Opinion

To the editor: With our nation in the midst of its worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, Congress must be willing to take bold and decisive action to spur a housing and economic recovery.

Unless we are able to halt the slide in home prices, the nation’s housing and economic woes will continue to grow even worse. This is why a robust housing component must be an integral part of the new economic stimulus package under consideration by the incoming Obama administration and new Congress.

To the editor: The other day, I attended a meeting at the museum that included our superintendent of schools, school principals and administrators.

The topics presented were most varied and absolutely current for the economic conditions of today: the role of schools in our county and the problems confronting our school system now and in the future.

Of note to me was the excellent presentation of an ongoing program to reduce the rate of high school dropouts and buck this national trend. Brunswick County wants no part of that.

To the editor: Regardless of one’s political affiliation, I think we can all agree our nation is facing a severe economic crisis. Pointing fingers and laying blame will accomplish little.

Finding solutions to ease the pain of people should be our government’s first concern.

To the editor: While driving through Shallotte a few days ago, I noticed a strange message on the marquee of a local restaurant.

It read: “It’s called CHRISTmas.”

Strange, because many other establishments have no qualms about celebrating the Holy Day; however, to avoid offending anyone, they attempt to be politically correct and omit Jesus.

No thought is given about offending Christians who know Jesus is the reason for the very existence of Christmas.

It’s always great to hear of billionaires donating money and resources to organizations, especially children’s charities, but to me, it means more when you hear of hard-working, everyday people going the extra mile to make a contribution or donation simply because they want to, not because they have an extra million or two laying around and send out press releases announcing their good deeds to the world.

To the editor: Shallotte lost another of our town forefathers last month.

Those of you who have been here for a long time remember Dykes Tires as Shady Park Esso, which opened around 1940.

You remember Dykes checking your tires, looking under the hood, chit-chatting while he filled up your tank, never seeming to be in a hurry for you to leave.

Since we’re knocking on 2009’s door, this is the time of the year when, among everything else, we’re inundated with the “best-ofs” and the “year-in-reviews” and all other shows, programs, stories and broadcasts remembering all things great in 2008.

I watched one such show last week, and I think that’ll be enough to last me for at least another year.

I found it mind-numbingly predictable, and I’m willing to bet all the rest will be equally unsurprising.

To the editor: I would like to know who thought up the turnaround on U.S. 17 and Ocean Isle Beach Road?

Instead of putting up a traffic light, which would have been safer for drivers, now they have you crossing three lanes to make a U-turn to go south on U.S. 17.

I feel this must have been a first-grade project. I don’t think an adult would have thought of something like this turnaround. It is backing up traffic on Ocean Isle Beach Road, which we never had before this turnaround was put in.

To the editor: A mother sat next to the fireplace lost in thought. Three years ago that day, her oldest child left and never returned home.

A year later, her other child, next to the oldest, joined his brother in heaven. Her sadness echoed through the house. She did what all mothers do when they are hurting—she called her mother.

“Please pray for God to comfort me. I just feel so broken. I know that he has reassured me over and over that the children are with him, but I am sure that he understands the heart of a mother.”