Opinion Page
THE BRUNSWICK&BEACON
Edward M. Sweat! and Carolyn H. Sweat! Publishers
Edward M. Sweatt Editor
Susan Usher News EdUor
Terry Pope and Dorl Gurganus Stq// Writers
Doug Hutter S/xw is Editor
IV&jy Earwood QUice Manager
Carolyn H. Sweatt Ailvi'ttisiruj Director
Timberley Adams ami Cecelia Gore ..Advertising Representatives
Dorothy Brennan and Brenda Clcmmons Moore ..Graphic Artists
William Manning Pn.vsman
Lonnle Sprinkle Asststant Pressman
Tracy Smith Pfu>to Teehnk utn
Phoebe Clcmmons and Frances Sweatt Circulation
PAGE 4 A, THURSDAY. DECEMBER 19. 1991
Getting Tough
Is A Good Idea
The Brunswick County Board of Education is right on target
in its plans to got tough on students who break the law while on a
schtxil campus.
In policy changes recommended to the board by county prin
cipals. students who break the law at a local middle or high
school could he turned over to law enforcement agencies to face
criminal charges. They could even go to jail.
In addition, the student would still face suspension or other
discipline handed out by the school administration.
Not only is this in keeping with state laws, it's also a good
idea for many other reasons.
County schools administrators have found weapons of all
types, ranging from hunting/skinning knives with 12-inch blades
to. in one instance, a wrench equipped w ith a razor blade.
How such instances were handled varied from school to
school, principal to principal. It might depend on whether the
weapon was simply concealed on the student's person or actually
used in an assault and if so. whether it was used in "self-de
fense".
The county needs clear policies and procedures to ensure that
weapons, fights, assaults and other acts of violence are handled
consistently from campus to campus.
Also, young people need to leam to accept full responsibility
for their actions and the consequences for those actions. How
else will they ever grow up and become good citizens as adults?
Schools are entrusted with helping to educate students, citizen
ship included.
Furthermore, schools should be a safe place for students, staff
and faculty, not a haven for lawbreakers.
Teen-agers used to work out their differences after school:
more recently they have been taking them to school.
Why not? Odds were good that, unless sonieKx.lv got knifed,
the worst that could happen is that the key figures involved might
get thrown out of school. Certainly there w ill be parents who are
angered by the change in policy. As Superintendent P.R. Hankins
noted, they won't like it when they're called to the county jail to
post hail. Who will they blame? Probably the schools, for treat
ing their "innocent little darling" like a criminal.
With such a policy in place, perhaps a few parents will learn
something about responsibility as well.
The board of education says it is prepared to back its princi
pals and the superintendent when the heat's on. For the policy to
succeed, that kind of support will be an absolute must.
A tough policy with consistent application by administrators
and strong backing by the board will make our schools better,
safer places for all.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
If Service Officer Needed,
Veteran Should Get Job
To the editor:
The Dec. 1 2 issue of the Beacon
quotes County Manager David
Clegg as denying that he has ap
pointed a new Brunswick County
Veteran Services Officer, "despite
rumors in the community to the con
trary." The article also reveals that
there are 207 applicants for this yet
unfilled position which pays
$23, -144 per year.
First, let me state that 1 am a vet
eran and wholeheartedly endorse the
rights and benefits so justly earned
and bestowed by our elected offi
cials. Secondly. 1 support the efforts
ol the various county veterans orga
nizations which support the appoint
ment ol a veteran to this position.
Manager Clegg suites that to deny
non-veterans a "chance to apply"
would be discriminatory. The an
swer here is let anyone apply, but
who would be beuer qualified for
ihe position than an individual who
has served in our nation's armed
forces?
1 am puzzled however, by one as
pect in this appointment. Why docs
Brunswick County require such a
position when, seemingly, there are
a host of other administrative or le
gal remedies available in die federal
and stale sectors to provide assis
tance on veterans behalf? Highly
competent assistance is also avail
able from die various veterans orga
nizations.
One would certainly hope that the
tends of this position is not a case of
bureaucratic "feather-bedding," but
il not, let wisdom dictate* that a vet
eran be selected to fill the slot
Francis W. Niland
Shallouc
(\lore Letters, Following Page)
What Do You Want For Library System?
It may a courtesy gesture on tin
pan of Brunswick County, but it
bothers me a little that a public hear
ing unlay regarding the future ol the
Uval library system won't be held hi
a very central location.
At (>:>() p.m. today (Thursday) a
committee of county and Southpon
officials will he.ir comments from
county residents regarding the struc
ture ol the library system. The meet
ing will he held, not at the county
complex near Bolivia, but in
Southpon upstairs hi the old county
courthouse on East Moore Street.
Not very convenient lor those of
us who live in the western end of the
county, especially those who work
lor a lis ing. Not a convenient time ol
year, for those swamped with Christ
mas this and Christinas that. But
when something is important, you
try to make tune for it. Thai's w hy. il
\oii care .tlx nit the quality of library
service m Brunswick County, you
need to try be at the meeting today.
Presently six library trustees are
appointed by the Southport Board ol
Aldermen and six by the Brunswick
County Board of Commissioners.
Trustees meet six times a year usual
ly, just every other month.
The library operates mainly with
Susan
Usher
state ami courtly luiuls. Iml docs re
ceive sti|>|x<ri from the City ol
Soulhport. .iiul lo .1 lesser degree,
other muuicipalilics.
Because ol the way u is set up. the
library itself cannot own property,
accept grants or do much else except
exist on a day -to-day basis.
Southern holds title lo Ihc main li
brary bui kl i hi; m Soutli|x<ri. Shal
lotlc holds title to the Wesi Bruns
wick Branch. Ai present the trustees
hold title to the land in L.elaml where
a new branch \\ ill be built.
The limits on this way ol doing
business came lo public attention
when the trustees voted to accept a
grant from the state lor a new branch
library at Lcland, alter volunteers
there hail raised the local share ol the
cost, found land and done most ol
the other legwork involved over a
I"ive- year peruxl.
Bui (>> reorganize the library so
thai the county can accept the gram
ami work proceed will) the project
will take only not a willingness by
ihe county to do so. but agreement
Ironi the City ol South|Kiri as well.
The lime seems right to make
some overall changes in library oper
ations.
This is an opportunity lor Bruns
wick County residents to tell the
(towers that Iv how they would like
the library system operated. That in
cludes appointments how main
trustees should there be lor the board
to operate effectively? Should every
town have an apixnntec tin the
InKird. or just those that sup|iorl li
brary operations Hiiancially or iliat
hold title to a library building'' ( )r
should it he by county district or
some sort ol rotation basis? How
long should the terms be?
Where should the money come
Irom to operate the system in addi
tion to the slate's portion? Presently
the county provides the bulk of local
operating lunds, SI 25,000, while
about half or more ol the towns in
Brunswick County contribute noth
ing to their area library, others a to
ken sum.
What about library stall? Sin mid
I Ik* county, assuming il I'imid, guar
antee continued employment ol all
library personnel? Should the library
director be required to live in Bruns
wick County, as are other county de
partment heads ' Should other library
employees be required to live in the
County?
Some ol the questions are lough,
with no pat answers. Others
sluHildn't be so haul to deal with.
Our library has been operating on
a shoestring, with inadequate stall -
in}:, inadequate facilities and inade
quate hours.
As tightl) lunded as ihey are. both
the public schools and Brunswick
Communitv College have technolo
gy in their resource centers the coun
ty library lacks.
This is a chance to lei Brunswick
CouniN Commissioners know that
you think library services are impor
tant. an asset 10 the enure communi
ty.
II >011 can't !'o to the meeting or
are uncomfortable speaking before a
group, write the county a letter or
gi\c >oui local commissioner a call.
Let them know what you think, one
way or the other. It's your library
tltcy "re talking about today.
GO HOME AMD TELL YOUR
PARENTS TO BUY A HOUSE
FOR CHRISTMAS !
fe* HEY-XSN'TTHAT
GOVERNOR MARTIN?
-
m > u? hwJ? . 1 ? 1 >.? s-.iii Iwi.Jfa-^l
Why Do Vices Have To Be So Much Fun?
The Andy Rooncy phrase "d 'ja
ever notice?" comes to mind some
times when 1 think about things in
this world that are slightly oil kilter.
Today, I'm wondering why the
things thai are dangerous or detri
mental to us are often those things
that we enjoy or covet.
We all have a vice or craving that
we secretly indulge. Like driving
over the speed limit or digging into a
cheeseburger or sweet dessert.
My strongest analogy in this situa
tion is to compare environmental
concern with quitting smoking.
There's been a big movement
started in the past 10 years or so to
make smokers appear stupid and
careless, but I don't think it really
works.
There have also been many differ
ent kinds of environmental aware
ness campaigns about the benefits of
recycling, cleaning the waters and
forests anil cutting down on smog
anil pollution in the air, hut I don't
think anyone listens.
The tobacco industries arc still
thriving and news jxills show that
Dori
Cosgrove
Gurganus
millions of teenagers still start smok
ing each year.
Companies that sell products dan
gerous to the environment still
thrive, styrofoam containers are still
used and plenty of people still throw
glass, plastic, newspaper and alu
minum in trash cans instead of recy
cling them
1 wish 1 could point blame at a
certain generation, but 1 know people
of every age who smoke and jvople
of every age who don't ihiuk about
the condition of our planet.
Sure, the numbers arc less titan
they have been in many years, but
the addictive habits still exist for
some strange reasons.
One problem is that people who
1
go around collccting cans aiul re
minding others thai they should do
so also are labeled as l%()s hippie
throw-backs or nerds with really bor
ing, safe lifestyles.
It's also uh) inconvenient to pack
it all in the car and drive out of our
way to dump it at the recycling sta
tion.
1 know from experience that peo
ple who say to a smoker,"You know,
those dungs are bad for you," are ig
nored. It also makes a smoker want
to light up another cigarette right
there on the spot and blow the smoke
in the non-smoker's face just to shut
that person up.
Besides, it tastes good and helps
you feel relaxed.
I. for one, smoked for six years
because 1 thought it made me look
older, and perhaps more cool. 1 also
heard this from odier fellow smokers
who admitted that they started so
they could look cool or adult, then
couldn't stop for many years because
they enjoyed it loo much.
Luckily, I stopped smoking four
months ago, but sometimes I think
about how I enjoyed it.
Since I've been collecting bags of
recyclable items in kitchcn pantries
and car trunks. I've heard comments
like "Oh. Don. that's so CiREF.N of
you," or "Oh gee/, I'm saaaaah
hhreeee I threw that away."
Maybe the excuse for not recy
cling is that there's no drop-off sta
tion nearby. Well, is Sunset Beach's
station too far away or should every
thing just go in the landfill?
Then, the person will role their
eyes and say "Well, I guess I could."
Yeah, helping the forests, water
and oxygen suck around so our plan
et is inhabitable for our grandkids
sure is a pain.
Don't worry, I'm pointing a linger
at myself as well.
It's easy for me to talk about
cigarettes and garbage, but if you
tried to make me stop buying a
chocolate bar every week or so be
cause it was found to cause cancer,
then you'd hear me whine.
It's haril to give up something en
joyable. though hopefully it would
be worth it. but why are vices so of
ten the things that are fun?
It's A
First
Christmas
For
John
Morgan
lis tunc to write about John
Morgan. Alter all, it's his first
Christmas.
In Ociobcr, three liny kittens were
delivered to our house by way of an
ornery female eat thai, lor whatever
reasons, carried them beneath the
house and lelt them there.
The kittens streamed and scream
ed until my niece stuck her small
hand through an opening and pulled
them to safety. They were under
nourished, in very poor health, and
two of them later dial.
But not John Morgan. The grey
and white striped fellow survived,
despite being clawed in the face by
its own mother who refused lo nurse
him ? Mommy Dearest, Part II.
You would think thai this female
cat would want a better lite for her
son, but I believe abuse is a continu
ous cycle. As a kitten, she was found
living oil of garbage scraps beneath
a Brunswick County trash dumpster
in Maco.
Ironically enough, it was my niccc
who also saved the mania cat from
an orphanage or untimely death. She
waved a lew pieces of cat chow 111
front ol the kitten's nose to coax her
from Ivneath the dumpster. Then
home she went, thin and starving.
Her independence and aloof de
meanor never fazed, and when she
had her kittens beneath a tractor
plow I figured a mother knew what
was best and simply left her alone.
One morning 1 awoke to the sound
of screaming kittens. By afternoon,
they were still screaming, and mama
cat was seen sunning herself on top
ol the rabbit house out back, uncon
cerned and with just a faint trace of a
smile on her face. I thought it was
(Kid.
"She's abandoned them kittens.
That's what she's done," my mother
insisted. She's always quick to size
I' I
?N |
Pope - ?
? >
up a situation. and percent of
the time her instincts are right. But
this time I gave the benefit of the
doubt to the suspect.
Why would a mother break her
bond? Did she Hip her feline wig?
But enough evidence existed to in
dict the hussy. When placed face to
facc with her own flesh and blood,
her greedy, green eyes grew fiery
and she couldn't hide the anger. She
spit, hissed and denied her own son
before fleeing the scene. I guess she
had her reasons.
John Morgan, we quickly found
out. had quite an appetite. He was
named alter the child character on
the television show, I'll Fly Away,
which has become one of my fa
vorites this season.
I lis two siblings were just too
weak to survive. It became a chal
lenge just to keep John Morgan
alive, especially for my mother, who
would never touch a cat before he ar
rived.
Morning ami night, she would
warm a bottle of milk and fill his
belly before setting him back in Ins
box in front of lite refrigerator, where
he likes to sit because of the warm
air that Hows from the vent. Many
times I watched her wrap his liny
body in a single paper towel and
hold him as he struggled to drink
milk in place of that denied from Ins
own mother's breast.
As time passed, John Morgan out
grew Ins hampster feeder and was
ready lor a man's dinner. Ai first,
he'll walk right through a plate of
nnlk and kitten chow, and we even
leared he was Mind.
Hut John Morgan just grew
stronger and stronger and even tried
to eat the kitty litter before he found
out what it was for. When near
tragedy struck the other night, he
pulled through.
He somehow managed to pull his
collar up into his mouth. It strapped
his chin open and he went into a lit.
screaming and lighting an imaginary
giant lie nearly strangled himself
before help could anive.
The next day he was back pulling
on the Christmas tree ornaments,
knocking over the lighted Sarin
Claus and getting an occasional swat
on the rear, lie's been through a lot
in a few short months. 1 wonder how
many of his nine lives are left?