Thursday's letters: Legalization of marijuana
Published: Thursday, July 17, 2014 at 3:15 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at 7:58 p.m.
I applaud Sen. Glenn Reese. Marijuana reform is well past due.
Letter writer Steve Rigdon’s assessment is wrong and outdated. Reform of marijuana laws would ease the burden on the taxpayers, reduce the prison population and free up law enforcement agencies to focus on violent crime. The states that have enacted these reforms understand this.
True meaning of community
What does the word community mean? Is it just a group of people who live in the same area, or is there another, more abstract meaning? Perhaps community is a feeling, a sense of belonging, of being with those who understand and accept you.
Within a larger community, there can be even smaller communities. Within the Upstate of South Carolina, for instance, we have the African-American community, the LGBTQ community, the Jewish community, the Hispanic community, etc. Each has its own unique identity and place within the larger community, but I sometimes feel we can be too insular, members of one group not really understanding other groups. I myself can be guilty of that.
So perhaps everyone should make more of an effort to break down the walls, to get to know people who are from different walks of life. That, I think, is the true meaning of community. Not just surrounding yourself with those who have had similar experiences and backgrounds, but learning about those who’ve had vastly different experiences. That is how we grow as individuals and how we grow as a community.
And that is what we hope to accomplish at the Unity Rally Against Hatred being held from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. July 26 at the Hughes Public Library in Greenville. We come together out of a sense of togetherness, total acceptance and a desire to learn about each other so we can truly be a beloved community here in the Upstate.
The battle over America
America is fighting for her life. The battle is for the soul of America, and ground zero is our government.
While the United States debates, the terrorists are claiming victory and planning to take their show to American soil again.
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