An unfair attack

Editor, Smithfield Times
In reading today’s letters to the editor, I was taken aback by a letter from a citizen who was chastising Mrs. Valerie Butler, the president of the IOW NAACP, for expressing her opinion during the citizen’s comments section of the Board of Supervisor’s meeting. Isn’t that why there is a citizen’s comments section, to hear ideas and opinions from the citizens? As a civic leader, it behooves Mrs. Butler to speak up on issues that are important to her, her members and the community at large. The person who wrote this letter is obviously a very opinionated person, so he has the right to his opinions but others are vilified for theirs? The letter was unfair and downright disrespectful to Mrs. Butler in my opinion!
Joe Puglisi
Smithfield

Not a matter for polling

Editor, Smithfield Times
The Board members think that they can pray in any manner they want to because, as Mr. McCarty puts it, “Someone is always going to be offended by something.” McCarty also promoted the idea of polling more citizens with an online survey. Just to make sure the Board understands, the First Amendment can’t be dismissed or negated by a popularity poll.  Nobody is telling the citizens that they can’t pray and we’re not coming after your mythic jewelry. The problem here is that the Board members are agents of the government. As such, they cannot promote a single religion. I’m sorry if you disagree with our Constitution, but the US Supreme Court has always ruled in this way. The obvious delay the Board is using waiting for a ruling by the Supreme Court is just playing a game so they can pray to “Jesus” more in the meantime. The blatant disregard for the law would potentially make the punitive damages higher in a court ruling. The Board members’ insistence on praying exclusively to “Jesus” is just a sign of their intolerance. If you can’t abide by the laws of the land, step down.
Donald Williams
Carrollton

Let the voters decide

Editor, Smithfield Times
The Isle of Wight and the United States in general are still Democracies, and despite recent evidence to the contrary, significant local issues should still be decided by the local voters and not by an elitist group of self-serving politicians or special interest hate groups. Most of the local statues and memorials in question have been in existence for nearly 100 years. After a few months of rational discussion of the facts (not political rhetoric) let the local voters decide.
Bob Ausman
Smithfield

Take a deep breath

Editor, Smithfield Times
Mob rule seems to be the “new” norm, both in streets and civil discourse. We claim to be a land of laws, but have allowed emotions to replace reason. The mad rush to condemn anything remotely associated with the official losers of the War Between the States is a prime example. I see monuments to Civil War heroes as symbols of public recognition of the loyalty and sacrifice by warriors defending their communities. My G-G-Grandfather fought with the Arkansas Infantry, 27th Regiment, and he owned no slaves. He joined to defend his family, neighbors and the principles he lived by. I honor my ancestors, warts and all. Without our forefathers, we would not be here, literally. To second-guess their lives and times is foolish. While the Bible’s quote of John 15:13 may be an anathema to some, sacrifice by society’s defenders deserve perpetual remembrance, particularly by those they served. Upon hearing of my military service of 34 years, people “thank me for my service.” But I remember high school buddies who gave their lives in Vietnam and vets who returned to ridicule and spit. Like spitting mobs of the late ’60s, today’s mobs have cooked up rationales of symbolism and offense, which denigrate all other perspectives and inflame discord. Political leaders either retreat or join the fray for self-gain. Those with civil respect are unheard and our Nation is diminished. This rabid destruction of symbols has an uneasy likeness to past actions of the Soviet Union, Communist China and ISIS madmen. If these monuments are so offensive, let’s cover them with blue tarps and change plaques to celebrate inconstant loyalties. We can then take a deep breath, get serious and focus on the real problems plaguing citizens. Equal enforcement of current laws would be a good start.
Charles Spann
Smithfield

A peaceful solution

Editor, Smithfield Times
Some Americans would like to end our being involved in armed conflict in Afghanistan. Wars cost lives and lots of money. And wars make money for some. After wars are over, if they ever end, we then promote war through statues and memorials, which stand for those who took part. Some ask what are we seeking in Afghanistan since 911’s attackers have been eclipsed by ISIS in Syria an Iraq, the later being another conflict with questionable, if not disastrous, results. Number of people have characterized the initials of the CIA as meaning the Cocaine Importing Agency, and a basis, in a major way, for our being in Afghanistan. Cocaine is a field crop used to make heroin, which draws huge amounts of money for drug suppliers. In our southern states in the 1800s, slaves picked another field crop — cotton. The Civil War began in 1961. Some say it ended. Still others set forth Jim Crow measures. President Truman, on Sept. 26, 1948, abolished racial discrimination in the military. We, hopefully, can take more positive steps to end signs that, for some, may to to uphold a time when some had power over other humans by owning them. Between World War I and World War II there were signs that read: “No Dogs, No Mexicans, No Negros.” Since then, we have been doing better. Here in Isle of Wight, I call on this paper, The Smithfield Times, to express further steps we should undertake toward a peaceful means to portray our community and its values for all its citizens. David James
Smithfield

Journalism is dead

Editor, Smithfield Times
The level of hate and intolerance from the people who claim to be loving and tolerant is reaching epic proportions. We have alt-left whackos wearing helmets and masks inciting as much violence as the ones they claim are inciting violence, but the media only reports about the “white nationalists.” Meanwhile, we have liberals trying to tear down monuments in order to hide their own party’s legacy and history of hate and bigotry. Anyone who has studied history knows the Democratic Party’s history, starting in 1829 with the Trail of Tears, through the start of the Civil War, creation of the CSA, through the Democrat opposition to civil rights laws and the formation of the KKK. Republicans went to war with Democrats from 1861-1865 to stop slavery. It wasn’t a north vs. south thing: New York City was built by slaves. The State of Delaware was among the last holdouts for slavery. Of course, I could point out the many blacks in history who were slave owners. I could also point out the Indian tribes who owned slaves. But the media outlets will only tell you about white racists, and of course not tell you that the racists through history were Democrats, even though they were. Less than 1 percent of Democrats have ever joined the GOP, disproving the myth of the parties “swapping.” It is shameful how twisted and delusional the media is in modern times. Journalism is pretty much dead these days. I find it appalling that a piece of stone at the (Isle of Wight) courthouse is suddenly so offensive, even though it has sat there silently for 112 years. But then again, it’s all about rewriting history to keep up that narrative that the Democrat Party of hate and racism, isn’t hating and racist, even when they silence conservatives, call them hateful names, and threaten violence. Some of them shoot members of Congress or go on shooting sprees in schools. Ever since the left started removing God from society, our society has been in the toilet.
Dave Lyons
Chesapeake