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Why honor Vance with ‘stark’ monument in downtown Asheville?
As a Constitutional law and civil rights attorney (and Civil War buff) from another part of the country, I found it quite interesting and informative on a recent visit to the lovely Asheville area to read about the dispute over the 124 year-old Vance Monument in Pack Square (Daily Planet, “Vance was ‘noteworthy’,” June 8-21).
While not intimately familiar with the principal legal issue now before the state Supreme Court, the applicability of the state Monument Protection Act to counties and municipalities that would restrict the completion of the removal of the remaining base of the statute, I was struck by the comments of the attorney for the local group supporting the structure, H. Edward Phillips III.
While his (Phillips’) elaboration about the vocal and forward-thinking (opposing) anti-Semitic stance of the monument’s honoree, former Confederate officer and Governor Zebulon Vance, was thoughtful, some of his other advocacy missed the mark.
(Incidentally, in referencing George Washington’s letter to a Jewish congregation supporting religious freedom, he erroneously described the recipient as in New York City, which had few Jews at the time, rather than the correct one in Newport, Rhode Island, where the new nation’s first Jewish worship facility was located.)
That understandable mistake aside, Phillips recognized that the Vance contretemps centers around a “moral” issue, but he then seems insensitive to the morality of maintaining the structure honoring a slaveholder, defender of that peculiar institution, and an enabler of it.
Notwithstanding Vance’s achievements, paying homage this way to the Weaverville native is an affront to the many men and women who endured slavery, their descendants and the populace as a whole.
There are different and better ways to recognize his role in history and his heritage and that of others, of all races, without keeping a stark visual reminder of that ignominious past on display downtown here.There is nothing “moral” about that.
MARSHALL H. TANICK
Minneapolis, Minn.
Is Kim Roney a credible Asheville businesswoman?
I’ve noticed a flaw with (Kim) Roney. She claims to be a “small business owner”?
But her occupation is just teaching piano to children.
No doubt that looks great for improving her credibility as a candidate for mayor.
But that’s the equivalent to running a lemonade stand, when it comes to actual responsibility and leadership on a governmental level.
Maybe the skinny black jeans-wearing socialist crowd in West Asheville will be able to see signal from noise come election day: But I doubt they care.
JOHN COONAN
Asheville
Remembering the passing of big band vocalist Harry Prime
Harry Prime was a popular singer during the big band era in the 1940s and 1950s.
He was born in East Falls, Penn., and was the featured vocalist for the orchestras of Randy Brooks, Tommy Dorsey and Ralph Flanagan.
The Dorsey band had a number-one hit with “Until,” but Harry recorded many songs with Ralph Flanagan for RCA Victor.
Most notable are “Just One More Chance,” “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning,” “Nevertheless,” “You’re Breaking My Heart” and “Dear Hearts and Gentle People.”
His good friend, jazz/pop singer Peggy King, shared vocal honors wth Harry while with Flanagan.
We became friends (via telephone) over many years and this is my way of thanking Harry for providing me and his fans many hours of beautifully sung standards that are still with us today.
Although he left us on June 15, 2017 at age 97, Harry Prime is very much a part of the Great American Songbook.
HERB STARK
Mooresville
Historical change touted with Mexican-born GOP winner in the Rio Grande area
Right now, Mayra Flores made history in the Rio Grande area that, for over 100 years, was controlled by Democrats.
Flores was just reported the Republican winner in the Rio Grande and is a nurse practitioner, wife to a border patrol agent and the area’s chosen favorite.
It speaks volumes to the community from a person that not only knowledgeable by participating in the vital health sector, but also that her husband understands our border issues because he lives it — day by day — on his job, versus politicians that have ignored our borders for 18 months.
TheCenterSquare.com on June 14 reported in its headline, “Flores first Mexican-born Republican to win congressional race in Rio Grande Valley since Reconstruction.”
In the website’s report, Mayra Flores was quoted as saying:
"This historic win will bring back God to the halls of Congress,” Flores said after her win. “This win is for the people who were ignored for so long! This is a message that the establishment will no longer be tolerated! We have officially started the red wave!!”
As further noted by the story in TheCenterSquare.com: “Wife to a Border Patrol agent, her pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, and pro-law enforcement platform prioritizes border security and legal immigration.”
Politico reported June 15 the following:
“Flores immigrated from Tamaulipas, Mexico, when she was six years old and grew up in the Rio Grande Valley region. In addition to working as a respiratory care practitioner, Flores served as the Hidalgo County GOP Hispanic Outreach chair to increase and maintain Republican support among Latinos in the area — which has been ramping up in recent years.”
E &E Daily News quoted Flores: “It is time that we bring the policies that were working. It cannot be that we accept what is happening in our country right now,” she told supporters following her win.
"And it’s not about politics. This is hurting real people,” Flores said. “The policies that are being placed right now are hurting us. We cannot accept the increase of gas, of food, of medication. We cannot accept that.”
She added, “And we have to state the facts: that under President Trump, we did not have this mess in this country. It was his policies that helped us prosper.”
Panic is reportedly spreading into Democrat districts in the interior in Texas scrambling to circumvent more losses.
Shouldn’t Democrats have seen this coming?
People notice when our borders are neglected, when the economy is bad as food prices soar same as with rent and gas effecting everyone.
A separate story by Politico was headlined, “Latino Democrats vent their fury after foreboding special election loss in Texas added.”
Further, the Politico story reported: “‘I hope the DCCC learns their lesson with this before it happens across the country,’ said Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, who due to redistricting will face GOP Rep.-elect Mayra Flores this fall in a redrawn district.
“‘They have just forgotten about the brown people on the border,’ Gonzalez continued. ‘And that’s basically what it is. I’m not going to try to sugarcoat it anymore. They are taking Latinos in South Texas for granted.’”
History was made and congratulations to Mayra Flores!
She appears very knowledgeable and focused on the dire issues in her community and focused on working on these critical issues!
KRISTEN BURNS-WARREN
Cecil community/Haywood County
You know I have friends ... the Easter Bunny!
You know, I have friends, and often my friends ask me the question:
“Who do you think is running the White House… the country?”
In my pride, I think I know the answer to that question, and I smile big, extend my chest outward (as best I can), and answer, “Why, Joe Biden, of course!”
I should have written this piece in April. The timing is late. I apologize it is about four weeks late; but my excuse is ... I don’t have to write — until the muse hits me.
Anyhow, when I answer that question, it seems that people want to laugh at me, like I’m some sort of cretin. Like they have some sort of mysterious answer (knowledge) that I don’t have. It is as if I am dumb and dumber.
Well, thanks to a video titled “President Joe Biden Versus the Easter Bunny: The White House Egg Roll” (April 18, 2022), I now know who is running the White House and, by extension, the country — and it “ain’t” who I thought it was.
When watching the video, Joe Biden walks away from his wife Jill, walks away from the Easter Bunny (escapes from the Easter Bunny ... would be more accurate), and walks over to a white fence and begins a conversation with reporters and guests.
The Easter Bunny, when he realizes Joe isn’t with him, walks back to Joe and extends his arm out in front of Joe and attempts to disengage Joe from his conversation and move him (Joe) away from the fence.
When that doesn’t work, the Easter Bunny, in my opinion, rudely steps between Joe and the person he is talking to and tries to usher him away from the fence.
When that doesn’t work, the Easter Bunny steps directly in front of Joe and begins violently waving his raised (the Easter Bunny’s) arms, getting Joe’s attention and almost “forcefully” moving him away from the fence.
I can imagine what would have happened to me if I had stepped in front of my boss, interrupting his conversation, and waving my arms to get his attention.
I think the rest of us — working people — know what would happen.
If my commander didn’t knock me out right there, the next day I would probably be unemployed.
If not that, I’d be docked in pay — or given three days off without pay, or both.
Anyhow, it is what one might term, with my B.S. degree in business administration, a workplace faux pas.
That is elitist for: “You f***ed up, Roger.”
No that is not pronounced “fox pause,” like something you would see in the middle of the trail — along the Blue Ridge Parkway — that is round, black, elongated, with hair in it.
My conclusions are that if the Easter Bunny can get away with that, then the Easter Bunny must be the most important.
The Easter Bunny must rank higher in the hierarchy than Joe Biden. The Easter Bunny must have the most… power.
It’s all there to see, with a five-minute internet search, you can see it for yourself, if you don’t believe me.
The important thing for my snickering friends is that I now know who is running the White House and, by extension, the country, and it “ain’t” Joe Biden. It is the Easter Bunny.
That explains why in spring and summer 2020, I could buy a dozen eggs for 69 to 78 cents at Ingles ... and now they cost $2.95 a dozen. I’ve got the receipts.
It is because the Easter Bunny is running the country. I bet he has the launch codes for the nuclear missiles, also. It’s no wonder Russia is on alert. (Y’all thought you had me, didn’t you?)
ROGER BUCKNER
Asheville
Door control? It’s falderal; time to ‘thin the (GOP) herd’
“You don’t need no gun control, you know what you need? We need some bullet control… I think all bullets should cost five thousand dollars… five thousand dollars per bullet… You know why? Cause if a bullet cost five thousand dollars, there would be no more innocent bystanders.”
— Chris Rock
Neither the NRA nor the GOP care about the American public at all.
Regular incidents of mass murder by pro-Trump misogynists and right-wing Republican racists have become commonplace in the United States — and the ridiculous Republican Party continues to insist that passing laws to protect the American people from weapons of war and domestic terrorism isn’t worth their time or effort.
Those Russia-loving traitors would much rather play golf or get freaky at cocaine-fueled orgies, according to the soon-to-be former Congressman Madison Cawthorn (R-NC).
Poor Madison, he finally told the truth about something — GOP cocaine orgies — and his own panicked political party took him out of office in a primary election in order to shut him up.
The GOP greedy old perverts don’t want gun control. They don’t even want bullet control. Republican “leaders” want door control! (No wonder demonic dimwit Donald Trump lost in a landslide to President Joe Biden.)
Sure, turning every single public building in America into a deadly firetrap with only one way in and out sounds like another brilliant “conservative” idea, courtesy of Texas’ biggest embarrassment, Cancun Ted Cruz.
On the other hand, here’s my idea that’s actually sure to make America safer — fewer Republican officeholders! To borrow an often-used firearms-related phrase from gun-hugging hunters, isn’t it about time that we the people “thin the herd” of do-nothing, know-nothing, gun nut NRA Republican stooges?
It’s “open season” on Republican politicians, folks! (Yes, liberals can use firearms-related political metaphors as well, and turnabout is fair play after all.)
November 8, 2022 is the date of this year’s general election.
Vote like your life depends upon it, people, because it very well may, considering how deranged, fascist and bloodthirsty the average Trumptard is. The NRA are Nazis!
Make sure to send an unmistakeable message this November 8th by defeating the corrupt conservative bribe takers who are awash in blood money from the NRA (also now known as the National Russian Association).
The Republican Party is completely worthless, and the Russian-funded NRA is pure evil. Not to mention the entire gun lobby itself, which is controlled by authoritarian, Confederate flag-waving, swastika-sucking sociopaths.
Das vadanya, crackpot conservative comrades. Putin pidor, and get your treasonous Republican hands off of the schoolhouse doors.
Ban assault weapons!
And send every last crooked conservative Republican criminal to their political demise!
R.I.P., Republican Party. We’ll pray for you.
“Thoughts and prayers” are headed your way.
“Duck and cover” before they get there.
JAKE PICKERING
Arcata, Calif.
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