Op-Ed
Tragedy of errors damages politics
It began with flubs. It ended in fury. And it made North Carolina politics even more rancorous and destructive. I’m referring, of course, to a 55-9 vote in the House last week to override Gov. […]
Opinion
Op-Ed
Invasion of the crickets
I was just about to drift off to dreamland lying in my double bed at the far end of my single-wide trailer, when I heard the familiar sound of a cricket. I assumed it was […]
Op-Ed
NAACP: the conscience of the nation
One could argue that black Americans’ struggle for justice in America is as old as the nation itself, and this may help explain why one of the goals of our national government is to create […]
Op-Ed
Do you remember the Preamble?
Okay, let’s see if you remember it. It’s the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. Sometime around middle school you were supposed to memorize it. If you are like me, you will probably do about as […]
Op-Ed
Big dilemmas for both parties in NC
This week’s special congressional races in North Carolina show that both Republicans and Democrats face big dilemmas in 2020. The difference is that Democrats have a choice about what to do, but Republicans don’t. The […]
Op-Ed
Special election offers 3 lessons
When all was said and done, North Carolina’s special congressional elections this year proved not to be particularly special. Republican state Rep. Greg Murphy easily defeated Democrat Allen Thomas, the former mayor of Greenville, in […]
Op-Ed
Reform should accompany new districts
I remember when the inherent boredom of redistricting was a laugh line. During a Season Four episode of the animated series “The Simpsons,” for example, Homer turns on the TV one Sunday morning in search […]
Op-Ed
Grateful in the wake of deadly Dorian
Dorian is gone, and we feel fortunate. Outside some downed trees, scattered leaves, dark homes and obstructed roadways, the damage was next to nil. With the kind of hype that rightfully comes with a deadly […]
Op-Ed
Notes from a yellow legal pad
I once heard a Sunday School teacher say that a short pencil is always better than a long memory. In other words, write it down. And I know it’s especially true for me, because I […]
Op-Ed
Helping rural faith communities
Churches are, and always have been, the backbone of rural North Carolina. Places of hope, fellowship, spiritual comfort, they are also often heartbeats of a community, providing food, clothing and other direct aid to their […]
Op-Ed
Be cautious and stay alert during Dorian
With Dorian set to hit Sampson, remember to stay safe. If you can, stay home and keep dry. Most residents won’t have a choice come Thursday when curfews are enacted across Sampson County and its […]
Op-Ed
Trespassing on nature
Throughout most of our history, humanity has been savaged by disease and bouts of famine. We live in an idyllic world that mostly developed only within the past century. Some of us have parents who […]