I am thankful that Governor Roy Cooper and N.C. Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Michael S. Regan are taking the GenX issue seriously and have made it a priority. It appears that both our legislative leaders and local officials are more concerned with protecting DuPont's assets than the health and welfare of area residents.
Phil Berger and Tim Moore have actually proposed having taxpayers pay for the cost of dealing with the contamination and the chairman of the county commissioners says he thinks the county should sue the state to stop them from regulating DuPont's contamination.
So the very people drinking their poison should pay to clean it up and litigate on DuPont's behalf?
That is what happens when you elect people who carry more about money than people and the environment in which we all live.
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1867 entries.
wrote on 09/22/2017 at 9:16 am:
wrote on 09/21/2017 at 8:50 pm:
Mr. Butler:
A few days ago you posted a statement that was half true and half false and that statement concerned the subject of our American Education System. It's true that education is extremely important to the future of our country but you were very wrong when you implied that it was Conservative Republicans who were trying to destroy it. I can't really blame you for that ridiculous statement because we all know that most followers of the Democratic Party always repeat what the leaders tell them.
Once again, I must ask you to start thinking for yourself for a change and quit being a puppet to the party. The following is not my words but came from an article found on the internet.
"Democrats recognize education as the most pressing economic issue in America's future, and we cannot allow our country to fall behind in a global economy. We must prepare the next generation for success in college and the workforce."
Another source tells us that teachers teach and students learn by academic goals. What I'm talking about is the Common Core State Standards. By teaching student's to pass a test based on Common Core, they are being denied other things that most of us grew up with. Something as simple as writing your own name for instance is being denied todays youth by academia which is occupied predominantly by Liberal Democrats. On top of that, since todays youth can't seem to learn what they're being taught, some genius decided to "dumb down America" once more by lowering the passing score on a test to 60 instead of the 70 that you and I had to make. Yea. That's real progress, hue?You can thank the State Board of Education for making that possible.
In April of 2013, Rutgers University fired its basketball coach after he was videotaped shoving, grabbing and throwing balls at players in practice & using gay slurs, according to ESPN. On the same day, ESPN reported that Kathy Boudin, a professor at Columbia University was named Sheinberg Scholar- in- Residence. Ms. Boudin, as I've previously stated was a convicted murderer responsible for the deaths of three individuals. She was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.
Kick a student on the basketball court and you'll lose your university job. Spend twenty years in prison on radical murder rap and you'll get one.
Education has always been the gateway for the smart and ambitious to get into the middle class. The aim of people like Bill Ayers was to destroy that opportunity, especially in the "urban schools," which is what the University of Illinois at Chicago, where Ayers taught, specializes in.
And lastly, this was taken from a piece written by Catherine Rampel. "In a recent survey, a fifth of undergrads now say it's acceptable to use physical force to silence a speaker who makes "offensive and hateful statements." When students were asked if the First Amendment protects "hate speech," 4 in 10 said NO." The Liberal Professors have literally brainwashed the young people entering college and only give them one side of life. Opposing views are not allowed and are dealt with by any means necessary. In total, the youth wanting a college education are only getting half of what their parents are paying for. Are you okay with that?
That should be enough. If you're not convinced by now that it's the left who are responsible for destroying our educational system, then there's no hope for you.
A few days ago you posted a statement that was half true and half false and that statement concerned the subject of our American Education System. It's true that education is extremely important to the future of our country but you were very wrong when you implied that it was Conservative Republicans who were trying to destroy it. I can't really blame you for that ridiculous statement because we all know that most followers of the Democratic Party always repeat what the leaders tell them.
Once again, I must ask you to start thinking for yourself for a change and quit being a puppet to the party. The following is not my words but came from an article found on the internet.
"Democrats recognize education as the most pressing economic issue in America's future, and we cannot allow our country to fall behind in a global economy. We must prepare the next generation for success in college and the workforce."
Another source tells us that teachers teach and students learn by academic goals. What I'm talking about is the Common Core State Standards. By teaching student's to pass a test based on Common Core, they are being denied other things that most of us grew up with. Something as simple as writing your own name for instance is being denied todays youth by academia which is occupied predominantly by Liberal Democrats. On top of that, since todays youth can't seem to learn what they're being taught, some genius decided to "dumb down America" once more by lowering the passing score on a test to 60 instead of the 70 that you and I had to make. Yea. That's real progress, hue?You can thank the State Board of Education for making that possible.
In April of 2013, Rutgers University fired its basketball coach after he was videotaped shoving, grabbing and throwing balls at players in practice & using gay slurs, according to ESPN. On the same day, ESPN reported that Kathy Boudin, a professor at Columbia University was named Sheinberg Scholar- in- Residence. Ms. Boudin, as I've previously stated was a convicted murderer responsible for the deaths of three individuals. She was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.
Kick a student on the basketball court and you'll lose your university job. Spend twenty years in prison on radical murder rap and you'll get one.
Education has always been the gateway for the smart and ambitious to get into the middle class. The aim of people like Bill Ayers was to destroy that opportunity, especially in the "urban schools," which is what the University of Illinois at Chicago, where Ayers taught, specializes in.
And lastly, this was taken from a piece written by Catherine Rampel. "In a recent survey, a fifth of undergrads now say it's acceptable to use physical force to silence a speaker who makes "offensive and hateful statements." When students were asked if the First Amendment protects "hate speech," 4 in 10 said NO." The Liberal Professors have literally brainwashed the young people entering college and only give them one side of life. Opposing views are not allowed and are dealt with by any means necessary. In total, the youth wanting a college education are only getting half of what their parents are paying for. Are you okay with that?
That should be enough. If you're not convinced by now that it's the left who are responsible for destroying our educational system, then there's no hope for you.
wrote on 09/21/2017 at 11:51 am:
I just read Mrs. Sheppard's letter in the Bladen Journal and would like to say Thank You. I may not agree with all of her positions, but on this one I sure do. Keep up the good work. Clean water can not be replaced.
wrote on 09/21/2017 at 9:12 am:
DuPont/Chemours is providing bottled water to anyone whose well is found to be contaminated. We are hoping and praying that the county water system will prove to be safe and that county water will be extended to everyone who lives in the affected area.
But there are farmers who use well water to irrigate their crops and gardens and water their animals. It is not fair for them to have to pay the massive expense of a county water bill because our wells were contaminated by a multimillion dollar chemical company.
Some of my family members have county water to their homes, as do I, but my son does not and relies on well water. All of our farm operations rely on well water, as do all of our neighbors to the south and west.
The official who took the tests on our farm said that they think that at the very least every well between Smithfield and DuPont might be contaminated.
But there are farmers who use well water to irrigate their crops and gardens and water their animals. It is not fair for them to have to pay the massive expense of a county water bill because our wells were contaminated by a multimillion dollar chemical company.
Some of my family members have county water to their homes, as do I, but my son does not and relies on well water. All of our farm operations rely on well water, as do all of our neighbors to the south and west.
The official who took the tests on our farm said that they think that at the very least every well between Smithfield and DuPont might be contaminated.
wrote on 09/21/2017 at 2:21 am:
Good job! Thanks for the work and keep it up!
wrote on 09/21/2017 at 12:43 am:
In a conversation that I recently had with town and county officials who are familiar with the water contamination issue, I am told that discussions with Dupont/Chemours are focusing on extent of contamination to wells, livestock, crops, prospective clean-up and filtering options, and depth and degree of contamination to local aquifers and rivers. No mention at this time of compensation, nor any funds being set up, to assist locals with their own efforts at clean-up (and I’m not even sure that is possible).
Ms Patsy Sheppard’s recent Letter to The Editor of the Journal puts the questions into an excellent perspective, and puts the Chemours folks ‘on notice’ that the local citizenry will not be quieted by politically correct pabulum.
Ms Patsy Sheppard’s recent Letter to The Editor of the Journal puts the questions into an excellent perspective, and puts the Chemours folks ‘on notice’ that the local citizenry will not be quieted by politically correct pabulum.
wrote on 09/20/2017 at 10:40 pm:
Leslee:
So sorry to hear about your water problems with Dupont and the medical problems resulting from the contamination.
Maybe it's time for you or someone who has been damaged by the contamination to contact the law firm that Erin Brockovich works with.
So sorry to hear about your water problems with Dupont and the medical problems resulting from the contamination.
Maybe it's time for you or someone who has been damaged by the contamination to contact the law firm that Erin Brockovich works with.
wrote on 09/20/2017 at 10:20 pm:
Leslee,
Yes, many of us feel that way. One of my closest neighbors got the results of his well testing today, and it is contaminated with DuPont's cancer causing chemicals. He relies completely on well water and has lived on his farm all his life. The neighbor next door to him has young children who have always relied on well water. We haven't heard about his tests yet. One of the officials doing the testing thinks all the wells in our area are at serious risk of being contaminated. We know the river water is, so obviously any fish are too. What about the food from our gardens watered with this water and the animals raised drinking this water? How about all the meat processed at Smithfield with ground water and river water? One of the wells for the county water system is in our area too. Who knows how far this will go?
Yet apparently the only thing our county officials are really concerned about is DuPont's profits and the jobs that are created by contaminating our drinking water.
But since nearly all of our elected officials live many miles away they think they are safe and will not be affected.
Yes, many of us feel that way. One of my closest neighbors got the results of his well testing today, and it is contaminated with DuPont's cancer causing chemicals. He relies completely on well water and has lived on his farm all his life. The neighbor next door to him has young children who have always relied on well water. We haven't heard about his tests yet. One of the officials doing the testing thinks all the wells in our area are at serious risk of being contaminated. We know the river water is, so obviously any fish are too. What about the food from our gardens watered with this water and the animals raised drinking this water? How about all the meat processed at Smithfield with ground water and river water? One of the wells for the county water system is in our area too. Who knows how far this will go?
Yet apparently the only thing our county officials are really concerned about is DuPont's profits and the jobs that are created by contaminating our drinking water.
But since nearly all of our elected officials live many miles away they think they are safe and will not be affected.
wrote on 09/20/2017 at 8:56 pm:
Ms Sheppard (et al) – to answer your questions as to the objectivity of my opinion regarding cultural equivalency, the answer is yes…AND no. So… (having cleared that up!) allow me to explain, and allow me to present a most obvious example. (Part 1)
In today’s world, the most obvious opposite of our Western cultural milieu is that of Islam. Islam (as we have all now learned) is not merely a religion. It is also an entire ideology which embraces its own worldview, and it incorporates its own system of law, ethics, and morality. Thus, while my opinion about the superiority of Western culture and civilization is, in many ways, subjective, I am also basing that subjective opinion on clearly observable, clearly objective evidence. Specifically:
Politicians, and the media, make desperate attempts to disconnect all the atrocities committed by Islamic adherents from their religion, invariably claiming that the perpetrators were ‘extremists’. I submit to you that that is not the case. In fact, in the specific case of Islam, it is the norm, not the exception. Why is that, you ask?? Because such acts, such atrocities, are intrinsic to the ideology, the practice, the religion, the history, the culture, and the legal system which functions under the banner of Islam.
But you might say, “No, no—you’re being hateful!” No, I am not, and here’s why. Let’s learn something about this defective, deficient, malevolent culture. Here are five awkward facts about Islam that deceitful politicians and the media would rather you didn’t know:
There are many unpleasant, violent stories about the prophet of Islam, Muhammad, and most unbelievers are completely unaware of them. Brainwashed by the “Islam is peace” mantra, they naively believe he was a holy prophet like Moses and Jesus; a man of peace dedicated to serving God. In fact, Muhammad was a mass-murdering warlord who waged brutal wars against unbelievers. He also tortured criminals and enslaved women. In Islam, Muhammad is regarded as “the ideal man, the perfect example” and every Muslim reveres him.
So let’s ask: If Islam is a peaceful faith, why does it have such a violent prophet? Also, how can any Muslim who reveres his violent “perfect example” be regarded as moderate? Could I be described as moderate if I revere the examples of socialist mass murderers Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong? Islam the peaceful faith with a violent, murdering prophet makes as much sense as Christianity the violent religion with a peaceful, loving messiah.
2. War Zone - Islam divides the world into two houses: The first is Dar al Islam, the house of Islam, the lands where Islam is dominant. The second is Dar al Harb, the lands of the infidels, the House of War. It is the duty of every Muslim to strive to make Islam dominant in the world by conquering the lands of Dar al Harb into Dar al Islam. This is commanded by Allah in Surah 8, ayat 39, of the Quran, a verse so
In today’s world, the most obvious opposite of our Western cultural milieu is that of Islam. Islam (as we have all now learned) is not merely a religion. It is also an entire ideology which embraces its own worldview, and it incorporates its own system of law, ethics, and morality. Thus, while my opinion about the superiority of Western culture and civilization is, in many ways, subjective, I am also basing that subjective opinion on clearly observable, clearly objective evidence. Specifically:
Politicians, and the media, make desperate attempts to disconnect all the atrocities committed by Islamic adherents from their religion, invariably claiming that the perpetrators were ‘extremists’. I submit to you that that is not the case. In fact, in the specific case of Islam, it is the norm, not the exception. Why is that, you ask?? Because such acts, such atrocities, are intrinsic to the ideology, the practice, the religion, the history, the culture, and the legal system which functions under the banner of Islam.
But you might say, “No, no—you’re being hateful!” No, I am not, and here’s why. Let’s learn something about this defective, deficient, malevolent culture. Here are five awkward facts about Islam that deceitful politicians and the media would rather you didn’t know:
There are many unpleasant, violent stories about the prophet of Islam, Muhammad, and most unbelievers are completely unaware of them. Brainwashed by the “Islam is peace” mantra, they naively believe he was a holy prophet like Moses and Jesus; a man of peace dedicated to serving God. In fact, Muhammad was a mass-murdering warlord who waged brutal wars against unbelievers. He also tortured criminals and enslaved women. In Islam, Muhammad is regarded as “the ideal man, the perfect example” and every Muslim reveres him.
So let’s ask: If Islam is a peaceful faith, why does it have such a violent prophet? Also, how can any Muslim who reveres his violent “perfect example” be regarded as moderate? Could I be described as moderate if I revere the examples of socialist mass murderers Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong? Islam the peaceful faith with a violent, murdering prophet makes as much sense as Christianity the violent religion with a peaceful, loving messiah.
2. War Zone - Islam divides the world into two houses: The first is Dar al Islam, the house of Islam, the lands where Islam is dominant. The second is Dar al Harb, the lands of the infidels, the House of War. It is the duty of every Muslim to strive to make Islam dominant in the world by conquering the lands of Dar al Harb into Dar al Islam. This is commanded by Allah in Surah 8, ayat 39, of the Quran, a verse so
wrote on 09/20/2017 at 8:55 pm:
(Part 2)
important Muhammad recited it on his death bed. Such a division is clearly not a sign of peace and amounts to a declaration of war on all non-Islamic faiths.
So how do Muslims obey Allah's command? By waging…
3. Holy War - Islamic jihad has several forms involving the struggle of the individual to become more spiritual. But it also involves the fight to conquer Dar al Harb into Dar al Islam, until all religious worship belongs solely to Allah. Islam calls this fight: "Jihad al kuffar wal munafiqeen," the fight against the unbelievers and the hypocrites. History shows that Muslims have waged this holy war against unbelievers from all faiths almost non-stop since 622 AD.
This holy war of conquest involves more than terror and violence and includes building a mosque, attending the mosque to give worship, wearing the burka, establishing Islamic customs such as halal food, sharia banking, prayer rooms, washing facilities, observing Ramadan, and celebrating Eid.
Any action that enables Islam to flourish and become dominant in Dar al Harb is jihad. Additionally, jihad is obligatory - fardh - on all Muslims, you simply can't be a Muslim and not be a jihadist. This leads to a little-known core aspect of jihad you will never, EVER see or hear in the mainstream media...
4. God Be Praised - When people in the West think of worship, they believe it involves visiting a church or temple, kneeling to pray, singing hymns and performing rituals such as vigils and Holy Communion. Worship in Islam involves much more. Any act that furthers Islam is considered as giving worship - ibadah – to Allah. All of the actions mentioned previously are considered ibadah.
But here's the crucial difference: Muslims who gang rape infidels, who beat up and steal from unbelievers, who lie to infidels about the nature of Islam—are ALSO giving worship to Allah. Devout Muslims waging war in the way of Allah - jihad fisabilillah - who kill unbelievers by beheading them, bombing them, stabbing them, shooting them, mowing them down in cars and trucks--are giving worship to Allah! Furthermore, they also believe Allah is acting THRU them. Meaning, it’s actually Allah who is doing the killing, they are merely his willing instruments.
5. It’s The Law - Let's imagine for the sake of argument that holy war is not a core tenet of Islam. No suicide bombings, no mass murders, no rape and enslavement of infidel women, no lone wolf jihad attacks. Could Islam then be described as peaceful? Unfortunately not, because Islam comes with its own legal system, the Sharia.
important Muhammad recited it on his death bed. Such a division is clearly not a sign of peace and amounts to a declaration of war on all non-Islamic faiths.
So how do Muslims obey Allah's command? By waging…
3. Holy War - Islamic jihad has several forms involving the struggle of the individual to become more spiritual. But it also involves the fight to conquer Dar al Harb into Dar al Islam, until all religious worship belongs solely to Allah. Islam calls this fight: "Jihad al kuffar wal munafiqeen," the fight against the unbelievers and the hypocrites. History shows that Muslims have waged this holy war against unbelievers from all faiths almost non-stop since 622 AD.
This holy war of conquest involves more than terror and violence and includes building a mosque, attending the mosque to give worship, wearing the burka, establishing Islamic customs such as halal food, sharia banking, prayer rooms, washing facilities, observing Ramadan, and celebrating Eid.
Any action that enables Islam to flourish and become dominant in Dar al Harb is jihad. Additionally, jihad is obligatory - fardh - on all Muslims, you simply can't be a Muslim and not be a jihadist. This leads to a little-known core aspect of jihad you will never, EVER see or hear in the mainstream media...
4. God Be Praised - When people in the West think of worship, they believe it involves visiting a church or temple, kneeling to pray, singing hymns and performing rituals such as vigils and Holy Communion. Worship in Islam involves much more. Any act that furthers Islam is considered as giving worship - ibadah – to Allah. All of the actions mentioned previously are considered ibadah.
But here's the crucial difference: Muslims who gang rape infidels, who beat up and steal from unbelievers, who lie to infidels about the nature of Islam—are ALSO giving worship to Allah. Devout Muslims waging war in the way of Allah - jihad fisabilillah - who kill unbelievers by beheading them, bombing them, stabbing them, shooting them, mowing them down in cars and trucks--are giving worship to Allah! Furthermore, they also believe Allah is acting THRU them. Meaning, it’s actually Allah who is doing the killing, they are merely his willing instruments.
5. It’s The Law - Let's imagine for the sake of argument that holy war is not a core tenet of Islam. No suicide bombings, no mass murders, no rape and enslavement of infidel women, no lone wolf jihad attacks. Could Islam then be described as peaceful? Unfortunately not, because Islam comes with its own legal system, the Sharia.
wrote on 09/20/2017 at 8:55 pm:
(Part 3)
This legal code is based on how Muhammad practiced his faith, and it controls all aspects of a Muslim's life. Under Sharia, the punishment for apostates and homosexuals is death. Adulterers face being thrashed within an inch of their lives or even stoned to death. Female rape victims unable to provide four male witnesses to their violation are criminalized, and thieves will have their limbs amputated.
Which raises the question: Why are Western governments importing millions of Muslims, enabling Islam to flourish in the West, and yet, deceiving their own people about its true nature? In doing so, they're endangering their own people!
As you can see, even without the horrors of Islamic terrorism, it still wouldn’t be possible to describe Islam as peaceful. Thus, by extrapolation, Islam MUST be evaluated as a wholly defective, intrinsically substandard religion, ideology, culture, and system of morality and law. Its proponents and its adherents have not progressed beyond the barbarism of its 7th century warlord, and none of it has any place within the sphere of the 21st century world. That’s not being mean-spirited; it’s being factual, and it is a necessary evaluation for the health and the future of Western civilization. We have the right—indeed, we have the imperative—to make such judgement calls, or as a civilization, WE will perish.
(info about Islam provided from a blog by Christopher J. Green, who can be found at: Christopher J Green.com, plus, you can follow him on twitter @defiantlionuk, and also from a compilation of my own previous posts and opinions.)
This legal code is based on how Muhammad practiced his faith, and it controls all aspects of a Muslim's life. Under Sharia, the punishment for apostates and homosexuals is death. Adulterers face being thrashed within an inch of their lives or even stoned to death. Female rape victims unable to provide four male witnesses to their violation are criminalized, and thieves will have their limbs amputated.
Which raises the question: Why are Western governments importing millions of Muslims, enabling Islam to flourish in the West, and yet, deceiving their own people about its true nature? In doing so, they're endangering their own people!
As you can see, even without the horrors of Islamic terrorism, it still wouldn’t be possible to describe Islam as peaceful. Thus, by extrapolation, Islam MUST be evaluated as a wholly defective, intrinsically substandard religion, ideology, culture, and system of morality and law. Its proponents and its adherents have not progressed beyond the barbarism of its 7th century warlord, and none of it has any place within the sphere of the 21st century world. That’s not being mean-spirited; it’s being factual, and it is a necessary evaluation for the health and the future of Western civilization. We have the right—indeed, we have the imperative—to make such judgement calls, or as a civilization, WE will perish.
(info about Islam provided from a blog by Christopher J. Green, who can be found at: Christopher J Green.com, plus, you can follow him on twitter @defiantlionuk, and also from a compilation of my own previous posts and opinions.)
wrote on 09/20/2017 at 8:03 pm:
To all who peruse this forum, greetings:
My preacher asked me tonight to post this notice on Guestbook in the hopes that you will come to see us on 1 - 4 October 2017 :
Shady Grove Baptist Church, 10937 Twisted Hickory Road, will observe "homecoming" on 1 October 2017 at 11:00 am. You are invited to come and share in this event with us. Dinner will be served on the grounds following the morning worship. Our "revival" will begin at 7:00 pm on 2 October through 4 October.
Come and experience a time with God and enjoy his fellowship. The speaker for all events will be the Rev. Charles Hester. Please come.
My preacher asked me tonight to post this notice on Guestbook in the hopes that you will come to see us on 1 - 4 October 2017 :
Shady Grove Baptist Church, 10937 Twisted Hickory Road, will observe "homecoming" on 1 October 2017 at 11:00 am. You are invited to come and share in this event with us. Dinner will be served on the grounds following the morning worship. Our "revival" will begin at 7:00 pm on 2 October through 4 October.
Come and experience a time with God and enjoy his fellowship. The speaker for all events will be the Rev. Charles Hester. Please come.
wrote on 09/20/2017 at 2:54 pm:
Does anyone feel as though our well being and the lives of our family and loved ones are being pushed aside by those that were elected to stand up for our rights?
Dupont is poisoning our water. Cut and dry. No "buts" or "no, that's not the way it is". This is what is happening and our commissioners are fighting to keep these chemicals pouring into the Cape Fear River.
Am I the only person who sees a problem here?
How many people reading this have a child or loved one fighting a disease they could have caught by eating fish out of the Cape Fear for over 50 years. This is not a problem that will be fixed in my life time. How long and how many people could it continue to pose problems for....?
Dupont is poisoning our water. Cut and dry. No "buts" or "no, that's not the way it is". This is what is happening and our commissioners are fighting to keep these chemicals pouring into the Cape Fear River.
Am I the only person who sees a problem here?
How many people reading this have a child or loved one fighting a disease they could have caught by eating fish out of the Cape Fear for over 50 years. This is not a problem that will be fixed in my life time. How long and how many people could it continue to pose problems for....?
wrote on 09/19/2017 at 9:06 pm:
Yes, we are all children of God. Equal in his sight, if we believe his word.
Though I have been judged less so many times on this forum by some of those who claim to know him.
Though I have been judged less so many times on this forum by some of those who claim to know him.
wrote on 09/19/2017 at 8:30 pm:
I don't think that PEOPLE are superior to other people as we are all created equal by God. I do believe that my BELIEFS are superior, (in come cases only slightly). That's why I chose them. Actually, that's what I believe in general but it's not 100% true in all cases. I believe some people are inferior due to their choices. Take Douglass Edwards for example. I believe he is inferior to many people due to him raping that 6 year old girl. He committed the same offense at least once that we know of. He never should have been released from prison. Now an innocent little girl will have issues for the rest of her life no matter how much therapy she gets. There is no cure for pedophilia except death.
On the other hand, some of the groups that I feel are inferior (muslim extremists, FLDS, polygamists such as Kingston Clan, scientologists, North Koreans) believe that they are superior and anyone who doesn't follow their cult or regime is inferior and if they associate with outsiders they will go to hell. So once again, it's opinion that varies or what one is forced to believe. I have one question though. If you honestly believe that your beliefs are equal to my beliefs (and those of other conservatives on this forum) then why do you keep trying to convince us to change our beliefs? Please note I said the beliefs are equal, not the people. I've said many times that people have the right to their own opinions and that doesn't make any person better or more entitled to their opinion. I fully embrace the freedom we have in our wonderful country and do not expect everyone to agree with me.
On the other hand, some of the groups that I feel are inferior (muslim extremists, FLDS, polygamists such as Kingston Clan, scientologists, North Koreans) believe that they are superior and anyone who doesn't follow their cult or regime is inferior and if they associate with outsiders they will go to hell. So once again, it's opinion that varies or what one is forced to believe. I have one question though. If you honestly believe that your beliefs are equal to my beliefs (and those of other conservatives on this forum) then why do you keep trying to convince us to change our beliefs? Please note I said the beliefs are equal, not the people. I've said many times that people have the right to their own opinions and that doesn't make any person better or more entitled to their opinion. I fully embrace the freedom we have in our wonderful country and do not expect everyone to agree with me.
wrote on 09/19/2017 at 7:37 pm:
From what I have read I think conservatism is better for you as well, because it aligns with your beliefs and opinions.
You might not understand this, but I don't think liberals are superior to conservatives (or vice versa) just as I don't think Christians are superior to nonChristians. I thinks these are all personal choices, and that we make them based on what we believe is right for us.
Some people need to feel superior to others, and to do so they insist on proclaiming others as inferior. Being different does not mean inferior.
You might not understand this, but I don't think liberals are superior to conservatives (or vice versa) just as I don't think Christians are superior to nonChristians. I thinks these are all personal choices, and that we make them based on what we believe is right for us.
Some people need to feel superior to others, and to do so they insist on proclaiming others as inferior. Being different does not mean inferior.
wrote on 09/19/2017 at 6:36 pm:
Mrs. Sheppard, I don't know Mr. Schaeffer so I can not speak for him. I'm not even sure that I've read all of his posts. Sometimes I get busy and don't follow this forum. However, I can say that from what I've read, whenever he states an opinion, he doesn't speak for anyone but himself. I do tend to agree with most of what he says. You may not understand what I'm about to say, but I do believe that my conservative opinions are better than liberal opinions. That's why I chose them! I believe in the constitution, putting American interests first, personal responsibility, and equal opportunity but not equal outcome. It doesn't make any logical sense that I would use my freedom to chose the inferior values as my own, now does it? That being said, I can accept that you believe your liberal views are superior. We are different, but we both have an equal right to our beliefs. We can never prove one of us has a superior set of values. It's all opinion based. We can always present facts on both sides of an issue, but which facts are more important is a matter of each person's individual beliefs. Therefore the whole idea of what beliefs or culture is superior is a matter of opinion and will vary depending on who you ask. Why in the would would anyone pick a belief system as their own that they believe is inferior, unless they are being forced to like with some of the cultures I mentioned? If you've chosen it, you must believe it's at least slightly superior.
As I've said before, nobody can tell anyone else what they believe with any accuracy. I've gotten very upset with you when you told me incorrectly what I believed. Therefore, my assumption is that when Mr. Schaeffer (or anyone else) makes an opinion statement they are speaking only for themselves. If you really want to know you'll have to ask him. I just spoke for myself only and clearly stated what my beliefs are.
As I've said before, nobody can tell anyone else what they believe with any accuracy. I've gotten very upset with you when you told me incorrectly what I believed. Therefore, my assumption is that when Mr. Schaeffer (or anyone else) makes an opinion statement they are speaking only for themselves. If you really want to know you'll have to ask him. I just spoke for myself only and clearly stated what my beliefs are.
wrote on 09/19/2017 at 6:06 pm:
Mr. Butler:
I may have failed to make myself clear when I spoke of a small number of ex-presidents the other day. Since leaving office Jimmy Carter has been an exceptional human being. He's to be commended for the many things he and his wife have accomplished since leaving office. My comments were aimed at his presidency and not his life before or after leaving office.
While in office, interest rates soared, he gave away the Panama Canal, he cut the defense budget by 6 billion and also ordered the removal of nuclear weapons from South Korea and also announced his intent to cut back the number of U S troops.
In polls of historians and political scientists, Carter is usually ranked as a below average president. These are facts sir and not my opinion. As for the others I mentioned, I stand by my comments and wish to add one other person to my list of losers. That person is none other than Hillary - the crook - Clinton. Thank God she didn't make it to the top. She's bad enough as a civilian, can you imagine what she would have done as our president. The end.
I may have failed to make myself clear when I spoke of a small number of ex-presidents the other day. Since leaving office Jimmy Carter has been an exceptional human being. He's to be commended for the many things he and his wife have accomplished since leaving office. My comments were aimed at his presidency and not his life before or after leaving office.
While in office, interest rates soared, he gave away the Panama Canal, he cut the defense budget by 6 billion and also ordered the removal of nuclear weapons from South Korea and also announced his intent to cut back the number of U S troops.
In polls of historians and political scientists, Carter is usually ranked as a below average president. These are facts sir and not my opinion. As for the others I mentioned, I stand by my comments and wish to add one other person to my list of losers. That person is none other than Hillary - the crook - Clinton. Thank God she didn't make it to the top. She's bad enough as a civilian, can you imagine what she would have done as our president. The end.
wrote on 09/19/2017 at 5:17 pm:
I agree.
So does that apply to Mr. Schaeffer's opinion that white Western European culture is superior to all others and that conservatives are superior to liberals?
That those are his personal opinions and he is not speaking for all of us of the white Western European culture or speaking for all conservatives when he states his opinion?
So does that apply to Mr. Schaeffer's opinion that white Western European culture is superior to all others and that conservatives are superior to liberals?
That those are his personal opinions and he is not speaking for all of us of the white Western European culture or speaking for all conservatives when he states his opinion?
wrote on 09/19/2017 at 4:25 pm:
Superiority is all a personal opinion and can never be proven. There is no universal standard and their is no chosen judge. It's all personal opinion. We all set our own standards. That's what forms our values and beliefs. I expressed my personal opinion that cultures that allow the atrocities I mentioned are inferior. In the examples I mentioned God is the final judge. My God does not condone the behaviors I mentioned yet they still happen because of free will. Nobody is forced into my religion. I understand that the cultures I mentioned do not believe in God or his judgement. That is their choice and why they probably believe their beliefs are superior to mine. When the behaviors I mentioned happen in America the judge is a legal judge because all of the behaviors mentioned are illegal here. We all set our own moral standards. Legal standards are set by our laws. The bottom line is we can't control other people's beliefs and values. We can only control our own. That's the beauty of living in a free country. The alternative is to have our beliefs and values determined for us like in North Korea.
wrote on 09/19/2017 at 2:51 pm:
Who gets to set the standard and determine the superiority? And what gives these chosen judges their authority?
wrote on 09/19/2017 at 2:08 pm:
Well said Mr. Schaeffer! I have to agree with you that some cultures and societies are superior. Gasp! I know some people can't bear the thought but if we dig deep enough I think everyone will find they believe that the culture, values, religion, and beliefs that they CHOSE in our FREE country are superior to other choices they may have made. If they don't believe they are slightly superior then why did they make that choice? America is superior because we are free to choose what we feel is best. I will concede that as a Protestant Christian I only believe my religion and values are slightly superior and almost equal to those of Catholics, Jews, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mainstream Mormans, and Hindus. There may be others that are almost equal in my opinion, but I've had friends of all of the above religions and found that we had very similar values and beliefs. The few things we differ on I consider different but equal. On the other hand, there are other groups that hold beliefs that I consider far inferior to mine and to those of western culture. The one thing these inferior groups have is that their members are not free to choose their beliefs. There are told what to believe and held hostage due to fear and brainwashing. Note that is the definition of a cult! One example is the Muslims in the Middle East. They can be killed for not following the beliefs. Women can be whipped or killed for not wearing a headscarf, being the victim of rape, or being public without a male relative. Gays can be pushed off of buildings or burned alive. Little girls have to undergo brutal genital mutilation. What about the FLDS cult? Warren Jeffs is serving a life sentence for raping little girls and performing "marriages" on girls as young as 8. Now some information is coming out on Scientology and how it's just a money making cult that promotes sexual abuse. Kids in the Sea Org couldn't just walk away. They were held hostage and brainwashed. What about the North Koreans? The only pictures they can have in their dilapidated homes are of their "fearless leader", Kim Jung Un. If anyone says anything negative about him their entire families are sent to torture camps. People are starving. There is nothing anyone can say to me to convince me that these cultures are even close to equal to American culture and our freedoms.
Mrs. Sheppard I have to agree with you that nobody has the right to poison our drinking water. I hope jobs are not lost, but even if they are, that doesn't give the company the right to break the law or for people to overlook the violation. Losing a job is only a minor bump in the road compared to cancer or death. There are other jobs. Laws are already in place and they must be enforced.
Mrs. Sheppard I have to agree with you that nobody has the right to poison our drinking water. I hope jobs are not lost, but even if they are, that doesn't give the company the right to break the law or for people to overlook the violation. Losing a job is only a minor bump in the road compared to cancer or death. There are other jobs. Laws are already in place and they must be enforced.
wrote on 09/19/2017 at 11:48 am:
Mr. Schaeffer,
You can consider anything undesirable as you chose, but that is subjective to your opinion. Are you claiming that "the world" has judged America "as morally deficient and ethically bankrupt" because our system of laws allows individual freedoms in moral behavior?
Although I agree that is the claim of terror groups like ISIS and is what they use to condemn us as "godless heathens". Kind of like you do about us "Leftists".
You can consider anything undesirable as you chose, but that is subjective to your opinion. Are you claiming that "the world" has judged America "as morally deficient and ethically bankrupt" because our system of laws allows individual freedoms in moral behavior?
Although I agree that is the claim of terror groups like ISIS and is what they use to condemn us as "godless heathens". Kind of like you do about us "Leftists".
wrote on 09/19/2017 at 9:48 am:
Ms Sheppard – contrary to your point about not judging others—I agree with that, on principle. What I am referring to, however, is the legitimacy (and indeed, the necessity) for a society—wherever it may happen to be—to be evaluated…’judged’, if you will…on the efficacy, the tenets, the foundations, for its moral and ethical culture. If…in the eyes and the viewpoint of the world…those cultural standards are evaluated (again, ‘judged’) as morally deficient and ethically bankrupt, then it is entirely legitimate to consider that culture, or that civilization, as undesirable.
To your other point, I am not insisting that there be criminal laws which regulates or dictates moral or religious behaviour, although quite clearly, our OWN system of justice is largely predicated on a Judeo-Christian ethic. Our justice system is predicated on a secular foundation, not a religious one, and thus, justice is said to be fair and impartial. Stepping outside of the parameters of our justice system should invoke reaction or punishment of some sort, should it not? I have to question, then, why groups such as Antifa, BLM, Occupy, and all the various and sundry supremacist groups feel that there should be no reaction or punishment to their misbehavior. The answer, I believe, lies in the fact that these groups do not believe that the standards of moral and ethical behaviour (AND criminal behaviour) which governs the rest us, applies to them as well. They not only have low standards, they have NO standards.
It is right, and it is legitimately proper, to judge them accordingly, just as it is legitimately correct to judge an entire society or civilization on its culture as well. As I mentioned before, not all values are equal, and not all civilizations are equal.
To your other point, I am not insisting that there be criminal laws which regulates or dictates moral or religious behaviour, although quite clearly, our OWN system of justice is largely predicated on a Judeo-Christian ethic. Our justice system is predicated on a secular foundation, not a religious one, and thus, justice is said to be fair and impartial. Stepping outside of the parameters of our justice system should invoke reaction or punishment of some sort, should it not? I have to question, then, why groups such as Antifa, BLM, Occupy, and all the various and sundry supremacist groups feel that there should be no reaction or punishment to their misbehavior. The answer, I believe, lies in the fact that these groups do not believe that the standards of moral and ethical behaviour (AND criminal behaviour) which governs the rest us, applies to them as well. They not only have low standards, they have NO standards.
It is right, and it is legitimately proper, to judge them accordingly, just as it is legitimately correct to judge an entire society or civilization on its culture as well. As I mentioned before, not all values are equal, and not all civilizations are equal.
wrote on 09/19/2017 at 8:32 am:
Ms. Dunn,
Charles Ray Peterson is a retiree from the very DuPont site that is the source of the pollution, so ignorance is not his excuse (at least on this matter). A more likely reason for Charles Ray's "concern" is his own pocket.
My husband also retired from there, and he has health issues related to chemical exposure during his employment. In addition we live near the plant, so we are also concerned about contamination of the wells on our property.
Charles Ray Peterson is a retiree from the very DuPont site that is the source of the pollution, so ignorance is not his excuse (at least on this matter). A more likely reason for Charles Ray's "concern" is his own pocket.
My husband also retired from there, and he has health issues related to chemical exposure during his employment. In addition we live near the plant, so we are also concerned about contamination of the wells on our property.
wrote on 09/19/2017 at 8:24 am:
Mr. Schaeffer,
I don't claim to speak for all the "Leftists" in the world, but I certainly do have standards and as a Christian I try (and sometimes fail) to live my life as Christ taught. To me that means that I trust in God's power to judge each of us and, as he instructs, not to judge others. There are actions that I believe are wrong morally that are not legally wrong. God will decide what to do about that.
It is not that "Leftists" don't want to be judged, we just don't believe people like you have the authority to judge others or determine how they live their personal lives.
There is a system of criminal law in this country that determines crime and punishment. If you insist on one that controls moral behavior, aren't there plenty of other countries that enforce religious and moral doctrine on their citizens? As often as I am told to "leave America if you don't like it", doesn't that go both ways?
For those who have not figured it out yet, David/Myra/Rachael/Patrick/P. is really Jerry Jackson.
I don't claim to speak for all the "Leftists" in the world, but I certainly do have standards and as a Christian I try (and sometimes fail) to live my life as Christ taught. To me that means that I trust in God's power to judge each of us and, as he instructs, not to judge others. There are actions that I believe are wrong morally that are not legally wrong. God will decide what to do about that.
It is not that "Leftists" don't want to be judged, we just don't believe people like you have the authority to judge others or determine how they live their personal lives.
There is a system of criminal law in this country that determines crime and punishment. If you insist on one that controls moral behavior, aren't there plenty of other countries that enforce religious and moral doctrine on their citizens? As often as I am told to "leave America if you don't like it", doesn't that go both ways?
For those who have not figured it out yet, David/Myra/Rachael/Patrick/P. is really Jerry Jackson.
wrote on 09/18/2017 at 10:55 pm:
I forgot to say what I should have said first.
How Dare you or ANYONE else disrespect President Jimmy Carter. He and Our First Lady are good people and are of no harm to Anyone. They are followers of Jesus, not only by words but by their deeds.
How Dare you !
How Dare you or ANYONE else disrespect President Jimmy Carter. He and Our First Lady are good people and are of no harm to Anyone. They are followers of Jesus, not only by words but by their deeds.
How Dare you !
wrote on 09/18/2017 at 10:43 pm:
My recent post has been validated by a more recent poster.
Education is THE very Foundation of our Democracy. Why are the Conservatives, Republicans or whatever the call themselves so against education ?
My guess that it is fear and ignorance. The same parents of racism and bigotry.
Education is THE very Foundation of our Democracy. Why are the Conservatives, Republicans or whatever the call themselves so against education ?
My guess that it is fear and ignorance. The same parents of racism and bigotry.
wrote on 09/18/2017 at 8:13 pm:
(Part 1)
Last year, Stanford University students voted on a campus resolution that would have their college require a course on Western civilization, as it did until the 1980s.
Stanford students rejected the proposal 1,992 to 347. A columnist at the Stanford Daily explained why: Teaching Western civilization means "upholding white supremacy, capitalism and colonialism, and all other oppressive systems that flow from Western civilizations."
The vote — and the column — encapsulated the Left's view: Europe, Latin America and America represents the pinnacle of Western civilization, and the Left loathes Western civilization.
Wherever there is conflict between the West — identified as white, capitalist, or of European roots — and the non-West, the Left portrays the West as the villain. The Left dismisses any suggestion that anything Western is superior to anything non-Western. Likewise, it dismisses virtually all Western achievements, but regards criticism of anything non-Western as racist, chauvinistic, imperialist, colonialist, xenophobic, etc.
So, the Big Question is, why? Why is the Left hostile toward Western civilization?
The answer is: standards.
Last year, Stanford University students voted on a campus resolution that would have their college require a course on Western civilization, as it did until the 1980s.
Stanford students rejected the proposal 1,992 to 347. A columnist at the Stanford Daily explained why: Teaching Western civilization means "upholding white supremacy, capitalism and colonialism, and all other oppressive systems that flow from Western civilizations."
The vote — and the column — encapsulated the Left's view: Europe, Latin America and America represents the pinnacle of Western civilization, and the Left loathes Western civilization.
Wherever there is conflict between the West — identified as white, capitalist, or of European roots — and the non-West, the Left portrays the West as the villain. The Left dismisses any suggestion that anything Western is superior to anything non-Western. Likewise, it dismisses virtually all Western achievements, but regards criticism of anything non-Western as racist, chauvinistic, imperialist, colonialist, xenophobic, etc.
So, the Big Question is, why? Why is the Left hostile toward Western civilization?
The answer is: standards.
wrote on 09/18/2017 at 8:13 pm:
(Part 2)
So, why does the Left hate standards? Well, it hates standards because when there are standards, there is judgment. And Leftists don't want to be judged. Thus, for example, Michelangelo is no better than any contemporary artist, and Rembrandt is no greater than any non-Western artist. So, too, street graffiti — which is essentially the defacing of public and private property, and thus serves to undermine civilization — is considered worthwhile "art.
Melody-free, harmony-free, atonal sounds are just as good as Beethoven's music, they say. And Western classical music is no better, they stridently claim, than the music of any non-Western civilization. A thoroughly unknown, Third-World poet must be considered every bit as worthy of study as Shakespeare.
Why such antagonism? Because if some art is really better than other art, your art may be judged inferior. The narcissism of Left-wing thought does not allow for anyone to be better than you artistically or in any other way. Therefore, all art and artists must be equal. All literature must be considered equal. And no judgement or evaluation is allowed, according to the Leftist paradigm.
In the moral realm, the same rejection of standards exists. For example, every civilization has had slavery. But thanks to Judeo-Christian civilization slavery was abolished here, and eventually elsewhere. Nevertheless, to speak about any moral superiority of Western or Judeo-Christian civilization is completely unacceptable, thanks to the Left's stranglehold on education and most media. The Left never seems to question the fact that slavery still exists in non-Western civilization societies.
Which brings us, of course, to the Left's loathing of the religions of Western civilization — the Judeo-Christian religions, which have clear standards of right and wrong, and upon which our civilization’s cultural, moral, and ethical foundations have been predicated.
Bible-based religions affirm a morally judging God. But for the Left, that is anathema. For the Left, the only judging allowed is Leftists' judging of others. No one judges the Left — neither man nor God. Why, do you suppose, for example, that we now have such visible and strident attention being paid to behavioral anomalies such as the LGBTQ phenomenon, or the bizarre transgender movement? We are not to judge them, but they, however, feel totally free to judge us, and to them, our moral, ethical, and cultural standards are prejudicial, intolerant, and hateful.
Thus the constant assault on our moral standards, the constant and unceasing attacks on our ethical standards, and the unrelenting assault on the cultural standards which has traditionally defined our Western civilization. These are all unacceptable to the Leftists. Leftists deny, and will not accept the notion, that some civilizations are better than others—that some civilizational values, standards, ethics, and cultural practices, are simply better than others.
(above adapted from a blog by Daniel Greenfield/’The Sultan Knish’, and my own opinions)
So, why does the Left hate standards? Well, it hates standards because when there are standards, there is judgment. And Leftists don't want to be judged. Thus, for example, Michelangelo is no better than any contemporary artist, and Rembrandt is no greater than any non-Western artist. So, too, street graffiti — which is essentially the defacing of public and private property, and thus serves to undermine civilization — is considered worthwhile "art.
Melody-free, harmony-free, atonal sounds are just as good as Beethoven's music, they say. And Western classical music is no better, they stridently claim, than the music of any non-Western civilization. A thoroughly unknown, Third-World poet must be considered every bit as worthy of study as Shakespeare.
Why such antagonism? Because if some art is really better than other art, your art may be judged inferior. The narcissism of Left-wing thought does not allow for anyone to be better than you artistically or in any other way. Therefore, all art and artists must be equal. All literature must be considered equal. And no judgement or evaluation is allowed, according to the Leftist paradigm.
In the moral realm, the same rejection of standards exists. For example, every civilization has had slavery. But thanks to Judeo-Christian civilization slavery was abolished here, and eventually elsewhere. Nevertheless, to speak about any moral superiority of Western or Judeo-Christian civilization is completely unacceptable, thanks to the Left's stranglehold on education and most media. The Left never seems to question the fact that slavery still exists in non-Western civilization societies.
Which brings us, of course, to the Left's loathing of the religions of Western civilization — the Judeo-Christian religions, which have clear standards of right and wrong, and upon which our civilization’s cultural, moral, and ethical foundations have been predicated.
Bible-based religions affirm a morally judging God. But for the Left, that is anathema. For the Left, the only judging allowed is Leftists' judging of others. No one judges the Left — neither man nor God. Why, do you suppose, for example, that we now have such visible and strident attention being paid to behavioral anomalies such as the LGBTQ phenomenon, or the bizarre transgender movement? We are not to judge them, but they, however, feel totally free to judge us, and to them, our moral, ethical, and cultural standards are prejudicial, intolerant, and hateful.
Thus the constant assault on our moral standards, the constant and unceasing attacks on our ethical standards, and the unrelenting assault on the cultural standards which has traditionally defined our Western civilization. These are all unacceptable to the Leftists. Leftists deny, and will not accept the notion, that some civilizations are better than others—that some civilizational values, standards, ethics, and cultural practices, are simply better than others.
(above adapted from a blog by Daniel Greenfield/’The Sultan Knish’, and my own opinions)
wrote on 09/18/2017 at 7:47 pm:
Ms. Pate:
How refreshing it is to have you back and I trust your surgery went well. Sorry to hear about your problems with your deductible under Obamacare and I can only hope that his loyal democrats are suffering as well. By the way, if you need any help meeting your deductible, I'll be glad to contribute to your need.
We've been put in our place time after time by this person from Tar Heel, I can only imagine that she is hoping beyond hope that if she continues to lie enough that we'll start to accept it as the truth. That ploy has worked so well for them that I can't see her or the democratic party giving it up.
I'm so glad to see that you agree with me and other fellow Republicans that the democratic party is and has always been the democratic party. They won't admit to it but they are the party of obstructionism meaning that if it doesn't benefit the party, they work against it.
Now look at what California did today by making the entire state a sanctuary state. All it amounts to is just another tactic by the democratic party to rein in the Hispanic votes just as they have already done with the black community.
It's so sad to see what's going on in America today and the only thing we can hope for is for both party's to come together and do what is right for the people as a whole and not for the party.
How refreshing it is to have you back and I trust your surgery went well. Sorry to hear about your problems with your deductible under Obamacare and I can only hope that his loyal democrats are suffering as well. By the way, if you need any help meeting your deductible, I'll be glad to contribute to your need.
We've been put in our place time after time by this person from Tar Heel, I can only imagine that she is hoping beyond hope that if she continues to lie enough that we'll start to accept it as the truth. That ploy has worked so well for them that I can't see her or the democratic party giving it up.
I'm so glad to see that you agree with me and other fellow Republicans that the democratic party is and has always been the democratic party. They won't admit to it but they are the party of obstructionism meaning that if it doesn't benefit the party, they work against it.
Now look at what California did today by making the entire state a sanctuary state. All it amounts to is just another tactic by the democratic party to rein in the Hispanic votes just as they have already done with the black community.
It's so sad to see what's going on in America today and the only thing we can hope for is for both party's to come together and do what is right for the people as a whole and not for the party.
wrote on 09/18/2017 at 1:11 pm:
I was appalled to read the comments by Charles Ray Peterson, Chairman of the Bladen County Commissioners in reference to suing the State to stop enforcement actions to shut down operations against Chemours. Thousands of pages have been written about the years of denials by DuPont, the dangers of the numerous chemicals (known and unknown) and what the State is trying to test for, as well as areas, to ensure the public's safety. We are all concerned about jobs and the economy, but our lives and health and that of our families is stronger. We can't work if we are dead. I have been involved since 2006 and can't drink our water. Finally, the State and Chemours are willing to test and I am grateful. We pray not every surrounding well will be harmful, but those that are need to know. From my experience over the years, no company will be shut down by the State or Health Dept. without just cause. If there is a danger, it needs to stop. It is despicable for an elected official not to be fully informed on such important matters and strive for the benefit of the people. Bladen, Cumberland and all the counties downstream would be better served to work toward forcing companies to manufacture without harmful chemicals, rather than grandstanding for 15 minutes of fame by someone who, obviously, is uninformed. The public deserves better.
wrote on 09/18/2017 at 11:13 am:
I think it is because a majority of people, Republicans and Democrats are not ultra conservative or ultra liberal but are moderates. Moderate Republicans and moderate Democrats are not that divergent in their political philosophies.
I believe the trend to push both parties to extremes is why the number of unaffiliated voters is soaring in our county, state, and nation. Most people are not extreme, but unfortunately those with the most political power seem to be.
I believe the trend to push both parties to extremes is why the number of unaffiliated voters is soaring in our county, state, and nation. Most people are not extreme, but unfortunately those with the most political power seem to be.
wrote on 09/18/2017 at 10:22 am:
I have no idea who Jerry and Ralph are. This whole game of "pick an alias" is flying right over my head. I was not surprised at all to find out that Bladen County is made up of only 3489 Republicans. For some reason there is a strong tradition of being a democrat in this county. If anyone knows why, I'd love to hear. I moved to Bladen County in 1998. Over the past 19 years I have met many democrats in this county who believe the exact same things as I do: that we should spend frugally and have a balanced budget, that people should be personally responsible, take care of themselves and make wise decisions, that everyone deserves an equal opportunity but the outcome may not be equal based on motivation, perseverance, choices, and yes, even luck. Life is not fair and it's not the government's place to try to make it so or run our day to day lives. You are not entitled to anything simply by being alive unless you are a child or totally disabled. I have even voted for some democrats on the local level. Yes, I do believe the democrat party has changed over time, but the parties have not switched places. Republicans have always been conservative and supported the constitution. The democrats have become more extreme and began to support socialism and the destruction of our constitution, especially on the national level. I know very few people in Bladen County who support such ideas and the outlandish behavior such as "protesting" by blocking interstates, destroying businesses, stealing, beating and killing people. The only people I'm aware of in this county who would support such are the ones that stay on the jail house list because they are already thugs engaging in these behaviors. I don't know any who support "safe spaces" where supposedly intelligent people can go and cry and get therapy because they see a Trump sign written in chalk. The list goes on and on, but my point is that I don't see people in Bladen County supporting this extreme liberalism that seems to be taking over the country. Someone once told me that there aren't nearly as many of these extreme liberals as the media would have us believe and that they are just a particularly mouthy bunch who demand attention. I would like to believe that's true but I also see alot of the liberal brainwashing going on through the media and many colleges these days (as well as public schools but thankfully not in Bladen County). Parents be careful where you send your kids off to college.
On a lighter note I have to laugh at the liberal rhetoric. "Back it up with facts" is one I hear alot. Yes, I use it to, but in the appropriate context. I'm convinced the liberal talking points don't include critical thinking or context. Just throw out one of the catch phrases and you automatically win (or so they think). I got into a discussion with a liberal friend yesterday because she had posted something on Facebook disagreeing with Rand Paul's statement that if you believe you're entitled to a physician's services for free (or a plumber's) then you believe in slavery because you're forcing that doctor to work for you for free. I stated to her that I agreed with Rand Paul even though my husband and I are drowning in medical bills and a surgery last week will send me 4 or 5 more bills to pay on. I stated that I believe these bills are our responsibility not to governments or the taxpayers as in socialized medicine. (Although I do wish my deductible was still $300. Since Obamacare destroyed it my deductible is $700). She kept trying to convince me that I should support a socialized system similar to Canada's. I told her I understood what she was saying, but I believe in individual responsibility while she believes in shared responsibility. She couldn't accept the fact that we believe differently and demanded that I "back it up and post facts". I politely explained that it's my opinion or belief and there is no way to prove an opinion. She demanded proof 4 times. Finally I tried an analogy of 20 people going out to dinner. Some ordered salad and water while others ordered prime rib and expensive wine. Some people would be OK with everyone chipping in the same amount on the bill and some would not. I would not. I would want to pay my fair share. If my dinner was $8 I wouldn't want to spend $40 to subsidize everyone else because the $32 I wasted could have gone on other bills. If I splurged and spend $40, I would feel guilty about other people supplementing my dinner. It's just a different mindset and there is no way to prove one is better. At that point she called me insane and the conversation was over. LOL! Before anyone gets upset, I'm NOT saying all liberals are like this. I'm just pointing a finger at the extreme ones. I've never met a single person in Bladen County who would not understand the difference between individual responsibility and group responsibility based on the example I gave.
On a lighter note I have to laugh at the liberal rhetoric. "Back it up with facts" is one I hear alot. Yes, I use it to, but in the appropriate context. I'm convinced the liberal talking points don't include critical thinking or context. Just throw out one of the catch phrases and you automatically win (or so they think). I got into a discussion with a liberal friend yesterday because she had posted something on Facebook disagreeing with Rand Paul's statement that if you believe you're entitled to a physician's services for free (or a plumber's) then you believe in slavery because you're forcing that doctor to work for you for free. I stated to her that I agreed with Rand Paul even though my husband and I are drowning in medical bills and a surgery last week will send me 4 or 5 more bills to pay on. I stated that I believe these bills are our responsibility not to governments or the taxpayers as in socialized medicine. (Although I do wish my deductible was still $300. Since Obamacare destroyed it my deductible is $700). She kept trying to convince me that I should support a socialized system similar to Canada's. I told her I understood what she was saying, but I believe in individual responsibility while she believes in shared responsibility. She couldn't accept the fact that we believe differently and demanded that I "back it up and post facts". I politely explained that it's my opinion or belief and there is no way to prove an opinion. She demanded proof 4 times. Finally I tried an analogy of 20 people going out to dinner. Some ordered salad and water while others ordered prime rib and expensive wine. Some people would be OK with everyone chipping in the same amount on the bill and some would not. I would not. I would want to pay my fair share. If my dinner was $8 I wouldn't want to spend $40 to subsidize everyone else because the $32 I wasted could have gone on other bills. If I splurged and spend $40, I would feel guilty about other people supplementing my dinner. It's just a different mindset and there is no way to prove one is better. At that point she called me insane and the conversation was over. LOL! Before anyone gets upset, I'm NOT saying all liberals are like this. I'm just pointing a finger at the extreme ones. I've never met a single person in Bladen County who would not understand the difference between individual responsibility and group responsibility based on the example I gave.
wrote on 09/18/2017 at 9:46 am:
Mr. Schaeffer,
I was a bit concerned by your absence. Does this mean that you have decided not to continue your discussion about the superiority of white western European culture and have decided to revert back to Democrats bad/Republicans good again?
Constitutional rule in this country is largely determined by the SCOTUS's interpretation of the US Constitution. The fact that you or I do not agree with their interpretations sometimes does not mean that they are wrong and we are right.
Republicans are in the majority in the US House and Senate, on the Supreme Court, and a man who claims to be Republican is in the White House. I understand that you are frustrated by the fact that Republicans still are unable to accomplish anything, but that really isn't the fault of the Democrats or liberals.
Right now the Republican Party is its own worst enemy, just like the Democrats are.
I was a bit concerned by your absence. Does this mean that you have decided not to continue your discussion about the superiority of white western European culture and have decided to revert back to Democrats bad/Republicans good again?
Constitutional rule in this country is largely determined by the SCOTUS's interpretation of the US Constitution. The fact that you or I do not agree with their interpretations sometimes does not mean that they are wrong and we are right.
Republicans are in the majority in the US House and Senate, on the Supreme Court, and a man who claims to be Republican is in the White House. I understand that you are frustrated by the fact that Republicans still are unable to accomplish anything, but that really isn't the fault of the Democrats or liberals.
Right now the Republican Party is its own worst enemy, just like the Democrats are.
wrote on 09/17/2017 at 11:08 pm:
Consistent with Mr. Shepard’s diatribe, and consistent with my own prior posts, I’d like to reiterate a point about the use of propaganda—similar to what Adolph Hitler's regime did in Nazi Germany--and the current practices of the extremist, radical Left, because it is exactly the same. There is a war going on for the culture and the mindset of this country, and conservatives are largely losing it.
The liberal/progressive Left is fully intent on dismantling the constitutional rule of law in this country, and in eliminating our political construct as a republican form of government. They are hell-bent on removing this President, and they are adamant on instituting socialism instead. I fault our public school and university-level education systems for utterly and completely failing to educate and encourage our youngsters with a comprehension of why America--and its system of governance--is the best in modern history, faults and all.
Look, nobody is denying that there have been problems along the way--we are, after all, a nation of people, and people are flawed. So, no system is perfect. But constitutional republicanism comes closer to the ideal than any OTHER form of governance. Socialism is a disaster, and Communism is an abject failure. What then? Do we give up?
Nossir--we do not, but NOW we have to fight the destructive forces of anarchy and fascism, which are threatening to destroy our republic. Those threats have always been 'out there', but never more so than now! Conservatives need to become MUCH more active--dare I say--aggressively so??? The alternative is that we lose America, and America becomes a footnote in history. Flawed as the Republican Party may seem right now, the future most certainly does not belong to the agenda, nor the paradigm, nor the worldview, of today’s Democrat Party. Americans did not believe Hillary Clinton, and they utterly rejected the political culture espoused by Barack Hussein Obama. They saw them both as consummate liars, and as wrong for America.
Republicans need to learn how to ‘sell’ their message of constitutional conservatism, and they better start fast! The future of America hangs in the balance.
The liberal/progressive Left is fully intent on dismantling the constitutional rule of law in this country, and in eliminating our political construct as a republican form of government. They are hell-bent on removing this President, and they are adamant on instituting socialism instead. I fault our public school and university-level education systems for utterly and completely failing to educate and encourage our youngsters with a comprehension of why America--and its system of governance--is the best in modern history, faults and all.
Look, nobody is denying that there have been problems along the way--we are, after all, a nation of people, and people are flawed. So, no system is perfect. But constitutional republicanism comes closer to the ideal than any OTHER form of governance. Socialism is a disaster, and Communism is an abject failure. What then? Do we give up?
Nossir--we do not, but NOW we have to fight the destructive forces of anarchy and fascism, which are threatening to destroy our republic. Those threats have always been 'out there', but never more so than now! Conservatives need to become MUCH more active--dare I say--aggressively so??? The alternative is that we lose America, and America becomes a footnote in history. Flawed as the Republican Party may seem right now, the future most certainly does not belong to the agenda, nor the paradigm, nor the worldview, of today’s Democrat Party. Americans did not believe Hillary Clinton, and they utterly rejected the political culture espoused by Barack Hussein Obama. They saw them both as consummate liars, and as wrong for America.
Republicans need to learn how to ‘sell’ their message of constitutional conservatism, and they better start fast! The future of America hangs in the balance.
wrote on 09/17/2017 at 10:30 pm:
Jerry,
If you choose to deny history, there is very little that can be done about that.
You might be interested to know that, as of last week, there are 13,174 registered Democrats in Bladen County and only 3,489 registered Republicans. You are literally surrounded by Democrats in your neighborhood. No wonder you are so upset.
If you choose to deny history, there is very little that can be done about that.
You might be interested to know that, as of last week, there are 13,174 registered Democrats in Bladen County and only 3,489 registered Republicans. You are literally surrounded by Democrats in your neighborhood. No wonder you are so upset.
wrote on 09/17/2017 at 10:17 pm:
Ralph:
You can carry on your deranged behavior for as long as it makes you happy. Brilliant move Ralph brilliant move. Some of us call it the old switcheroo. Lies from you people will never cease, but I do give the democratic party credit for turning things around to serve their own devious behavior and slight of hand. The democratic party is the democratic party, period. This nonsense has been tried before and it might work on other liberals but not the rest of us. It's just another lie created by the democrats to hide their evil past. The democratic party is evil, has always been evil and will go down in history as the most destructivity party ever faced by this country. Right now, the democrats are making every effort to convince people that the good in this world is evil and the evil is good.
From my perspective, they had to come out with this new lie just so they could keep the black population in chains. By feeding them everything you can, you keep their votes coming in. That ploy has worked so well for your party, the dem's are now working on the Hispanic population the same way. Good move.
You can carry on your deranged behavior for as long as it makes you happy. Brilliant move Ralph brilliant move. Some of us call it the old switcheroo. Lies from you people will never cease, but I do give the democratic party credit for turning things around to serve their own devious behavior and slight of hand. The democratic party is the democratic party, period. This nonsense has been tried before and it might work on other liberals but not the rest of us. It's just another lie created by the democrats to hide their evil past. The democratic party is evil, has always been evil and will go down in history as the most destructivity party ever faced by this country. Right now, the democrats are making every effort to convince people that the good in this world is evil and the evil is good.
From my perspective, they had to come out with this new lie just so they could keep the black population in chains. By feeding them everything you can, you keep their votes coming in. That ploy has worked so well for your party, the dem's are now working on the Hispanic population the same way. Good move.
wrote on 09/17/2017 at 7:53 pm:
Jerry,
Mr. Butler addressed that very question in a recent post. You must have missed it.
It is true that the Democratic Party was at one time the Conservative party and the Republican Party was the liberal party. Over the years after the Civil War the two parties gradually switched philosophies, ending with the so called Dixiecrats.
Does that answer the question to your satisfaction, Jerry?
Mr. Butler addressed that very question in a recent post. You must have missed it.
It is true that the Democratic Party was at one time the Conservative party and the Republican Party was the liberal party. Over the years after the Civil War the two parties gradually switched philosophies, ending with the so called Dixiecrats.
Does that answer the question to your satisfaction, Jerry?
wrote on 09/17/2017 at 7:37 pm:
You have now stooped to a new low and that is this-you've now become what you have accused others of being-a stalker. I have never used my middle name on anything other than official documents, so you or the man you live with has violated my privacy. Proud of yourself? So now you're a verifiable stalker, a diverter at large, a democrat, a liberal and God only knows what else you truly are. You have left nothing off your pallet as you will do anything to keep from answering direct questions. All you know how to do is point fingers, accuse others of whatever and anything else you can come up with to take the limelight off of you or the question.
You want a question very strange person? Here's one directed only to you if you're in fact who you say you are.
Will you confirm or deny that it was the Democratic Party who created the KKK?
You want a question very strange person? Here's one directed only to you if you're in fact who you say you are.
Will you confirm or deny that it was the Democratic Party who created the KKK?
wrote on 09/17/2017 at 6:04 pm:
Did you ask me a question, Jerry?
wrote on 09/17/2017 at 5:45 pm:
The other Sheppard:
Once again you open your mouth, so to speak, with words that have absolutely no meaning whatsoever. When have you ever responded to a question directed to you with an answer that made any sense whatsoever? All you know how to do is insult people and run from the truth. Thank God you were not around when people like Samuel Clemens and Mary Ann Evans were busy writing their novels. There's no telling how you would have portrayed them or other people like them. How dare you keep on with your stupid comments that will eventually fall on deaf ears as people learn that all you know how to do is insult and ridicule people and call them all sorts of names. Why don't you take your own advice for a change and stay the hell out of other peoples back and forth. Oh- that's right, you can't because all you know how to do is divert, divert and divert.
Once again you open your mouth, so to speak, with words that have absolutely no meaning whatsoever. When have you ever responded to a question directed to you with an answer that made any sense whatsoever? All you know how to do is insult people and run from the truth. Thank God you were not around when people like Samuel Clemens and Mary Ann Evans were busy writing their novels. There's no telling how you would have portrayed them or other people like them. How dare you keep on with your stupid comments that will eventually fall on deaf ears as people learn that all you know how to do is insult and ridicule people and call them all sorts of names. Why don't you take your own advice for a change and stay the hell out of other peoples back and forth. Oh- that's right, you can't because all you know how to do is divert, divert and divert.
wrote on 09/17/2017 at 3:15 pm:
Mr. Butler,
You are a very nice man who thinks the best of everyone, whether or not they deserve it. I admire that about you and wish I was as kind and generous in my thinking. Keep sharing your views and don't be deterred by the hateful words of a bitter bigot too cowardly to use his real name. Don't be bullied into silence.
You are a very nice man who thinks the best of everyone, whether or not they deserve it. I admire that about you and wish I was as kind and generous in my thinking. Keep sharing your views and don't be deterred by the hateful words of a bitter bigot too cowardly to use his real name. Don't be bullied into silence.
wrote on 09/17/2017 at 2:43 pm:
Mr. Butler:
Right off the bat, you gave yourself away as a mindless Liberal Democrat. How sad you are to put all the problems of this country on the backs of conservative Republicans and the Dems are nothing but angels. What a joke. If you have at one brain cell that's still alive, please use it to do your own research and not repeat the party playbook. Check out the history of both party's and unless you use a source written by another Liberal with a closed mind, you should come to the same conclusion that we did and that is that you're on the losing side of history.
It's not the conservatives who are destroying this country, it's your party. Look at what happened under Jimmy Carter, 18-20 % interest rates. Look at what Bill Clinton, a convicted felon, did to destroy this country. And no one can forget the most recent failure ever put forward by either party and that is your favorite man, Barack Hussein (I'm a Muslim) Obama. Just think, another 4-8 years with him in charge and your dream of total destruction of this country would have been completed.
Open your mind, set aside the party line and try thinking for yourself for a change. Every source I've checked, every where I've looked has confirmed that it's your party that gave us the KKK, it's your part that did their level best to block any and all advancements the Republican party has introduced to improve the lives of all members of the black population. It's your party sir, that will not rest until this country goes from a Republic to a Socialist state.
If its Socialism you want then please leave and go to Russia or maybe to Sweden. Yea, both of those countries are doing real good under Socialism. Have fun and while you're there, remember how good you really had it here in America. Wake up man, it's the Republican party that will end up saving this country and not the "do nothing" party.
Right off the bat, you gave yourself away as a mindless Liberal Democrat. How sad you are to put all the problems of this country on the backs of conservative Republicans and the Dems are nothing but angels. What a joke. If you have at one brain cell that's still alive, please use it to do your own research and not repeat the party playbook. Check out the history of both party's and unless you use a source written by another Liberal with a closed mind, you should come to the same conclusion that we did and that is that you're on the losing side of history.
It's not the conservatives who are destroying this country, it's your party. Look at what happened under Jimmy Carter, 18-20 % interest rates. Look at what Bill Clinton, a convicted felon, did to destroy this country. And no one can forget the most recent failure ever put forward by either party and that is your favorite man, Barack Hussein (I'm a Muslim) Obama. Just think, another 4-8 years with him in charge and your dream of total destruction of this country would have been completed.
Open your mind, set aside the party line and try thinking for yourself for a change. Every source I've checked, every where I've looked has confirmed that it's your party that gave us the KKK, it's your part that did their level best to block any and all advancements the Republican party has introduced to improve the lives of all members of the black population. It's your party sir, that will not rest until this country goes from a Republic to a Socialist state.
If its Socialism you want then please leave and go to Russia or maybe to Sweden. Yea, both of those countries are doing real good under Socialism. Have fun and while you're there, remember how good you really had it here in America. Wake up man, it's the Republican party that will end up saving this country and not the "do nothing" party.
wrote on 09/17/2017 at 7:28 am:
Dear Lord Jesus, please on this wonderful day put a stop of the ongoing and sensless mission of the Conservatives' and Republicans' mindless mission to destroy what our forefathers and foremothers worked so hard for . Please give them the knowledge to understand that the worth in many, many cases far exceeds the cost.
Please forgive them for they know not what they do.
Please forgive them for they know not what they do.
wrote on 09/12/2017 at 10:43 am:
Mr. Schaeffer,
As to another of your points, I do think certain words such as xenophobia are bandied about carelessly and inaccurately.
Certainly some people have an irrational fear or hatred of people of another race, religion, or culture (or political affiliation as evidenced by some posts on this very site).
But xenophobia in its various forms is not nearly as common as ethnocentrism, which is the basis for much of the racism and other biases that drive our current political and social climate.
As to another of your points, I do think certain words such as xenophobia are bandied about carelessly and inaccurately.
Certainly some people have an irrational fear or hatred of people of another race, religion, or culture (or political affiliation as evidenced by some posts on this very site).
But xenophobia in its various forms is not nearly as common as ethnocentrism, which is the basis for much of the racism and other biases that drive our current political and social climate.
wrote on 09/12/2017 at 10:26 am:
Ms Sheppard – good point, and clearly, I need to clarify and tweak my observations a bit. I think it is intrinsic to the preservation of Western culture that we understand WHY our Western cultural values, ethics, and traditions can be considered ‘superior’ in nature to many others. I don’t intend my observations as a snide “Oh look—I’m better than you” sort of thing. I AM suggesting, however, that the development of Western values has enabled the entire world to benefit from its progression thru the ages, both medically, socially, politically, and, I’m sure, in many other ways as well.
I’ll get back to you all, after I’ve had a chance to reflect on this.
I’ll get back to you all, after I’ve had a chance to reflect on this.
wrote on 09/12/2017 at 9:19 am:
Mr. Shaeffer,
I wish you would clarify and expound on your belief that all cultures are not equal.
What, in your opinion, makes some superior to others?
And does that your belief e tend to an opinion that members of these superior cultures are superior to other humans?
Isn't that the very belief that rationalized the owning of slaves throughout history and especially in America?
I wish you would clarify and expound on your belief that all cultures are not equal.
What, in your opinion, makes some superior to others?
And does that your belief e tend to an opinion that members of these superior cultures are superior to other humans?
Isn't that the very belief that rationalized the owning of slaves throughout history and especially in America?
wrote on 09/12/2017 at 9:16 am:
Mr. Schaeffer:
Good morning-I never tire of reading your input on here on this forum. That being said, I, being of sound mind and body, agree with your most recent posting. That posting concerns the state of our country and yes, the future doesn't look good unless we as a people can find a way to restore what used to be.
The "downward spiral" that you alluded to, in my opinion, got its start in the sixties when "prayer" was taken out of our schools. A lot of our citizens think and say that one person or one vote, for that matter, can't make a difference, but consider the difference that Madelyn O'Hare made to this country.
To me, it looks as if you placed a hidden message between the lines when you wrote, "when you spend enough time around savages, you begin to go native." Thanks, I got it, and if that was indeed your intended purpose, I say again, thanks for waking me up.
I came here for discussions, not the hate, insults and threats that I've witnessed since my first posting. Have a great day, in spite of the rain.
Good morning-I never tire of reading your input on here on this forum. That being said, I, being of sound mind and body, agree with your most recent posting. That posting concerns the state of our country and yes, the future doesn't look good unless we as a people can find a way to restore what used to be.
The "downward spiral" that you alluded to, in my opinion, got its start in the sixties when "prayer" was taken out of our schools. A lot of our citizens think and say that one person or one vote, for that matter, can't make a difference, but consider the difference that Madelyn O'Hare made to this country.
To me, it looks as if you placed a hidden message between the lines when you wrote, "when you spend enough time around savages, you begin to go native." Thanks, I got it, and if that was indeed your intended purpose, I say again, thanks for waking me up.
I came here for discussions, not the hate, insults and threats that I've witnessed since my first posting. Have a great day, in spite of the rain.
wrote on 09/11/2017 at 8:15 pm:
Because I knew that 9/11 was coming, I started a discussion (several posts below) which reiterated some earlier points that I had made regarding our American culture, along with what I described as our American values, ethics, morality, and traditions. I felt that it was worth revisiting because of several events over the last few years which have served to highlight the great disparity between those traditional values, and the sorts of values, ethics, and morality which is being encouraged thru-out our society today. Simply put, we are on a downward spiral.
I noted earlier that I believe that all civilizations are not equal. The current, liberal Leftist trend seems to disbelieve that, and would have you to think that, if you question or criticize another civilization or their values, you are sexist, racist, ethnophobic, xenophobic, islamophobic, and virtually every other newly-minted word which they trot out to mock, scorn, and ridicule your opinion. But, as I pointed out, civilization is written in the language of values. That language tells us how to behave and how to live. Without that language, we're savages. And savages are not that hard to find all around us. And when you spend enough time around savages, you begin to go native. It was the savagery of a 7th century value system which caused the catastrophe of 9/11/2001, and it is fundamentally important that, instead of soft, weeping memorials and deep mourning that focuses only on the many lives lost that day, we remember why that day even happened in the first place. It is important that we recognize the deeply savage, deeply flawed and defective value system which encouraged a 7th century ideology masquerading as a religion to perpetrate the worst catastrophe on American soil since WWII.
I noted earlier what I thought represented some of the simple, basic concepts that represented traditional American values—the sorts of things that we expect normal people to do, or the way that they should be, in order to enjoy a reasonable, just, and civilized society. But those very same virtues and concepts are now held in contempt by the liberal Left—mocked, scorned, ridiculed, and met with contemptuous laughter. Instead, the Leftist progressives have substituted their OWN standard of virtues and values, and have presumptuously decided that only THEY can be the arbiter of what constitutes legitimate values, morals, and even thoughts! The Left—thru the support of the media, Hollywood, liberal politicians who obsequiously grovel at the trough of political correctness, and a compliant and uninformed electorate, has become the authority for deciding what is right, and what is not. And like obedient lemmings, liberal Democrats sagely nod their heads, and agree with them.
When values decline, so does the civilization. When a civilization becomes savage and rooted in barbarism, there is no therapeutic balm for it—it must be challenged and destroyed, lest it become a viral malignancy and a scourge across the face of the earth, and sweep other nations into its own abyss of self-destruction.
We cannot, and we must not, forget what caused the catastrophe of 9/11/2001, and we must not forget the moral and religious malignancy which caused it. We cannot, and we must not, lose the very values, ethics, and traditions which formed our country into the grandest and freest nation in history. When we lose sight of who we are, we become fair prey by lethal forces intent on killing us, and killing America.
I noted earlier that I believe that all civilizations are not equal. The current, liberal Leftist trend seems to disbelieve that, and would have you to think that, if you question or criticize another civilization or their values, you are sexist, racist, ethnophobic, xenophobic, islamophobic, and virtually every other newly-minted word which they trot out to mock, scorn, and ridicule your opinion. But, as I pointed out, civilization is written in the language of values. That language tells us how to behave and how to live. Without that language, we're savages. And savages are not that hard to find all around us. And when you spend enough time around savages, you begin to go native. It was the savagery of a 7th century value system which caused the catastrophe of 9/11/2001, and it is fundamentally important that, instead of soft, weeping memorials and deep mourning that focuses only on the many lives lost that day, we remember why that day even happened in the first place. It is important that we recognize the deeply savage, deeply flawed and defective value system which encouraged a 7th century ideology masquerading as a religion to perpetrate the worst catastrophe on American soil since WWII.
I noted earlier what I thought represented some of the simple, basic concepts that represented traditional American values—the sorts of things that we expect normal people to do, or the way that they should be, in order to enjoy a reasonable, just, and civilized society. But those very same virtues and concepts are now held in contempt by the liberal Left—mocked, scorned, ridiculed, and met with contemptuous laughter. Instead, the Leftist progressives have substituted their OWN standard of virtues and values, and have presumptuously decided that only THEY can be the arbiter of what constitutes legitimate values, morals, and even thoughts! The Left—thru the support of the media, Hollywood, liberal politicians who obsequiously grovel at the trough of political correctness, and a compliant and uninformed electorate, has become the authority for deciding what is right, and what is not. And like obedient lemmings, liberal Democrats sagely nod their heads, and agree with them.
When values decline, so does the civilization. When a civilization becomes savage and rooted in barbarism, there is no therapeutic balm for it—it must be challenged and destroyed, lest it become a viral malignancy and a scourge across the face of the earth, and sweep other nations into its own abyss of self-destruction.
We cannot, and we must not, forget what caused the catastrophe of 9/11/2001, and we must not forget the moral and religious malignancy which caused it. We cannot, and we must not, lose the very values, ethics, and traditions which formed our country into the grandest and freest nation in history. When we lose sight of who we are, we become fair prey by lethal forces intent on killing us, and killing America.
wrote on 09/11/2017 at 8:14 pm:
Ms. Pate:
There you go. I'm like you on this one, if southern fried chicken and BBQ don't work then there's no hope. Woe is me.
There you go. I'm like you on this one, if southern fried chicken and BBQ don't work then there's no hope. Woe is me.
wrote on 09/11/2017 at 6:47 pm:
Thank you for your kind words Mrs. Sheppard and Mr. Shepard (no relation). Sadly I do have to be out of the classroom for a week. Due to budget cuts school counselors have to teach now. It's just one period a day, but it still puts the school in a bind because you can't get a substitute for non-instructional personnel. Mr. Shepard, now that you mention it, I have hear other horror stories about people moving to the south (or anywhere) and wanting to change things rather than assimilate. I hope your neighbors do choose to assimilate. If not I guess you'll just have to keep your distance. Maybe you could try killing them with kindness and softening them with some good 'ole southern food like BBQ.
wrote on 09/11/2017 at 4:53 pm:
Ms. Pate:
How refreshing to have a rational conversation for a change. I too remember the days of Melvin's Pool Room before Mr. & Mrs. Melvin turned the business over to Pat. Even then, he and his crew continued on with the family tradition of making the best hamburger in the state. It's still good under the new ownership but they're just not the same.
As for my "yankee" neighbors, I've learned to live with them although its been real difficult. Would you believe when they started coming down to Wilmington in droves by way of the new I-40, they had the gall to tell us that we needed to go back to school to learn how to speak proper English. They were always heard telling people that "we don't do it that way up North." But you got to love them and hope that over time, they'll assimilate with our customs and attitudes and become one of us. Otherwise, they should pack their bags and go back home.
I hope your operation goes well and that you'll be able to return to work as soon as you can.
How refreshing to have a rational conversation for a change. I too remember the days of Melvin's Pool Room before Mr. & Mrs. Melvin turned the business over to Pat. Even then, he and his crew continued on with the family tradition of making the best hamburger in the state. It's still good under the new ownership but they're just not the same.
As for my "yankee" neighbors, I've learned to live with them although its been real difficult. Would you believe when they started coming down to Wilmington in droves by way of the new I-40, they had the gall to tell us that we needed to go back to school to learn how to speak proper English. They were always heard telling people that "we don't do it that way up North." But you got to love them and hope that over time, they'll assimilate with our customs and attitudes and become one of us. Otherwise, they should pack their bags and go back home.
I hope your operation goes well and that you'll be able to return to work as soon as you can.
wrote on 09/11/2017 at 3:58 pm:
I'm sure you hate having to miss work. I know it is most difficult, especially at the beginning of the school year. Thankfully you will not have to be out of a classroom at least.
I hope your surgery goes well and you have a quick recovery.
I hope your surgery goes well and you have a quick recovery.
wrote on 09/11/2017 at 3:47 pm:
I am not retired. I am a school counselor with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, a Master's Degree in Counseling, and a Mental Health First Aid Certification. I include that information due to all of the recent claims of various mental health issues on this post by unqualified people. Although I'm more qualified than most of the people who made those "diagnoses" I chose to remain silent and hope that trend dies out. Today is an optional workday due to weather. I chose not to work since we will be making it up at a later date. I have surgery coming up this week so as I recover (if I'm able) I may be posting during the day again for a week.
wrote on 09/11/2017 at 2:14 pm:
Certainly if your former colleague was approached as you say his reaction was warranted. I myself am sometimes confronted by angry Trump supporters and it is difficult to remain civil under such circumstances.
Since you say he reads here perhaps he will contact me directly and allow me to prove that I did not have any such interaction with him.
As to a description, I am in my early 60s, tall, medium build, brown eyes, with brown/gray hair (more gray every day). Perhaps that will be enough for him to determine that I am not guilty of offending him in such a manner.
I meant no harm by asking about your job. I thought perhaps you had retired. I must be mistaken in thinking you were an educator and thus was surprised to see you posting during school hours.
It seems that most anything I write offends you, and there must be more of a reason than just a political difference. You were absolutely correct when you posted earlier that we could not be any more different, a fact for which I am sure we are both most grateful.
Since you say he reads here perhaps he will contact me directly and allow me to prove that I did not have any such interaction with him.
As to a description, I am in my early 60s, tall, medium build, brown eyes, with brown/gray hair (more gray every day). Perhaps that will be enough for him to determine that I am not guilty of offending him in such a manner.
I meant no harm by asking about your job. I thought perhaps you had retired. I must be mistaken in thinking you were an educator and thus was surprised to see you posting during school hours.
It seems that most anything I write offends you, and there must be more of a reason than just a political difference. You were absolutely correct when you posted earlier that we could not be any more different, a fact for which I am sure we are both most grateful.
wrote on 09/11/2017 at 2:00 pm:
Thankfully I put in the disclaimer that perhaps someone used Mrs. Sheppard's name or title. That's what I do when I don't witness something myself. No, I won't provide the name because he said himself he was ashamed of the way he spoke to a lady. In my opinion, it was totally warranted. My opinion is irrelevant.
I understand he feels ashamed and regretful. I can respect his opinion. I'm tolerant in that way, despite the claims otherwise. I will not rat him out.
As I said, he reads this forum but chooses not to post. I'm sure I have the details correct but again, it could have been someone using an alias, especially since they claimed to be something with the local democrat association. I didn't ask the title and I don't even know the official title of that group, but I have seen something that shows Patsy Sheppard as holding an office. Still, anyone can claim they are anyone. My friend even asked me to describe the Mrs. Sheppard on this forum and I said that I had no idea as we'd never met. I'm glad to know that the Mrs. Sheppard on this forum did not behave in such a manner. Even though it was not her, the situation is still a great example of what intruding into a private conversation is versus defending oneself on a public form, whether the post is address to you or not.
I do work. I don't know why you would think otherwise. I believe every able bodied person should work unless they are retired or a stay-at-home mom or dad. I obviously am not working today since I'm posting in the middle of the day. Perhaps that's what led to your confusion.
I understand he feels ashamed and regretful. I can respect his opinion. I'm tolerant in that way, despite the claims otherwise. I will not rat him out.
As I said, he reads this forum but chooses not to post. I'm sure I have the details correct but again, it could have been someone using an alias, especially since they claimed to be something with the local democrat association. I didn't ask the title and I don't even know the official title of that group, but I have seen something that shows Patsy Sheppard as holding an office. Still, anyone can claim they are anyone. My friend even asked me to describe the Mrs. Sheppard on this forum and I said that I had no idea as we'd never met. I'm glad to know that the Mrs. Sheppard on this forum did not behave in such a manner. Even though it was not her, the situation is still a great example of what intruding into a private conversation is versus defending oneself on a public form, whether the post is address to you or not.
I do work. I don't know why you would think otherwise. I believe every able bodied person should work unless they are retired or a stay-at-home mom or dad. I obviously am not working today since I'm posting in the middle of the day. Perhaps that's what led to your confusion.
wrote on 09/11/2017 at 11:26 am:
Well, your former colleague either misunderstood or was misinformed, and if you would provide his name I would gladly contact him to let him know that.
I seldom shop anywhere in Bladen County, and would not confront anyone in such a way if I did.
Are you sure you have the details right?
Are you not working anymore?
I seldom shop anywhere in Bladen County, and would not confront anyone in such a way if I did.
Are you sure you have the details right?
Are you not working anymore?
wrote on 09/11/2017 at 11:04 am:
Mr. Schaeffer, well said, as always!
Mr. Patrick, don't worry about me. The lady from Tar Heel doesn't stress me out a bit. I'm very used to her nature. She can dish it out but she can't take it. She can say whatever she wants, but if anyone says something back we are attacking or harassing her. She recently made a statement about me. Not TO ME because she made a point that she is not addressing me directly so I should not respond. I'm barging into a conversation. WRONG. If it's ABOUT me then I'm going to respond on this PUBLIC forum. Anyway, she wrote, "As someone recently said, "People are all for tolerance and freedom of speech..............until someone expresses a differing opinion". I wrote that statement and stand by it 100% (she also accused me of being hypocritical and flip flopping). I guess her definition of "tolerance" means that I should not respond or disagree. In reality, "tolerance" simple means that you acknowledge that other opinions exist. It's only the liberals that want laws passed against everything they don't like and that's definitely intolerant. As for what you did to piss her off, I have no idea. Sometimes you don't have to do anything except disagree with her. As for barging into conversations, I have an interesting story. I'm going to state a disclaimer upfront because I have no proof it was the lady from Tar Heel. It's possible that someone used her name to do their work. I ran into a former colleague who is a very kind gentleman who has been retired for awhile. He praised me for being so kind to the lady from Tar Heel on this forum. He's one of those who read but don't post. He's very conservative, so there goes her theory that people are afraid to post because of us conservatives. He told me that he was ashamed to admit this and regrets it but wanted to share something with me. He said that he'd never spoken to a lady in his entire life this way. He was in a local store having a PRIVATE conversation with a friend about how they dislike the liberal policies of Obama and Hillary Clinton. Somebody by the name of Patsy Sheppard with a title for the local democratic association walks over, barges in, and explains why they are all wrong. As I said, it could have been someone using her name thinking her title would have more clout. She was very cantankerous and my friend ended up saying, "Lady, you better get out of my face". Now that is truly an example of barging into a private conversation.
As for those "Yankee snobs", give them a chance. It's a whole different culture. Once they feel like they know you they will warm up. Invite them over for coffee or strike up a conversation while they're out doing yard work. I'm a transplanted Yankee. Well, sort of. I'm from Alexandria, VA. Although VA is technically a southern state, the northern part takes on the culture of DC and the north. We are raised to be leery of strangers and it takes awhile for a stranger to become a friend (then everything changes). Yankees also tend to be more blunt and direct, so don't ask them what they think unless you really want to know. I've been in NC since 1983. My family spent summers at White Lake (both parents were teachers). I still remember my first summer at the lake when I was 5. I had gone with the neighbors to get a "Pool Room" hamburger (which later became Melvins). I was terrified because strangers talked to me. They had to explain to me that in the south it's normal to talk to people you don't know as long as you stay with the adults you are with. LOL!
Mr. Patrick, don't worry about me. The lady from Tar Heel doesn't stress me out a bit. I'm very used to her nature. She can dish it out but she can't take it. She can say whatever she wants, but if anyone says something back we are attacking or harassing her. She recently made a statement about me. Not TO ME because she made a point that she is not addressing me directly so I should not respond. I'm barging into a conversation. WRONG. If it's ABOUT me then I'm going to respond on this PUBLIC forum. Anyway, she wrote, "As someone recently said, "People are all for tolerance and freedom of speech..............until someone expresses a differing opinion". I wrote that statement and stand by it 100% (she also accused me of being hypocritical and flip flopping). I guess her definition of "tolerance" means that I should not respond or disagree. In reality, "tolerance" simple means that you acknowledge that other opinions exist. It's only the liberals that want laws passed against everything they don't like and that's definitely intolerant. As for what you did to piss her off, I have no idea. Sometimes you don't have to do anything except disagree with her. As for barging into conversations, I have an interesting story. I'm going to state a disclaimer upfront because I have no proof it was the lady from Tar Heel. It's possible that someone used her name to do their work. I ran into a former colleague who is a very kind gentleman who has been retired for awhile. He praised me for being so kind to the lady from Tar Heel on this forum. He's one of those who read but don't post. He's very conservative, so there goes her theory that people are afraid to post because of us conservatives. He told me that he was ashamed to admit this and regrets it but wanted to share something with me. He said that he'd never spoken to a lady in his entire life this way. He was in a local store having a PRIVATE conversation with a friend about how they dislike the liberal policies of Obama and Hillary Clinton. Somebody by the name of Patsy Sheppard with a title for the local democratic association walks over, barges in, and explains why they are all wrong. As I said, it could have been someone using her name thinking her title would have more clout. She was very cantankerous and my friend ended up saying, "Lady, you better get out of my face". Now that is truly an example of barging into a private conversation.
As for those "Yankee snobs", give them a chance. It's a whole different culture. Once they feel like they know you they will warm up. Invite them over for coffee or strike up a conversation while they're out doing yard work. I'm a transplanted Yankee. Well, sort of. I'm from Alexandria, VA. Although VA is technically a southern state, the northern part takes on the culture of DC and the north. We are raised to be leery of strangers and it takes awhile for a stranger to become a friend (then everything changes). Yankees also tend to be more blunt and direct, so don't ask them what they think unless you really want to know. I've been in NC since 1983. My family spent summers at White Lake (both parents were teachers). I still remember my first summer at the lake when I was 5. I had gone with the neighbors to get a "Pool Room" hamburger (which later became Melvins). I was terrified because strangers talked to me. They had to explain to me that in the south it's normal to talk to people you don't know as long as you stay with the adults you are with. LOL!
wrote on 09/11/2017 at 10:27 am:
It seems that I am the topic of most of your discussion. So I choose to talk about what kind of a sick coward hides behind multiple fake names to insult me.
Since you are determined to continue, you could at least have a shred of decency and stop using the name and city of a very nice young man from Wilmington.
Obviously you are too "chicken" to use your real name again, especially after your big dramatic goodbye post. I can see why that would be embarrassing. Although everyone I have spoken to knows exactly who you are already.
Your next fake name needs to be easy for you to remember. How about Glen Wood? Or maybe you would prefer a more famous alias.
Maybe you should consider one of these:
Jerry Lewis
David Duke
Jackson Brown
Since you are determined to continue, you could at least have a shred of decency and stop using the name and city of a very nice young man from Wilmington.
Obviously you are too "chicken" to use your real name again, especially after your big dramatic goodbye post. I can see why that would be embarrassing. Although everyone I have spoken to knows exactly who you are already.
Your next fake name needs to be easy for you to remember. How about Glen Wood? Or maybe you would prefer a more famous alias.
Maybe you should consider one of these:
Jerry Lewis
David Duke
Jackson Brown
wrote on 09/11/2017 at 9:47 am:
Mr. Schaeffer:
Thanks for asking that question. You can say that, on a smaller scale, Tobermory is a bedroom community of St. Pauls, NC. I jest of coarse. Just say that when you pass through it, you'd better not blink.
Now, a word or two for that paranoid individual from Tar Heel. Step back and listen to yourself. My gosh Homo sapien, are you serious? Now, I'm a "stalker" and a "harasser." Where will your obvious paranoia take you next? All I know about you is what I read here on this forum. If you honestly think that I would waste my precious time researching you and where you live, then you're very much mistaken. I know it's hard for you to understand but everybody is like you. Calm down.
You know what, forget it. It's becoming more and more obvious to me that no one can pose a question to you without getting some form of hate filled words back in return. Oh sure, you can provide the answer if I asked you what two plus two was, but to answer a real question from me or anyone else for that matter, you always divert and end up saying something stupid instead. But honestly, that's just the true nature of a liberal and I would not expect anything more from you. Try joining in on a discussion for a change and provide answers or opinions that provoke thought and not hate or ridicule.
Thanks for asking that question. You can say that, on a smaller scale, Tobermory is a bedroom community of St. Pauls, NC. I jest of coarse. Just say that when you pass through it, you'd better not blink.
Now, a word or two for that paranoid individual from Tar Heel. Step back and listen to yourself. My gosh Homo sapien, are you serious? Now, I'm a "stalker" and a "harasser." Where will your obvious paranoia take you next? All I know about you is what I read here on this forum. If you honestly think that I would waste my precious time researching you and where you live, then you're very much mistaken. I know it's hard for you to understand but everybody is like you. Calm down.
You know what, forget it. It's becoming more and more obvious to me that no one can pose a question to you without getting some form of hate filled words back in return. Oh sure, you can provide the answer if I asked you what two plus two was, but to answer a real question from me or anyone else for that matter, you always divert and end up saying something stupid instead. But honestly, that's just the true nature of a liberal and I would not expect anything more from you. Try joining in on a discussion for a change and provide answers or opinions that provoke thought and not hate or ridicule.
wrote on 09/11/2017 at 9:08 am:
Tobemory is a little crossroads community about two miles from my house. There is one little country store, a church, and a volunteer fire department of which my husband is a member.
So "Patrick" has been doing a little stalking to go with his online harassment.
My husband tells me that online trolls who do this kind of thing can become quite dangerous to their victims, but I'm not afraid of a man in his 70s who plays make believe.
Besides, I live next door to the sheriff and have three other neighbors who are police officers.
So "Patrick" has been doing a little stalking to go with his online harassment.
My husband tells me that online trolls who do this kind of thing can become quite dangerous to their victims, but I'm not afraid of a man in his 70s who plays make believe.
Besides, I live next door to the sheriff and have three other neighbors who are police officers.
wrote on 09/11/2017 at 8:52 am:
While we’re on the subject of ‘trolls’, would one of you Shepard’s/Sheppard’s tell me what ‘Tobermory’ is?? Is that an urban subdivision in Wilmington, or is it the name of a beer joint off of downtown Market Street? 😀
wrote on 09/10/2017 at 11:25 pm:
Strange person-you just don't give up do you. I just looked up that word you insist on using to describe people you disagree with and that word is a troll.
According to the internet, application of the term "troll" is subjective. Some readers may characterize a post as "trolling" while others may regard the same post as a legitimate contribution to any discussion, even if controversial. At times, the word can be abused-just as YOU are doing-to refer to anyone with controversial opinions THEY/YOU disagree with. Farhad Manjoo criticizes a viewpoint held by others, noting that if the person really is "trolling", they are a lot more intelligent than their critics would believe.
Suck on that for awhile strange person and accept me for what I am, just another contributor on this forum that for reasons I now understand. Anybody having something to say on here that you seem to disagree with is a "troll."
According to the internet, application of the term "troll" is subjective. Some readers may characterize a post as "trolling" while others may regard the same post as a legitimate contribution to any discussion, even if controversial. At times, the word can be abused-just as YOU are doing-to refer to anyone with controversial opinions THEY/YOU disagree with. Farhad Manjoo criticizes a viewpoint held by others, noting that if the person really is "trolling", they are a lot more intelligent than their critics would believe.
Suck on that for awhile strange person and accept me for what I am, just another contributor on this forum that for reasons I now understand. Anybody having something to say on here that you seem to disagree with is a "troll."
wrote on 09/10/2017 at 11:02 pm:
Interestingly enough, there actually is a very nice young man named Patrick Shepard who lives in Wilmington. He used to live in Burgaw, and he does know where Tar Heel is, but certainly isn't old enough to have played pool there. He also didn't know about a community named Tobemory, or anything about Bladen Online. He seems much too normal to be an internet troll.
wrote on 09/10/2017 at 10:57 pm:
Mr. Schaeffer:
Your points are well taken and allow me to say thanks for speaking up as you did. How refreshing it is to try and discuss some topics of interest to one and all instead of what's been displayed here in the last few days. This is why I came here and yes, the points you made talks of a time when sanity prevailed in parents and teachers alike. My parents for example, made a point of staying involved with my education as did my teachers. Since I don't know your age I can only say that most of my generation turned out just fine. A couple exceptions would be the likes of Kathy Boudin, a convicted felony murderer who is now an adjunct professor at Columbia University along with one of her cohorts, Bill Ayers, a former weather underground co-founder, a self-described communist revolutionary and one who bombed a number of public buildings. He's a retired professor who taught at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Nowadays, parents are way to busy to be troubled with their children and as I've stated, teachers are out there begging for more money when in my opinion, they're not earning the money they currently receive. That's not to say that they're incapable of being a good teacher, what I'm saying is the system will not allow them to do their job. Your comments, please.
Your points are well taken and allow me to say thanks for speaking up as you did. How refreshing it is to try and discuss some topics of interest to one and all instead of what's been displayed here in the last few days. This is why I came here and yes, the points you made talks of a time when sanity prevailed in parents and teachers alike. My parents for example, made a point of staying involved with my education as did my teachers. Since I don't know your age I can only say that most of my generation turned out just fine. A couple exceptions would be the likes of Kathy Boudin, a convicted felony murderer who is now an adjunct professor at Columbia University along with one of her cohorts, Bill Ayers, a former weather underground co-founder, a self-described communist revolutionary and one who bombed a number of public buildings. He's a retired professor who taught at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Nowadays, parents are way to busy to be troubled with their children and as I've stated, teachers are out there begging for more money when in my opinion, they're not earning the money they currently receive. That's not to say that they're incapable of being a good teacher, what I'm saying is the system will not allow them to do their job. Your comments, please.
wrote on 09/10/2017 at 9:57 pm:
This is from an online technology publication that my husband, a computer techie, shared with me. Perhaps it will answer your questions about my certainty that you are a troll, and who you really are.
"A troll is a special class of sociopath. These nasty individuals are the sadistic ne'er-do-wells of the digital realm, the misanthropic misfits of information age. Unlike a normal person, when a troll enters an online discussion, he is not seeking truth or clarification. He usually doesn't even know how to debate in an intelligent manner. All he wants to do is inflict pain, ridicule, and humiliation on a targeted person.
Unless a troll is tech savvy, their identity is easy to determine by tracing their IP address. This is particularly easy when a troll uses multiple fake identities with the same IP address, and the troll is posting on a public forum with minimal security measures in place. All it takes to determine the troll's location (and thus their real identity) is knowledge of computer programming and access to their internet service provider. If a troll is harassing and/or threatening other people online, many ISPs will provide the location of the troll to law enforcement agencies without a warrant if the troll's behaviors have violated their TOS agreement."
But a good computer guy doesn't need law enforcement to do the trace as he can do it himself.
"A troll is a special class of sociopath. These nasty individuals are the sadistic ne'er-do-wells of the digital realm, the misanthropic misfits of information age. Unlike a normal person, when a troll enters an online discussion, he is not seeking truth or clarification. He usually doesn't even know how to debate in an intelligent manner. All he wants to do is inflict pain, ridicule, and humiliation on a targeted person.
Unless a troll is tech savvy, their identity is easy to determine by tracing their IP address. This is particularly easy when a troll uses multiple fake identities with the same IP address, and the troll is posting on a public forum with minimal security measures in place. All it takes to determine the troll's location (and thus their real identity) is knowledge of computer programming and access to their internet service provider. If a troll is harassing and/or threatening other people online, many ISPs will provide the location of the troll to law enforcement agencies without a warrant if the troll's behaviors have violated their TOS agreement."
But a good computer guy doesn't need law enforcement to do the trace as he can do it himself.
wrote on 09/10/2017 at 9:37 pm:
For those of you who have been following some of my observations (‘rants’) against liberals and progressives over the last few months, I thought it appropriate to reiterate some of the fundamental differences between us common, conservative folks, and the current, popular cultural ideology of the Democrat Leftists. This is especially important regarding the immigration issue.
Seems to me that, once upon a time, parents (and even teachers!) taught their kids that it was correct and proper to get married before you have children, and strive to stay married for their sake. Get the education you need for gainful employment, work hard, and avoid idleness. Go the extra mile for your employer or client. Be a patriot, ready to serve the country. Be a good neighbor, be civic-minded, and be charitable. Avoid coarse language in public. Be respectful of authority. Do not engage in substance abuse and crime.
I know—shocking, right? Shocking because, in today’s ‘anything goes’ culture, these sorts of values are considered repressive, intimidating, prejudicial, and intolerant. Look--nowadays, too few Americans are qualified for the jobs available. They are ill-educated, and very often, thoroughly unmotivated. Male working-age labor force participation is at Depression-era lows. Opioid abuse is widespread. Homicidal violence plagues inner cities. Almost half of all children seem to be born out of wedlock, and even more are raised by single, welfare dependent mothers. Many college students lack even basic skills, and high school students rank below those from two dozen other countries! There is a fundamental misperception of values going on here.
Nowadays, Americans are being asked (‘coerced’) into accepting into our midst people groups, ethnicities, and cultures from abroad, and whose fundamental tenets are incompatible with our western, American civilization and culture. Those who disagree with this onslaught of our American values are labelled ‘intolerant bigots’ by the liberal Left, and are often physically attacked by progressive Marxist/socialists whose intent is clearly to sow anarchy and create civil unrest. We are constantly being told by the mainstream media that conservatives are intolerant and hateful for not simply opening our arms (and our wallets) to all of these Third-World cultures, people groups, and ethnicities whose own culture is so often at direct odds with our own.
But here’s a news flash for you—all cultures are not equal. And, since all cultures are not equal, all VALUES are not equal either! In fact, some are better—more superior—than others, and I submit to you that our AMERICAN tradition of cultural values and ethics is far superior, and in most cases better, than those of the rest of the world. Any legitimate account of American history will reveal that America was founded by Protestants (mostly) and culturally predicated upon Judeo-Christian values and principles. The death, disease, and moral rot so prevalent in much of America today is there because all too many have abandoned these values, and decided to make our own rules.
Those who come here from other cultural backgrounds owe it to us, and to themselves, to learn how to assimilate, and to become a part of the fabric of America. It doesn’t suggest that they forget their ethnicity, or their own native culture. But it DOES mean that they will assimilate—learn to be Americans, and learn to live tolerantly amongst us. It means that they will learn our language, learn (and be tolerant of) OUR unique culture, and to respect OUR views and viewpoints, even as we learn to tolerate and respect theirs. It’s a two-way street, and without an understanding that they will assimilate, we owe them nothing. The burden is on the immigrant—legal or illegal--regardless of country, regardless of race, nationality, ethnicity, or religion. Lastly, it is IMPERATIVE that parents and teachers teach and reinforce the fundamentals of common sense, personal maturity, personal responsibility, and good citizenship to our nation’s youngsters. Without it, America deteriorates into an historical footnote, and we lose the greatest experiment in freedom and self-government that the world has ever known.
Seems to me that, once upon a time, parents (and even teachers!) taught their kids that it was correct and proper to get married before you have children, and strive to stay married for their sake. Get the education you need for gainful employment, work hard, and avoid idleness. Go the extra mile for your employer or client. Be a patriot, ready to serve the country. Be a good neighbor, be civic-minded, and be charitable. Avoid coarse language in public. Be respectful of authority. Do not engage in substance abuse and crime.
I know—shocking, right? Shocking because, in today’s ‘anything goes’ culture, these sorts of values are considered repressive, intimidating, prejudicial, and intolerant. Look--nowadays, too few Americans are qualified for the jobs available. They are ill-educated, and very often, thoroughly unmotivated. Male working-age labor force participation is at Depression-era lows. Opioid abuse is widespread. Homicidal violence plagues inner cities. Almost half of all children seem to be born out of wedlock, and even more are raised by single, welfare dependent mothers. Many college students lack even basic skills, and high school students rank below those from two dozen other countries! There is a fundamental misperception of values going on here.
Nowadays, Americans are being asked (‘coerced’) into accepting into our midst people groups, ethnicities, and cultures from abroad, and whose fundamental tenets are incompatible with our western, American civilization and culture. Those who disagree with this onslaught of our American values are labelled ‘intolerant bigots’ by the liberal Left, and are often physically attacked by progressive Marxist/socialists whose intent is clearly to sow anarchy and create civil unrest. We are constantly being told by the mainstream media that conservatives are intolerant and hateful for not simply opening our arms (and our wallets) to all of these Third-World cultures, people groups, and ethnicities whose own culture is so often at direct odds with our own.
But here’s a news flash for you—all cultures are not equal. And, since all cultures are not equal, all VALUES are not equal either! In fact, some are better—more superior—than others, and I submit to you that our AMERICAN tradition of cultural values and ethics is far superior, and in most cases better, than those of the rest of the world. Any legitimate account of American history will reveal that America was founded by Protestants (mostly) and culturally predicated upon Judeo-Christian values and principles. The death, disease, and moral rot so prevalent in much of America today is there because all too many have abandoned these values, and decided to make our own rules.
Those who come here from other cultural backgrounds owe it to us, and to themselves, to learn how to assimilate, and to become a part of the fabric of America. It doesn’t suggest that they forget their ethnicity, or their own native culture. But it DOES mean that they will assimilate—learn to be Americans, and learn to live tolerantly amongst us. It means that they will learn our language, learn (and be tolerant of) OUR unique culture, and to respect OUR views and viewpoints, even as we learn to tolerate and respect theirs. It’s a two-way street, and without an understanding that they will assimilate, we owe them nothing. The burden is on the immigrant—legal or illegal--regardless of country, regardless of race, nationality, ethnicity, or religion. Lastly, it is IMPERATIVE that parents and teachers teach and reinforce the fundamentals of common sense, personal maturity, personal responsibility, and good citizenship to our nation’s youngsters. Without it, America deteriorates into an historical footnote, and we lose the greatest experiment in freedom and self-government that the world has ever known.
wrote on 09/10/2017 at 9:22 pm:
Ms. Pate:
How nice of you to give us the pleasure of reading your opinions once again. I have a feeling that we can talk to each other or talk about a given subject without insulting each other like this man from Tar Heel. I mean come on now, it has to be a nasty ole man or one in transition because the real ladies I've come in contact with over the coarse of my life never talked like this abomination does. I've only been conversing on this site for just a few days now and already I've been called all sorts of names by this creature, in addition to being diagnosed with many diseases. What gives?
Take a look, if you haven't already, at my very first input to Bladen Online and tell me what I said to "piss" this person off. (You noticed that I refuse to call her a lady because a lady she is not) All I wanted to do was to find somebody in Bladen County to converse with other than these Yankee snobs here on Eastwood Road.
Right off the bat, he/she/it started attacking me with insults and innuendos and why, I just can't figure it out. By the way, what is a "troll" that this person keeps calling me and if you know the answer, who or why does she keep including the name Patrick with some others that its mad with?
Anyway, I hope that life is treating you well and that you are blessed for the remainder of your life. One more thing, don't let people like this one from Tar Heel cause you any more stress than the world gives each one of us every day
How nice of you to give us the pleasure of reading your opinions once again. I have a feeling that we can talk to each other or talk about a given subject without insulting each other like this man from Tar Heel. I mean come on now, it has to be a nasty ole man or one in transition because the real ladies I've come in contact with over the coarse of my life never talked like this abomination does. I've only been conversing on this site for just a few days now and already I've been called all sorts of names by this creature, in addition to being diagnosed with many diseases. What gives?
Take a look, if you haven't already, at my very first input to Bladen Online and tell me what I said to "piss" this person off. (You noticed that I refuse to call her a lady because a lady she is not) All I wanted to do was to find somebody in Bladen County to converse with other than these Yankee snobs here on Eastwood Road.
Right off the bat, he/she/it started attacking me with insults and innuendos and why, I just can't figure it out. By the way, what is a "troll" that this person keeps calling me and if you know the answer, who or why does she keep including the name Patrick with some others that its mad with?
Anyway, I hope that life is treating you well and that you are blessed for the remainder of your life. One more thing, don't let people like this one from Tar Heel cause you any more stress than the world gives each one of us every day
wrote on 09/10/2017 at 8:13 pm:
I should have said that I seldom initiate any comments with you. Instead, you do so by intervening in an existing exchange of which you have not been a part.
Now that I think about it, that is exactly how our first exchange occurred. I responded to a request for comments about voter ID, and you became very upset by my response. You have been much the same way in every exchange since. Nearly all of which you have initiated by intervening in an existing exchange.
As someone recently said, "People are all for tolerance and freedom of speech..............until someone expresses a differing opinion".
Now that I think about it, that is exactly how our first exchange occurred. I responded to a request for comments about voter ID, and you became very upset by my response. You have been much the same way in every exchange since. Nearly all of which you have initiated by intervening in an existing exchange.
As someone recently said, "People are all for tolerance and freedom of speech..............until someone expresses a differing opinion".
wrote on 09/10/2017 at 7:36 pm:
Mrs. Sheppard, although you did not use my name it was clear you were addressing me by YOUR statement, "Of of your claims that I spew hate, given your previous posts and those of the troll you called "chicken" but are now praising.". I am the only person who used the word "chicken" to describe a troll who uses an alias. Therefore, you had to be addressing me. Talk about contradicting oneself! You address me then claim you are not talking to me and I inserted my way into a conversation. I challenge you to point out one time I've contradicted myself or been hypocritical based on facts; a statement I've made on this forum, not something you BELIEVE about me that contradicts what I've stated. I don't think you can. The truth is I'm very self aware. The only contradiction in me is that you think I believe differently from what I state. I will continue to defend myself and I already know I am free to post what I want and believe what I want. I certainly don't need your permission to do so. Defending myself is not inserting myself into your conversation. If you weren't addressing me with the "chicken" statement then who were you addressing? Nobody else used that word. You posted directly after me several times. In another instance you stated, "He's not new to the forum." directly after I said to Mr. Sheppard that he must be new. Who else could you have been addressing? I can't wait to see you try to wiggle your way out of this one!
BTW, I have asked for evidence of a troll or alias but nobody has provided any. I did say that Mr. Shepard "hit the nail on the head" so if you take that as praise, so be it. I have no reason to believe he is someone else using an alias, but if that information should come out and be found to be true I would stand by my statement that it's "chicken" for anyone not to use their real name and stand by their beliefs.
BTW, I have asked for evidence of a troll or alias but nobody has provided any. I did say that Mr. Shepard "hit the nail on the head" so if you take that as praise, so be it. I have no reason to believe he is someone else using an alias, but if that information should come out and be found to be true I would stand by my statement that it's "chicken" for anyone not to use their real name and stand by their beliefs.
wrote on 09/10/2017 at 4:01 pm:
You absolutely have the right to think whatever you want to think, and to express your thoughts and opinions as repeatedly as you choose. Just as you have the right to carry on all you want to about me.
But becoming self aware of one's own contradictions can be educational and might give one a new perspective of using insults and name-calling to complain about insults and name-calling.
What I don't understand about you is that I very seldom address any comments to you, but you insist on taking everything I write personally, taking insult to it, and inserting yourself in place of who ever I am conversing with.
Do you intervene like this in real life conversations or is it just your social media habit?
But becoming self aware of one's own contradictions can be educational and might give one a new perspective of using insults and name-calling to complain about insults and name-calling.
What I don't understand about you is that I very seldom address any comments to you, but you insist on taking everything I write personally, taking insult to it, and inserting yourself in place of who ever I am conversing with.
Do you intervene like this in real life conversations or is it just your social media habit?
wrote on 09/10/2017 at 3:42 pm:
Disclaimer: I have no knowledge of what has gone on on another website.
As for running anyone off a website, I don't think that's possible. Anyone is free to post on this website and I've noticed that several other people have also pointed this out. If someone chooses to leave, that's their choice. I don't want to be a part of running anyone off.
As for a toll or someone using an alias, I've asked several times for details but nobody has responded. I have no knowledge of this.
I have not changed or revised my opinions in any way. I do believe it's chicken to use an alias. If someone is doing this then I hope they are reading this now.I have no knowledge or proof of anyone doing that.
There is absolutely nothing hypocritical about me. Mrs. Sheppard may believe that there is because she also believes she knows what I think, feel, and believe. She is ALWAYS wrong. I may be a hypocrite according to what she THINKS I believe but that's just her opinion; not accurate information. Speaking of hypocrites, I think's it's funny that people who claim to believe that everyone has a right to their opinions actually believe that means everyone EXCEPT conservatives (or Christians, or any other group) who disagree with them. I see that alot these days and I don't mean just on this site. It's everywhere. People are all for tolerance and freedom of speech..............until someone expresses a differing opinion and then they want a law passed outlawing whatever it is they disagree with LOL!
As for running anyone off a website, I don't think that's possible. Anyone is free to post on this website and I've noticed that several other people have also pointed this out. If someone chooses to leave, that's their choice. I don't want to be a part of running anyone off.
As for a toll or someone using an alias, I've asked several times for details but nobody has responded. I have no knowledge of this.
I have not changed or revised my opinions in any way. I do believe it's chicken to use an alias. If someone is doing this then I hope they are reading this now.I have no knowledge or proof of anyone doing that.
There is absolutely nothing hypocritical about me. Mrs. Sheppard may believe that there is because she also believes she knows what I think, feel, and believe. She is ALWAYS wrong. I may be a hypocrite according to what she THINKS I believe but that's just her opinion; not accurate information. Speaking of hypocrites, I think's it's funny that people who claim to believe that everyone has a right to their opinions actually believe that means everyone EXCEPT conservatives (or Christians, or any other group) who disagree with them. I see that alot these days and I don't mean just on this site. It's everywhere. People are all for tolerance and freedom of speech..............until someone expresses a differing opinion and then they want a law passed outlawing whatever it is they disagree with LOL!
wrote on 09/10/2017 at 12:11 pm:
Revisionism seems to be the hallmark of Trump supporters these days.
You know very well that I am not the one who originally called this group "the old gang". That was the member who stalked me to another website and threatened to get "the old gang" to run me off of that site the way he claimed the gang did here.
And I did respond to your query by telling you that you would have to ask him if you could be a member of his gang since you wanted to so badly.
I wonder if you could even possibly recognize the ironic hypocrisy of diagnosing me as "out of touch with reality" for discussing the possible mental illnesses of a troll.
Of of your claims that I spew hate, given your previous posts and those of the troll you called "chicken" but are now praising.
Given your general lack of self awareness, I find it quite doubtful that you could.
You know very well that I am not the one who originally called this group "the old gang". That was the member who stalked me to another website and threatened to get "the old gang" to run me off of that site the way he claimed the gang did here.
And I did respond to your query by telling you that you would have to ask him if you could be a member of his gang since you wanted to so badly.
I wonder if you could even possibly recognize the ironic hypocrisy of diagnosing me as "out of touch with reality" for discussing the possible mental illnesses of a troll.
Of of your claims that I spew hate, given your previous posts and those of the troll you called "chicken" but are now praising.
Given your general lack of self awareness, I find it quite doubtful that you could.
wrote on 09/10/2017 at 11:07 am:
He's not new to the forum.
He just decided to use a variety of fake names because he said he wasn't going to post here anymore.
I think anyone who stalks people online using a fake identity is mentally ill to some extent.
What names have I called you?
He just decided to use a variety of fake names because he said he wasn't going to post here anymore.
I think anyone who stalks people online using a fake identity is mentally ill to some extent.
What names have I called you?
wrote on 09/10/2017 at 8:48 am:
Mr. Shepard, to be new on this forum you sure have hit the nail on the head rather quickly! Mrs. Sheppard has constantly accused the "old gang" of attacking her yet she has no problem spewing out the hate and name calling to others. I guess it's a double standard. I prefer not to resort to name calling because in my opinion it automatically discredits the writer. For example, when I see that she's calling people mentally ill, I automatically know she's lost touch with reality and is throwing yet another temper tantrum. Usually I stop reading and If there is a valid point somewhere in the middle of her rant I completely miss it. As for the "old gang" there isn't one. She is referring to GC Bryan and Mr. Shaeffer who are also conservatives. We agree on almost everything but one of them usually posts first, so that's why I'm often silent. I asked Mrs. Sheppard if she was including me in the "old gang" but she never responded. At one time she thought I was a man, but I'm a woman (and never have been a man. I believe your gender is the gender God makes you at birth). Just to clarify, there is no "old gang" and I have never met Mr. Bryan or Mr. Shaeffer. Mr. Bryan, I just found out that your wife is the lovely Mary Bryan, and if that is correct, I do know her. We worked together years ago and we are Facebook friends. She is a fine woman.
wrote on 09/09/2017 at 10:39 pm:
Hello there:
So let me get this straight Ms. Sheppard ( if that's really your name). You said that "Maybe people choose not to "chime in" because they don't want to be called a liar, an idiot with a diseased brain, a leftist liberal, or a socialist." But you my dear lady (if you're really a lady) have no problem accusing someone of "using multiple false identities," or even telling someone that they are "bipolar" and that they have a "multiple personality disorder or perhaps they're schizophrenic" or they even have dementia."
Now, since we've caught you practicing medicine without a license, what type of person are you to point fingers at others and then turn right around and do the very same thing yourself?
I don't know what other people think of you Ms. Sheppard, but as for me, you're a strange one to say the least. If you care to talk about it we'll be glad to listen. Let's see now, from what I've seen on the tele, the first thing you do is to lay back, relax and start off by telling us what it was that your parents or an early boyfriend or girlfriend did to cause you to be the way you are. Now, take it from there and lets here it.
So let me get this straight Ms. Sheppard ( if that's really your name). You said that "Maybe people choose not to "chime in" because they don't want to be called a liar, an idiot with a diseased brain, a leftist liberal, or a socialist." But you my dear lady (if you're really a lady) have no problem accusing someone of "using multiple false identities," or even telling someone that they are "bipolar" and that they have a "multiple personality disorder or perhaps they're schizophrenic" or they even have dementia."
Now, since we've caught you practicing medicine without a license, what type of person are you to point fingers at others and then turn right around and do the very same thing yourself?
I don't know what other people think of you Ms. Sheppard, but as for me, you're a strange one to say the least. If you care to talk about it we'll be glad to listen. Let's see now, from what I've seen on the tele, the first thing you do is to lay back, relax and start off by telling us what it was that your parents or an early boyfriend or girlfriend did to cause you to be the way you are. Now, take it from there and lets here it.
wrote on 09/09/2017 at 8:41 pm:
Maybe people choose not to "chime in" because they don't want to be called a liar, an idiot with a diseased brain, a leftist liberal, a socialist, etc. or because they don't want to be lectured about how bad Democrats are and how Conservatives are the only "real Americans" who want to uphold the Constitution.
It seems to me that those of you who claim to be Conservative Republicans have no problem at all chiming in, even using multiple false identities.
I guess I am the only liberal who is willing to stand up against "the old gang" and their endless false rhetoric.
It seems to me that those of you who claim to be Conservative Republicans have no problem at all chiming in, even using multiple false identities.
I guess I am the only liberal who is willing to stand up against "the old gang" and their endless false rhetoric.
wrote on 09/09/2017 at 8:08 pm:
Hello Mr. Patrick Shepard. No, I'm not new to this forum. I've been posting for years. I just don't normally post unless I have something new to add to the conversation. You don't have to worry about me being like Mrs. Sheppard. We're about as opposite as any two people can be. I'm very conservative and she's very liberal. She loves to tell me what I think, feel, and believe, and she's always wrong. We all have a right to different opinions and a right to post them. That's what makes our freedom so great. However, anytime someone states something untrue about me, I will correct them. It gets really old and boring sometimes...........but oh well. We all have a right to defend ourselves. Seriously I don't know what the deal is on people possible using aliases but it seems might chicken to me. I can't imagine being so ashamed of your believes that you choose not to claim that. That speaks volumes about the person's values and beliefs. I try my best to keep it direct but polite despite the many temper tantrums and false allegations thrown around by others. This is not a bad site. I hear alot of positive comments in the community. For some reason many people choose not to chime in.
wrote on 09/09/2017 at 7:38 pm:
You don't have to be a psychiatrist to know when someone needs one.
Given the ups and downs of your posts I would suspect you might be bipolar. But since you have so many different identities it could be multiple personality disorder or perhaps schizophrenia.
But dementia is not uncommon for men in their 70s either.
I am quite nice and pleasant to people who deserve it. You don't.
Given the ups and downs of your posts I would suspect you might be bipolar. But since you have so many different identities it could be multiple personality disorder or perhaps schizophrenia.
But dementia is not uncommon for men in their 70s either.
I am quite nice and pleasant to people who deserve it. You don't.
wrote on 09/09/2017 at 4:18 pm:
Hello Ms. Pate:
A new participant and how are you doing? Please don't turn out to be like this lady P. Sheppard, (no relation) I beg of you. I may have stumbled on to a very bad web site but I really shouldn't be surprised now should I? Just look at what Obama created when he occupied the WHITE house - a totally divided nation with Conservatives trying their very best to get along and the liberals doing every thing they can to disrupt any and all progress the administration is trying to accomplish. In all of my days on earth, I've yet to find one ( a liberal democrat) who can answer a routine question. They seem to find a way to divert attention away from the question by blaming the person asking it for anything and everything wrong in this country. I guess if they could answer the question, it would probably make them look stupid or incompetent so a diversion is really their best coarse of action.
Oh well, I have no idea what's going on with Ms. Sheppard. I don't think I've done anything or said anything that was directed towards her so why the attitude? It's like you yourself said earlier, is there something I'm missing here? I don't know her from Adam so to me, she's just a petty and insignificant little creature who no one should pay attention to until she can find it within herself to be nice and pleasant to you, me and others. By the way, if you learn the answers to your concerns, please make them known to the rest of us. For now.
A new participant and how are you doing? Please don't turn out to be like this lady P. Sheppard, (no relation) I beg of you. I may have stumbled on to a very bad web site but I really shouldn't be surprised now should I? Just look at what Obama created when he occupied the WHITE house - a totally divided nation with Conservatives trying their very best to get along and the liberals doing every thing they can to disrupt any and all progress the administration is trying to accomplish. In all of my days on earth, I've yet to find one ( a liberal democrat) who can answer a routine question. They seem to find a way to divert attention away from the question by blaming the person asking it for anything and everything wrong in this country. I guess if they could answer the question, it would probably make them look stupid or incompetent so a diversion is really their best coarse of action.
Oh well, I have no idea what's going on with Ms. Sheppard. I don't think I've done anything or said anything that was directed towards her so why the attitude? It's like you yourself said earlier, is there something I'm missing here? I don't know her from Adam so to me, she's just a petty and insignificant little creature who no one should pay attention to until she can find it within herself to be nice and pleasant to you, me and others. By the way, if you learn the answers to your concerns, please make them known to the rest of us. For now.
wrote on 09/09/2017 at 9:44 am:
David/Myra/Rachael/Patrick.
And why are you so obsessed with me?
It seems to be a common disease among older white men who watch too much FOX and spend too much time alone.
And why are you so obsessed with me?
It seems to be a common disease among older white men who watch too much FOX and spend too much time alone.
wrote on 09/08/2017 at 9:38 pm:
Somebody please spill the beans on " who David/Myra/Rachael/Patrick really is" and why they use an alias because I don't have a clue. I must have missed something big!
wrote on 09/08/2017 at 8:34 pm:
Hello again:
Through birth, it seems as if my surname and given name are very similar to a certain party from good 'ole Tar Heel. I can remember playing pool down that way many years past and as a matter of fact, the little log cabin type building still stands today.
After reading the latest entries, it seems that my attempt to get somebody/anybody to start a conversation has brought out a few skeptics to my intended purpose.
I meant no harm towards anyone on guestbook and if it was taken that way then I'm sorry. The purpose of my input was simple-it was an attempt to get people to open up and share their thoughts with others on whatever was or is on their minds. I listed a few things that could be discussed but with the way the world is today, there has to be many others, don't you think?
Before I retire for the night, I do have one question for the other Sheppard (no relation) and that is this, why must you be so mean? Why would you say such a nasty thing like that to any man or woman just for bringing up a few topics of conversation? Life is good so lighten up.
Through birth, it seems as if my surname and given name are very similar to a certain party from good 'ole Tar Heel. I can remember playing pool down that way many years past and as a matter of fact, the little log cabin type building still stands today.
After reading the latest entries, it seems that my attempt to get somebody/anybody to start a conversation has brought out a few skeptics to my intended purpose.
I meant no harm towards anyone on guestbook and if it was taken that way then I'm sorry. The purpose of my input was simple-it was an attempt to get people to open up and share their thoughts with others on whatever was or is on their minds. I listed a few things that could be discussed but with the way the world is today, there has to be many others, don't you think?
Before I retire for the night, I do have one question for the other Sheppard (no relation) and that is this, why must you be so mean? Why would you say such a nasty thing like that to any man or woman just for bringing up a few topics of conversation? Life is good so lighten up.
wrote on 09/07/2017 at 9:28 pm:
It is obvious who David/Myra/Rachael/Patrick really is.
He needs some serious help.
He needs some serious help.
wrote on 09/07/2017 at 8:41 pm:
Ms Sheppard – give me some credit here, okay??? ‘Patrick Shepard from Tobermory/Wilmington’ is obviously someone’s nom de guerre, so….let’s draw the good gentleman out, and see what he has to say, okay??
Clearly, he is no fan of yours, and while I concede the conservative posture, I don’t believe in hiding behind a false identity in order to make your points. So, no—it’s not OK to be a ranting troll, and the general rules of online accountability and good comportment apply.
SO—that being said—how about an open note to Mr. Patrick Shepard:
Let’s get beyond this mysterious, vigilante quest, pal—doesn’t matter whom you agree, or disagree, with, but it IS annoying when you pop into this forum and take cheap pot shots at someone with whom you disagree. As I only just pointed out in an earlier post, this forum is for the debate and the exchange of opinions regarding events, ideologies, politics—but it is not for acting like a guerrilla journalist with an attack dog mentality. Give us your thoughts, your opinions, your ideas—preferably articulate, preferably well thought-out, and certainly reasonable. But do so under your own name. I have no problem going after Ms Sheppard over her opinions and viewpoints (nor she to me!), but neither one of us is the least bit shy about defending our positions by appending our names to it.
‘Nuff said.
Clearly, he is no fan of yours, and while I concede the conservative posture, I don’t believe in hiding behind a false identity in order to make your points. So, no—it’s not OK to be a ranting troll, and the general rules of online accountability and good comportment apply.
SO—that being said—how about an open note to Mr. Patrick Shepard:
Let’s get beyond this mysterious, vigilante quest, pal—doesn’t matter whom you agree, or disagree, with, but it IS annoying when you pop into this forum and take cheap pot shots at someone with whom you disagree. As I only just pointed out in an earlier post, this forum is for the debate and the exchange of opinions regarding events, ideologies, politics—but it is not for acting like a guerrilla journalist with an attack dog mentality. Give us your thoughts, your opinions, your ideas—preferably articulate, preferably well thought-out, and certainly reasonable. But do so under your own name. I have no problem going after Ms Sheppard over her opinions and viewpoints (nor she to me!), but neither one of us is the least bit shy about defending our positions by appending our names to it.
‘Nuff said.
wrote on 09/07/2017 at 7:35 pm:
Obviously another fake identity, which clearly violates BOL Terms of Service.
I guess since the troll's rants are conservative, the rules don't apply.
What kind of person hides behind a fake name?
I guess since the troll's rants are conservative, the rules don't apply.
What kind of person hides behind a fake name?
wrote on 09/07/2017 at 6:54 pm:
Sounds like Mr. ‘Patrick Shepard from Tobermory/Wilmington’ wants to pick a fight! Very interesting, I must say, that his name seems so similar to Ms Patricia Sheppard from Tar Heel—but, I digress.
Hard to argue with some of his ‘talking points’, since I’ve made so many of those very same points myself over time! Perhaps some readers would like to focus on one or two specifics, and we can discuss and dissect them here???
Again—very interesting post, Mr. Patrick Shepard from Tobermory/Wilmington.
Hard to argue with some of his ‘talking points’, since I’ve made so many of those very same points myself over time! Perhaps some readers would like to focus on one or two specifics, and we can discuss and dissect them here???
Again—very interesting post, Mr. Patrick Shepard from Tobermory/Wilmington.
wrote on 09/07/2017 at 6:37 pm:
Fellow Bladen Countians:
Your site has been silent since the 2nd day of SEP/17. What's hapning? We have a Hurricaine coming our way. We have a pipsqueak little dictator trying his best to grow up and picking on a real President and not a wanna be such as your highness Obama. Poor little boy, he just didn't have what it takes now did he? Sorry, I digress. We have incompetent teachers begging for more money, for doing what I ask you? All they're allowed to do is teach their students to pass a stupid federal test. Students can now make a 60 on a test and they call that passing. Talk about "the Dumbing Down of America" and this is a perfect example. All or most graduates can't even write their owns names because from what I've been told by one of the recent graduates, they can't sign their names to a document because they were never taught how to write. What about Civics, History, English, Spelling, and as stated, writing their own names for God's sake. What ever happened to teaching students about the world and the three levels of government for example? If you want more money, produce a graduate that can match those who are home schooled or come from a private or charter school.
We have a government that refuses to let a duly elected President do his job. We have a women who VIOLATED the law but is too big to prosecute, so she continues to write her lies in a book and to give speeches to those who just can't let it go. We have a certain number of people and others who cave in to their demands by destroying or removing statues of people who had a part in forming this country, good or bad. Do you honestly believe that tearing down a statue will change history? As I recall, the pharaoh of Egypt during the time of Moses, ordered every statue, engraving or anything Moses be stricken from all records. Did that do any good? Not just no, but hell no. Then we have the United States Government that's directly responsible for many cases of genocide against our Native Americans, yet liberals and conservatives alike just sit back and say nothing about the American flag. Genocide compared to a few military officers who just happen to fight on the side of the South, there's no comparison now is there? Do you people realize that eBay no longer sells the Confederate Flag? However, for anyone who wants to buy an ISIS flag, they'll gladly sell you one. On and on I could go, but you people just sit there and say nothing. If it makes you happy and gives you a sense of well being, be that way, but when something happens because of your silence, maybe then you'll grow a set and voice an opinion.
Your site has been silent since the 2nd day of SEP/17. What's hapning? We have a Hurricaine coming our way. We have a pipsqueak little dictator trying his best to grow up and picking on a real President and not a wanna be such as your highness Obama. Poor little boy, he just didn't have what it takes now did he? Sorry, I digress. We have incompetent teachers begging for more money, for doing what I ask you? All they're allowed to do is teach their students to pass a stupid federal test. Students can now make a 60 on a test and they call that passing. Talk about "the Dumbing Down of America" and this is a perfect example. All or most graduates can't even write their owns names because from what I've been told by one of the recent graduates, they can't sign their names to a document because they were never taught how to write. What about Civics, History, English, Spelling, and as stated, writing their own names for God's sake. What ever happened to teaching students about the world and the three levels of government for example? If you want more money, produce a graduate that can match those who are home schooled or come from a private or charter school.
We have a government that refuses to let a duly elected President do his job. We have a women who VIOLATED the law but is too big to prosecute, so she continues to write her lies in a book and to give speeches to those who just can't let it go. We have a certain number of people and others who cave in to their demands by destroying or removing statues of people who had a part in forming this country, good or bad. Do you honestly believe that tearing down a statue will change history? As I recall, the pharaoh of Egypt during the time of Moses, ordered every statue, engraving or anything Moses be stricken from all records. Did that do any good? Not just no, but hell no. Then we have the United States Government that's directly responsible for many cases of genocide against our Native Americans, yet liberals and conservatives alike just sit back and say nothing about the American flag. Genocide compared to a few military officers who just happen to fight on the side of the South, there's no comparison now is there? Do you people realize that eBay no longer sells the Confederate Flag? However, for anyone who wants to buy an ISIS flag, they'll gladly sell you one. On and on I could go, but you people just sit there and say nothing. If it makes you happy and gives you a sense of well being, be that way, but when something happens because of your silence, maybe then you'll grow a set and voice an opinion.
wrote on 09/02/2017 at 4:01 pm:
LOL!
We don't have any local Democratic Congressman!
Thanks to our unconstitutionally gerrymandered congressional districts there are only 3 Democratic Congressional Representatives in the entire state!
Although the districts have been declared unconstitutional, the court has not given a deadline to redraw them because the legislature has been tied up in court with other cases of their unconstitutional actions. Right now they have until Seotember 15th to create legal maps for state senate and house races.
We don't have any local Democratic Congressman!
Thanks to our unconstitutionally gerrymandered congressional districts there are only 3 Democratic Congressional Representatives in the entire state!
Although the districts have been declared unconstitutional, the court has not given a deadline to redraw them because the legislature has been tied up in court with other cases of their unconstitutional actions. Right now they have until Seotember 15th to create legal maps for state senate and house races.
wrote on 09/02/2017 at 2:27 pm:
Ms Sheppard – I can assert to you that, right now, there is a strong distaste within the GOP, locally and nationwide—against ‘establishment’ politicians, especially those who (1) have been in office over 2 terms, and (2) those who are clearly not supportive of the President’s overall agenda.
I cannot speak for local Democrat congressmen—you would have to tell me what the local mood is regarding them.
I cannot speak for local Democrat congressmen—you would have to tell me what the local mood is regarding them.
wrote on 09/02/2017 at 1:22 pm:
I attended town halls held by both Rouzer and Pittenger. I found both to be arrogant, condescending, and evasive. Both showed a lack of regard for facts, but Rouzer was more honest and civil than Pittenger.
Both feel very confident of victory due to their heavily Republican, carefully drawn, congressional districts.
But Pittenger has a strong Republican opponent in Rev. Mark Harris. He only lost by 134 votes last time, so we will see how that goes. I personally favor anyone in the race over Pittenger.
Both feel very confident of victory due to their heavily Republican, carefully drawn, congressional districts.
But Pittenger has a strong Republican opponent in Rev. Mark Harris. He only lost by 134 votes last time, so we will see how that goes. I personally favor anyone in the race over Pittenger.
wrote on 09/02/2017 at 11:44 am:
Ms Sheppard—
I have had several opportunities to meet with both Congressmen Rouzer and Congressman Pittenger, and found them both to be articulate and capable representatives. I also used those opportunities to express my discontent with the behaviour and the conduct of the congress.
Might as well put them both on notice that, altho I support a largely Republican (conservative) agenda, I don’t buy in to all the nonsense, bi-partisan bickering, dysfunctional leadership, and general lack of competency which I see coming out of the Washington Beltway crowd.
It serves us well to let our sitting congressmen know that, even though we elected them, we are only going to continue to support them as long as THEY are supportive of a conservative agenda for America. Conservatives in this county tend to agree that the ‘talking points’ I articulated in an earlier post represent the sorts of values and ideological philosophy which is consistent with constitutional republicanism—and that doesn’t mean the Republican Party—it means the concepts upon which this country was founded.
Bear in mind—the very LAST thing we want to happen to this country is for it to slide into anarchy, because THAT would begin the precipitous descent into a ruling oligarchy, upon which would rest sole power invested into one authority—much like Hitler or Stalin or Mao—and we would no longer have a representative government. We would have a totalitarian regime ruled by committee, and led by a single, central figure. The anarchists whom we see chanting and rioting on streets around the country are demanding this very thing—the downfall of the U.S.A., and the installation of a socialist/democratic regime—which is tantamount to a dictatorship—and which would destroy our constitutional rule of law, and eliminate our Bill of Rights. In such a case, the government would give you your rights—the government would decide what is best for you, and what you could or could not do. This, I submit to you, is what has been the evolving mantra from the liberal/progressives ever since the 1960’s, and it almost came to full bloom with the presidency of Barack Obama.
No one in the mainstream media wanted to fully ‘vet’ Obama—they were too in love with the notion of electing the first ‘black’ man into the Oval Office, and they completely disregarded or ignored what he was saying or implying when he declared that he wanted to ‘fundamentally transform America’. He DID want to fundamentally transform America, all right—into a country that was ‘levelized’, and on the same political, economic, and social level of your average Third-World country. Barack Obama was—and still is—a very dangerous man, and his background ideology and personal philosophy are not in sync with the rest of America. And as I’ve pointed out so many times before, Hillary Clinton was simply corrupt, and so unsuitable for the Oval Office that she is practically beneath contempt.
SO—we’re left with Donald Trump! (sigh) I believe that, in his own inimitable way, he IS trying to restore constitutional rule of law to this country. But….he is stepping on toes left and right in doing so. We will see how competent, or how effective, the Trump administration is over the next four years. But if he cannot overcome the massive resistance to his agenda—most of it unjustified, I feel—he will simply become a ‘lame duck’ President, and that WOULD BE very unfortunate for America.
I have had several opportunities to meet with both Congressmen Rouzer and Congressman Pittenger, and found them both to be articulate and capable representatives. I also used those opportunities to express my discontent with the behaviour and the conduct of the congress.
Might as well put them both on notice that, altho I support a largely Republican (conservative) agenda, I don’t buy in to all the nonsense, bi-partisan bickering, dysfunctional leadership, and general lack of competency which I see coming out of the Washington Beltway crowd.
It serves us well to let our sitting congressmen know that, even though we elected them, we are only going to continue to support them as long as THEY are supportive of a conservative agenda for America. Conservatives in this county tend to agree that the ‘talking points’ I articulated in an earlier post represent the sorts of values and ideological philosophy which is consistent with constitutional republicanism—and that doesn’t mean the Republican Party—it means the concepts upon which this country was founded.
Bear in mind—the very LAST thing we want to happen to this country is for it to slide into anarchy, because THAT would begin the precipitous descent into a ruling oligarchy, upon which would rest sole power invested into one authority—much like Hitler or Stalin or Mao—and we would no longer have a representative government. We would have a totalitarian regime ruled by committee, and led by a single, central figure. The anarchists whom we see chanting and rioting on streets around the country are demanding this very thing—the downfall of the U.S.A., and the installation of a socialist/democratic regime—which is tantamount to a dictatorship—and which would destroy our constitutional rule of law, and eliminate our Bill of Rights. In such a case, the government would give you your rights—the government would decide what is best for you, and what you could or could not do. This, I submit to you, is what has been the evolving mantra from the liberal/progressives ever since the 1960’s, and it almost came to full bloom with the presidency of Barack Obama.
No one in the mainstream media wanted to fully ‘vet’ Obama—they were too in love with the notion of electing the first ‘black’ man into the Oval Office, and they completely disregarded or ignored what he was saying or implying when he declared that he wanted to ‘fundamentally transform America’. He DID want to fundamentally transform America, all right—into a country that was ‘levelized’, and on the same political, economic, and social level of your average Third-World country. Barack Obama was—and still is—a very dangerous man, and his background ideology and personal philosophy are not in sync with the rest of America. And as I’ve pointed out so many times before, Hillary Clinton was simply corrupt, and so unsuitable for the Oval Office that she is practically beneath contempt.
SO—we’re left with Donald Trump! (sigh) I believe that, in his own inimitable way, he IS trying to restore constitutional rule of law to this country. But….he is stepping on toes left and right in doing so. We will see how competent, or how effective, the Trump administration is over the next four years. But if he cannot overcome the massive resistance to his agenda—most of it unjustified, I feel—he will simply become a ‘lame duck’ President, and that WOULD BE very unfortunate for America.
wrote on 09/01/2017 at 11:05 pm:
I suspect with primary elections coming up in March there will be more visits. Both of the Democratic candidates for District 9 and now both of the Republicans have already visited at least once.
The fact that Bladen County is split between two congressional districts is certainly a disadvantage for us.
I was surprised that only about 25 people attended, although an early weekday afternoon is an inconvenient time for most people.
I take it you are a Pittenger fan?
The fact that Bladen County is split between two congressional districts is certainly a disadvantage for us.
I was surprised that only about 25 people attended, although an early weekday afternoon is an inconvenient time for most people.
I take it you are a Pittenger fan?
wrote on 09/01/2017 at 10:20 pm:
Ms Sheppard – No, didn’t even know about it. Read about it in the Bladen Journal, though. Don’t know how I missed it, cuz I would have enjoyed meeting with him again.
In fact, it would be useful and informative if we could get ALL of our congressional reps to visit this area, especially for a small, town hall get-together. Like all of us on this forum, I follow the mainstream news, but I would find it informative to hear from our state reps on a personal, one-on-one level when possible, too—just to hear their ‘take’ on state and national issues.
I figure that, since we pay these guys, they owe it to us to cruise thru once in awhile and talk to us!
In fact, it would be useful and informative if we could get ALL of our congressional reps to visit this area, especially for a small, town hall get-together. Like all of us on this forum, I follow the mainstream news, but I would find it informative to hear from our state reps on a personal, one-on-one level when possible, too—just to hear their ‘take’ on state and national issues.
I figure that, since we pay these guys, they owe it to us to cruise thru once in awhile and talk to us!
wrote on 09/01/2017 at 4:51 pm:
Thank you, Mr. Schaeffer.
Did you by chance attend Congressman Pittenger's town hall meeting in Elizabethtown yesterday?
Did you by chance attend Congressman Pittenger's town hall meeting in Elizabethtown yesterday?
wrote on 09/01/2017 at 4:30 pm:
While I appreciate what appears to be a series of conservative posts, the tone and tenor of those posts is clearly vitriolic, designed to attack someone personally, and absolutely in bad taste.
Ms Sheppard and I, along with a fair number of others, have our differences of opinions, but those differences are centered around ideas---ideological differences, and we use this public forum to debate the wisdom and the worth of those differences. We debate those in political authority who represent us—the ones we elected, and whom we feel will represent the best interests of America, and the American people.
But we do not engage in snide personal attacks. Let’s leave that sort of thing out of it. While I am not personally acquainted with Ms Sheppard—nor anyone else who posts here (since I’m relatively new to the Bladen County area), I enjoy the robust exchange of heated opinion, but I will not engage in personal name-calling. That’s childish, juvenile, and worthless. It accomplishes nothing, and informs no one.
I’ve urged this same thought before—lets’s stay ‘out of the gutter’, and keep our debate exchanges on a more academic level of discourse. It serves the readers better, and it allows for the freer exchange of honest and informed opinion. And—who knows??? You might learn something!
Let’s debate ideas, ideologies, politics, items of local interest—but not each other.
Ms Sheppard and I, along with a fair number of others, have our differences of opinions, but those differences are centered around ideas---ideological differences, and we use this public forum to debate the wisdom and the worth of those differences. We debate those in political authority who represent us—the ones we elected, and whom we feel will represent the best interests of America, and the American people.
But we do not engage in snide personal attacks. Let’s leave that sort of thing out of it. While I am not personally acquainted with Ms Sheppard—nor anyone else who posts here (since I’m relatively new to the Bladen County area), I enjoy the robust exchange of heated opinion, but I will not engage in personal name-calling. That’s childish, juvenile, and worthless. It accomplishes nothing, and informs no one.
I’ve urged this same thought before—lets’s stay ‘out of the gutter’, and keep our debate exchanges on a more academic level of discourse. It serves the readers better, and it allows for the freer exchange of honest and informed opinion. And—who knows??? You might learn something!
Let’s debate ideas, ideologies, politics, items of local interest—but not each other.
wrote on 09/01/2017 at 11:57 am:
Time for a new fake identity so soon?
Will the next one be make or female? "Ipswich, NY" certainly has a growing population.
Will the next one be make or female? "Ipswich, NY" certainly has a growing population.
wrote on 09/01/2017 at 11:41 am:
Mrs. Sheppard-
Sadly, I must say good-bye to you as you are obviously lost to Saten, as is your soul. I refuse to waste any more of the time I have left on this earth to try and convince you how wrong you are in the things you say and quiet frankly, the statement you made is typical of a sociopath. May God have mercy on you and all those whose minds you may have changed over the coarse of your life.
Sadly, I must say good-bye to you as you are obviously lost to Saten, as is your soul. I refuse to waste any more of the time I have left on this earth to try and convince you how wrong you are in the things you say and quiet frankly, the statement you made is typical of a sociopath. May God have mercy on you and all those whose minds you may have changed over the coarse of your life.
wrote on 09/01/2017 at 10:21 am:
If the day ever comes when my moral compass and my mind become so degraded that I begin to care what you or any other Trump supporter thinks about me I will be sure to post it here.
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