Newspaper Page Text
The True Citizen, Wednesday, September 22, 2021 — Page 5
Michael N. Searles
THE SIREN CALL
Ronda Rich
WHEN WE COME TOGETHER
Siren, in Greek mythology,
is a half bird and half woman
creature who lured sailors to
destruction by the sweetness of
her song. According to Homer,
there were two Sirens on an is
land in the western sea between
Aeaea and the rocks of Scylla.
Later the number usually was
increased to three located on
the west coast of Italy, near
Naples. They variously were
said to be the daughters of
the sea god Phorcys or of the
river god Achelous by one of
the Muses. The Sirens were
especially dangerous in lur
ing nearby sailors with their
enchanting music and singing
voices to shipwreck on the
rocky coast of their island.
Words and ideas also can be
intoxicating if they are repeat
ed in an authoritative manner
and with an affirming voice.
Many have wondered how a
large number of people could
be drawn into believing some
thing that otherwise would be
seen as bizarre.
In October 2017, an anony
mous user put a series of posts
on the message board 4chan.
The user signed off as "Q" and
claimed to have a level of U.S.
security approval known as "Q
clearance". These messages
became known as "Q drops" or
"breadcrumbs", often written
in cryptic language peppered
with slogans, pledges, and
pro-Trump themes. Seemingly
rational Americans began to re
ceive secret information about
a world cabal of Satan-wor-
shipping pedophiles running
a global child sex-trafficking
ring plotting to overthrow the
American Constitution and
nation.
These fantastic beliefs were
not those of a small fringe
group according to the Wash
ington-based Public Religion
Research Institute (PRRI).
The Institute surveyed over
5,500 adults in all 50 states that
represent 15% of Americans—
roughly 31 million people —
who believed completely in the
unfounded claims of QAnon.
The survey also found that
20% or 42 million Americans
believed there was a storm
coming soon that would sweep
away the elites in power and
restore the rightful leaders.
Siren calls still have an arrest
ing appeal.
In November 2019, a new
vims gained a foothold world
wide. Chinese scientists
mapped and made public the
first complete genome of the
COVID-19 vims and scientists
around the world quickly be
gan the process of determining
the structure of vaccine needed
to challenge and fight the vims.
There is a belief that the
COVID-19 vaccine was de
veloped too quickly, but what
is less known is that decades
of scientific efforts went into
developing the technology
required to create the vaccine.
Those years of scientific inqui
ry paid off with the production
of several safe vaccines with
very high efficacy rates. Along
with this life-saving medicine
came a belief that put doubt in
the minds of some Americans.
Those living more youthful
active lives thought they were
immune. This belief may have
prompted some law enforce
ment officers to initially reject
the vaccine. However, in 2020
more police officers died from
COVID-19 than both shoot
ings and crashes. Others came
to believe the vaccine actually
gave people the vims. Various
specious theories inundated the
internet and social media and
proved to be a major influencer.
Spokespersons like radio
host Dick Farrel who branded
COVID a “scam-demic”, and
encouraged listeners not to get
vaccinated. Farrel described
Dr. Anthony Fauci, America’s
top immunologist, as a “power
tripping lying freak” who con
spired with the “power trip libb
loons.” Many of his listeners
most likely took his advice
to heart and declined the vac
cine. Apparently, Dick Farrel
followed his own advice and
did not get the shots for CO-
VID-19. On August 4, sadly
Farrel passed away from the
disease he mocked. Farrel’s
partner, Kit Farley said, “He
was known as the other Rush
Limbaugh. With a heavy heart,
I can only say this was so un
expected. He will be missed.”
Farley on Facebook followed
with these parting words: “He
fought like a tiger. Please don’t
put off getting attention for this
illness. Yes, for some it has
minimal effects, but others it
is deadly. We will always love
Dick Farrel, always appreciate
his spirit and miss him greatly.”
My cousin, Lynn, and I sat
side-by-side every week in
Sunday School, in the choir
where less than a dozen people
sang, and on the second bench
on the left side for preaching.
We even led a song together
every Sunday and, sometimes,
if the church was really hard
up, one or both of us would
play the piano. Neither of us
was very good at it but Daddy,
willing to lead the suffering
congregation through our sour
notes, thought it was worth the
learning we’d get from it.
I remember, once, when I
was about 14,1 stopped mid
way through the first verse
of Trust and Obey and said
to Royce, the song leader,
“You’re singin’ too fast. Slow
down.”
He chuckled and slowed it
down but I still had trouble
keeping up. I think of that
every time I hear that song.
Lynn and I have a deep
history. We played Barbies
together, trounced the woods
looking for the perfect Christ
mas trees, learned to parallel
park in her grandmother’s
yard by measuring the distance
and setting out gallon jugs of
water as the perimeters. In her
daddy’s big Buick Electra, we
practiced until we got good.
It is a skill that has served me
well over the years.
I remember the first time
I saw the little strawberry-
blonde whose face was covered
in freckles. I was seven and
was in Sunday School which,
at that time, was the last pew
in the church, next to the white
rope that hung down next to the
front door. It was always a joy
to pull that rope for the bell, to
ring and signal that church was
starting.
The door opened and a little
girl walked in, all by herself.
She was brave, that one. She
begged her mama and daddy
to let her go to Sunday School.
So, for several months, they
brought her, dropped her off,
then went back home. But the
Bible says, “And a child shall
lead them” — which is exactly
what happened. Before too
long, her mama started coming.
Then, her daddy and, before
you knew it, their family, had
grown into the solid backbone
of the church.
When I first saw her, as she
smoothed the tail of her red
dress and sat down beside me,
I didn’t know we were kin.
But I learned shortly after that,
not only were we cousins, we
were kin from two sides of
our family. My daddy and her
grandmother, Pauline, were
double first cousins.
We grew to teenagers to
gether, spending hours in re
cord shops, watching Saturday
matinees and double-dating.
All these years, we have stayed
that close because we are
bonded by something deeper
than blood. We are bound by
a shared past and a barn-full
of memories. Every year, she
and her husband join us for
Thanksgiving. The happiest
moments of the day are when
we are in the kitchen, cleaning
up, and laughing about stories
that begin with, “Remember
when...”
It should come as no surprise
that we were saved on the same
day at revival, as the Saints
gathered ‘round us, rejoicing,
and that we were baptized
together in a morning service,
outside.
Lynn called the other day
to tell me about a horrendous
wreck she had survived. She
was pulling out of a store park
ing lot when a teenager driving
erratically, and far over the
speed limit, hit her and totaled
both their cars.
A white couple and a black
man stopped and ran to her
aide. They helped her climb
from the wreckage and, when
they made sure she was okay,
the three of them put their arms
around each other, gathered
Lynn into a circle, and prayed
over her, thanking God for
sparing and keeping her safe.
Strangers. All four of them.
Nothing mattered in that mo
ment except for human kind
ness and decency.
Exactly what we learned in
Sunday School all those years
ago.
Ronda Rich is the best-sell
ing author of There's A Better
Day A-Comin’. Visit www.
rondarich.com and sign up for
her free weekly newsletter.
BIKE COUNTY BUMS DIRECTORY
These local professionals are here to serve you!
Air Conditioning | Electrical & Generator | Air ConditioninQ
COMPLETE W
TRUST.
ITS MORE THAN A WORD TO US.
ITS OUR WORD TO YOU
arm
#N0W
A NHWg 1 Coo*$oMoo C»■>■«»
706-554-7341 / 706-830-4516
COMPLETE
SYSTEM
DIAGNOSTICS
ONLY
*49
RC WELL
ELECTRIC CO.
TRANE
Iti Hard lb Stop A Thane!
706-554-2861
rowellelectric.com
GENERAC
AUTHORIZED DEALER
502 West 6th Street
Waynesboro, GA 30830
PHONE (706) 554-2861
Contractor
HIGHSMITH BUILDING SERVICES, INC.
constructing custom homes since 1991
JOHN A. HIGHSMITH
706-551-0248
JohnHighsmith@rockelmail.com
Insurance
Stacey L, Herrmann, LUTCF • Agency Mgr.
Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance Services
Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company
Office 706-554-2017 FAX: 706-554-7482
Email: slherrmann@gfbins.com
CLAIMS # 1-855-432-2567
P.O. Box 329 Waynesboro, GA 30830
FARM
BUREAU
GEORGIA
Pet Grooming
Wrecker Service
Springwood
Boarding & Grooming
706-592-0444
3209 Old Waynesboro Road
Hephzibah, GA 30815
'Caring hands for your precious pet"
706-551-3998
706-551-0876
TAYLOR BROTHERS
Wrecker Service
206 West 12th Street
Handyman and Lawn Servicesl Cleaning Services
PWN
HANDYMAN SERVICES
AND LAWN CAKE, LLC
ALL YOUR HANDYMAN AND LAWN CARE NEEDS
NO JOB TOO SMALL!
INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR HOME REPAIR AND IMPROVEMENT
LAWN CARE AND LANDSCAPING
fUUY INSURED
706-526-8303 CALL OR TEXT
NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL
You name il we clean it!
Homes, Offices, Commercial, Churches
Before & after party services, seasonal services too
Special Events
Call for free estimates - Klewisservices
762-212-2901 or 706-551-4098
Commercial - Residential
Sales & Service
1040 Bethesda Church Road
Girard, GA
Mobile: 706-339-9343
It* Hard 7J» Slop A 7tane
Reliable
Durable
Clean Air
Comfort Control
Efficient
First-Rate Warranties
Heating & Air
Dustin Rowell,
Owner/President
rciow v.
MjnrazFD
DEALER
Rowell
(HEATirVG,&^A»R L
Turn to the Experts
“Trust, Honor S Pride - Our Commitment To You"
346 Old Millen Hwy., Waynesboro, GA 30830
706-554-2665
Burke Memorial Funeral Home
www.burkememorial.com
“A Home of Dependable Service’
842 Liberty Street, Waynesboro, GA
Family owned 8. operated
jane and George DeLoach
706-833-9867 or 706-551-5100