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The ADVANCE, October 26, 2022/Page 9A
Shapiro
continued from page 6A
— 16% of Democrats, 15%
of independents and 9% of
Republicans. Even among
those who say we must “go
outside the law” just 12%
say Americans should take
up arms or participate in
violence — meaning just
1.7% of likely voters advo
cate civil war. Meanwhile,
84% of likely voters say we
can fix our democracy with
out destroying the system.
As for the media’s fa
vorite Trumpian conspiracy
theory, QAnon, just 5% of
likely voters call the theory
believable.
So, why precisely are so
many Americans worried
about the state of democ
racy? They’re worried that
their political opponents
will threaten the institu
tions they cherish. Forty-
seven percent of voters de
clare former President
Donald Trump a “major
threat to democracy,” and
39% declare President Joe
Biden to be the same. But
shockingly, the institution
they blame most for threat
ening democracy is the
mainstream media, with
59% of likely voters, includ
ing 54% of independents,
calling the mainstream me
dia a “major threat to de
mocracy.”
Perhaps that’s the big
gest takeaway from all this
data: that Americans don’t
hate each other, but they’re
being polarized by a media
determined to divide them
from one another, whip
ping up madness where
mere concern would suf
fice. And what’s more,
Americans can feel it.
All of which means that
sanity may reign once again,
so long as Americans recon
nect with each other rather
than believing everything
they see on the news.
Ben Shapiro, 38, is a
graduate of UCLA and
Harvard Law School, host of
"The Ben Shapiro Show," and
co-founder of Daily Wire+. He
is a three-time New York Times
bestselling author: his latest
book is "The Authoritarian
Moment: How The Left
Weaponized America's
Institutions Against Dissent." To
find out more about Ben
Shapiro and read features by
other Creators Syndicate
writers and cartoonists, visit the
Creators Syndicate website at
www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2022 CREATORS.
COM.
Star
continued from page 7A
branch, 38%.
It is the first time all
three branches of govern
ment fell below 50% in
trust.
Gallup notes that when
it first did this survey in
1972, at least two-thirds ex
pressed trust in each branch
of the federal government.
This is a leadership cri
sis.
Former Democratic
Party congresswoman and
presidential candidate Tulsi
Gabbard drew attention
with her announcement
that she is pulling out of the
Democratic Party.
In an interview on Fox
with former Republican
congressman Trey Gowdy,
Gabbard ticked off her
complaints about the Dem
ocratic Party, including her
concern that Democrats do
not carry the banner for “in
dividual liberties,” “limited
government” and our
“God-given rights en
shrined in our Constitu
tion.”
Some have noted the
precedent of Ronald Rea
gan leaving the Democratic
Party.
But Reagan left the
Democrats and became a
Republican.
And Gabbard? She says
she is now an independent.
It’s tough to fathom the
genuineness of Gabbard’s
disillusionment with her
former party, given that she
endorsed socialist Bernie
Sanders for president in
2016.
Reagan articulated a
clear vision of America,
about limited government
and individual freedom,
and then fought to capture
leadership in the Republi
can Party so the party
would become the platform
for these ideals.
This option certainly is
open to Gabbard. But, no
thank you. She’s an inde
pendent.
Americans are disillu
sioned because too many
so-called leaders are playing
games with them.
We need leaders who
understand and feel, at the
deepest level, what our na
tion is about. A great defini
tion of leadership/heroism
that I once read says that it
is someone who embodies
“by the cast of destiny, the
virtue of their whole people
in a great hour.”
Inflation is a sure sign
of a corrupt political cul
ture. It begins with irre
sponsible government
spending and printing of
money.
Alongside our corrupt
political culture is the cor
ruption of our society with
the breakdown of marriage
and family, and the disap
pearance of children.
A free society is not
about economic issues or
social issues but both.
In Reagan’s farewell ad
dress to the nation he said,
“All great change in Amer
ica begins at the dinner ta
ble.”
He knew that in Amer
ica, the family passes on the
values of freedom.
The press wants to fo
cus the upcoming elections
on individual races.
This election must be
about party. Republicans
versus Democrats.
Voters need to turn the
country back to Republi
cans and pave the way for
new, great American lead
ers.
Star Parker is president of
the Center for Urban Renewal
and Education and host of the
weekly television show "Cure
America with Star Parker."
COPYRIGHT 2022 CREATORS.
COM
Lowry
continued from page 7A
insistence that the inflation
rate this past July was 0%
because inflation was flat
from June.
He similarly declared
victory on gas prices, when
they have been rising again,
and has portrayed himself
as scourge of the budget
deficit despite his binge of
further deficit spending.
If Biden is offering
poor explanations for poor
results, at the end of the
day, it doesn’t matter what
he says. No presidential
statement can compete
with declining real wages
and steeply increasing food
costs.
The voters seem to be
working themselves up to
administer what is the only
appropriate reaction to
such heedless mismanage
ment and transparent spin
on an essential matter af
fecting their daily lives,
which is to make their dis
content unmistakable at
the polls in November.
Rich Lowry is editor of the
National Review.
(c) 2022 by King Features
Synd., Inc.
Obituaries
Mr. Thomas Tucker
Mr. Thomas Melton
Tucker, age 80, of Dublin,
died on Wednesday, Octo
ber 19, 2022, at his home
surrounded by his family.
Mr. Tucker was born in
Washington, DC, and was
a graduate of LaPlata High
School in LaPlata, MD. He
served in the
United States
Army from
1964 to 1984,
retiring at
Fort McPher
son. During his military ca
reer, he served in Vietnam,
and upon returning home,
was assigned to the Pen
tagon. He was transferred
into recruiting and was
assigned to many various
duty stations, achieving the
rank of Master Sergeant.
After military service, he
worked for several car deal
erships throughout the na
tion and eventually retired
from Dorman Dodge in
Sandersville. He was a life
member of the local VFW,
a member of the DAV,
American Legion and the
Wounded Warrior Project.
He was preceded in death
by his parents, Thomas
Frederick Tucker and Mary
Louise Davis Tucker.
Survivors include his
wife of 54 years, Caroline
Manning Tucker, Dublin;
Robert Tucker (Tonya),
Marietta, Brian Tucker
(Melinda Melvin), McRae,
Lisa Tucker Jones, Dublin;
1 brother, Forrest Tucker,
Maryland; 11 grandchil
dren; and 2 great-grand
children.
Funeral services were
conducted on Sunday,
October 23, 2022, at 2:00
p.m., in the Williams Cha
pel of Sammons Funeral
Home, with Rev. Tommy
Veal officiating. Interment
followed in the Rosemont
Baptist Church Cemetery
with full military honors.
Sammons Funeral
Home in Soperton was in
charge of arrangements.
Mr. George Kent
Mr. George L. Kent,
age 90, ofVidalia, died on
October 14, 2022, at the
Bethany Nursing Home in
Vidalia.
Mr. Kent
was in the
U.S. Army
and worked
as a printer
for a newspa
per. He was
preceded in death by Thur
ston and Mamie Kent.
Survivors include 1
sister, Dorothy M. Jones of
Vidalia; nephews, George
Kent II, Anthony Kent,
and Otis Kent, all ofVida
lia; 1 niece, Terry Gearld,
Vidalia; and many other
nieces, nephews, cousins,
and friends.
The funeral service was
held on Friday, October
21, 2022, at 11:00 a.m., in
the Vidalia Funeral Home
Chapel.
Tliiialta
Shuteral Home
106 Pine St., Vidalia
537-8887
Mrs. Pamela Gilman
Mrs. Pamela “Pam”
Kay Gilman of Metter,
formerly of Vidalia, died
on Saturday, October 22,
2022, at Memorial Health
Meadows Hospital in Vi
dalia.
Mrs. Gilman was born
in Grand Rapids, MI, and
lived for many years in
Vidalia before moving to
Metter 6 months ago. She
was a truck driver, having
worked for Hobby Lobby
and Rider, and received
her training through Truck
Driving Institute. In recent
years she worked for the
Subway in Lyons. She was
preceded in death by her
mother, Diane Smith, and
1 brother, Rob Smith.
Surviving are her hus
band, Michael Gilman,
Sr.; 3 sons, Mitchell Gil
man (Brittany), Michael
Gilman, Jr. (Jessica), and
Aaron Gilman; 1 brother,
Greg Smith; 1 sister, Lori
Harmon (Joe); and several
grandchildren, nieces and
nephews.
Funeral arrangements
are incomplete and will be
announced by Kennedy
Funeral Homes, Cobbtown
Chapel, of Cobbtown.
Kennedy Funeral
Homes, Cobbtown Cha
pel, of Cobbtown is in
charge of arrangements.
War nock
continued from page 7A
nue, and $847,000 in “other
revenue,” according to its
IRS Form 990 filings.
In June 2022, Ebenezer
Building Foundation ap
plied for a $5 million grant
from the state of Georgia to
fund repairs at Columbia
Tower.
The Georgia Securities
and Charities Division gave
Ebenezer Building Founda
tion until November 2 to
provide evidence showing
why it is exempt from regis
tering with the Secretary of
State and is "therefore not
in violation of the Act and
Rules."
The National Legal
and Policy Center filed a
complaint with the IRS
demanding an audit of
Warnock's church for con
cealing its 99% ownership
stake in Columbia Tower
through a shell company
called MLK Village Cor
poration, which shares the
same address as the church.
As he attacks his Re
publican opponent Her-
schel Walker in the Georgia
Senate race, Warnock ap
pears to have a lot of clean
ing up to do around his own
front door.
In the midst of the ten
ants’ woes, Herschel Walker
has offered to pay rent for
anyone facing eviction by
Warnock's church. Now,
that is truly Christian char
ity.
Mr. Philip Peoples, Sr.
Mr. Philip “Phil” Rob
ert Peoples, Sr., age 83, of
Lyons, died on Monday,
October 17, 2022, at his
residence under the care of
Community Hospice after a
brief illness and surrounded
by his family.
Mr. Peoples was born
in Orlando, FL, and was a
1957 graduate of Fort My
ers High School. He was
employed as a superinten
dent with Florida Power
and Light, and after over
seeing repairs after Hur
ricane Andrew, he retired
after 37 years of service. He
is preceded in death by his
parents, Philip Reed and
Nellie Grey Peoples; 1 son,
Keven Reed Peoples; and 1
daughter, Lisa Marie Web
ber.
His family includes his
wife of 56 years, Joan There
sa Viens Peoples of Lyons; 2
sons, Philip Robert Peoples,
Jr., of Naples, FL, and Mi
chael “Mike” Charles Peo
ples and wife Jody of Arkan
sas; 1 daughter, Patti Rae
Brewer and husband Ron
Boy of Arkansas; 4 grand
children, Melissa Patterson
and husband Willie, Keven
Peoples, Jessica Turner and
husband Josh, Steven Peo
ples and wife Kyla; 4 great
grandchildren; 3 great-
great-grandchildren; and
several other relatives.
The funeral service
was held on Monday, Oc
tober 24, at 12:00 noon, at
Edmond Chapel Church
of God, with Pastor Mark
Griffis and Rev. Bill Black
officiating. Burial followed
in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers were Char
lie “Brown” Meade, Ron
Brewer, Lash Hayes, Fred
Johnson, Durelle Harden,
and Lloyd Rollins.
In lieu of flowers, me
morial contributions may
be made to Edmond Cha
pel Church of God, 2380
Georgia Highway 56, Ly
ons, Georgia 30436.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Mr. Johnny Barwick
Mr. Johnny W. Bar
wick, age 72, of Ailey, died
on Sunday, October 16,
2022, at HCA Memorial of
Jacksonville, FL, after an ex
tended illness.
Mr. Barwick was born
in Lakeland, FL, and as a
child moved to Montgom
ery County, where he lived
all of his life. He was a 1969
graduate of Vidalia High
School. He was employed
with the Georgia Depart
ment of Corrections, work
ing as a Correctional officer
with Montgomery State
Prison, and retired in 2007
as a Road Detail Guard af
ter 34 years of service. He
was of the Baptist faith and
is preceded in death by his
parents, John Wesley Bar
wick and Georgia Tapley
Barwick; and 2 brothers,
Jimmy Barwick and Randy
Barwick.
His family includes his
wife of 16 years, Marga
ret H. Barwick of Ailey; 2
daughters, Annette Massey
and husband Mel of Mt.
Vernon and Belinda Pullen
and fiance Michael Christli-
eb of Apopka, FL; 6 grand
children, Lee Wheeler and
Hope of Vidalia, Curtis
Wheeler and wife Lesley
of Stillmore, Brad Carter
of Hazlehurst, Kristin Pow
ell ofVidalia, Kayla Carter
and Chad of Jacksonville,
Florida, and Andrea Pullen
and Joe Walk of Twin City;
and 18 great-grandchildren,
with 2 to be born soon.
The funeral service was
held on Thursday morning,
October 20, at 11:00, in the
chapel of Ronald V. Hall
Funeral Home, with Rev.
Preston Mixon officiating.
Burial followed in Pinecrest
Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Lee
Wheeler, Curtis Wheeler,
Brad Carter, Joe Walk, Mi
chael Christlieb, and Zach
Pullen.
Memorial contribu
tions may be made to Cal
vary on Aimwell, by visiting
their website www.calvary-
onaimwell.com/give.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Mrs. Murlie Pilgrim
Mrs. Murlie Elizabeth
Morrison Pilgrim, age 86,
of Decatur, AL, died on
October 16, 2022.
Mrs. Pilgrim was born
in Mount Vernon. She at
tended Virginia Intermont
College, then later Brenau
College in Gainesville. She
and her husband settled in
Gainesville. She played the
piano and organ at First
Presbyterian. They moved
to Decatur, AL, in 1966.
She was active in the Ju
nior League, DAR, First
Presbyterian Church, and
substitute teaching. She
launched a career in life
insurance at the age of 40.
She was preceded in death
by her husband, Harold
Pilgrim, and her parents,
Walter and Murlie Morri
son.
Survivors include 1
sister Cornelia; 1 son, Trip;
her grandchildren, Ben
(wife Abbie) and Molly
(husband Drew Orman);
and 1 great-grandson by
Ben and Abbie, Townes;
and grand dogs, Lucy and
Finn.
The funeral service was
held on Monday, October
24, 2022, at 11:00 a.m., at
First Presbyterian Church
in Decatur. Burial will fol
low at Mt. Vernon Memo
rial Cemetery on Wednes
day, October 26, at 12:00
noon, with Pastor Russell
Gladding officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the
family suggests memorials
be made to Hospice of the
Valley or Decatur Morgan
Hospital Foundation.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"