King Day of Service preferred over inauguration
Monday is an important and special day in America’s history. It is the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Day of Service, long held in communities across the country.
I will be giving back to my community on this special day by doing volunteer work to honor King’s vision for a better America. What I will not be doing Monday is watching the inauguration of a man who personally fomented an attempted coup on Jan. 6, 2021, after rightfully and legally losing an election. Nothing he does Monday could ever erase the stain of what he did in 2021.
History will remember what he did — not what he says he did — and deal with him accordingly.
R.A. SMITH, ATHENS
Time to return to basic moral values, like honesty
I was raised to be honest and adhere to basic Christian principles. If we believe in one of those quotes from the bible, “the truth will set you free,” as I do, we are no longer a free society.
In the United States, we are repeatedly barraged with lies that, despite being debunked, are now being believed as truth. Now, social media has folded and will no longer fact-check. We are moving toward a government whose leaders will continue to plant false information while calling the media that perhaps fact-checks to challenge them as “false media.” If that doesn’t scare you, you need to speak with people from countries such as Russia or North Korea, where members of the media are arrested for publishing truth that makes the government look bad.
People wake up and go back to basic moral values, including one I hold dear to my heart: honesty. Fight this alarming trend so we can all be free.
SUSAN MCLAUGHLIN, HOSCHTON
Trump presidency reminiscent of 19th century
The Jan. 12 Patricia Murphy column confirmed a truth: “Trump is eager to raze house Carter built.” Jimmy Carter was our first “21st-century” president. Optimistically, Donald Trump will be our last “19th-century” president.
Carter’s policies, actions and priorities anticipated key issues and values for the 21st century. He promoted energy independence, conservation and renewable energy. He prioritized ethical leadership to counter the Soviet Union. He established lasting peace between Egypt and Israel. He advocated for health care reform and universal coverage before Obamacare. He appointed more women and minorities than previous administrations. His 44-year postpresidency of world-changing humanitarian service will never be equaled.
Trump’s first-term policies, actions and priorities, and those promised in his second term, suit a 19th century president like Andrew Jackson. Jackson was a populist but advocated for slavery and the “Trail of Tears.” Appointing only allies to government positions brought instability and corruption to Jackson’s government. Trump’s anti-immigrant stance and isolationism are 19th-century attitudes. Political divisions of that era led to the Civil War.
Let us hope that tilt toward the 19th century ends with Trump.
J.R. THOMSON, MARIETTA
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