger dian me, but what a difference in the history and headlines of our formative years. And between my generation and die one before there had loomed a chasm of mistrust, misunderstanding and polarized ideologies from which, thankfully, my young parents and ! did not seem to suffer. My mother oncc told mc that when World War II ended?she was 12 at the time?she asked her own mom if there would still be a news paper now that there was no longer a war. And, if so, what would be in it? Now my son is 14, the age I was in '68. He has seen no war but Desert Storm. And like the boys who were my schoolmates, he'll have to register for the draft before he finishes high school His first in terest in politics and government was been sparked by the unlikely combination of a sharp social stud ies teacher and the MTV "Rock the Vole" project. He's "stoked" about Clinton. On Wednesday night I couldn't help feeling good myself about this bear - hugging, saxophone - playing president and this first lady who will finally, blessedly, redefine the role. As they danced at the MTV ball and presented their grinning daughter to the throng yelling "Chcl-sca, Chel sea," I had to smile. They looked so handsome, so eager?so like people I'd like to know better. I've been around long enough lo know it probably won't last but, for today, it feels pretty gotxl. Score Super Savings On Our Super Selection of Homes. We're tackling high prices & YOU'RE THE WINNER AT CHOICENTER Wayna Culberlson, RHS ? Ann Brown, RHS * ^ HOMES BY ANN Bus. Hwy. 17, Shallotte 754-5147 I am not a feminist, have never claimed to be one and frankly am not quite sure what one is or what feminists stand for. I know that they arc pro-abortion. I'm more of the pro-life type. I am a woman and I enjov all the privileges that comc with being a la dy, such as having a door opened for me or having my coat held while I put it on. But at no time have I been taught that it is right or proper to be physically, mentally, verbally or sexually abused. I read Eric Carlson's article and I don't think it was a "feminist propa ganda festival." However, 1 don't care if there arc any statistics saying domestic violence or rape is increas ing or decreasing. The fact that it oc curs is appalling. 1 had a father I thank God for. He was loving, encouraging and a disci plinarian. My mother is also a great role model. Unfortunately, others arc not blessed. I am a preschool di rector and I have seen the atrocious effects of abuse on women and chil dren. 1 don't believe feminism has any thing to do with helping women overcome the degradation of any kind of abuse. It seems to me it in volves compassion and concern. If Mr. Brandt's "manliness" is be ing challenged by a woman being a rape crisis counselor, let me offer him a suggestion to take his manly self down to Hope Harbor, volunteer his time and sec first hand what vic tims of domestic violence and rape suffer. Then maybe he won't bluster in print all his "He-Man Woman Haters" propaganda. I don't believe Ms. Acton is pre suming to do anything but give sup port and love. Mr. Brandt doesn't sound as if compassion, concern. carc or even love arc part of hi? vo cabulary. Km anger, paranoia, hate and misunderstanding could be. Jennifer Ciartin Galloway, Ohio Residents In Similar Fix To ihe editor: We and other people living in Sea Castle development can sympathize with the people living on Bear Branch Trail, Shinglelrce Acres and Decrfield Estates. We have been try ing lo get our road fixed for the four years that I have lived here, and lo no avail. Do as we have had to do and get an old bed spring, weigh it down and drag it several times across the road. It does help. Next, keep nag ging, begging, complaining and call ing every day, and maybe you will get farther than we have with this procedure. Mr. and Mrs. Bill Holshouser Supply National Guard Appreciates Support To the editor: As the commander of Company E, 1st Battalion, 120th Infantry (M) N.C. Army National Guard, I would like to express my appreciation for the businesses who supported us daring this past weekend. The Army National Guard is fac ing major cutbacks along with the rest of the American military bran ches as the nation starts downsizing its military forces. The cuts and po tential job losses reach all the way to Shallouc. Our unit has 75 positions, or slots, as we call them; three are full-time. Currently we have 68 soldiers as signed. We believe that it is critical that this company be at KX) pcrccnt strength in the near future to avoid any future cuts. Of these 68 soldiers, 81 pcrccnt arc residents of Bruns wick County. The annual payroll and budget for this unit is over S2 million. As a lo cal businessman myself, I realize what that kind of incomc means to this community and county, and I believe that this money is well spent. The Army National Guard has dual role or mission, first to the na tion as part of our national defense, and second to the suite of North Carolina as a rapidly dcployablc force for emergency and disaster re lief. The Army National Guard fur nishes more "bang for the buck" than any other branch of military scrvicc. Far gone arc the days and reputation that the National Guard once had in the '60s and '70s as be ing "weekend warriors." The men of this unit are highly trained, motivat ed professional soldiers and I am very proud to be assigned as their commander. Brunswick County can also be proud of the job these men do and scrvicc ihey will provide when wc need it the most. This National Guard unit has been a part of this community since 1949, and there are many charter members still living in the area. The armory has been used countless times over the years for emergency shelter and various other community activities. I would also like to thank the sol diers of this unit for the co-workcrs, friends and family members can vassed as potential soldiers to fill our vacant slots and support this unit, the state of North Carolina and this nation. William A. Milliken Jr. Shallouc Alderman Disagrees With Editorial To ihe editor I am just a country boy born and reared on the farm lands of Columbus County. I moved to Shallottc in 1954 to start my own business, and I have tried to contribute something back to the community in public service and civic activity. That is the reason I decided to run for the Board of Aldermen nine years ago. Fortunately, I was reared in a family that taught me to be as fair as I knew how in my dealings with all people and expect them to do the same. I was naive enough to believe that government should operate in the same way. However, some believe that what is fair to them is good for everyone. The premise here is that this line of thinking is that I want my way and to heck with you. I was not naive enough to believe that I would not be crit icized. 1 thought the criticism would be an honest differ ence of opinion based on facts. Boy, was I ever w rong. This letter is in reply to your very critical editorial in your paper of Jan. 14. You attacked the judgment, or lack of it, of the Board of Aldermen regarding the new trash policy for businesses in Shallottc. A few things I learned on the farm have stayed with me over the years. If you step on a snake's tail, he will strike at what has stepped on him. The pig that was stuck will be the one to squeal. Horse manure does not smell too bad until you shovel it out of the stable. You stated that certainly some more equitable and palatable plan could have been devised. I invite you to come up with such a plan It would have been far more welcome than the unjustified criticism that we have re ceived. Please consider the following facts in devising your plan. (1) The Brunswick Beacon paid SI, 167.56 in taxes in 1992. The town paid S992.1& to pick up your trash. I am probably a typical homeowner in Shallotte. The town paid approximately S71 to pick up my trash. Eighty-five percent of your taxes went to pick up your trash. Fourteen jiercent of my laxrs was to pick up my trash. Do you think that is fair? (2) Twenty-two businesses were pulled at random. Collectively they paid S22.079.89 in taxes. 10 pick up their trash, the town paid S22.4S8.96. Four hundred seventeen residences and 110 business use the 90-gallon roll-out containers that cost the town approximately S3.300 per month. The other businesses use 119 dumpsters at a cost to the town of approximate ly S6.600 per month or approximately S79,2(X) per year. We collect S331,162 in ad valorem taxes; 23.9 per cent goes 10 pick up commercial trash. Thai amounts to 10 cents on the dollar of our tax valuation. All the records and files arc public records except per sonnel records. If you so desire, you may check the files and see who is paying the taxes and the cost of trash pickup and publish it. (3) A thorough study was done when the town decid ed to go with a contract carrier for trash pickup. Wc had worn out and outdated equipment. There was no way wc could provide the service as economically as a private contractor. (4) The privately owned dumpstcrs you allude to in your editorial were bought by Chambers. It was not a to tal loss to business. (5) Each business has the option of hauling his own trash if he can do it more economically. (6) Shalloue was lite only municipality in the area to provide commercial trash pickup with tax funds except Sunset Beach, which provides some commercial pickup, but much less than Shalloue. (7) The taxpayers of Shalloue are under no obligation to dispose of trash from people outside the city limi'.s. (8) Trash pickup is not a mandated responsibility of town government. However, by working together, the city can provide this service more economically than in dividuals working alone. (9) It is true that Chambers has been granted a mo nopoly. However, monopoly is not strange to govern ment at any level. Electricity, telephones, cable televi sion, water and sewer operate under a monopoly. (10) You stated that businesses are having a tougher time making ends meet than government. That is about the most asinine statement I have ever read. I invite you to our next budget session and watch us struggle to pro vide the services that arc requested with the funds that wc have available. The only funds that we have are from taxes and payments from services rendered. These nec essary services have been provided without a tax in crease in four years. I wish to take this opportunity to apologize to the homeowner. I am embarrassed to have been a party to such a disproportionate tax burden. 1 would appreciate your printing this so that all the taxpayers in Shalloue can be properly informed. Fortunately, 1 have never had the opportunity to go to a school of journalism; I have never learned to tell half truths and twist facts to my own advantage. Wilton Harrelson, Alderman Town of Shallotte Check Out Our Certificate Earnings. Atlantic BanK 5? Highway 1 7, Little River, SC (803)249-7993 Cherry Grove Office: Sea-Mountain Hwy. N. Myrtle Beach, SC (803)399-4105 Member FDIC Substantial Penalty tor Early Withdrawal. Six Months 4.315 One Year Two Years 4.512 5.000
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