Simmer Down so says the Editor

The following is a letter a friend, Cynthia Wadsworth, sent to our local paper:


Dear Editor,

Response to Simmer Down

Politicizing a Tragedy
Mr. Adamson is politicizing a horrible, senseless tragedy. This is the far left blaming the far right. Has the liberal left become so desperate that they must engage in shameful finger pointing at the conservative right? The finger pointing was immediate and it was totally irresponsible and Mr. Adamson is engaging in this finger pointing.
Jared Loughner, the shooter, had shown a tendency toward mental illness for years. His friend stated that he engaged Senator Giffords in a previous public meeting 3 years ago, by asking her a question that made no sense. He was known for rambling outbursts in math class and in the school library. His you tube video showed very little connections in his thoughts. He showed signs of paranoia. He admits to drug use. He failed an exam to join the Army because of his drug use. Does this explain his violent behavior? Perhaps the combination of drugs and mental illness will be to blame; we do not have that answer. It certainly does not excuse his behavior. It does not appear that he ever had an evaluation by a mental health professional even though his mental instability had been questioned by many who knew him.
What is missed is that in his ramblings posted on the internet and in some of his writings, is that he never mentions current political issues. He does not mention the vitriol that we have had crammed down our throats the last few days. There is no mention of the health care debate, or gun control issues. In my opinion he was so far out of touch with reality that he was not aware of these issues. His target could have been anyone from any political party. He just had access to Giffords over the last several years based on location. Had he lived in Alaska, it could have been Sarah Palin if he had access to her and was able to engage her in his ramblings. It could have been any politician in any state. Jared Loughner happened to live in Arizona.
We should question, instead, how this man fell through the cracks. We should question what is wrong with our mental health system when someone has had symptoms for years and no one pushed for this young man to get help as a teenager or young adult? He was dismissed by the college he attended and told not to return until he had received a mental health evaluation. He did not get one.
The words “simmer down” I have never heard used by grandparents or parents. I have only heard it used on Saturday Night Live. This is not the time to “simmer down.” Locally, some of us are having our property rights taken away by the town of West Jefferson without our permission. We must speak up or we will continue to lose our rights. I am sure “simmer down” is what many on the far left want those of us who are outspoken to do. I am sure that was the message given to us by the West Jefferson town aldermen in June when they paraded the police officers out the back door and then in the front door of town hall at the ETJ meeting. They wanted to be sure we “simmer down now” quoting the Saturday Night live version.
Giffords is outspoken and a trailblazer and I hope that she is able to recover from this senseless violence. We need more just like her. She would not want us to “simmer down.” I am also a traumatic brain injury survivor, and it is a long, long road to recovery and that road may have to be measured in years. Recovery is possible and I will pray that she is blessed with skilled caregivers and a loving family. This was a horrible tragedy and we must recognize it as such.

Cynthia Hardy Wadsworth RNC, BSN, CNNP
Neonatal Practitioner
West Jefferson, NC

The Motive of a Mad Man???

We knew it was going to happen but that does not make it any less disgusting.

Tucson, Arizona was the scene where a piece of garbage carrying a weapon shot and killed many innocent people and wounded many others. It was a violent act by a crazy man with a leftest past, but that did not stop the progressive pseudo-journalist, such those at CNN, MSNBC, Daily COS, moveon.org and others, from blaming the tea party activists and specifically Sarah Palin. As was said by President Obama's former Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel "you never want a serious crisis to go to waste," and believe me the liberals wasted no time in capitalizing on this crisis.

As the co-founder of the tea party movement in Ashe County, "We The People Of Ashe County," I am angered and offended by the relentless barrage of unfounded accusations cast at the conservative movement. Not one act of violence has ever been linked to our movement and our leadership will ensure that it never does.

Tea partiers are God fearing, America loving, and devoted to family citizens who want only the best for our county, state, and nation. However, those who champion the socialist agenda of the left care nothing about our republic and Constitution, and will place the Arizona tragedy well into the Ban-the-Guns mantra leaving our citizens helpless and at the mercy of such maniacs like the one in Tucson and pleading with an increasingly corrupt government to do what it cannot do--- protect us.

I am well acquainted with many tea party movements around the state and nation and I know the last thing we want is a nut-case in our midst and we will do everything we can to disassociated ourselves from such leaven.

The left's greatest fear is an educated society and our nation, thanks in large part to the tea party movement, is becoming increasingly more educated on matters of government and the Constitution and there is nothing more terrifying to the oligarchy than the subjects becoming informed.

"We The People of Ashe County" is the needed clarion call to liberty and freedom in our comunnity and if the people will listen we will see the fruit of our efforts in the education of our children as well as our adults and once again the knowledge of being an American will swell our hearts with pride and patriotism.

Kershaw Getty

Death by union strangulation

The news from New York is not good. But then it rarely is. The major networks reported that New York city workers deliberately slowed down the clearing of snow from the streets of the "Big Apple" in order to protest budget cuts. The result (allegedly) was the death of an infant because the ambulance could not get to the hospital due to snow covered roads.

There has been an outcry from the union bosses that no employee would do, or be ordered to do, such at thing, to which I say balderdash. I was a member of a union spanning 30 plus years and I can stand four square on the knowledge that such can happen does happen and will happen in the future if the unions are allowed to continue unfettered and out of control.

I have no problem with collected bargaining for wages and benefits within corporations as long as reasonable limits are placed on such negotiations by scrupulous union officials and sensible corporate leaders. However, public service employees should not be unionized.

Teacher's unions are another problem. If our dear readers keep up with my writings they know that I greatly respect our teachers and the difficult job they have. My issue is not with them it is with the national and state unions that gridlock our education system and steal that precious commodity called knowledge from our children. With political correctness, global warming, recycling, touchy-feely indoctrination, and identity glorification, most supported by teacher's unions, little time is left for meaningful instructions and our children are being intellectually robbed.

Additionally, the regulations on unions should be a state issue and not a federal one, unless irrefutable evidence can be shown that the interstate commerce clause is solidly in play.

Unions had their place in America but I believe their time has passed.

WHAT IS PATRIOTISM?

Dear fellow lovers of liberty: I was just thinking.

Patriotism is not a flag that is flown on a day that few realize the significance. Nor, is it the recitation of a pledge to that flag, for, there is an obligatory desire to participate. Patriotism is not necessarily the fighting in wars that support the maintenance of freedom or even dying in those wars, for, conscription can carry a warrior to battle. Patriotism is not the apple pie that Mom makes nor the gathering around the family table at Thanksgiving to consume that pie, for, the hearth of home is a draw to any occasion. Patriotism is not any of the symbolic gestures that we as Americans celebrate or laud.

No, patriotism is not a thing to be celebrated only, rather the feeling of love for liberty and freedom and that intangible that can only be understood by those who embrace that which our founders, with the blessings of God, gave us. A feeling that transcends physical feelings of good health, national security, or food on the table. Patriotism is a feeling that only the grateful can relish and celebrate. Not with flags, fireworks, or frivolity, though those activities are part of the American persona, but with a deep appreciation for what we have inherited and a desire to pass to our posterity that which we have received.

Patriotism is also our responsibility to ensure that the American dream never dies but shines as a beacon to a world in despair. Patriotism was forged with the words of our founders when they pledged: "....our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

Kershaw Getty

NOW LET'S GET TO WORK

The election is over and for the most part the victory is sweet. Conservatives and "Tea Party" candidates did very well in federal and local elections. Many states that had their General Assembly in the hands of left wing radicals are now in the hands of conservatives. Governorships on a grand scale are now under the control of traditional Americans. So, the work is done and we can rest from our labors. WRONG!!!

There are still too many liberals out there and even one is danger. A gun with one bullet can kill you just as dead as a hand grenade, so we need to vote as many as possible out of office. We can't rest, for 2012 is just around the corner.

We must also consider Obamacare, welfare, bailouts, NEA (National Ed. Assoc.) NEA (National Endowment for the Arts), The FED, and a host of laws, departments and other items that need to be trashed. IT CAN BE DONE!!!!!

Obama referred to Republicans as "Enemies." If Republicans are the enemy what are Iran, and Afghanistan, the Taliban, and Al Qaeda?

It is far from over, patriots, but we have made a good start.

EXCITING TIMES

Often in these times when America is on the verge of collapse and the White House, Congress and the Supreme Court are doing all they can to bring this destruction to bare there is a bright light that is often overlooked. That light is and always has been "We the People."

When the bleakest of circumstances seem to cloud even our deepest hopes something inside requires good people to shoulder their way through the darkest times to seek a better way. Such is the case "at a time such as this."

In the past few days I have had the privilege of speaking with great American Patriots who want our country back. Folks who have an excitement that is sweet with love of God and country. This enthusiasm has bolstered my spirit at a time when I needed it most and has renewed my commitment to strive diligently to reclaim the America to which I was born.

So, with this fire in our belly may we march to the beat of the drums of Liberty and shoulder the responsibility that our founders passed to us, when they mutuality pledged, "..our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."

Can we do less?

Kershaw

GUEST COLUMN

**THE FOLLOWING LETTER WAS SENT TO ME BY BILL REED, A FRIEND FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. IT IS EXACTLY AS HE SENT IT, INCLUDING PERSONAL COMMENTS. ENJOY.

KG




Hello fellow right wing nut job.
>
> As you are well aware, I have this fanatical hatred for communism and cannot find enough avenues to vent my disgust with what is happening to our country as we blindly race down the pathway to that most hideous form of government.
> The local paper will not take my letters without exercising the option of editing and I refuse to allow that since I am not using profanity (although I'd like to) or making any libelous statements.
> If you can do something with this, good. If not there's always the trash bin.
>
> By the way, how about our lovely Nikki Haley? The next governor of South Carolina!
>
> =================================================================
> Socialists/communists leaders have always mouthed the virtues of equality and sharing while completely insulating themselves from the stench of sweat from the toil of those who labor to support their grandiose lifestyles.
>
> The Obamas have mired themselves in excesses unimagined by most of those who voted for Mr. Obama, as well as those that had the good sense not to.
> Lavish parties, "state" dinners, and shopping trips costing the taxpayers millions, while millions wonder where their next paycheck is coming from, seems to be indicative of a pattern well established by other Marxist leaders.
>
> I recall Nicolea Ceausescu of Romania living in one of the worlds biggest homes,castles,palaces (or whatever it was called) while thousands of children, many infected with HIV, suffered in filthy orphanages that lacked the most basic health care.
>
> The North Korean "dear leader", Kim Jong iI lives in palatial splendor, protected by a powerful military, while much of the general population starve, and those that dare speak out are sent to reeducation camps where they are served a menu of hard labor, torture, and death.
>
> Could things get that bad here? Damn right they could and it's up to the citizens of the country to do what is necessary to prevent it.
> Naturally the first step is to seek relief through the voting process which is the sane and safe way to get the country back on track.
>
> If that fails, bear in mind that the founders of this country were peaceful men who petitioned an oppressive government for fair treatment and were left with no option but to fight for their God given rights.
>
> It's often stated say that we are a nation of laws, violence is not the answer, and anyone who advocates violence against the government is a right wing nut job and so on.
> Yes we are a nation of laws but when the laws are obfuscated and used to suppress the freedom of the people, the laws become the enemy of the people and beg to be ignored.
>
> As long as we have a second amendment we have a deterrent against total tyranny. If ever the government attempts to disarm the general population through homegrown legislation or international treaty, that will be a sure sign that all peaceful attempts to redress the wrongs visited upon the citizens by those in power have failed, or will fail.
>
> What happens then will determine weather or not the United States remains the leading bastion of freedom in the world or just another struggling third world country.
>
> Hopefully voters will go to the polls in record numbers this year to excise the malignancy continuously metastasizing in Washington that is destroying our once great nation, and the healing can begin.
>
> Bill Reed III
> Moncks Corner SC