AMERICUS — Will no longer be silent

Listening and watching others have always been traits of mine. As a teacher, studying people helps me to understand how they function in daily activities and why they react in certain situations. Right now after listening and watching the BOE and its recent actions, I feel like our whole community is in an upheaval. This mayhem with the BOE has laid many items on my heart. God has been pushing me to be a speaker now and not just an ear for listening.

Here are the items on my heart:

1. Everyone needs to remember the MAIN reason we have an education system ... our children! If they are not first on your list, step down or step aside.

2. Don't try to fix something that's not broken, however, there's always room for improvement.

3. Stop listening, reading, and believing others who try to act as if they aren't starting conflict and have the best interests of only one group in mind.

Among these issues, I decided to read another local newspaper last week to help better comprehend the issues about race growing in our community. Never in my life, have I read some of the most demeaning articles written especially those by Christian writers. I'm not saying that other local papers are perfect either, but I've read each and others didn't come close to this type of prejudice. How can pastors, churches, and others support such media when they are obviously for the betterment of one group and one race only? Aren't we who are saved called to be the body of Christ? Shouldn't we join along with our brothers and sisters as the body of Christ? How can we do this when excuses are being made for actions taken when color and race are at the heart of it and not for what's truly important? Don't say they are not when it is apparent after hearing some intolerant leaders speak. How can we as a community move forward and leave the days of unfairness behind when others are unmistakably not letting go of the past?

When Civil Rights were fought for, it was not meant in this manner. Our community should look at the BOE members and not judge them by their race, but for their actions. It should not matter what race has the majority. As adults, we should practice what we preach! I want my children to grow up in an environment of diversity and acceptance. I want their teachers, like myself, to look into their classrooms and not judge children by the color of their skin. I have the mindset of embracing everyone because I truly care about them. If I did not, I would not teach in this system where I see hope and positive things happening daily. I could never take a stand for one child without standing for them all.

I encourage our community and YOU to come together to fight for the future of the Sumter County Schools, the betterment of our community, and what's truly right. Color should not matter.

Our superintendent has done an amazing job with the financial constraints and decisions he has made that have drastically improved our system. Now, he is the next one on the ousted list for the BOE. I will continue to support him. I will continue to support those whose actions display an example of true compassion for our children. I will speak up against those who decide to be puppets of special interests groups and have personal conflict of interests that will have dire, destructive effects. We are all God's children and looking at the color of skin as a barrier or crutch must stop.

I choose to no longer be silent.

Cadie Dukes

Americus



Don’t place blame

My heart goes out to the pet owner who lost her baby then to have it come home only to have to put her down. l am sadden for your loss , to those that want to point a finger at her and place the blame on her because her dog wandered into a wooded area and was shot heres a thought for you. have you ever had a dog and lived in the country you can not keep them in the yard unless you have a fence or electric collar the dog or dogs are gonna run and play. I am not looking to point a finger at the hunter who shot the dog or buried it only to say you are supposed to be sure what you are shooting before you fire, small dog could have been a child playing in the woods or for that matter cattle that was out of its corral again this is not to point a finger at anyone, just to say mistakes were made that day and people are now suffering. people should not blame her or the hunter just learn from mistakes made.

Tony Smith

Americus



Death is not the end for the saved

I’m writing this letter to all who have lost loved ones. It may be family or a close friend, we still hate to see them go. It may be a co-worker or just someone we have grown close to. But just remember, they are in a place where there are no wheel-chairs, no walkers, no sickness or pain. It is nothing to mourn the loss of a loved one, just think, one day we will be together again. We all have many good memories and just think: “Memories are a gift of God that death cannot destroy.

Each day we live, we are one day closer to our life’s end on this old earth. It could be a day, it could be years. No one knows but God, so we need to get ready. You wont have to pack and you wont have to go to the bank. You brought nothing with you when younwhen you came into this world and you will not carry any thing with you. I just hope that we can all leave some good memories. The only preperations you have to make are to ask Christ into your life.

Please join me on Heave’s Shores.

James L. Wiggins

Americus