Page 4A-THE KINGS MOUNTAIN HERALD-Thursday, May 19, 1994
JIM
HEFFNER
Columnist
Sexual harassment defined
Sexual Harassment, 1 don't know about you people
but I'm tired of hearing about it.
To hear some people talk, if you even look at a
beautiful woman, or tell any woman in the office she
looks nice. you may be guilty of sexual harassment.
First there was Anita Hill trying to sink Clarence
Thomas, now there's a woman named Paula Jones
down in Arkansas trying to torpedo President Fuzzy.
Doesn't this guy have enough trouble? He supposed-
ly told this woman she made his knees knock. So
what? I've seen lots of women who made my knees
knock. Of course that was back before arthritis set in
and put a stop to that nonsense and before sexual ha-
rassment was a crime.
People are so transparent. The same feminists who
rallied to Hill's side are keeping quiet on the subject of
Paula Jones. The same people who were against Hill
are for Jones. How do you figure that one?
The fact is, people don't necessarily have to support
someone just because they yell sexual harassment.
There is such a thing as evidence and recognizing right
and wrong.
The evidence in the Hill case was flimsy, while the
evidence in the Jones case seems to me to be just as
flimsy.
A women's group known as N.C. Equity (everybody
stand up who has ever heard of this group) wants
North Carolina legislators to create a new sexual ha-
rassment law for the state. :
I don't have a real problem with that, if the law
spells out exactly what it takes to commit sexual ha-
rassment, and they don't get silly about it. By that I
mean, if a person, male or female makes a civil com-
ment such as "Good morning. You look very nice." He
or she shouldn't have to fear for his or her job and wor-
ry about having to go to court. If a person invites a co-
worker to lunch, he or she shouldn't have to worry
about sexual harassment charges.
I'can truthfully say that in 42 years on the job, I've
never witnessed an act that could be construed as sexu-
al harassment. I'm not saying it dida't or doesn't hap-
pen, I'm just saying I've never seen it.
There is one part of the proposal that needs to be
junked. N.C. Equity wants the state to hire a team to
teach public and private employees how to behave in
the workplace.
Most of us had parents to teach us how to behave,
and employers can tie a can to anybody who practices
bad taste in the workplace. The next thing you know,
somebody will be proposing an amendment to the law
that will require a group of counselors to come in and
meet with everyone in the plant if somebody is ac-
cused of sexual harassment. Counseling is the "in
thing these days. I got a speeding ticket last October,
and I'm surprised the judge didn't order me to get some
counseling, but that's another column.
Sexual harassment is not a clearly defined term. The
U.S. Supreme Court, in their own inimitable way,
ruled last year that workers suing their employers no
longer have to prove they've been psychologically
harmed by sexual harassment, just made uncomfort-
able. I wonder if the same rule would apply if the of-
fice air conditioner broke down?
Last week, at Myrtle Beach, a shapely lady in a pink
thong bathing suit rode down Ocean Boulevard on the
back of a motorcycle hanging on to her male compan-
ion. Every eye followed her as the cycle weaved in and
out of the thick traffic. One kid almost fell from a bal-
cony.
Being caught up in heavy traffic in a car, with your
wife, when a half-naked woman is riding into the dis-
tance on a motorcycle, now that's what I call sexual
harassment.
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Opinions
A PERFECT DAY FOR A WALK - Friday was a perfect day to get your walking shoes out and take a
stroll around town. Senior citizens from The Depot, above, are accompanied by Police Chief Warren
Goforth. Front row, from left, Goforth, Sue Henderson, Dennis Goforth, carrying the Senior Center ban-
ner, and Monty Thornburg, Aging Director; second row, Arthur Allen, Cloatill Tessneer, Helen Lovelace
and Sharon Eaker of the Center staff; third row, Martha Taylor, Mary Jamison, Amie Mitchem and Edna
Smith; and back row, Pearl Pressley and Joe Smith.
Your Right To Say It
Tour DuPont was very expensive
for Cleveland County taxpayers
To the editor:
I would like to see the bottom line cost related to the
Tour DuPont bicycle race through Cleveland County.
If each of our 157 citizens had the police protection
that the fellows on the bicycles had, we would never
see criine in this county again. We paid for it, ladies
and gentlemen, why can't we have it instead of for-
eigners and outsiders?
I would like to further extend the example of the
cost that our community unknowingly took on. My ex-
ample will be the Oak Grove Road in Kings Mountain.
This road had 40 businesses located on the road and 39
paved side roads that feed onto the road that was
blockaded. There is no count on how many businesses
are located on the side roads. My very small business
lost in excess of $1,400 that we know of so far. A
NASCAR race that I would like to see only cost $50.
Having said all of this, it doesn't cover my main ob-
jection. The arrogance of the promoters and volunteers
is really what needs to be considered.
Just a few points:
Someone sitting behind a desk at Medalists Sports,
Inc. in Richmond, Va., making a lot of money, from
this, decided to shut us down without our input.
An arrogant volunteer woman on a motorcycle came
« by and ordered my son to hold a stray-dog during: the-
race.
Another arrogant volunteer, either from Medalist
Sports or our local volunteer fire department, ordered
my daughter-in-law to stop cutting grass about 25 min-
utes prior to the passing of the mighty cyclists, in fear
of a stray rock being thrown from our brand new rear
bagger mower.
And finally, ladies and gentlemen, I have it on video
tape of one of the cyclists throwing trash into our nice
community.
Shame on the arrogance of these clowns.
Sincerely,
William H. Stewart
Ax daytime meetings
To the editor: i { :
At recent Board of Education meetings parents and
concerned citizens voiced their deep concern and dis-
approval over the holding of extremely important
school curriculum meetings during the day when
many, many parents and concerned citizens of this
community are at work, instead of holding them in the
evening when most people are at home. How are those
who work during the day going to gain knowledge and
information about the things that our schools are
teaching their children?
Superintendent Bob McRae stated at a recent School
Board meeting that when the meetings are held, many
parents don't come. Well, if you are holding these
meetings when most people can't come, what other re-
sult can you expect? He also stated to me that the
schools are not trying to hide anything, but when you
hold very critical meetings when only a few people are
able to attend, what is the community to think?
With such an important issue as the school curricu-
lum, it really surprises me that the only announcement
for this meeting is a very, very tiny notice printed in
the Kings Mountain herald. It would seem to me, and
many in this community, that if the school is not trying
to hide something they would want as many people in
the community to know what they're doing.
The following directive to the local school boards
from the North Carolina Department of Education
found on pages 42 and 43 of the current "Healthful
Living" curriculum states:
"Prior to beginning, or prior to modifying an
HIV/AIDS education program, all schools should con-
duct AIDS Awareness Parents Meetings as a public
service to the community so that the parents will (1) be
aware of what their children and learning and why, (2)
be able to reinforce instruction at home, (3) have an
.opportunity to augment the school curriculum with
home moral instruction as desired, and (4) be able to
reduce their own vulnerability, if any, to HIV infec-
tion. During these meetings parents should be in-
formed about HIV/AIDS, should have the opportunity
to preview the methods, materials, and objectives to be
used in teaching students about AIDS and should be
involved in discussing ways of reinforcing and extend-
ing the student's education at home, particularly in re-
gard to the moral aspects of sexuality and drug use.
Because of the seriousness of AIDS schools will, of
course, want to involve as many parents as possible in
AIDS Awareness Parents Meetings. Local media
(newspapers, television and radio) are usually coopera-
tive in announcing such meetings if schools provide
the information to them in writing.
Prior to beginning, or prior to modifying an
HIV/AIDS education program, schools should also
conduct AIDS Awareness Meetings for other agencies
and organizations in the community. Among these are
the ministerial association, service clubs, social ser-
vices, public health, mental health, police and/or sher-
iff's departments and juvenile court counselors. The
format used for the AIDS Awareness Parents Meetings
would also be appropriate for these meetings."
Folks, this is what our State education officials are
telling the Boards of Educations to do. Then ask your-
self, why is the Kings Mountain District Schools not
doing this? Are they really not trying to hide some-
thing? Do they truly want the community to know
what they are doing?
I believe the answers to these questions are obvious.
What do you think? Why not call Health Coordinator
Cindy Borders, the Superintendent of Education, the
school Principals and each of the Board of Education
members and insist that as taxpaying citizen of this
* community you have a right to have all this informa-
tion shown to you as the State of North Carolina
Department of Education has directed our School
Board to do. The names of these officials, along with
telephone numbers are available by calling 734-5637.
Tom Sees
(More letters on page 5-A)
Foxes want to stay in
When asked if North Carolinians could expect a tax
cut this year as the State's coffers are filled to over-
flowing with an excess $1 billion in revenue, top
Tarheel politicians say we need to "study these impor-
tant issues," while they make plans to spend, spend,
spend.
Recently, Governor Jim Hunt, House Speaker Dan
Blue, and Senate Leader Marc Basnight all called for
studies of various taxes and their impacts. Hunt wants
to spend $100k,000 on a study to determine if the
Tarheel State's high corporate income tax rate and the
intangibles tax make us less attractive than our lower
tax neighbors. Any first semester economics 101 col-
lege student could tell him that businesses will go to
arcas where costs are lower and most would be willing,
to give him an answer for much less than $100,000.
Blue wants a broad study on tax fairness and equity.
One can only guess where Dan is heading with that
one. Basnight claims he wants to get rid of the food
tax on the poor and calls for a study to determine how
we might exempt poor families.
Don't expect any tax cuts this year. Hunt, Blue and
Basnight have already said, "No." Even with an extra
GUEST COLUMN
THOMAS GOOLSBY
Carolina Syndicated
Columns
Bo |
billion dollars hanging around, the boys in Raleigh
don't think it's reasonable for us taxpayers to expect a
break. These actions strike a chord with the old saying
about the fox guarding the hen house.
If there is one thing politicians love to do, it's spend
our money. How quickly they forget past transgres-
sions! Only three years ago, in 1991, North Carolina
suffered a $1.2 billion shortfall. ‘The budget was cut
while sales and corporate income tax rates were raised,
but those hard times seem forgotten in the frenzy to
"Spend it now!" Hunt has already come up with almost
half a billion dollars in new spending on education
alone.
Maybe it's just too much to ask for your politicians
Our View
Get out and
enjoy spring
This is the time of the year when the office worker
envies those fortunate souls who work outdoors.
The winter long, snug at his desk, he may feel supe-
rior to them.
Come spring, the shoe is on the other foot.
What a pleasant time those fellows who work for
the park must have on these balmy days. Or consider
the mail man, who it's obvious has a bounce to his
step, as do even the meter readers, the delivery men -
these and many more can put in long hours enjoying
what the desk-bound can savor only fleetingly on the
way to work.
It isn't that the average office worker would really
like to chuck his job to do any of these things, under-
stand.
But quite a few might like to give it a try for a cou-
ple of weeks in the spring.
Get serious, Council
For several years now City Council has raised water
rates to customers while trying to establish and main-
tain a favorable climate for industry.
Industry, which has been in the news recently, says
they don't deny that Kings Mountain is selling its wa-
ter cheaper than municipalities in outlying areas but
while selling water cheaper they have maxed out in
rates charged for electricity and natural gas.
While it is is true that few if any water systems in
this area have ever reached the break-even point,
industry claims that a close job of cost-accounting was
not performed at the time the rates were put in and
now they say that Kings Mountain is pricing them out
by anticipated higher rates with the adoption of the
1994-95 budget.
Is it unreasonable for city fathers to look at a down-
ward revision of the electrical and gas rates if, in fact,
another hefty water rate is imposed?
All will be interested in the recommendations of
Mayor Scott Neisler, Interim Manager Maxine Parsons
and the seven-member City Council at the special
meeting Sunday night on the proposed budget which,
under law, must be out for public review by June 1 -
nine working days from today.
The city wants to maintain sufficient revenue to
bring water service'‘as close to. break-even point as
possible - remembering all the while that the voters
passed a $9 million bond issue for utility improve-
ments which reflect a big payment allocated in the
budget.
It appears to us that it's time for the City Council to
get serious and come up with some workable solu-
tions.
Somewhere within these several desirables are the
proper rate schedules.
Three good teachers :
The deaths of three retired school teachers recently
removed from the community three women who de-
voted all their lives to education.
Annie B. Roberts, 87, died April 17 after a bout
with cancer. She had taught fourth grade for 43 years.
Helen Galloway Neal, 102, died May 9 after a
lengthy illness. She had served the public school sys-
tem well, and for many years in Bessemer City.
Dorcas Cline White's death May 8 at age 70 was a
shock to a wide circle of friends, only a few of them
knowing that her heart problems were more than mi-
nor. It'was typical of her non-complaining and stead-
fast spirit as she sat at her husband's wheelchair and
bedside at Kings Mountain Hospital for several years
before his death six months ago.
Mrs. Neal also died in the Extended Care Unit at the
hospital and had lived down the hall from former
Senator Jack White for several years.,
All three teachers exhibited a helpfulness and com-
passion of attitude which endeared them to all with
whom they were associated and they were many.
Good news for KM
Expansion by existing industry is just as important
as attracting new industry.
The announcement by Clevemont Mills last week
that it will add 100-150 new jobs this summer is good
news for the economy and for people who desperately
need to work.
Clevemont is also raising the wages of its 650 em-
ployees by three percent.
This is certainly good news indeed for the commu-
nity.
hen house
to be fiscally responsible. What's so bad about elimi-
nating the tax on food (which has its greatest impact °
on poor families), thereby saving taxpayers $300 mil-
lion a year? The Governor has apparently forgotten his
past support for such a repeal. What's so bad about
lowering our corporate income tax from 7.75 percent
to its pre-1991 "budget crisis” rate of 7 percent? This
would give North Carolina corporations an additional
$95 million a year to invest in employees. plants and
equipment. What's so bad about abolishing the intangi-
bles tax. which socks investors with an additional tax
bill of 25 cents on every $100 of stocks or bonds they
own, thereby keeping them from calling North
Carolina "home" and investing their money in local
communities and our state's economy?
Perhaps our politicians have bought into the liberal
fallacy that they can tax us into prosperity. They seem
to believe that all we need to do is create more legisla-
tive study committees and task forces and. in the
meantime, spend like crazy. What happens when these
committees come back at some future date. when the
covvers are dry, and recommend tax cuts and redue-
tions in government spending? Hey, don't bother to-
day's politicians with tomorrow's problems = the fox is
in the hen house and he's hungry for your wallet