Voice of the People - February 16, 2009
What about the fertility doctor?
As a watcher of cable news, I find it hard to explain why the discussion continues about the mother of these octuplets with little information about the fertility clinic and the doctor whose ethics we need to question.
I feel we all share in the amazement this produces, but that fails to explain how it did happen, how it can happen and, most important, how we might find a way to stop what appears to be a lack of responsibility and ethics.
Golda McKenny
Rock Hill
Another apology is called for
The author is a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
I would like to thank The Herald for the stories about the apologies made to five members of the "Friendship Nine" by two of the individuals who taunted them for taking a rightful stand against the injustice of segregation in 1961.
The two individuals in question proved to everyone that the ability to accept the guilt of their unjust actions 48 years ago and then to apologize to those men and women showed that the true Christian values of the Southern people are very much alive.
That the five men and women accepted the apology that they admitted they never sought shows that they, too, share this unique value of forgiveness and love that all Southern people share.
I agree also that the criminal records of these nine honorable men and women known as the "Friendship Nine" should be cleared and would be willing to sign any petition to that effect.
Now, I believe another apology is due, this time to the Southern people as a whole for another terrible crime displayed in the story, but not mentioned till now.
The photo from the article near the bottom of the page, from Feb. 13, 1960, shows plainly a white man sneering to the right of one of the protesters, and he is holding in his left hand a Confederate flag.
The misuse of the Southern Cross banner, which unfortunately continues to this day by sordid individuals with anti-Christian and anti-American agendas, should never be tolerated by those whose ancestors suffered and died under it during the War Between the States.
Men of all races and religions, most of them Southern, gave their lives in defense of their homeland. The misuse of their flag is a disgrace to them and an insult to all those who honor the Southern values that the individuals from the story showed.
I believe that the individual in question should come forward and apologize first to those brave men and women for taunting them and then should appear at a Confederate Memorial Day event and apologize to the descendants of the Confederate veterans for the disgusting misuse of a Southern symbol.
Carl W. Roden
Chester
Let's move on from the past
Front-page coverage of old white men apologizing to old black men! Now, the "Friendship 9" deserve an apology! Get over it! These were things that happened more than 30 years ago! Chalk it up as a lesson learned.
If these people deserve an apology, then I deserve one from Sally and her friends who belittled me and called me names in high school. The kids from York Junior High and York High School deserve apologies from the black students who staged a riot in 1975!
This is 2009! Practice what you preach: We are all equal!
Charlotte Huffman
York
Story renewed faith in people
I just read the story about Elwin Williams' apology to Rep. John Lewis and wanted to express my thanks to Mr. Williams and your paper for this story. Amid all the dismal news of the day, this story renewed my hope. I think Mr. Williams' courage in approaching Rep. Lewis for this apology was an act of honor and courage, and I applaud him. I also noted the fact that Rep. Lewis and his employees treated Mr. Williams with kindness and respect.
This could be an extreme example to all of us in how to conduct our daily lives with those who surround us. Best of luck to Mr. Williams.
Connie Schnuelle
Pine Mountain, Ga.
This story was originally published February 16, 2009 at 12:18 AM with the headline "Voice of the People - February 16, 2009."