Today, we have expanded into
almost all reasonable available
space, tapped a large part of our
natural resources, and have had
our isolation removed by the de
velopment of the airplane, tele
phone, television, and other modern
technological advances.
If we are to continue to develop
and grow stronger, we must direct
most of our efforts at strengthening
our remaining advantages which
include our people energy, our re
gard for the rights of the individual
and our willingness to sacrifice now
for the future good. This requires
of each of us that we base our de
cisions and actions on what is best
for the common good and not our
own immediate or selfish needs.
Our ability to do this successfully
will determine if we can continue
to be different from and better than
other forms of government.
I. H. HENDRICKS
Covington
***
As we begin America’s third
century my hopes are that we can
learn to live together in harmony
in this country and at peace with
the world. There are material things
that I would hope we can accomp
lish: eliminating poverty, cleaning
the environment,
finding economi
cal and plentiful
sources of energy
without reliance
on off-shore fa
cilities, discover
ing a cure for can
cer and other
dreaded diseases.
These are ma-
erial things; we
really need them
and I hope we get them. But what
I want most for America is a re
birth of the moral and spiritual
values that have made our country
great. A real key to this is the re
vival of the family as the basic unit
in society responsible for the wel
fare of its members. Above all we
need a renewed faith in God.
HELEN MERRELL
Pisgah Forest
***
As we come to the close of our
Bicentennial and enter upon the
threshold of the third century in
the history of the United States,
we can look back with thanks in
our hearts that we have been able
to enjoy the fruits of a bountiful
land, and a form of government
that in spite of certain flaws, is
still the best that had been devised
by mortal men.
When the white man first came to
these shores, our forests were
boundless, teem
ing with fowl and
game and fish and
myriad forms of
life and vegeta
tion. We were
blinded with the
seemingly end
less stores of nat
ural wealth. And
in our eagerness
to conquer nature
and bend it to our
desires, we lost
sight of the responsibilities that
were ours as guardians to pass
these gifts on to future generations.
Along with the losing of this sense
of responsibility, we began to lose
the moral precepts upon which the
nation was founded until today, we
have taken the attitude for the most
part, that anything goes. And here
lies the danger that we are faced
with, if we are to pass on to others,
the ability to celebrate a third cen
tury of freedom and plenty.
Those of us alive today will not
be here but our grandchildren will
be. And what will be their verdict
of our stewardship? Will they honor
and respect us or will they curse us?
We are at a cross roads in the well
being of our nation — Ethically,
morally, socially, economically and
in our belief of a Divine Being. We
are at a critical point in our history
in which only we, as individuals,
can shape the future of our nation.
ALEX DURIS
Retired, Pisgah Forest
***
As we enter the third century of
our nation’s life, I believe we have
certainly progressed a long way,
but I imagine that the next 200 years
7
will see as many or more changes
than the past. In my lifetime, I have
seen progress from horses to trac
tors in farming, kerosene lamps to
electricity in our
homes, and many
other modern con
veniences that
probably our fore
fathers never even
imagined. I am
sure they never
dreamed that a
man would walk
on the moon.
Our life span
has increased
CREDIT UNION OFF
TO HEALTHY START
CLINE
In operation only half a year,
the Pisgah Forest credit union de
clared a 5-1/4 per cent dividend
for their first semi-annual dividend
period ending December 31.
William D. Cline of Accounting,
president, said that the dividends
were credited to members’ accounts
effective January
1. However, any
one wishing cash
payment, rather
than crediting
their account,
could request that
of the credit un
ion office.
The first annual
meeting was
scheduled for Jan
uary 27 at which
time three new directors were to be
selected to three-year terms suc
ceeding William H. Hall, Sr., of Qual
ity Control, Carrie Smathers of Ecus-
ta Finishing and Landell Whitmire of
Power and Water. The nominating
committee selected as nominees
Parker Pace of Ecusta Maintenance,
Patricia Silvers of Ecusta Finishing,
and D. C. Winchester of Film Coat
ing.
Board members serving two and
three-year terms include Cline, Fred
Kilstrom of Technical, J. Edgar Lof
tis of Endless Belt, and Harry Joe
Moore of Ecusta Machine Room.
Cline also announced that, due
to its outstanding acceptance, the
credit union has been able to raise
its loan maximum to $1,000.