OPINION | The Local Views
LETTERS
From the managing editor
Don’t abuse free speech with wrong info By Melody Kinser Managing Editor ‘ve occasionally considered myself to be a bit of a conspiracy theorist. In reality, I guess the only event that I still question is the moon landing on July 20, 1969. I don’t lose any sleep over it and I certainly don’t argue with anyone as to whether the Eagle landed. My parents insisted I watch the historic event, which I didn’t question at the time. And let’s keep in mind I was five days shy of becoming a teenager. (Not always our most focused years.) Without being insensitive to the possible mental issues of those who publicly voice some really far-reaching conspiracies, I try to keep my mouth shut, or, as it were, my fingers from typing what’s running through my mind. So, today, let’s look at some of the comments that have been made by U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia. She has caused quite a stir
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and, depending on what newspaper (I advocate for “Real News”) or news broadcasts, you’ve had at least a glimpse of what she “believes”. While I will share some of her comments, I want to start with what I consider heartless and without any sense of compassion. Before being elected to Congress, Greene followed and taunted David Hogg, a survivor of the Feb. 14, 2018, shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Seventeen people died and 17 more were injured. Greene says it was staged, and makes the same claim about Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Twenty-six people were killed, including 20 children between the ages of 6 and 7, and six adult staff members. The young man was en route to the U.S. Capitol to meet with senators as he is very involved in gun control. We can’t even imagine the horror that students, administrators, educators and staff experienced that day.
As I’ve said before, I am not anti-gun. I was raised by a man who was a marksman in the U.S. Army Air Corps (now Air Force) and a member of the NRA. Dad always had rifles and pistols. Several national newspaper websites refer to Greene’s comments as right-wing conspiracy theories, often noting she supports QAnon, makes anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim remarks. In the “What did she say?” category: Greene attributed the horrific California wildfire in 2018 to laser beams. The Los Angeles Times wrote that Greene “speculated that the blaze might have been started by a laser beam in space.” A survivor watched her home go up in flames but did not see any laser beam strike the area. Of course, I’m a strong advocate for free speech, but don’t blatantly put out falsehoods in an attempt to bring more attention to yourself. There are so many sources available to learn the truth. Take the time to go that route.
Glenn Turner dared to be great with the Challenge By Jim Ridolphi Contributing Columnist Not many noticed the small obituary in the local newspaper in a small community in Florida, and fewer still knew of the man named in the listing. Glenn W. Turner passed away at
his home on Jan. 8, 2020, the small article said. I wondered if this could be the same Glenn Turner who swept the country like wild fire back in the 1970s and ‘80s with a motivational program called Dare to Be Great that engulfed thousands of Americans and
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The Mechanicsville Local
February 10, 2021
became a lifestyle for hundreds of his followers. I, too, would be unaware of this information if it had not been for a hearty group of my friends who got on the Turner train in the late ‘70s, and dedicated themselves to something called the Challenge to
America. As it turns out, the Challenge was Turner’s latest attempt to become a millionaire. The son of a sharecropper in rural Georgia, Turner had dropped out of school in the eighth grade after excessive bullying due to a see DARED, pg. 8
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| Reader Views
Questioning free and open government A free and open government -- who’s kidding who? Anyone that attended the recent “Lobby Day” at the State Capitol knows better. The show of force presented by various law enforcement agencies wasn’t there to prevent any violent protest. It had one purpose and one only – to intimidate those that showed up. Both the governor and mayor of RVA did their parts by claiming, “The sky is falling”. Where were these “leaders” last year when rioters and looters were destroying public and private property in RVA? Where was this show of force? Instead, they chose to present a show of force against people that were exercising their civil and constitutional rights to gather. They made downtown RVA look like central Europe in the 1950s and 1960s when we saw the Commies crushing protests in most violent ways. More? When Walmart was coming to Ashland it was a hot topic. Ashland Town Council gave the citizens lots of reasons to question their having an open government. I believe the town stood at 9-1 in opposition to Walmart coming here. Town council held a town hall meeting to see what the citizens wanted. I spoke and suggested that the town hold a referendum that would bind the council to follow the citizens’ mandate. The mayor said that was ridiculous and it would take too long, cost too much, etc. How long could it possibly take to count a thousand votes? Less than the average number of voters in any election in Ashland. Here was an excellent opportunity see LETTERS, pg. 27
