Letters to the editor: 03/07/02

Rebel's fighting spirit should be preserved

To the Editor:

It is not, by any means a trivial subject, but one that should be approached with care and understanding. This is not to say that one's opinion is not important, but we must take into consideration how others feel about a possible change.

The Rebel Colonel in history was looked at as a formidable foe who led with a vengeance and lacked the word "surrender" in his vocabulary. The use of his image is meant merely to evoke the same passion and will to win that he may well have possessed, not his political or racial beliefs of his era.

History is full of changes, yet in this era of political correctness, we cannot forget history itself. I am a former alumni of Cullowhee High School, and with the consolidation of Cullowhee and Sylva-Webster, we kept a little of our identity and history intact by keeping our mascot at the elementary school.

I, for one, would like my six children to share the same mascot that my brothers and I endeared. To me it is a symbol of pride that, believe it or not, is and always will be a part of our history.

Our attitudes and views have all matured since the Civil War, so let us promote history and not be ashamed of our past, but be proud to know that we have come a long way since the war between the states, and that we will continue to grow as a nation.

By keeping the Rebel Colonel as our school mascot at CVS, we will be promoting his fighting spirit, not his ideals.

Respectfully,

Earl Middleton

Caney Fork

Steel Horse will benefit Sylva

To the Editor:

I can see why the people of Sylva would be upset about this because they think it will bring bad behavior into their quiet town and disrupt it. I believe that change is a good thing, and we need to accept something new into this town.

I am a student at Western Carolina University, and I have been living in this area for three years, and I believe that there is not much of a selection of restaurants or just places to hang out for college students. Sylva and Cullowhee survive on the students being here with their businesses and other activities.

I believe that most of this town is made up students and they need to accommodate us as best as possible. Granting Russell Lunn a permit was a very smart thing to do. It will bring more people to this town, and it will help other businesses as well.

The atmosphere of the Steel Horse Saloon is going to be family oriented, and it is going to feature such things as cookouts and Nascar parties on Sundays. The Steel Horse will be a motorcycle motif but not to attract cyclists or to be a motorcycle bar. It is going to be very low key and it will not be just a bar. It will sell food and be a restaurant with a family atmosphere.

I believe that the writer of this article didn't agree with the granting of the permit. The reporter brought a very negative aspect to the article. It seemed that she only brought up the negative comments from the community and nothing positive that anyone said. She seemed to leave out the people who agreed with the opening of the saloon.

The writer brought up factors such as the quiet hours and the theme of the place will bring in motorcyclists. The writer had a very negative tone, and you could tell that throughout the article that she disagreed with it. For example, the writer repeats several times throughout the article about how residents have a grave concern about this establishment and how many voiced oppositions to the "planned bar" during the meeting of granting the permit.

She also brings up how Russell Lunn claims that it is a family-oriented place, and how he claims that he will have many family-type activities; the writer says these comments as if she doesn't believe what Lunn is saying.

In conclusion, I believe that if we just give Russell a chance to show that he will succeed and his business will be very beneficial to the community, Sylva will grow as a city itself. This new business will benefit everyone in the community such as business owners and consumers. Other business owners from other areas will see how well a new business did in this area and will come and see what they can do. Sylva will grow as a community and as a city. Thank you very much for your time.

Sincerely,

Merriel Swenson

Cullowhee

Proud of McCord's effort

To the Editor:

In response to Annie McCord's letter of Feb. 7, I would like to thank her for her open mindedness and seeing through eyes of love.

This is a new millenium and I, too, would like to see our brothers and sisters of color be treated with respect and not reminded of slavery and segregation that our closed-minded ancestors would believe is appropriate.

I'm proud of you, Annie, for voicing your opinion. It gives me hope for our youth today. Keep trying to change things that are morally wrong even if you hit a wall every now and then. You'll make a difference!

Secondly, I was disappointed by the letter published on Feb. 21 from a person who would put Annie down as young and trivial. If the shoe were on the other foot, how would he feel if he was memorialized as a hillbilly mascot with a bottle of moonshine. Not a pretty picture!

Annie, you go girl!

Jo Kuhns

Cullowhee

McCord is inspiring, brave young lady

To the Editor:

I read with sadness a letter from Stephen Moore of Charlotte, who seems to think that Annie McCord's view of Cullowhee's mascot is "simple-minded."

I understand, as we all do, that there are people suffering and starving all over the world. I would like to suggest that Miss McCord is getting involved by using the tools accessible to her (i.e., pen, paper and publishing) to make a difference. Her difference is, however, for a much more grassroots change.

Living in these times when our world is indeed "fraught with wars continuously" (to use Mr. Moore's words), I am proud to see one young person understands that conflicts and war are based on cultural misunderstandings.

I believe that Miss McCord is making a move to show that the Cullowhee Rebel's image is not necessarily how her fellow students and community should be seen, just as, I believe (though I am not sure), Mr. Moore's life is not what movies, music videos and magazines portray to the also suffering and starving Afghan people. Now, is this indeed a "simple-minded" issue?

Whether or not the Cullowhee Rebel mascot stays is of little importance. This is a decision that the students and community will address. What is important is that Miss McCord continues to live with strength and integrity even in the face of nay-sayers.

I would like to say thank you to Miss McCord's parents and teachers for raising and inspiring this brave young lady. As a mother of young children, I find it heartwarming to see that parents are raising children with strength and integrity, teachers are teaching appropriate self-expression, and that young people are getting involved with their community in positive ways.

Sincerely,

Tamara Kelly

Webster

Moody should withdraw from county race

To the Editor:

Why not finish what you were elected to do, Mr. Maurice Moody?

On Nov. 6, 2001, the voters of Sylva elected Moody to represent us as a member of the Sylva Town Board. He pledged at that time that if elected he would provide honest leadership, dedicated to the future growth of Sylva. In his election ads he listed many goals, none of which has been completed.

Now, a short three months later, he is bailing out on the voters of the Sylva by announcing his intentions to run for a seat on the Jackson County Board of Commissioners.

Why don't you stick it out and complete the job you were elected to, Mr. Moody? Is the establishment of a county fairgrounds and horse park so important to you that you have to let down everyone who voted for you as a member of Sylva's Town Board? I know you stated publicly that you believed a fairgrounds and library were of equal importance.

You should withdraw your name from the primary for county commissioner and finish the job the voters of Sylva expected you to complete when they elected you to the Sylva Town Board. By doing so, you will restore the confidence of Sylva's voters and insure that the town board remains the way the voters of Sylva intended. If you get elected to the county board, it will change the town board's makeup as someone will have to be appointed to replace you, and they probably will be someone the voters did not want to elect.

Thank you,

Herb Zachmann

Sylva

County needs to preserve greenspace

To the Editor:

At the beginning of the last millennium, Ogden Nash catapulted to fame with the satirical spoof:

"I think that I shall never see, A billboard lovely as a treeŠ"

Now, in 2002, the Jackson County Board of Commissioner have to ask themselves this: "What is the best use of tax dollars to maintain and develop Jackson County?"

The primary object of the Sylva Garden Club is "to increase the knowledge and desire to preserve wild flora and fauna"; therefore, the mantra of these 25 taxpayers is: "Greenspace, Greenspace, Greenspace."

The most valuable asset of Jackson County is its location in the Appalachian chain of Mountains, as any Realtor, retiree looking for "Eden" or even a seasonal resident will tell you. We even sing,

"I love thy rocks and rills,

Thy woods and templed hillsŠ

in the second verse of 'America.'"

Yes, Mr. Nash, the trees and natural majesty of these hills give Jackson County is grandeur.

County commissioners, hear us now: Keep greenspace, keep greenspace, keep greenspace to counter the growing cement, glass and asphalt labyrinth of the 21st century.

Ruth E. Balch

President

Sylva Garden Club

Letters Welcome

Letters should be concise and to the point and absolutely no longer than two typed (double-spaced) pages. We will publish up to 15 letters a year from individual letter writers, but because of space limitations, we can publish no more than two letters from a given writer during any calendar month.

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The Sylva Herald reserves the right to reject or edit letters that are libelous or in poor taste; to edit all letters for length and grammar; and to refuse letters previously printed in other area newspapers. The Sylva Herald will not knowingly publish factually incorrect information.

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- Confusing or unclear points.

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- Poetry.

- Personal tributes, attacks or thank yous.

Letters may be sent via email to: news@thesylvaherald.com, dropped by the newspaper's Main Street office or mailed to P.O. Box 307, Sylva, N.C. 28779.

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