Teens 16 and 17 can register early
Dear Sir:
Often, I hear people — young and old — complain about the way things are going in the Untied States and our Commonwealth. I hear talk about inflation, national security, equal housing opportunity, and international and local affairs.
When I see that we have between 50-60% of registered voters cast a ballot, I get concerned that some may not be willing to put in the effort. Let’s get some more voters on the registered list to ensure we are governed with proper representation.
Our State Constitution gives any citizen of the Commonwealth who meets certain criteria (qualified) to register and to vote in federal, state and local elections.
As a matter of fact, in Virginia, even 16 and 17-year-olds can “pre-register” to vote! 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the next election (November) can register NOW; a new law effective October 2022 allows the local Registrar to take applications from 16-year-olds and hold them inactive until that person’s 18th birthday, at which time they become active voters.
Spread the word to those younger people who will have to live in a future world; let them know they can have a say in how they are governed. Thomas R. Reynolds West Courthouse Road Crewe
Come on, folks, be better
Dear Sir:
Reading the opinion column of the Courier-Record every week has become quite an amusing pastime.
Many writers have made it a habit to throw every trigger word possible into a hat and draw them out to fill-in the blanks like “Mad Libs.”
People use words without understanding their meaning; yet the authors would much rather get an emotional response than produce any comprehensible argument.
For instance, the acronym “CRT” doesn’t mean that white people are bad. The Critical Race Theory, which has been around for 40 years, is the study of laws and social institutions that discriminated against people of color.
Researchers look into matters like why veterans of color experienced higher mortgage rejections than white veterans after WWII. Why? One word: redlining.
Redlining prevented people of color from moving-in to white suburbs.
That is CRT. It’s history.
We should study and learn from it — not ‘cancel’ it. Isn’t that the rallying cry when discussing Confederate statues?
Yet, the elite have told their subjects it’s a bad thing being fed to children like tainted Halloween candy. They believe them.
Come on. Stop being an echo chamber. Learn to think and thoroughly research things for yourselves from reliable resources. Don’t become an amusing pastime. Joseph Hammonds Lynchburg Formerly of Blackstone
Doesn’t end well
Dear Sir:
When corrupt politicians start going to jail, we can start trusting the government again.
And no matter how you feel about guns, you should educate yourself on the tragic history of disarmed populations. Sam Mordan Jetersville
Dialogue and listening are key
Dear Sir:
We want to discuss Juneteenth, Sons of the Confederacy, melanated and non-melanated skin in the context of racial tensions, and finding a way to peace in our community.
Juneteenth is a celebration commemorating the arrival of news of the abolition of slavery in Texas, which is a fitting recognition of the Melanated- Americans’ sacrifices in their fight for freedom. It is an important day that symbolizes freedom.
However, even after so many years of racial tension, the Sons of the Confederacy exists, which reflects the continued presence of the racism and white supremacy that was once the horror of the Confederacy. Their presence threatens the community by promoting hate towards anyone who doesn’t identify as white. In addition, this existence allows for racial tensions between people with melanated skin and nonmelanated skin.
The solution to stop this racism and to promote peace in the community is through empathic listening and open dialogue. It is essential to have conversations that bring people of different perspectives and backgrounds together to promote cultural diversity and understanding. Additionally, it would be helpful if you encourage anti-racism policies, recognize and respect the contributions of melanated individuals in American history, and foster an environment welcoming all.
In conclusion, I hope this information has been informative and enlightening, leading to a better understanding of the historical context around Juneteenth and the racial tensions present in our community. We want to learn more about the Sons of the Confederacy and how they positively impact our community. Renee and Thomas Harris Tavern Street Blackstone
Justice or ‘just us?’
Dear Sir:
It’s a shame what we are witnessing in 2023 – discriminatory prejudice and unjust and unfair treatment of certain individuals in a country that’s supposed to model equality, freedom, democracy, and “innocent until proven guilty.”
Bias in the judicial system is truly undeniable at this point; the fact that this country has traded old Jim Crow laws for modern-day Jim Crow laws is puzzling and downright sickening.
The judicial system is maliciously prosecuting certain individuals based on race, background, and prejudgment. We’re actually witnessing what is evil called “good,” and what’s actually good we are calling “evil,” and our leaders and reps are dropping the ball continuously on the matters at hand: integrity, humility, honor, respect, and liberty.
What happened to those fundamental principles on which we were supposed to be basing this country as a whole?
And don’t get us started on these small counties/ plantations, where the courts think they can obstruct the law or turn a blind eye to the law at will, or find you guilty because of their own personal dislike for you.
So we ask the public: is this justice or “just us?”
Let the people decide. Lionell Hardy & Shaquan Hardy Green Bay and Blackstone
Sons oppose racism, bigotry
Dear Sir:
The Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) are strictly patriotic, historical, educational, fraternal, benevolent, non-political, non-racial, and non-sectarian. The SCV neither embraces nor espouses acts or ideologies of racial and religious bigotry and, further, condemns the misuse of its sacred symbols and flags in the conduct of same.
The SCV state convention in Blackstone will equate to a minimum of $250,000 positive economic impact for the Town of Blackstone. The convention organizer says $10,000 to $12,000 alone was spent on hotel rents and catering. Additionally, approximately 45 to 50 rooms were rented, many for two nights ($335 for two nights).
A low-end estimate suggests $21,306.25 was expended at that single location. That does not include monies spent by the 165 attendees (to include one-day visitors) in Blackstone restaurants, gas stations, and shops. Nor does that include the dollar store runs for little things individuals traveling often forget to pack.
For the sake of argument, let’s assume the SCV members and their families spent at least $3,694 in the local community. (Likely more, but let’s keep it simple.) That brings the total to $25,000.
The ballpark tourism formula is that one dollar of new money introduced into a community will change hands in that community between eight and 15 times. Multiply that by what was spent. That result is the economic impact of tourism.
In many talks on the topic, I use the value of 10 to keep it easy. That suggests the SCV convention has had an economic impact of one-quarter of a million dollars on the Town of Blackstone. That money goes into the pockets of local businesses, employees, and the Town tax base. In short, over time, the Town gains from these conventioneers.
There are an estimated 65 million Americans of Confederate ancestry. You don’t have to like them, but you do have to tolerate them. They, too, have rights and a diverse southern culture that should be tolerated just as we tolerate others.
Many have expendable income and put money into the community. Do you really want to say, ‘Don’t shop here?’ Greg Eanes Crewe
P. S. FYI: The SCV was identified as “probably the nicest, and most courteous group who had ever been there.”
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