Opinion Page
THE BRUNSWKK#fEACON
Edward M. Sweatt and Carolyn H. Sweatt Publishers
Edward M. Sweatt Editor
Susan Usher News Editor
Terry Pope Staff Writers
Doug Rutter Sports Editor
Peggy Earwood Office Manager
Carolyn H. Sweatt Advertising Director
TSmberley Adams. Cecelia Gore
and Linda Cheers Advertising Representatives
Dorothy Brennan and Brenda Cleiumons Moore ..Graphic Artists
William Manning Pressman
Lonnie Sprinkle Assistant Pressman
Tracy Smith Photo Technician
Phoebe Clemmons and Frances Sweatt CirciJatfon
PAGE 4-A, THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 1992
United Way Is More
Than Just One Man
Most of us have tendencies to throw out babies with bath
water whenever something arouses our moral sensibilities.
As a result of vilifying one person who has behaved abom
inably, we like to convict his entire family, all close friends and
even the pet dog.
That may happen with William Aramony, the national
United Way president who evidently treated company money
like a fistful of confetti. He was equally careful about spin-offs,
consultants and cushy jobs for relatives and friends.
The "informality" of his management has been denounced,
he has resigned, and a scrupulous Kenneth Dam has done much
as interim president to correct the abuses.
But we'll probably continue to connect Aramony and
United Way as though they were equal commodities. The years
of service to human beings this organization has provided nation
wide is apt to be sidelined, as we hold every local organization
suspect, simply because of one man.
It will be a tragedy if we cannot make the distinction be
tween individual corruption and a network ot helping volunteers
that stretches across America but also shows up in Brunswick
County. Pete Bamette, Cathy Swaim and Gladys Wagenseil are
only three names among dozens in this county alone who work
for small, incorruptible salaries in order to take our contributions
and turn them into food and literacy and safety for our unfortu
nate neighbors.
If we insist on withholding our United Way gifts, convicting
the local effort as guilty by association with William Aramony,
the damage will be done to those who are mostly powerless and
voiceless and who rather desperately need our help.
As we absorb the scandals, the evil, the greed and corrup
tion that pour out of the evening news, from Washington to
WilmingTon, let's be very careful to aim our anger at the right
person. Hopefully, we won't throw out the baby of neighborli
ness with the bath water of one man's abuse.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Keep Shallotte PO Intact
To the editor:
As a lifelong resident of Shallotte, I have seen our town prosper into
one of the most outstanding retirement and recreational areas on the east
coast
Newcomers have added new ideas and friendships to our town and
have helped boost the town both economically and socially.
The time has now come for you to help us "oldtimers" speak up and
be heard. We need to keep the town of Shallotte post office intact and
keep its identity as the main branch with very little change in operations.
1 remember the dedication day of the Shallotte post office. I repre
sented Boy Scout Troop 506 and presented the first American flag to the
facility. The old post office simply moved three blocks north and we
were so proud of its modem design, ample parking spices, easy access to
the street, and convenience for shoppers in town.
Yes, I realize the new post office in the Seaside area is needed. How
ever, it should be a branch of the town of Shallotte post office and serve
as a convenient service to our friends in that part of the county.
I cannot understand why the postmaster for the town of Shallotte
would move his office to this facility which is 12 miles from town? Why
is it that banks have no problem with this concept? There is at least one
branch of almost every bank in town at Ocean Isle, Holden Beach,
Calabash, and Seaside.
But we all know where the main branch is in Shallotte and it keeps
its identity. We must ALL give a last ditch stand and keep the Shallotte
post office operations and postmaster at home where they belong.
Jimmy Marshall
Shallotte
Varnamtown Is Praised
To the editor:
In this modem, high-tech, fast-paced world we live in, it's real com
forting to know that the community of Vamamtown really understands
the meaning of "love thy neighbor."
During the past few weeks I have come to know a woman by the
name of Chris Caudill. No, 1 do not know her personally and have never
met her, but I feel like I've known her all my life. If we had as many
"movers and shakers" in every community as Varnamtown, this world
would be by far a better placc to live. I have never seen the outpouring of
love and compassion and giving of ones self as 1 have in the events this
community has brought about in such a short time.
The "Reach Out for Chris Caudill" button that I received at the yard
sale will be worn by me until this lady has her bone marrow transplant.
I like Vamamtown. I've always known where it was,; even knew a
few people who lived there, but I never knew its people could convince
me that Varnamtown is richer by far than any exclusive resort I could
dream of.
Want to find out for yourself? Come out to the next fund-raising
event. You'll see.
No, I am not a Varnam, nor do I live in Varnamtown, but I sure wish
1 did.
Sandy B. Coffey
Holden Beach
Wild Flowers Disappearing
To the editor:
We moved here from Kansas in July of '89. The first spring we were
here we enjoyed just driving down the roads and looking at the beautiful
jasmine, wisteria and other wild flowers along the roadside.
There were beautiful clusters of jasmine in the trees and wisteria
vines going up into the trees 50 to 75 feet.
Now you can drive down old Georgetown Road, 904 and even
Highway 17 and they have gone in and cut all the trees, run over every
picce of jasmine, wisteria and other beautiful wild flowers just for anoth
(See LETTERS, Following Page)
This Doesn't Seem Like An Election Year
For some reason, it just doesn't
seem like an election year to me.
Sure, there arc posters and bill
boards around. And both political
parties have held their annual con
ventions. Politicians arc making
rounds at cookouts and gatherings
before the May 5 primary.
Some have spent big money on
advertising and billboards. Some in
cumbents arc running scared.
The presidential race isn't excit
ing. Democratic candidates arc fight
ing like kids, trying to tattle-tale on
who smoked marijuana or held par
tics wherc drugs were present.
George Bush hardly raises an eye
brow.
I can't put my finger on it, but
even here in Brunswick County,
closer to home, to me it just doesn't
seem like the political season has ar
rived. I don't intend this as a nega
tive comment on the candidates
themselves, for there are some out
standing and brave citizcns chal
lenging for local scats.
How do I know when the political
r
Terry
Pope
'4 'k.
season has arrived? It's like the feel
ing you get when you suddenly real
ize that Christmas is right around the
comer.
At the Democratic convention last
week, delegates politely applauded a
speech given by fiery Ray Walton,
who blasted Republicans left and
right.
Only about 50 people attended the
Republican convention in March.
That's a lot of turnout based on pre
vious years. Three Brunswick
County commissioners whose scats
are up for election arc not even run
ning.
Maybe I'm just suffering from the
same case of doldrums that plagues
politics as a whole. A strong protest
vote opted for two-year terms for
school board and commission seals
in Brunswick County last Novem
ber.
Protest votes also gave Dcitiuiiai
Paul Tsongas a good showing in the
New York presidential primary, and
he wasn't even in the race. It is also
making a 1996 candidate out of
Republican Patrick Buchanan.
People have taken a shotgun ap
proach to politics, to vote against in
cumbents and old ideas. Only its
victims will include some good
guys, too.
The report card has been so poor
for Brunswick County Schools late
ly that I wonder if people have just
lost hope of finding solutions?
Given up in despair? Or don't care?
And is it a case of the people get
ting what they asked for with the
two-year term deal? Arc candidates
already feeling the pressure?
Petitions circulating throughout
Brunswick County last week were
gathering names of persons support
ing the independent presidential
campaign of billionaire H. Ross
Perot in an attempt to have him
added to the November ballot in
North Carolina.
co OAO .l .
I'll/ IIVVAld III UiC
state. Considering the attitude of
voters today, that won't be a diffi
cult task. That's just two percent of
the state's registered voters, which
must be certified and submitted to
the N.C. Board of Elections by June
26.
At the Brunswick County Board
of Elections office, the number of
registered unaffiliated voters in
creased by 233 voters from October
1991 to April 10; Democrats gained
679 voters and Republicans gained
651.
But by proportion, those 233 vot
ers who don't wish to be affiliated
with either political party represent a
much larger gain. Perhaps it is the
mood of the people.
Maybe I have reason to feel the
way I do this election year.
OKA y, ?0 1 BELONG
TO AN ALL-WHITE,
EXCLUSIVE PRIVATE CLU?
fWfcouNA
UAKIDON5
WHY SHOULD I QUIT?
I DIDMT MAKE
, THE ?)LICy.
BESIDES,
X LIKE
BEING A
Republican!
You're One In A Million, Uh-Huh!
You've seen ihc ads: A super-cool
Ray Charles advising, "You got the
right one Baby."
Ray's been helping hype Diet
Pepsi with its 100 percent "IJh-Huh"
spccial ingredient.
Until the other day I hadn't paid
much attention to the marketing
campaign. After all, I'm a Coca
Cola drinker, from way back.
But Ray and Co. managed to get
my attention.
Rushing home the other night for
a quickie supper before heading out
to a cover a town council meeting, 1
saw a box on the back deck, in front
of the door. That sparked my curios
ity, because neither Don nor I was
expecting anything by way of UPS.
A few minutes later, the answer
was in hand: An invitation to put my
diet Coke aside for awhile and try
Diet Pepsi. Added motivation to do
so: a free case for sampling. That's
right. Susan Usher Eggert is one in a
million. One of a million diet cola
Susan
Usher
drinkers targeted to receive 24 free
cans of Diet Pepsi!
It was kind of exciting. I mean,
think about getting $15 of free soft
drinks delivered to your home. Even
a loyal Coke fan would have trouble
turning down free beverages.
Specially if he or she is a tightwad
like mc.
Then my husband and I started
trying to figure out what question
naire or coupon I had filled
out-what piece of paper had told the
people at Pepsi I drink diet colas
(and NOT Pepsi).
The Diet Pepsi camc with a
caich-a survey I'm asked to fill out
and return, telling the folks at Pepsi
what I think. Four simple questions:
What did 1 think about getting the
free case of Diet Pepsi as a way to
sample the product; what I think 100
percent "Uh-Huh" is; how many
cans or glasses of soft drinks are
consumed weekly in our home; and
the clincher: How has my cola be
havior changed as a result of sam
pling 24 cans of free Diet Pepsi. Am
I switching brands? Do I still prefer
diet Coke exclusively? Or am 1 be
ginning to drink more Diet Pepsi,
but still drink diet Coke too.
I'll have to be honest with the sur
veyors. Since I haven't finished the
freebies (it may take a while), I truly
am beginning to drink more Diet
Pepsi.
Tell you the truth, I was begin
ning to feel a little smug about being
"one in a million" to someone other
than my mother.
That was until Don callcd my
brother-in-law Robert in Roxboro.
Robert is a true Coca Cola man, a
longtime employee of the company,
extremely loyal to its products, and
gives Don and me a hard time any
time he sees another brand of soft
drink in our home-no matter what
was on sale at the store that week.
His home probably has more
Coke paraphernalia per square foot
than the company museum in
Atlanta. No kidding. He collects
anything and everything relating to
Coke. If the company gave a loyalty
award, Robert Hggert would get it,
hands down.
Robert listened patiently as Don
related the news, then promptly put
things in their proper "Coke" per
spective.
"Uh-huh," he said. "That's the on
ly way they can get rid of their prod
ucts-giving them away."
Spoken like a true "one in a mil
lion" Coke man.
Spring Means Dirty Knees
f
Marjorie
Megivern
when little green shoots appeared on
the trees, birds chirped, and the air
was alive with sweetness. I had a
strange compulsion. The world was
so glorious, I felt the need to do
something creative about it.
No, going inside and baking
cookies wasn't quite right, though
that's a favorite activity. It must be
something done out of doors today, I
thought!
Aha! I had it! I'd plant those
bulbs and seeds that had been clut
tering a closet for weeks. Months
ago, in a wistful moment of longing
for spring, I had ordered them from
a seed catalog, one of those with
vivid color pictures of unpronounce
able beauties. Weeks later, my fer
vor gone, the cursed things arrived,
a dozen little plastic envelopes filled
with ugly, knobby things. I shoved
them aside and tried to ignore them,
but that collection of unborn flowers
haunted me.
On this heavenly April day I re
membered and retrieved them. This
was cxacUy the right way to partici
pate in spring! Eagerly I located a
trowel and rake and got busy in the
little alcove that passes for my gar
den.
Winter's leaves and pine straw
were forcibly removed and old bulbs
inadvertently dug up and flung onto
the mound of debris. Finally, the
garden path was ready for new life. I
dug little holes and plopped in the
seeds, without any instructions
about how to do it. Probably the
holes were too shallow and those
seeds have long since been washed
into my neighbor's yard.
Anyway, as I grew uncomfortably
warm and tired and sore, everything
got immersed in the earth. (Why did
I order so many?) 1 smoothed the
dirt over them, stood up (with diffi
Well, I've completed my annual
rite of spring. Sore leg muscles and
dents in my knees testify thai I have
participated in the great American
"Plantout" that thrills all right-mind
ed people. Yes, I planted a garden!
Everybody, of course, looks for
ward to this wonderful, creative,
outdoor cxpcricncc...wcll, every
body but me. The truth is, I hate gar
dening. I've decided to come out of
the closct and confess it. Not only
do I loathe and despise football, but
I am supremely bored by gardening,
so there goes my certification as a
really good person.
It's good to admit it, though, that
the raking, hole-digging, planting,
weeding and watering hold no
charms at all for me. Obviously
something is missing in my gene
pool because 1 do not share the pri
mal urge to get down on all fours in
the din. I have never found any
charm or peace or fulfillment in it
However, every "coming-of
spring" season I have a curioas lapse
of integrity. It happened two weeks
ago on one of those balmy days
culty) and smiled smugly, self-right
eously to myself. 1 had planted a
garden!
I'm glad it's over with and 1 don't
plan to do any more about it. If any
thing comes up, I'll let you know,
but regardless, that afternoon's ac
tivity did something therapeutic for
me. Not that gardening is a healing
activity, but the FACT that I did it
makes me feel acceptable to the rest
of the human race.
Viva la Spring! Take over my
chores now, God, and send your rain
and sunshine. I've done my part.
Write Us
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address. Under no circumstances
will unsigned letters be printed.
Letters should be legible. The
Beacon reserves the right to edit
libelous comments. Address
letters to The Brunswick Beacon ,
P. O. Box 2558, Shallotte, N. C.
28459.