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A4 I APRIL 26,2017 Opinion One-on-one Blame game dangers... Reactions to the so-called repeal of HB2 show one reason why Democrats are al ready in trouble for the 2018 and 2020 elec tions. They had hoped this year would be a time of unity to mobilize opposition to the “mis-administration” of the other party in Washington and the state legislature. Instead of strengthening their party and bringing it together for successfully rid- ding the BERTIE LEDGER-ADVANCE II iiiriiinii'iWMriiniMTnM The fabric of Bertie County since 1832 "But now is not the time to turn on Cooper." -D.G. MARTIN state of much of the darhage from H B 2 , the re peal has brought about more disappointment and disunity. Instead of unifying and celebrat ing the achievement of their party’s leader, Gov. Roy Cooper, Democrats have broken into angry factions. Many of the state’s more important and influential figures have attacked the gover nor for “selling out” by accepting a com promise, which is, so they say, worse than HB2 itself. Mark Joseph Stern, writing for Slate, not ed, “As soon as the ‘compromise’ bill was revealed, however, LGBTQ groups lined up against it, arguing, in essence, that the cure would be worse than the disease. They are absolutely correct. The measure, HB142, would be an unmitigated disaster for LG BTQ rights. It substitutes the old anti-trans policy for a new, equally cruel one -and prevents cities from protecting their own LGBTQ residents. This bill is not a compro mise. It is a capitulation.” The editorial board of The Charlotte Ob server joined the chorus criticizing Coo per, calling his actions “a betrayal of the promises the governor made to the LGBT community.” Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, wrote that while Cooper was taking credit for HB2’s repeal, “He did no such thing. Instead he signed a new ver sion of HB2 and betrayed [his] campaign promise.” One radio caller, angry with Cooper and the compromise, said she would rather carry the burden of HB2 for a lifetime than accept a compromise or anything other than the law’s unconditional repeal. At least this caller recognized the choic es that were then available to Cooper: 1. Negotiate a compromise with the leg islators who passed HB2 in the first place, who still supported it, and who still had control of the legislature, or 2. Live with HB2 indefinitely, at least un til, when and if, the political situation in North Carolina changes. Most Republicans were not eager to re peal HB2. Lt. Gov. Dan Forrest defended it and op posed the compromise: “I’m proud of the stance we’ve taken. I’m proud of the work we did to protect women and kids in bath rooms. I’m proud of the work we did to uphold the Constitution. 1 think that the only thing that was wrong with HB2 was the false narrative and the negative nar rative from the left, from the media, from the leftist groups out there who were com ing against North Carolina and boycotting North Carolina.” Forrest’s comments are a reminder that legislative supporters of a full repeal were a minority against a steadfast majority that was unwilling to support and vote for an unconditional appeal. To get HB2 repealed, there had to be a compromise. It is certainly fair to criticize the compro mise and work for an expansion of protec tions for gay and transgender rights. But now is not the time to turn on Coo per just because he did not get it all. There will be other chances, after elec tions in coming years. But Democrats who are trashing Cooper and those who sup ported the compromise are jeopardizing their party’s unity and its chances to do well in those upcoming Elections. PI \TS IMPoCTVHT IDpCLraSiTE... ^VgTOW\V PA\7f t i 7" Small town girl Too many miles between us ■ ■ ■ Approximately 200 miles sepa rate me from my sister Lisa. ' It has been that way all of our lives. She is almost 19 years older than 1, so by the time 1 was born she had already started a life of her own. She settled down around Char lottesville, Va., got married, had children and has been there throughout all of my North Caro lina childhood and adult years. 1 remember when 1 was growing up 1 would always look forward to her visits, and especially when she^ brought my niece Casey and nephew Brandon. Casey, Brandon and 1 were so close in age that they seemed more like my brother and sister than Lisa did. The three of us were always get ting into mischief and at those times Lisa seemed more like a mother figure than my sister. As a child 1 never understood what all the excitement was about when she came. But as I grew old er 1 understood that the 24 to 36 hours were so important because you never knew when she would come again. Now as an adult, I long to hear the words, “Lisa is coming”’ Around here "With each trip the goodbyes never get easier." LESUE BEACHBOARDl We are both adults now with hectic schedules, and when I know she is coming to visit, 1 will all but stop time to be with her. This past weekend I had the pleasure of spending time with Lisa, her husband Dale, my neph ew Brandon, his partner Brittney and their son Trenton. « During the same weekend, my mother’s family had a family re union, and they all decided to visit our house. Over the course of the week end, several people told us how much Lisa and 1 looked alike or acted alike. 1 couldn’t help but smile because usually 1 am only lucky enough to see her twice a year and people said we are so much alike. It just made me realize how much 1 am missing not having this part of my family closer to me. But what I also realized is that this lunch was also one of the few events where Lisa, my brother Matt, my mom and 1 were all at the same place at the same time. This has only been accom plished a few times in my life. With each trip the goodbyes never get easier. In fact they al ways get harder because 1 never know when 1 will see her again. These hard goodbyes always make me daydream about mov ing closer to her or her moving closer to me, but the reality is I just don’t see that happening. Dale aind Lisa are settled there. They have adult children and grandchildren rooted there as well. 1 don’t have a fear of moving but 1 do have four children who are happy here and 1 could never leave my mom. So for now 1 will have to settle for weekend visits and vacations to the Outer Banks unless 1 can convince her to move here. Leslie Beachboard is a Staff Writ er for the Bertie Ledger-Advance who loves when her sister visits, hates to see her leave and counts down the days until the next visit. She can be reached via email at lbeachboard@ncweeklies.com. Turn signals are great inventions D.G. Martin hosts watch. “North Carolina Book- 1 want to make an announce ment. There is a wonderful invention on the market today. Actually, it has been around for decades and decades, and is used on all automobiles, regardless of make, model or year. What is this wonderful piece of technology, you ask? The thing that can help make all drivers’ lives easier, and definitely less stressful? It’s called a turn signal. Maybe many of you drivers have never heard of turn signals, since you never use them. In all likelihood, these same drivers never adhere to the speed limit either - hey, 55 mph is the limit, not a suggestion - but that’s another topic for another time. Back to turn signals. These things are so simple to use. All you have to do is flip the bar up when you want to turn right, and down when you want to go left. You should signal a few hundred feet before you turn or change lanes. See? Couldn’t be easier. It’s painfully obvious (I learned it in Driver’s Ed). Some of you still look confused. "I believe we take our turn , signals for granted." - JIM GREEN almost as if you didn’t know they were there, or why they are there in the first place. 1 realize that the way some people change lanes these days, using turn signals may be a moot idea. If they did what they were supposed to, those turn signals would be going off all over the place. On a recent trip to Raleigh, 1 was in a 70 mph zone on a six- lane road going west in the mid dle lane, actually going about 72, when the vehicle behind me de cided 1 wasn’t going fast enough. This person decided he would pull a Fast and the Furious move - he pulled within about two car lengths behind me (which is tail- gating), steered to the right and moved into the lane beside me. This driver then sped up and darted across the two lanes of traffic just so he could be ahead of me and the car in the lane be side me. Did this person signal? No. However, being the clairvoyant person 1 am, I knew where he was going even without his turn sig nal. (Insert heavy sarcasm here). My concern was not just for me, but for the person behind me and to my left. Those cars easily could have collided because one driver wasn’t using common sense. I believe we take our turn sig nals for granted. 1 use my turn signal an34;ime there is traffic behind me because 1 like my vehicle and would like to avoid an accident. Some people are just so in a hurry that they don’t have much respect for others on the road. My point is, driving is a privi lege, not a right. We should all use common sense on the road - es pecially when other drivers make us mad. Anger and arrogance when driv ing serves no useful purpose. Jim Green is Sports Editor for the Bertie Ledger-Advance. He can be reached at jgreen@ncweeklies. com. Bertie Ledger-Advance The fabric of Bertie County since 1832 The Bebtie Ledger-Advance was established in 1928 thhough the HERITAGE OF ThE WINDSOR LEDGER AND ThE AuUNOER ADVANCE. The newspaper traces its history to 1832 when it was first published AS THE Windsor Herald and Bertie County Register Kyle Stephens Deborah Grififin Michdle Leicester The Bertie Led^er-Advanoe Group Publisher Staff Writer Creative Services (ISSN 051-700) IS published kstephcns(3)ncweekiies.com dgrilfin@ncweeklies.com mleicester@)ncweeklies.cc5in EACH Wednesday for $26.69 (plus tax) per year (n Bertie, Angela Harne Group Editor Leslie Beachboard Staff Writer Jessica Mobley Advertising Manager Hertford, Martin, Northamp ton, Chowan and Washington counties), by Cooke Communica ahafne@)ncweeklies.com lbeachboard@ncweekiies.com jmobley@ncwceklies.com tions North Carolina, LLC, / 109 S. King St,, Windsor, NC Hiadd White Jim Green Lanny Hiday 27983. PEBioDtcALS postage paid Editor ‘ Sports Editor Copy Editor at Windsor, NC and entered at twhite(§>ncweeldtes.com jgreen@hcweekKes.com bertienews@ncweeklies.com additional mailing offices. Postmaster: address changes TO THE Bertie Ledger-Advance, P:0. Box 69, Wwdsor, NC 27983. Contact Us: Bertie LedqerAovance P.O. Box 69, Windsor, NC 27983. Phone: (252) 794-3185 Fax: (252) 794-2835
Bertie Ledger-Advance (Windsor, N.C.)
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