(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Augusta Press.)
Let’s get this week started by thanking the readers for comments on last week’s column.
I especially appreciate my friend Carlos who took it further by posting his thoughts about my column to Facebook. The last time I looked, it had over 300 comments.
This type of activity doesn’t normally excite me, but when I get the likes of Representative Jodi Lott, Sylvia Cooper and Former City of Augusta Director Larry Harris commenting, it makes me feel like my due diligence is not in vain.
Now I must admit, I didn’t read all of the comments because some of them didn’t require attention. This also goes for the comments under my column last week. However, some of them were quite entertaining, especially the person who said I wasn’t “fit to live.” I wonder what would God say to that.
It’s amazing to me sometimes that even in this year of 2022, the level of hatred that can be expressed because someone doesn’t agree with your point of view gets out of control. To call names and to hope the worst for someone because you don’t agree politically, I can only describe as an illness. The problem is for some, it’s incurable.
Your political stance on an issue is just that—your stance. YOUR stance. Your opinion of what YOU feel is right. This country was created on the hopes of people being able to express their opinions. One way to express an opinion is through FREE speech. But how can you do that if those that disagree are yelling for you to shut up? Or is it ok to express what you feel as long as it’s what I agree with?
Those who feel there should be only one opinion—theirs—probably have had failures in life. Divorces happen when there’s only one opinion. Wars are declared when there’s only one opinion. This sounds more like a dictatorship, and not the United States.
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When I read some of those comments that were egregiously vile, the hate oozed from the letters as if they were typed with one hand, and some of you held a dog at me with the other.
Remember you can always disagree without being disagreeable. Carlos and I are friends. He’s just SO WRONG when it comes to politics. The best part about that is we can fuss about politics and greet each other with a hug everytime we see each other.
(Let me take a moment of personal privilege and thank TAP Publisher Joe Edge for letting me be me and write my opinion as a columnist.)
Then on top of that, to comment under my column about how wrong I am and make it clear that it’s ok for me to be wrong and state my opinion. However, what I appreciate the most was my call from Ms. Sylvia who also let me know how wrong I was and offered to tell those jack4$$’s off for expressing my opinion. That really means a lot to me, coming from someone like her who has a long history of making people angry.
At the end of the day, I stand on all of my statements. Whether you like them or not, our country was built on the premise of free speech, and that includes being able to write it down.
My stance on Herschel has not changed, and looking at the numbers, it seems that many Republicans feel the same. Please explain why all the other Republicans won except him. I have my own rationale about that, but according to Mr. Walker—and let’s quote him—“America’s the greatest country in the United States.”
Speaking of elections…
I had a great conversation with Tax Commissioner Chris Johnson and asked him if there’s anything he wants to say to the community. He just wants “to express his heartfelt appreciation for being elected and is looking forward to continuing his hard work in the Tax Commission’s office.”
Speaking of overwhelming support…
MORE: Column: Michael Meyers considers what Augusta’s political future looks like
Let me take a moment to personally invite each and everyone of you to join us this Sunday for the Augusta University Men’s Basketball Home Opener. That will be this Sunday, Nov. 20 at 4 p.m. The team is already off to a red hot start. They are No. 2 in the nation, winning their first two games on the road and coming off a National Championship run where they fell a little short in the championship game.
When our community gets behind events like this, it shows outsiders that, despite our obvious differences, we are still strong, united, and Augusta is a great place to be.
I recently attended a fundraiser put on by the AU Birdie Club. Let me just say that all the “Who’s Who” from this community were there.
The level of support from community leaders for our “Harvard on the Hill” is there. We need to make sure we can continue to have the city rally behind them.
I requested my column be returned, and I had to edit late last night after the tragic news of newly elected Richmond County school board member Tyrique Robinson’s untimely death. Death is always tragic and can be overwhelming especially to those close to people. With that said, on behalf of all of us here – we send our most sincere condolences to family and friends. We will continue to keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
With that here’s a short story from my Sunday sermon that speaks to the importance of being nice and people seeing the God in you.
| A woman from a rich neighborhood was driving through the inner city and spotted a young, undernourished boy standing on the corner in shabby clothes. She stopped her car and asked the boy his name and where he lived.The boy told her that he lived in a car under a bridge with his mother; they were homeless. The woman told him to get in, and she took him to her home. When she fed him, he ate two large portions. As he ate, she noticed that he was about the size of her grandson, so she gave him some of his clothes. Afterwards, the boy looked at her and asked,“Lady, is you God? You act how they say God act.” She replied, “No, but I am one of his children.” The boy responded, “I knew y’all had to be kin.” Michael Meyers is a columnist for The Augusta Press. Reach him at Michael.meyers@theaugustapress.com |
