God has chosen Obama to lead
I wish to address the issue of the person who should be our next president. It looks like we have a first at our fingertips. I really applaud Sen. Obama for stepping out in faith and taking a stand for our country, even putting his very life in danger. That takes real leadership in my book.
I challenge anyone to really listen to what this man has to say. No one can deny our country is in trouble. Since prayer was taken out of our schools, our country has been sliding quickly into destruction. I am aware of the undercurrent or massive effort to eliminate God from America. That is such a huge mistake. And so many of us just sit idly by and let it happen, thinking "what can one person do."
But we are making history as I write. I see him wanting to have better health care for the average person, plus finding a solution for the gas situation and much, much more. I feel it is time to put God first in our lives, our churches, our schools, our families, but especially our government. It is no secret that God works through people to accomplish his goals. And I feel God has chosen Sen. Obama to work through for the betterment of America from the top of the bureaucracy to our homes in ever state.
-- Charlene Brudevold, Orangeburg
Voorhees president shouldn't be rewarded
I am an avid reader of The Times and Democrat and recently Mr. Vic Whetstone has had some very interesting articles about Voorhees College and especially Dr. Lee Monroe.
Let me get this straight, a jury found against Dr. Monroe last April in a sexual harassment case. Now, here is where it got confusing. I always thought that in such instances you would be terminated immediately and forfeit all future salary.
Instead, Dr. Monroe was given car, insurance and salary for a full year. I don't know what amount of money we are speaking of, but I will bet it's in excess of $200,000. This looks like a reward for doing something wrong.
I would be very interested in the position of president of Voorhees if this is their normal practice of doing business.
-- Walter Bates, Norway
Time to clean up Old Edisto Drive
Hope you can stand another letter about Edisto Drive!
I grew up on the Old Edisto Drive area and was very proud of the fact until now!
Someone with some pull in the Orangeburg area needs to see about cleaning it up. What I'm talking about are the drugs, drinking in public and "prostitution" that are going on out there on any given day of the week, Sunday is no exception either!
It makes me sick to see how the Old Edisto Drive I remember has gone down!
-- Sandra Johnson, Orangeburg
Shedding light on 'dark secret'
I was a pastor who could longer stand the hypocrisy of organized religion's insistence on providing aid and comfort for women who lied, cheated and assaulted men without consequence from the family justice system. African-American women have fine-tuned this to an art that they share over telephone lines, in beauty shops, through books and even over the Internet.
At what point does this go on without any media attention? Is there a way to initiate an investigative report so that this dark secret can be brought to the light? I promised a group of inmates -- who cannot end the cycle of imprisonment due to child support in Beaufort, wherein the amount owed goes up while they are incarcerated -- that I would begin the fight for their rights of equal protection under the law. That is supposed to be granted to every citizen of these great United States of America. The media should bring public attention to this growing dilemma.
-- Rodney L. Sistrunk, Eastover