Dear Terry,

I wanted to comment on what I have noticed in the last couple of years regarding our freedom. I don't think our children including my own understand what the price of freedom has been and what we are still paying for it. often wonder if they really understand what freedom means. As I have gotten older, my views seem to change, and my priorities are very different. At every football game in Damascus that I attended this year the national anthem was sung, and people stood with their hand over their heart - hats off and a dead silence as the flag was recognized. I stood there, and tears rolled down my cheeks in show of the pride I felt for what I have often taken for granted my freedom. I thought about all the people that have lost their lives and are still dying in paying that price. In that same sentence, they serve and die so that some people can belittle our flag and our men and women who serve them. What has our nation come to? We don't see it here in rural Georgia like you would in the larger cities, but it is going on all over. I want our children to understand the reverence that they should give to our veterans and to our flag that represents something that is so precious - our freedom. God have mercy on us. I commend Stuart Brooks for his speech on Veterans' Day. He is so right about our youth. We need to instill in them a sense of pride and encourage them to invest themselves in their nation and what others gave up for them so that they can enjoy life as they see it today. As "Taps" was playing, I saw an older lady start to cry. This is the pride I am talking about that we all need to feel. I pray to God that we never lose what so many have lost their lives to protect, but it just seems to me we are giving it up little by little.

Thanks for listening

Barbie Womble

Thank You, Daddy, for serving in the Army and my husband for his service in the Air Force.

I wonder if the people who get on a bus and ride to Colquitt, Georgia to soak up the local culture, Swamp Gravy, The Tarrer Inn, the shops on the square, the wonderful murals depicting big hearted, loving, accepting people, ever buy a newspaper. I must say I hope to goodness they do not. I hope they do not because many time the local newspaper is an insight into the kind of people living in the community.

The Miller County Liberal? Liberal? Liberal means abundant, simple, generous, open-minded, not strict, not rigorous, favoring political and social reform. Hum? Perhaps the Miller County Venomous Snake would be more appropriate name for our local mullet wrapper.

As of late the paper's contents have been evidence, evidence that tunnel vision and bigotry are alive and thriving here in The Mural City in a local paper with the nerve to call itself liberal. Shame on you!

Maggie Hampton Colquitt, Georgia 39837

Editors note:

Maggie, I agree with you on the name. Grandma named it Liberal after the Cuthbert Liberal, 111 years ago. I guess a woman editor before women could vote was quite Liberal.

In Georgia, and the nation, the Miller County Liberal is known as the most misnamed newspaper anywhere. I wish that we could change the name from Liberal to Conservative, but since I won't be here all that much longer, I will just let it mess with you liberals minds.