Published: November 17, 2008 09:15 pm         

Our Readers Speak - Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008

Fayette bond issue was an ill-conceived idea

Once again, the Fayette County Board of Education displayed poor judgment and a total disregard for the tax- paying citizens of Fayette County. They are proceeding with a plan to consolidate four high schools, which will result in many students being on a bus for over three hours. They want good citizens of this county to pay for the ill-conceived idea through a bond issue when people are experiencing the worst financial crisis since 1932. People are losing their homes, are unable to provide medical care for the family, and are struggling to keep food on the table. Maybe Dr. White and a few others can afford higher taxes, but most people cannot. Fayette countians must remember that in 1991 the Board of Education returned over $6 million to the State School Building Authority that was earmarked to build a new elementary school in Fayetteville (in today’s dollars that amounts to $12 million). Only one board member, David Arritt, voted to keep the money and build the new school. Now, three members of the board are asking the citizens to tax themselves to build schools.

More recently, the Board of Education gave a parcel of land valued at $1 million to the rich Lewis Foundation. Have some members of the school board lost their ability to think? Hopefully the taxpayers will retain some sense of reality and oppose Superintendent of Schools Chris Perkins and three board members, Leon Ivey, Leon Newman, and Jock Workman, by voting no when the bond issue is presented.



Andy Carte

Fayetteville



Christians need to get their priorities straight

This letter is in response to Sue Cox’s letter. I am really sick of whining Christians who have to complain about such trivial things as Sunday morning attire and music volume while there are people dying every day who do not know Christ as their Savior. How are we supposed to reach a lost world if we are fighting among ourselves? Give me a break!

Did it ever occur to Ms. Cox that maybe jeans and a T-shirt are someone’s best? Some people do not have the money for expensive suits or dresses that they will only wear to church on Sunday morning. Did Jesus ever turn someone away or criticize them based on how they were dressed? The answer is no. I too believe in giving God our best, but I believe He is more interested in what’s in our heart than what we’re wearing.

As for the music issue. Have you ever thought about talking to your pastor about maybe turning the sound down a little? This is one of the reasons that pastors are having to do sermons defining worship! Worship has nothing to do with volume, type of music, or longevity. Worship comes from your heart and is heartfelt thanks and praise for God. Yes, there are overzealous choir directors out there, but are you part of the problem or the solution? Of course the elderly should be taken into consideration. They are a church’s most valuable asset with their wisdom, but shouldn’t your concerns be directed to your pastor instead of publicly criticizing your church or music director? Judge not lest ye be judged.



Mary Gautier

Mount Hope