Letters to the Editor

Terry,

This is really an "As You See It" item, but it's too long, and neither you nor I believe in hiding behind anonymity, do we? So here goes.

A lot of good communityminded citizens and some local government officials have worked hard to improve the appearance and feel of our town over the past several years. We are gaining a far-reaching reputation as a model small town because of their efforts. People are actually coming just to visit the community.

Everybody knows that we have some internal problems, and most of them seem to be centered in the offices of the Board of Education and County Commissioners.

We have some folks in these two groups working hard for the betterment of our community, but their efforts are hindered or stonewalled by a few who insist on acting in a self-centered manner brought on by a misguided sense of power.

It only takes a few to mess up things for a whole community. These few could cause us to spend the next several years trying to fix and pay for the problems they create, and there is no legitimate, logical, or moral reason for it to happen.

This is simply my way, through you, of asking each of these folks to put the good of our community ahead of their self-centered attitude. To those members who are working for the betterment of our community I say, "That's what we elected you to do and thank you for doing it."

Thanks for listening, Herman Sheffield

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Dear Terry,

I can remember only one instance, in the 14 years since I moved back to Colquitt, where I wrote to you, complaining of your editorial policy. In that instance, I was complaining that you were publishing a weekly column that was written by an obvious Al Qaeda sympathizer.

The purpose of this letter is to suggest to you that you cease to publish the "As You See It" column. "As You See It," in my humble opinion, has become a sounding board for the most despicable among us, those who are spineless cowards. Judging from the content and structure of some of the comments in "As You See It," I'd have to opine that those comments were written by ignorant, uneducated, nearly-illiterate, spineless cowards.

Regardless of one's position on an issue, if one does not possess testicular grandiosity such that one will permit one's name to appear as author of comments to the Liberal, then one's comments are probably not worthy of publication.

I guess that the recent comments questioning where teachers employed by the Miller County Board of Education choose to educate their children was the straw that broke the camel's back for me. As I see it, the only obligation a teacher has is to show up for work and do the very best that he or she can to educate those children assigned to his or her classroom. What possible business is it of anybody where any American citizen decides to send his or her children to school? I don't know who the aforementioned teachers are, but where they decide to educate their children is none of my (or anybody else's) business!

I surely am glad that I have no children or grandchildren currently exposed to the lunacy that is "Education" in Miller County.

Cordially, Wig Geer

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Dear Wig,

Normally, I do not respond to a letter to the editor, but since this deals with how I run this newspaper, and other people's opinions, I will make an exception.

For over 30 years, it was the policy of this newspaper that an opinion must be signed, in most cases. The exceptions were usually for a teacher or administrator of our schools who wanted to state an opinion, but were afraid to for fear of the loss of their job, or a minor child involved in something their parents were afraid to let their name be known due to fear of reprisals to their children.

I appreciate your suggestion that the column "As You See It" be terminated. I have had many similar suggestions, especially by elected and hired officials who don't like what people say about them. I don't like what they say bad about me, but I put it in. In today's way of doing things in Colquitt and Miller County, a teacher, employee and many citizens are afraid to say what they think. If these officials or employers knew who said something, there is a good chance of reprisals.

In many cases, I neither agree with, or condone what is said at times in this "As You See It Column," but until the tone changes, this will be the only medium that some people have to give their opinions. As much of what I think is not agreed with by many, it is still my opinion, of which I always sign. My people sometimes have to pay for my opinions with loss of friendship, business and even loss of jobs for no reason of their own.

The "As You See It" column is perhaps the most popular part of this newspaper. In each issue, I say that many times I disagree with what is there, but it is the only way some people can have an opinion of those who govern our lives and attempt to run our lives. Some of the opinions are positive.

Until the 1st Amendment is killed by the Democrats or liberal judges, I will continue to allow people to give their opinions of me, you and anyone else, within reason.

Thank you again for your opinion, of which I agree with, in part.

Your friend,

Terry Toole, editor