League positions

I’ve been a member of the League of Women Voters for years and they are impartial regardless of what you read in the paper. The League is in all 50 states. Our decisions are based on months of studies from various sources from within all the 50 states. The League delves into factual data from the states and then a national consensus is reached and a national stand is taken — on an issue and NOT for a politician.

We are still individual members and can still respectfully disagree with some of the consensus decisions. But the studies that are reviewed for consensus are as impartial as they get in this day and age — many coming from well known and respected groups and from universities. The league invites speakers to forums to enlighten our perspective on issues.

I have personally found that NPR (National Public Radio) is one of the most balanced stations of which to listen.

Unfortunately no group seems to be able to escape being vilified these days (including churches and religions). The League recently had a young man who was a Republican pollster speak to us. One of his very important messages was to not let anger lead us to our decisions. And that the more outrageous a statement, the more probable it is a lie. I could not agree with him more.

We are bombarded by these lies more than ever these days — on radio, television, the web, etc. And if you repeat a lie often enough, people will eventually believe it. Then those lies bring out the anger in us and often jealousy and fear. We are tearing down each other with outrageous statements. The purpose of our lives is to raise people up and not bring others down. Isn’t that what our religions teach us?

One last comment: Taxes are because the voters want services and therefore someone needs to pay for them. If the politician doesn’t provide the services, they get voted out. Yet if they add the service they are accused of raising taxes to pay for them. We seem to forget that we use our roads, schools, libraries, police, fire, ambulance services, building department, recreational services, parks, garbage collection, social security, Medicare, interstates etc. etc.

Politicians have been the most vilified, no matter what they do. Do you think private businesses would do these better? Corporations are out for profits. They have stockholders that want them to make money. So now we vilify making any money and often at the expense of the lowly single proprietor. There is no winning with this mentality.

Some things are better done by government and some are better done by private enterprise. We need to get our priorities straight in this country.

So when did we become so selfish/self-centered in this country? I don’t know the answer, but I certainly hope people do not vote in anger or out of jealousy or fear. None of those reasons is good for our country. By the way, the League is not just for women anymore. My husband is a member also.

Linda, and husband Joe, Cimadon

Murrells Inlet

Lifestyle choices

Why did we accept this lifestyle in Georgetown?

As a young girl growing up in the rural areas of Georgetown, we grew up with a certain lifestyle. We had a sheltered lifestyle until our parents separated. But, I was lucky. I got to live with my cousin and his family, so my lifestyle did not change very much except I was living in a different surrounding.

But my sister was sent to live in the city, which was totally different from what we were used to. When we were living together as a family we visited our cousins, from Daddy’s side of the family who lived in the city.

Well, my aunts worked at the Sunset Lodge as their maids. The thing about it is that the family saw no wrong in it, or I never heard them say. They seemed to accept this way of life. I can remember going for a visit and the chauffeur who drove a yellow wood panel station wagon would pick them up and return them back home later that afternoon.

{Sunset Lodge was a brothel south of the City of Georgetown.}

I never heard the churches criticize this way of life or the job they had or the Sunset Lodge itself. I wonder if they did not see the ugliness in the operation of such a place in Georgetown. I was taught when something is wrong it is the same way for everybody. But we overlooked what we want and crucified what we want.

Mary Julia S. Sargent

Georgetown

Thank you Pavilion Reunion sponsors

On behalf of Habitat for Humanity Georgetown County, I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all of the generous sponsors for their support of the Pawleys Pavilion Reunion, 2012. Your role was vital to the success of the event and an essential part of the construction of a safe, affordable home for Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Simmons and their three little boys

While every sponsor's donations are deeply appreciated, Habitat would like to recognize our Platinum Sponsors Wells Fargo and WPDE News Channel 15 who solidified their philanthropic stand in the community. We celebrate the continued support of Easy 100.7 and 105.9, Movin' 94.5, Better Brands, and Anderson Insurance Associates, LLC as our Gold Sponsors. Habitat for Humanity Georgetown County is blessed to have received both monetary and in-kind sponsorships for this event.

Every sponsor of the Pawleys Pavilion Reunion, 2012, has helped build a home without lifting a hammer! Thank you for supporting the mission of Habitat for Humanity Georgetown County and helping to build a stronger community for God's people in need. For a complete list of all our generous and dedicated sponsors please visit www.Habitatgeorgetown.com. Thank you so very, very much!

Annette Perreault

Executive Director

Habitat for Humanity Georgetown County

Georgetown