Opinion

Instead, I have set my employment record. As of Monday, I am officially employed at this newspaper longer than any other.

Normally, celebrities passing away is not something that causes a lot of turmoil in my “own little world.” (My granddaughter Remy’s term.)

But, I was saddened to hear of Ed McMahon’s death. I was so sure that one of these days, he was going to bring that Publisher’s Clearing House check to “my” house!

I was pleasantly surprised when Ricky Nobiles, our cartoonist, sent in a cartoon about Ed and Johnny Carson.

Little did Ricky know though, when he drew and sent the cartoons, that a slew of celebrity passings was on the way.

Regular readers of this column know that I like to make fun of our fascination with all the new communications devices. It’s hilarious to me when somebody’s cell phone rings in a formal setting and you see some hapless lady go diving into her purse to silence the thing. I would never do what the preacher did down Waterford way. When a church member’s phone rang during the service, he asked to speak to the caller, and chastised the poor man for not being at worship! The congregation laughed about it for days.

Letters To The Editor

Sign this petition:
Dear Editor,

A petition is being circulated to amend the Mississippi Constitution to require citizens to show a photo ID in order to vote in Mississippi elections. I urge everyone to give careful consideration to this petition.

There will be those who oppose the petition; and who will tell us that it will prevent people from voting; and to some extent, that is true. It will keep illegal aliens from voting; it will keep out-of-state people from voting in our local elections; it will keep qualified voters from voting more than once; and it will deny the ballot to the dead.

Under our present law, all of the above people can vote in our elections. It is not legal for them to do so, but there is no way to prevent their voting illegally. Requiring voters to show a photo ID at the polls will go a long way toward preventing voter fraud.

When someone says that it will be too much of a burden on our citizens to require them to have a photo ID, we must ask ourselves what his real reason is for opposing the requirement of a photo ID for voting. Will Wal-Mart cash his check, or sell him cigarettes without first seeing a photo ID? When he goes to a restaurant and orders a glass of wine or a bottle of beer, will they sell it to him without first seeing a photo ID? Is voting less important to him than cashing a check, or buying cigarettes or beer? If he does think it too great a burden to show a photo ID for cashing a check or buying cigarettes or beer, perhaps his objections to showing a photo ID for voting is based upon something more sinister than his dislike of being burdened.

The most clever objection will come from those who tell us that old and infirm people who do not have photo IDs would be denied the right to vote. This is not true. Anyone without a photo ID will be issued one, free of charge, by the government.

Since the State of Georgia’s implementation of a photo ID voting requirement, its citizens have cast over nine million votes in 15 elections. During the four years in which special interest groups fought the law in court, those groups were unable to produce a single voter who had been denied the right to vote. I’m sure that many illegal voters were denied that right during those four years, and that’s a good thing.

A successful petition will require that the issue of photo ID for voters will be placed on the ballot at an upcoming election. When the citizens of Mississippi have a chance to vote on this issue, it is expected that they will vote in favor of requiring voter photo ID. A recent nationwide poll showed that 83 percent of Americans were in favor of requiring a voter to show a photo ID as a means of reducing voter fraud. There is no reason to expect that Mississippians will be any different than their fellow citizens across the country.

This petition is necessary because the Legislature has been unable to pass a voter ID law.

There are too many politicians who find a little voter fraud to be an advantageous thing. This is our chance to take the issue out of their hands and clean up the election process ourselves.

When approached with this petition by a fellow citizen, I urge everyone to please sign it. You will need to: 1) give your signature (include your middle initial if you have one); 2) clearly print your name (including middle initial); 3) print your street address; 4) list your county; 5) list the date you signed the petition; and 6) list your voting precinct and Congressional District. Those last two items are found on your voter registration card.

If clean, fraud-free elections are important to you, please sign this petition!

Very truly yours,
J.R. Dunworth

Tribute to a friend:
Dear Editor,

I want to say goodbye to an old friend, Phillip L. Watts.

He loved to ride motorcycles and in my eyes, he was a “biker” if anyone ever was.

He lived to ride and rode to live.

Good knowing you Brother!
Larry Wayne Luther

The Legislature is convened in special session to consider the FY2009-2010 state budget. With the midnight Tuesday deadline fast approaching, both houses are working feverishly to have a full budget in place to ensure continuity of state government.

The 21st Annual Kudzu Festival is a short two weeks away, and our excitement is building as we complete the preparations to bring Holly Springs together for neighborhood fun in the sun. The Chamber of Commerce has designed a schedule of events to include every business, resident, and visitor to our city, because each is important to us and our community as a whole. Last week’s article highlighted the Chamber Kids’ Field Day (Thursday, July 16, noon to 4 p.m. in Spring Hollow Park) and the opportunity for bakers and grillers to compete in the backyard barbecue contest on Saturday. Two other events that Kudzu goers will enjoy are the Talent Extravaganza on Friday and the Chamber Challenge Obstacle.

Please take time to remember our local “heroes” who are serving in war zones around the world. Welcome Home, Timothy Hardaway, Donnie Kirksey

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, July 2, 2009
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