Mr. Harborwalk

We all lost a little bit of Georgetown last week … those who have now or have had in the past a business on Front Street, have lost a true supporter and special person.

Alton Cox was always happy … Always whistling, and always so proud to be part of any event, whether it was the Harborwalk Festival, the Jingle Walk, or the Christmas parade. He so looked forward to all that centered around his beloved Front Street.

We will all miss his happy-go-lucky demeanor, and bright outlook upon life. He was definitely a gift.

Anne Hartis

Georgetown

Different viewpoints

Tank and Jeep came up to me the other day, very confused. They asked how can you figure out what to believe with all the different viewpoints being expressed on the different issues?

I told them that you have listen to all different ideas, not just the ones that you believe. You then have to think about the ideas, decide with common sense, do some research, and be willing to change your viewpoint to what seems to be best. You also have to think about the motivations and truth of the individual or group telling you their ideas.

Many people will give half truths or try to scare you into believing certain things. Good ideas do not need gimmicks to get adopted.

I told them about a robo call I got one day from the NRA. The recorded voice on the phone was saying that foreign nationals were coming onto our U.S. soil to take our weapons. Of course, my first reaction hearing this was to look outside to see if we were being invaded. But as the phone call went on, it told me to contact my senators and representatives to get the foreigners off our soil. I then realized what they were saying. They did not lie, but what they were reporting was a meeting at the United Nations in New York.

If people from different countries want to talk about making a more peaceful world, why can’t there be talk of weapons reduction? Because they talk, it does not make us give up anything of ours unless we agree to it. When someone chooses to use a scare tactic like that phone call, I get suspicious of their group or their ideas. If you feel strongly about your ideas, you should not have to use scare tactics.

I told Tank and Jeep that there are many leaders in our government that try to mislead people with things that are not true. Colin Powell used a very good example the other day. He called on Republican leaders that know the “Birther” issue is wrong to speak up and stop the false rumor. I saw on TV a newscaster asked House Speaker Boehner about the issue. Boehner said it was false. When asked why he doesn’t speak up, he said he doesn’t want to tell other people how to think. Of course, he will tell you how to think that the Republican ideas in government are right, but he does not want to stop a lie. The votes of the people that make their choice on a lie and ignorance are more important to him that the truth.

Another thing I told Tank and Jeep is to look at the reason people want to make changes. For instance, this past election was marked with a nation-wide effort by the Republicans to have voter ID. Some Republicans were truthful why it came up, when it passed in some states. They said now we can win the election. However, that proved to be wrong and the Republicans lost.

Now we are seeing discussion of perhaps changing how the votes of the Electoral College are distributed. They think they can win the election this way. You have to think, Tank and Jeep, if you have to change how we run elections to get the ideas approved, are the ideas really that good?

A good idea should be able to stand on its own merits and not be sneaked through by changing the rules.

So you see, Tank and Jeep, good legislation comes from listening, thinking, and compromise. It appears that it might be starting. The talk from both sides on immigration reform looks promising.

Edward Morgan

Tank and Jeep

Pawleys Island

Opinions that appear on this page in Letters to the Editor or in columns do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.