Opinion

A few days prior to the holiday, the chills started. I managed to do my part in getting the December 24 newspaper to press.

Quite often I want to use an “emoticon” while writing this column. I have become entirely too dependant on such shortcuts.

For instance, in the headline above, I’d have loved to have added a :) which most who email know as a smile, indicating, well, a smile.

At church Sunday, a friend in Sunday school commented that she was praying that 2010 was going to be a much better year! I think we all heartily chorused “Amen!”

Grace Davies passed away last November. Though only one or two who will see this column in The South Reporter will have known her, I want to write about Grace because she represents one of those “Unforgettable Characters” — what anthropologists call a “universal personality type,” so I think you may find her story interesting.

Letter To The Editor

The litter issue:
Dear Editor,

The litter issue is obviously one which will not be corrected overnight. I was appalled reading the article in the paper. Why should people be reminded not to litter? That should just be an instinctual thing.

There have been more times than not when people have stopped on the road just to dump their trash from the car. The inside of my car, as also the insides of most of my friends’ cars, is trashed - there is junk everywhere. It is a matter of throwing it in the floorboards and getting to it later. Never have I thought I’ll just stop in front of this particular house and dump the trash from my car.

As for “Big Brother” watching... is the mayor not Big Brother? Who else is in higher power, so to speak, in Holly Springs? Would he not be watching himself? Why not install cameras? Not only would that maybe cut down on litter, it would maybe cut down on the amount of crime we have in our city. However, who would monitor the cameras? Would that be yet another person to hire through the city that would be a “fluff” job?

For the comment, “...just a black man’s opinion...” Why would someone even bring race into question? Why not say “just a man’s opinion?” Who cares if it is the opinion of a black man or a white man or an Asian man or a Mexican man?

Litter affects everyone - black, white, purple or otherwise. That is part of our problem in Holly Springs - everything seems to revolve around, or be brought back to, race. I could care less if opinions come from black or white people as long as they are legitimate opinions and those that will be for the betterment of everyone living here - black and white.

After all, the last time I checked, I was a citizen of Holly Springs and I am white. Maybe that is just one white woman’s opinion.

There was a litter campaign on the Gulf Coast. Most cars had bumper stickers that read, “Birds Fly, Fish Swim, Pigs Litter.” They were plain white bumper stickers with royal blue (the city’s colors) lettering. It made a point. As large as the area is on the Gulf Coast, there was hardly any litter. There certainly was not any litter in any of the neighborhoods. It was nice to see clean streets. I do not remember anyone having to harp on people to “not litter.” It was just a given - do not do it.

It will be interesting to see how all of this unfolds. I am wondering if it is not another flash in the pan offered up from the government, like the “pay for your pet” deal. What ever happened to that? We paid for our animals, as did everyone I know. What happened to that campaign? Where did the money go that we paid to “register” our pets with the city? That was an irritant to those of us who actually came up with the money to do that and for those who had to give away animals because they could not afford to get them all registered.

Once again, a “great” idea spawned by the city government to gig those who will do to cover for those who will not. Certainly leaves one perplexed.

Here is one for ya - chunk your garbage in your vehicle and clean it out in your own trash at home. How about that?

Reminder to self - do not litter our city streets.

Sincerely,
Mary Clay Brooks
Holly Springs

Please take time to remember our local “heroes” who are serving in war zones around the world.

If you’d like to add a name to this list, please contact The South Reporter, Attn. Linda Jones, P.O. Box 278, Holly Springs, MS 38635; 662-252-4261; or email: south@dixie-net.com


Thursday, December 31, 2009
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