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SAMC. MORRIS
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MRS. PALL DICKSON
MARTY VEGA
Reporter
SUZANNE APLIN
Reporter
Second Class Postage at Raeford, N.C.
THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1977
Commencement
is for everybody
It is a scant 10 years until the 400th anniversary of the first date
cited by the Oxford Dictionary for the use of the word
"commencement" meaning the "great ceremony" of granting
university degrees. Now is the season for fondly remembering
whoever it was who had the bright idea of calling an end a beginning.
A certan edge would be taken off the academic festivities if they had
instead been called "conclusion."
Even so, a great deal of distinguished speakers' breath is
expended on reminding graduates, only too happy to get out of the
classroom, that their education is just starting. Tliis has always been
so in a basic sense. It is becoming more so in the literal sense of
continuing education through the use of formal learning facilities for
people long out of school.
From state-supported courses in community colleges to expensive
seminars with "name" professors, the opportunities to increase
knowledge and skills are on the rise. For some institutions, as the
conventional student-age population dwindles, the expansion of
services and clientele becomes a matter of survival. For some
individuals, trying to keep up with society's changing employment
needs, the same can be true.
The American Bar Association's law school calendar for June
displays a wry cartoon of degree recipients doffing their caps and
gown even before they get off the platform on the way to a fleet of
taxis they are preparing to drive. If diplomas have become less of a
ticket to employment in a given field, so the lack of diplomas seems
less of a barrier to a whole range of well-paying jobs whose skills can
be achieved through means other than the four-year college.
In other words, commencement is not just for those now receiving
a well-earned moment in the sun on their respective campuses. It is
for anybody at any time who is ready for a new beginning. --
Christian Science Monitor
Praying for the children
Therewaw?youtofthed<*^>^mmaandMiguuht^ri^ in lhe
the outrageous act of terr?"*? ln Edition to all the means
Netherlands. The answer is p y ? schoolchildren, teachers,
being tried to secure release of the Du^h sen Moiuccan
and train commuters being held hostage oy
terrorists, the world can le"d*?Str Aside from the Biblical record,
Such prayer is an immense PJ> ? ^ern tjmes of individuals
there are countless document w QUt t0 God in seemingly
being supported and saved by g themscives are a deeply
and -Dutchaparents ofthe
^h?f helplessness in the
^?31 ST-STi dismayed; for 1 am thy
God I will strengthen thee; yea, 1 will help thee. yea. wi y>
thee with the right hand of my righteousness ^
the Moiuccan
Meanwhile, the more ?<^etate elements ^ ^ ^
terrorism^n^ that moderates wxre
S?T?Si TH" aTfnS^ asthe,8 did with considerate
success during a ofthe younger
One can perhaps be aware 01 i self_imposcd exile in an
Moluccans. hv.ng jas assimilation, and trying to draw
industrialized country, resisu g inaeowidence. But no one can
attention to their cause -- o ^ jiticai goait especially
sympathize with terrorism. Christian Science
when children become pawns in the game.
Browsing in the files
of The Now?r Journal
25 years ago
Thursday May 29, 19S2
A crowd of from 400 to 500
people from Raeford and Aberdeen
attended the opening game of the
Aberdeen - Raeford Little Baseball
League at the Little League park in
Robbins Heights here on Wednes
day of last week and saw the
Raeford Tigers managed by Alfred
Cole, Lawrence Poole and Willie
Hodgin beat the Aberdeen Cubs by
a score of eight to four.
? ? ?
George Wood, who has been
coaching at the Vanceboro High
School for the past two years, left
yesterday for Lackland Air Force
Base, San Antonio, Texas, for his
basic training-,
? ? ?
Marion Gatlin, J.B. Thomas.
1
J.H. Blue and Charles Hostetler
represented the Raeford Kiwanis
Oub at a testimonial dinner given
at the Sir Walter Hotel in Raleigh
last Thursday night for Kiwanis
International President Claude
Hillman of Baltimore.
? ? *
57 seniors at Hoke High School
got diplomas Tuesday night.
? ? ?
With the campaign for Governor
between William B. U instead and
Hubert Olive being the only hot
state - wide contest and with the
only two ? way local contest being
between T.O. Moseft and W.L.
Roper for recorder, a light vote is
ratner dismally expected by some of
the political wise men.
? by Marty Vtga
The Champagne Of Water,
Not Beer, Being Sold
It is not often that you will see a
photograph in this column. When
you do, there is a very good reason.
The reason usually is the writer was
lazy and didn't write enough to fill
up this space.
But, sometimes, there is another
reason. This is the case this week.
The photograph you are seeing
here of the cup of the water is being
shown here because this is a most
extraordinary cup of water.
This cup. together with the ice
and water, was offered for sale at a
Raeford restaurant for 43 cents. It
was offered for sale at that price,
but not purchased, since the buyer
put up such an argument with the
management that the price was
re-negotiated.
If you think no restaurant here
would have the nerve to charge
somebody 43 cents for a cup of
water, you haven't been to lunch
with Ann Webb and Suzanne
Aplin. I have, but not on Monday
when the cup of water episode took
place, so I have the information
second-hand.
It seems that when these two
ordered their SI. 59 lunches, they
asked for water, too. Yes. they got
the water, and when they got the
bill, the total for each was 52.02.
Making the price of the water 43
cents. Unless you figure in the tax.
Puppy Creek
Philosopher
Dear editor:
Some pessimistic people claim
it's impossible for the nations of the
world to ever get together on much
of anything, especially on abolish
ing war. They say an agreement
between nations isn't worth the
paper it's written on, even though
the price of paper is ten times what
it used to be, including the paper
The News-Journal is printed on.
on.
This is not always true. For
example, just recently the major
countries got together and signed
an agreement outlawing the use ot
weather in warfare.
They've agreed that a man -
induced earthquake, for instance,
cannot be used, although you can
see how effective it'd be to run one
right through the middle of your
enemy's country when it was
getting ready to attack.
It is now unlawful, under the
agreement, to stir up the ocean and
send a tidal wave over some country
you're at war with.
Guided hurricanes or tornadoes
cannot be sent through another
country, ripping up cities right and
left in the pursuit of peace.
Producing a drought throughout
your opponent's lands has been
outlawed, as well as. in case you
overlooked some spots and crops
came up anyway, producing tor
rential rains at harvest time.
Lightning can't be man -
directed, it must be allowed to
strike where it pleases like nature
intended. No late crop ? killing
freezes are allowed, and no country
will be permitted to melt another
country's snow in the winter time.
Now you may ask, will the
nations signing this agreement live
up to it? Will they refuse for
example to devastate an enemy's
country with a searing drought, or
split it in half with an earthquake?
Of course they will.... until one of
them figures out how to do it.
Yours faithfully,
J. A.
The Dom Perignon of Fine Water
which would bring the price of the
water down to around 37 cents,
which is more reasonable than 43
cents, yet not reasonable enough
for these two.
At this point, the story goes, a
disagreement arose but this writer
can only speculate on the discus
sion, not being present firsthand.
But this much is known, these two
presented their case so powerfully
that the management backed off
and the charge for the water was
stricken from the bill.
So, here is Raeford's most
expensive cup of water and it will
be on display in this office for three
weeks. Groups and tours can be
accommodated for a small admis
sion charge.
Of course, all you will be able to
see is the cup. After savoring the
magnificent bouquet, the dummies
drank it all down.
Horoscopes, persons' opinions,
or faith in God and His word--on
which of these do you rely?
During a pastoral tour in the
island of La Gonave, an upset lady
told me: "Pastor, it's too awful. 1
dare not tell what I have dreamt
about you going on the sea!"
Later, while preparing to travel
thirty-five miles across the channel
in an eighteen-foot boat. 1 remem
bered the lady's words; but I
reaffirmed that the Lord I served
had power over whatever dreams
could mean.
Four people were with me in the
boat. When we had traveled some
fifteen miles, we met conflicting
winds; tumultuous waves started to
toss the boat terrifically high and
low. This became a long, six-hour
fight for life, at the end of which we
had the blessing of landing. Then,
at night, the radio made it clear
that aborted hurricane Deborah
had blown forty-mile winds.
Believing in God does not war
rant our engaging in all sorts of
ventures according to our whims.
But when we feel that we are doing
God's will, we yield our future into
His hands, even as we face the
unknown.
PRAYER: Thank You. Lord, for
the assurance we have that in Your
loving and powerful hands all will
always be well. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
In doing God's will, it is with
confidence that we yield our future
into His hands.
- copyright -THE UPPER ROOM
-Marco Depestre (PetH-Goave,
Haiti)
President Carter has exercised
his power as Commander-in-Chief
of the Armed Forces to discipline
his Chief of Staff in Korea.
Major-General John K. Singlaub
was removed from his job after he
criticized the President's plan to
withdraw our ground forces from
South Korea.
Singlaub said the action would
increase the likelihood of war
between North and South Korea. I
agree with the General's argument.
But he was wrong to take issue with
his commander after the decision
had been made.
But my duty as a Senator is not
that of a military man, and 1 must
disagree with the Cheif Executive's
proposal. To withdraw is not wise,
and the issue is not just Korea, but
Asia.
Ever since the possibility of
withdrawal came to the fore, our
allies in Asia have expressed their
alarm. Japan, especially, is con
cerned, because our troops in
South Korea are the key to her
defense from conventional attack.
As 1 pointed out after my trip to
that part of the world two years
ago, we can expect considerable
economic realignment, and pos
sibly a rearmed Japan, if we reduce
our presence in Asia one more
time.
Economics is an important side
issue. We should not keep troops
overseas just to produce trade, but
it is a fact that North Carolina
soybeans, and ten percent of our
tobacco exports, go to Japan, and
South Korea is also a customer for
our produce. Economic relation
ships follow our alliances.
But the real issue is simply our
willingness to maintain our com
mitment to the South Korean
people. The argument to justify our
Report
To The
People
?
b> Senator Robert Morgan
withdrawal, as put forth in the
Senate, is that we are propping up
a repressive government in Seoul.
This is illogical on its face, and
doubly illogical to one who has
visited the country.
We are not in South Korea to
support repression, but to defend
the people themselves from attack
by a fanatical communist regime
whose repressiveness is doctrinal.
I went to Korea to inform myself,
knowing this issue would be before
us. I was not the guest of their"
government, but went at the tax-,
payers' expense, to do the taxpay
ers' business. 1 went where I ,
wanted, and saw whom I wanted,
and 1 talked to South Korean
dissidents. United in their opposi
tion to President Park Chung Hee.
the dissidents' message was uni
versally the same: we need Ameri
can defense and troops, and to
increase our danger from the North
will only increase Park's rationale
for limiting our freedoms. Don't
pull out.
1 found press reports of repres
sion in South Korea to be greatly
exaggerated. But it ought to be
pointed out that we. in our own
country, have been through time in
which a series of Presidents abused
their Constitutional powers in the
name of national security ? but 1
do not recall that our allies quit us
over that.
The accusation of repressiveness
was hurled at the government of
South Vietnam not too long ago.
and we then pulled out. But you
cannot abandon a government
without abandoning the people.
We hear from the South Korean
dissidents. From the North, there is
no dissent, only an ominous sil
ence. There must be some differ
ence worth preserving.
CLIFF BLUE . . .
ft
People & Issues
OUR COURTS... Many people
are criticizing some facets of our
court system, and with good rea
son, many would say.
The Raeford News -Journal re
ports: "District Court Judge Joe
Dupree, who in recent weeks has
sharply criticized traffic offenders
who fail to show up in court,
handed out numerous PJC disposi
tions in District Court here Thurs
day in protest of a system that
'stinks'."
Yes, Judge Dupree used the word
"stinks" and lots of laymen might
use a stronger one if it came to
mind.
After a session of superior court
dealing with criminal cases ended
last week in Moore County, we
asked Sheriff C.G. Wimberly about
the number of "plea bargaining"
agreements arrived at with only
three or four cases being tried.
Sheriff Wimberly responded that it
was "most disturbing." saying that
"plea bargaining" took place when
the charges were serious like break
ing, entering and larceny.
"Plea bargaining" was the rule
rather than the exception with*
defendants getting off on probation
rather than active sentences, which
in reality is little more than a pat on
the back, saying: "Be a good boy.
Don't do it again."
With what Sheriff Wimberly
finds "most disturbing," many
people may feel that the judge
should not sit by and permit
wholesale "plea bargaining. ' And
no wonder Judge Dupree feels the
system "stinks" in problems he is
having with defendants who fail to
show!
Can it be that the smart lawyers
know the district attorneys and
judges that they "can work with"
and get their cases continued until
the "right judge" comes along?
GOVERNOR HUNT.. .Govern
or Hunt has been speaking out
strong "for more effective law en
forcement in the fight against
crime, and for changes in the court
system to bring about mandatory
sentences. This sounds good, but if
we had strong and able judges and
solicitors, couldn't justice be evenly
meted out in our courts today? But.
being realistic, we feel Governor
Hunt's idea is in line with a system
which is not working, and his
recommendations should be enact
ed without delay.
WORK FOR PRISONERS...
Law-abiding citizens are asking
why prisoners are no longer given
road work as used to be the case.
Instead of paroling them after
one-fourth of time served, why not
make it after time worked, unless
disable, and if they failed to work,
let them serve the full sentence?
Why not let parole be permissible
only after good behavior and
satisfactory work on assigned pro
jects?
HUNT & GREEN. ..We have
been reading much in the state
press about how poorly Governor
Hunt and Lt. Governor Green are
getting along.
We were talking to a seasoned
politician/and or statesman the
other day. a person who had
supported both Hunt and Green.
He was wondering why Green
didn't know more North Carolina
political history than he seemed to
know. He said if he knew Tar Heel
political history he would realize
that after three years in the
governor's office, he was pretty well
washed out, and if Green would
just play it quiet he would be in
much better shape to run for
governor in 1980 than to follow the
line he was taking. Come to think
of it. we doubt that over one
governor -? and possibly not one,'
could have been re-elected in the
past 50 years. Our guess is that*
Dan Moore would have had the
best chance of re-election. "
MOORE ABOUT OUR
COURTS... Supreme Court Chief
Justice Warren E. Burger seems to
be about as much displeased with?
our system of justice as some of our
lay citizens in North Carolina. Last
week Chief Justice Burger said:
"The notion that most people want
black-robed judges, well dressed
lawyers, fine paneled courtrooms as
the setting to resolve their disputes
is not correct. The people with
problems, like people with pains,
want relief, and they want it as
quickly and inexpensively as possi
ble." The chief justice also said:
"Lawyers may be a handicap" in
trying minor disputes."
AN UiL0CKV>
CAR...