Some may be uncomfortable reading my words today, but they need to be said. As a community, we need to take action. Last week I wrote about Barbara Johns of Farmville, Va., who organized a walkout at Moton High School on April 23, 1951.
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Cooking with Tammy Kelly: Valentine Day at home!
For those of you who prefer to stay home and cook a sweetheart meal for two, here are some simple but delicious recipes for you to give a try.
John Hood: Left Is damaging public education
“One of the most unhappy series of events in the state’s history began in 1835,” stated a textbook used in elementary schools across North Carolina. “As more and more white people came into their territory the Cherokee Indians had been driven further into the hills, but white settlers looked with greed on all their territory.”
Reece Gardner: It's all about love!
I plan to talk today about Valentine's Day, and I will do so, but first I want to open my Column with a huge salute to our Lenoir County Health Department for the superb job it is doing in administering the Covid-19 Vaccine to multitudes of people in our area and beyond.
Mike Parker: Farmville student a pioneer for Civil Rights
When I started researching the Adkin High School Walk-out of 1951, I heard about another student walk-out – one that occurred in Farmville. Since I had taught at Farmville Central High School in Pitt County, I assumed the walk-out occurred there. We all know what happens when we assume. I had missed the location by roughly 170 miles. That walk-out took place in Farmville, Va., in Prince Edward County.
Kristy Bock: The benevolent benefacting government
Poverty is a state of life that I have been intimately familiar with for the better part of my four decades on this planet. At first glance, Senator Mitt Romney’s Family Security Act sounds like a solution to elevate 5.1 million people out of poverty.
John Hood: Build on North Carolina’s strengths
When will North Carolina’s economy return to normal, or at least to a “new normal”? Unfortunately, that destination is many months away, if not years. Still, we’ll know we’re making progress when we can see the most damaging events of 2020 only in our rearview mirrors.
Reece Gardner: Trump accomplished a lot
With the constant barrage of Negative Reporting on Donald Trump, a casual observer might conclude that he accomplished very little during his 4 years as our President, but as newsman and political activist Mark Patricks pointed out last week, he accomplished a lot.
John Hood: Legislators should reclaim their power
Among the many reasons the political discourse in Washington has gotten so toxic, and at the same time so unproductive, is that the legislative branch of our federal government has allowed itself to become increasingly irrelevant.
Mike Parker: Remembering my teacher, mentor, and friend
On January 26 I received an email from Professor Michael Aceto of East Carolina’s Department of English. He wrote to let me know that Dr. McKay Sundwall passed away on January 20. McKay’s wife Marilyn wanted me to know. Dr. Sundwall was one of my English professors at East Carolina. I first met him when I audited a class in Medieval Literature as I was preparing for my oral comprehensive exams for my Master’s degree.
Reece Gardner: Lessons to be learned from 'Old Rivers'
I love that description of all of us proclaimed by Allen McIntosh that we are walking, talking, living breathing miracles, born in the Image of God, and bound for the Promised Land."
John Hood: Federal bailout will punish our state
Now that Democrats control the White House and both chambers of Congress (however narrowly), they will probably approve a new round of federal borrowing to bail out state and local governments with shaky finances. In other words, Washington will punish North Carolina and other prudently governed states by saddling us with the cost of other states’ mistakes.
Mike Parker: COVID has taken a serious toll on K-12 students
The wife of one of my former students wrote these words recently:
“I am not one to usually post things like this BUT having to sit here this morning and comfort my girl as I watch tears roll down her cheeks over virtual schooling is NOT okay… her exact words: ‘I just want to be back in school mommy, how long is this going to last?’
John Hood: COVID immunity Is too far off
As of January 18, North Carolina has received about a million doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Nearly 330,000 of those doses have been injected into the arms of North Carolinians. That may sound like a big number. But it’s not nearly big enough.
Reece Gardner: It's time to "Accentuate the Positive, Eliminate the Negative'"
It's time to "Accentuate the Positive, Eliminate the Negative'" and hopefully we are headed in that direction. I will briefly comment on some recent news on the political front, and then I want to recall the words from some beautiful old hymns about things that REALLY matter.
Mike Parker: Before we promote ‘social justice,’ shouldn’t we know what it is?
I was watching an NFL football game one recent evening, and one of the sports figures came on during a commercial to promote “social justice.” Social justice sounds like a laudable term, but just what does it mean?
Reece Gardner: Just what happened in D.C. on January 6?
“Would it really benefit Conservatives and the MAGA Movement to essentially threaten the Legislators inside who were seemingly heading toward a conclusion they were seeking? The answer has to be a resounding "No!" And the same people who called it a "Myth" when Antifa and others were actually burning, looting, and rioting all summer long, are now quick to denounce a mostly peaceful protest as violent, and to demand that President Trump resign immediately.”
John Hood: Trashed Capitol should revolt us all
Led into the building and encouraged by a cadre of alt-right provocateurs, the mob also produced priceless propaganda for the enemies of our country. “The celebration of democracy is over,” one Russian official wrote. “America no longer forges that path, and consequently has lost its right to define it. Much less force it on others.” A state-run Chinese newspaper headlined its coverage this way: “An iconic humiliation! The madness of the Capitol has dragged the U.S.’s standing into its Waterloo!”
Mike Parker: ‘Balanced debate for the Old North State’ ends 22-year run
On Christmas evening, a political program focused exclusively on North Carolina aired its last show. The show completed a 22-year run that day. The moderator, Tom Campbell, decided to retire, and with his retirement came the end of NC SPIN.
Kristy Bock: When words are the downfall of communication
Words have power, and the lack of personal accountability throughout social media has segregated humans into categories that are all-encompassing. The division forced readers and posters to assume sides instead of attempting to find a middle ground. If there are no repercussions for inflammatory or sensationalized media forums, blatant lies and half-truths will masquerade as fact that influences humans who believe what they read without independent verification.