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Voters are reaching for the willow branch

Walter Patterson Herald ColumnistWalter Patterson Herald ColumnistJay Carney, the inept press secretary for President Obama, took a dig at Sarah Palin last week.  
He implied that she was stupid, ill-informed, bucolic, and lacking in experience. Now one has to laugh at this because his boss, Obama, is the most inexperienced politician in the history of this country.  Carney spouts the liberal lines every chance he gets.  But this is to be expected.  When he worked as a political reporter, he spouted the same liberal lines.  
I had a very good friend of mine who was very intelligent and erudite.  I once asked him why he didn’t get into politics.  His answer shocked me.
“I was ruined for politics by my mom and dad.”  This seemed like a strange answer, so I probed further.  “My mom and dad instilled in me a code of ethics. Every time I’m tempted to do something untoward, I can hear my mom or dad explaining to me why I shouldn’t do it.  They’ve been dead for many years, yet I can still hear them saying, “If you lie, you’ll eventually have to tell another lie to cover it up.  If you steal, you’ll eventually get caught.  If you treat people without respect, you will get disrespect in return.  You can’t fool all the people all the time.  Go to church and listen to what the preacher says.  You will learn something every time you go.”
As he talked, I could hear my own mom and dad giving me the same sermon.  I, also, remembered some times when my brother and I got into trouble.
I think my dad hated a lie the most.  He spanked me four times when I was growing up, and the one I remember most is the time I lied about hoeing the watermelons.
We had a huge watermelon patch, and before dad left for work, he informed Buddy and me that he wanted the watermelons hoed. The grass was growing pretty fast, and unless we took a hoe and chopped out the grass, weeds would eventually take over the entire watermelon patch.  After breakfast, Buddy and I grabbed our hoes and headed for the patch. It was warm and the birds were chirping.  The air was moist and clean, and it was just wonderful to be alive.
About the time we reached the first row of melons, Buddy had a brilliant suggestion.  I must admit that little brother was the clever one in the family, so I often listened to what he had to say.  “Before we hoe the garden,” he began, “let’s go for a swim.”
So we dropped our hoes and headed for the pond.  We jumped in and swam all the way to the opposite bank. When we climbed out of the pond, we heard voices coming from a pond about a quarter of a mile away.  The voices belonged to Edward and W. A. Collins.  We joined up, and spent the rest of the day swimming and in general goofing off.
Before long, the sun began to sink in the west and Buddy and I soon realized that dad would be home soon. We hurried home just in time to see his car drive up.  “Boys, did you finish hoeing the watermelons?” were the first words out of his mouth.
Thinking that he would not go to the field and inspect I replied, "Yes, sir."  We did.”
Bad mistake. He stopped by a willow tree and cut the switch.  
As many of you know, willow limbs bend, but they don’t break.  I quickly discovered that my back side could not endure what dad was dishing out, so I resolved at that moment never to tell him another lie.  
When he finished, he calmly said, “Boys, I’m not whipping you because you didn’t hoe the watermelons. I’m whipping you because you lied to me.”
The Democrats and Mr. Obama have begun one of the most hideous lying campaigns in American history all to preserve their power. It isn’t working.  The American people can see this administration for what it is, and I sincerely believe that the principles of ethics laid down by my mom and dad are still valid.  Most people want the truth, and the truth is that the Democrats have no plan for saving our economy.  Jay Carney is just the tip of the iceberg.  The entire administration is ethically challenged, and in the near future, judgment will come.  
November 6 is sure to arrive, and the American people may have a sack of willow switches waiting for someone.  Clue:  I don’t think it will be Romney and Ryan.d

 
Letters to the editor

Dear Editor,
The decision by the present school board not to renew the teaching and coaching contract of Mr. Archie Carlyle was a planned and calculated act of politics. This kind of thing has been happening for years.
They didn’t follow policies or procedures in this matter. The state’s report on the district asked the board to stop interfering in this kind of situation, but it seems they didn’t get the memo.
My mother always put her 11 children first in making decisions for their futures. It is clear this board did not do that.
Mr. Carlyle’s only crime was putting his students first. I feel like Jesus, when he told the people at the well, “He who is without sin cast the first stone.”
I and the 800 people who have signed the petition calling for Carlyle’s return can find no fault in his dedication to our community. We are being laughed at across the state, and on Facebook and Twitter.
Our community is losing faith in our ability to work in a productive and successful district. The Yazoo Herald’s sports editor called it a “travesty.” I ask the question, where are all those Christian folks, his co-workers, his pastor and his fellow church members?
Where are the athletes, past and present, and most of all where are the parents? He has mothered and fathered when you were unable to make it to a game or on the road, giving your children heart-to-heart talks of motivation and encouragement both in the halls of our schools and on the streets of this community. Now he deserves your support in this critical matter.
This affects us all, black and white, because the future of our community is at stake. I am asking everyone to show as much concern about this matter as they do during election time.
Mr. Clifton Jones, I sat on the school board when you and your wife in a 3 to 2 vote were denied what you rightfully deserved. When you first ran for alderman you were the only politician I ever spent an entire day with, walking the streets because I believed in you. When I ran for mayor as an independent, I endorsed McArthur Straughter in the primary. Many people thought I was crazy, but I was exercising my rights.
Mr. Aubry Brent Jr., I followed you from Vicksburg to Belzoni and saw people commit perjury to defeat you. When citizens support a candidate, they want something in return. As a citizen with the 800 petitioners, we are calling in our wager. Just get the record of the board of that decision, which is public record. Check the timeline of the action, and you will be amazed. Next month you will appoint or reappoint a board member, but before you do we deserve answers.
If you find me wrong I will come back and sit before you and the school board and give a public apology. Everyone deserves their day in court, and Mr. Carlyle certainly does.
What you do or don’t do will determine the caliber of teachers and coaches willing to come into our community and work with our children.

Johnny Staples

glo-baker

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Home Editorials Voters are reaching for the willow branch