2A THE NEWS-JOURNAL
Kaeford, N.C.
Octnhcr 16, 2002
Viewpoints
Sometimes it’s better to be anonymous
It is nice to be remembered by
some people; however, it would be
better it others forgot about you. Such
was the case when a citizen remarked
that when the election was over Raz
Autry would be running the county. 1
guess he was a citizen; regardless, he
apparently didn't have me on his
Christmas list.
Anyone who would make such a
remark is about as well informed as
the lady who had never seen an el
ephant in her entire life and didn't
know anything about the animal's
make-up. A circus was coming
through the town and one of the el
ephants got loose and decided to in
vade a resident's garden. When the
poor soul saw the strange creature,
she nearly went out of her mind. She
was yelling at the top of her voice
when the sheriff showed up. Me had
suspected that the animal may have-
headed toward Aunt Polly's garden.
As the lawman approached the
house. Aunt Polly came running and
screaming. "Sheriff, that low-down
thing went out there in mv garden and
took itsold tail and pulled upall ofmy
cabbages. I just never seen an animal
act like that."
"Aunt Polly, what did that elephant
do with those cabbages he pulled up'?"
"Slieriff,"she said, "You wouldn,'t
believe it if 1 told you."
* + * ♦ ♦
The legislators I'inaNy came home.
It was a productive session. They
passed a budget, knowing they didn't
have enough money to fullfill it.
Makes sense.
We didn't get a chance to vote on
,1 lottery. In the wisdom of those who
voted against the wishes of the major
ity of the citizens, to have a lottery
would hurt the poor. Bven those who
voted again raising the sales ta.x one-
half cent — same reason, it would
hurt the poor. When I w as growing up
with two pairs of long Johns, one pair
of shoes, which were to last all year,
and two pairs of overalls, no one-
worried about the poor. ''Fhosc ol' us
whowere pooi looked after ourselves.
We didn't need politicians to be con
cerned about our welfare.
As to the lottery, I don’t have a
burning desire to play the lottery. If
we had one I wouldn't spend a lot of
time and money trying to get rich. But
for those who voted against it — to use
the slim excuse that it would hurt the
ptKir is about the same wisdom that the
smart alec clerk used when he got a call
from the country preacher who discov
ered when he awoke one morning to
find a dead mule on the highway in
front of his house.
falling the county health depart
ment in the county seat he said, “This
is Reverend Jones. There is a dead
mule in the highway in front of my
house, I would like to have someone
A View from
the Country
Raz Autry
to remove it promply as possible."
The young clerk who answered
the call thought he would have a
little fun. “Reverend Jones, I always
thought you preachers took care of
the dead yourself. "
“We do, yes. But in the case of
jackasses we like to speak to the next
of kin first.”
Some of the poor don't need
someone to look after them. What
they need is an economic education.
A case in point: I stopped to give a
gentleman a ride early oni morning.
When I asked why he was out so
early he replied, “A man came along
and asked if I would ride to the store
with him; if so, he would buy me two
beers.” Looking at me, he said, “You
don’t think I was going to miss out on
that good breakfast, do you'?” Do the
legislators think he would have sold
the beer breakfast for a lottery ticket. A
few years ago a middle-aged man asked
me for money to buy milk for his chil
dren. Me stated they had no bread or
milk; forty dollars would take care of
this need. 1 gave him the $40.
A few minutes later 1 stopped by the
store where he was to purchase the
milk and bread. Me was shooting pool
with my $40. Before you can help
anyone, they must want to help them
selves. Really good, concerned people
who don't have a lot of money will not
spend it on a lottery ticket. Others who
are less concerned about them.selvesor
their families will always have needs
and look for others to supply them.
Hnough said.
We Get Letters
Challenge still stands
To the Kditor:
Well, it looks like some of Moke
county took the challenge that I is
sued a couple of weeks ago. Thank
you for coming out to the Bucks
Battlefield.
■fhe dial lenge sti II stands, so when
you come, just don't sit there; stand
up and make some noise and let our
Fighting Bucks know that you're
there to support them. Every week is
anothersteppingstoneforour Fight
ing Bucks, so come out with your
Red, White and Black and let's make
some noise in the stands. Support
our Home Team, Moke County!
Proud Supporter of
The Fighting Bucks
Jerry Chavis & Crew
A contemporary
prophet
To the Editor:
As we begin the study of the book
of Jeremiah this semester, I felt com
pelled to share what 1 learned from
my class discussions with my sister-
in-law and office mate, Oglatha.
Somehow, 1 found Oglatha’s story
in the pages of the book of Jeremiah.
Oglatha, being called by God from a
child, is looked upon as being differ
ent. People simply do not under
stand her, or know how to take her.
Oglatha’s life is an outstanding ex
ample of Christian humility and
meekness.
About four years ago Oglatha was
ordered by God to go to the churches
in the Town of Raeford, and read
before each congregation 2
Chronicles7:14: “If my people which
are called by my name shall humble
tbemselves and pray, and seek my
Getting ready for election night
WBTV, the CBS affiliate in Char
lotte, called the other day to ask if I
would be interested in providing com
mentary as a part of their election
night coverage next month.
You can guess what my answer
was. Talking about election results
and speculating about their conse
quences is a favorite occupation of
political junkies like me.
This upcoming task has me think
ing, in advance, about the big stories
for that evening. I could use your help
in preparing for this assignment. So,
send me your ideas for the stories that
I should be prepared to discuss. (E-
mail address: dmartin 13(& nc.rr.com)
In the meantime, here are some of
my preliminary ideas about the na
tional races that will be important to
North Carolinians. Control of the
U.S. Senate and the House of Repre
sentatives will be riding on this elec
tion. Thus, every close race in the
Carolinas has the potential of decid
ing whether Democrats or Republi
cans will be in charge of Congress —
and whether President Bush will have
a freer hand in dealing with the
economy and with a possible war in
the Middle East.
In North Carolina, the headline
contest is the Erskine Bowles-Eliza-
beth Dole senate race. Since both
candidates are well funded; we will
be learning more and more about the
candidates from their media cam
paigns. Both of them are focusing
their ads on their opponents, so we are
learning mostly about the negatives.
However, the ads should not conceal
the fact that North Carolina has two
One on One
D. G. Martin
very good candidates, each of whom
has the connections and experience
to represent the state well.
But, what about the main ques
tion? Who is going to win? Polls
conducted in the summer showed
Dole so far ahead that she seemed
invulnerable. But, since the pri
mary, Bowles has closed rapidly and
significantly, probably making the
race too close to call—and ensuring
an exciting election evening.
Just across the state line. South
Carolina has at least two statewide
races that should interest North Caro-
linians. Governor Jim Hodges, a
Democrat who used the lottery issue
to help win office four years ago, is
in a close reelection contest against
former Congressman Mark Sanford.
This year, with the lottery issue
settled, Hodges has to give the vot
ers other reasons to buck the Repub
lican trend in that state. Should
Sanford win, our governor, Mike
Easley, might want to think about
whether not he should save the lot
tery issue to use again in his reelec
tion campaign two years now.
There is a critical U.S. Senate
race in South Carolina as well. Rep
resentative Lindsey Graham, of
Clinton impeachment fame, and
(See MARTIN, page 3A)
face, and turn from their wicked ways,
then will I hear from heaven and will
forgive their sins and will heal their
land.'" Oglatha was ordered to begin
carrying this message first to the white
congregations. It was probably not be
cause they were necessarily worse than
the black congregations but maybe if
God probably did not give Oglatha
specific direction, she would have the
natural tendency to go to the black
churches, as she is African American.
This is a clear indication that her call
ing wasn't meant to be comfortable. It
took one year for her to complete this
assignment. She showed up during
Sunday morning worship service with
a 'Thus said the I ord"' message that
was not scheduled and definitely was
not on the “printed program." Some
churches welcomed her while others
put her off just to say that they would
get back with her and so on. In any
case, she knew wheti to shake the dust
from her feet. During this time, Oglatha
never identified her role as a prophetic
one. She just was being obedient and
carrying the message the l.ord gave her
to Mis people. She realizes now in
comparison to the prophet Jeremiah
and other biblical prophets, God was
using her to warn the people of their sin
and the consequences. However, the
message \^as clear, if God's people
would return to Mint, he would forgive
our sins and heal the land.
Tlie question becomes who is the
message meant for — the congrega
tions in those churches, or the politi
cians'? What about the people respon
sible for all of the wickedness we are
confronted within this community; or
are they one in the stime as far as
Raeford is concerned? If there is one
thing I am certain of, God will not
leave His people ignorant! As with the
children of Israel Me will continue to
send prophets. Are we guilty of turning
a deaf ear to God's prophets, as did the
children of Israel to the many prophets
whom God sent? To what extent do we
recognize the seriousness of her task?
1 have known of Oglatha's assignment
from the very beginning. While I am
very much a part of the church in this
community, for some reason I never
thought the message applied to me
until now. Sharing my Jeremiah class
discu.ssions with Oglatha has been a
wake-up call for me.
A very good example of a contem
porary prophet like Jeremiah
Georgia Thompson
Who to call?
Dear Editor,
I have observed and noted many
political climate changes in Hoke
County over the past 14 years. My life
is entwined professionally and spiritu
ally with the West Hoke community.
As a community chaplain and a com
munity-minded individual, I have asked
myself, “Who can represent ourcounty
without bias?”
As I watched the primary results
come in, I pondered the question, “Who
will speak for me....” And who will I
be able to call?”
The only candidate I am willing to
support is Pete Camp. Only one other
candidate has visited the West Hoke
community. Pete has been here several
times and is going to come again. He is
the only candidate to discuss the needs
of the county, his visions for the county
and exactly what he will do. I have
found him to be a man of integrity. He
“says what he means and means what
he says.”
This is the first time I haven’t sup
ported the Democrat ticket. I urge the
Democrat voters of West Hoke and
the entire county to use wisdom and
do not vote a straight Democrat ticket
on November 5. You do not have to
vote a straight Democrat ticket. I urge
you to be a smart, wise and informed
voter! Vote for the man, Pete Camp,
who will be accessible and respon
sive. Use yoiir clout! Let the candi
dates know that you are important and
that you do have clout by voting for
Pete Camp.
Pete Camp is a man with a strong
value system as well as a long and
lustrous professional career, culmi
nating with him retiring as a senior
lieutenant colonel in our Army. He
has promised that when elected he
will donate his commissioner salary
and travel expenses checks to a local
charity every month. This humanitar
ian act tells you a lot about this man
and his commitment to our commu
nity.
Pete Camp is the only candidate to
have his phone number and website
address on every piece of literature he
hands out (875-3983,
www.petecamp.comJ. Just stop and
ponder for a minute. Who will I be
able to call when I have a concern?
Let Pete Camp know that we will be
calling on him!
Chaplain George N. Cooke
New Beginning Prison Ministries Inc.
Camp is best man
To the Editor:
1 have lived in Raeford for over 10
years now and have worked here as
long. I feel I am a part of this commu
nity. Having served it as a volunteer
with the County Rescue Squad, City
of Raeford Fire Dept, and working
with both the County EMS and
FirstHealth of the Carolinas. I would
like this opportunity to talk about a
longtime friend, Pete Camp, who is
running for County Commissioner.
I have known Pete Camp almost as
long as he has known me. For the past
32 years Pete has been a part of my
family’s life and mine. Pete and my
father served in the Special Forces
together. While I grew upciose to him
and his family, he taught me a lot
about myself and how to treat others.
1 truly believe Pete Camp to be the
best man for this honored position.
The fact that he has an outstanding
reputation as a leader and a man of his
word, he cares about people and this
community. He has very strong be
liefs and will fight for what is right
and what needs to be done. I have seen
and heard other politicians in this
county for the past 10 years make
promises, and hardly any are kept or
even remembered. Pete makes no
promises, only facts. He will do a
good job. Pete has a very good point
— “Local government should be
small, efficient, accountable and re
sponsive to the people it serves.”
Pete always has and always will
have my vole for whatever he does.
Richard L. Sousa
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