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Page 4A
& EDITORIALS
Declare among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard;
publish, and conceal not. - Jeremiah 50:2
2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 winner: Editorial Page excellen
2019, 2018 winner: Best Headline Writing
2019 winner: Best Community Service
2019 winner: Best Layout and Design
2019 winner: Best Serious Column - Don Daniel
iPhone Nation
O ne of the best-read parts of any newspaper is the
obituaries page. And even in a semi-rural com
munity like Monroe County, the Reporters obit
page tells us weekly that we have some colourful
characters passing from our midst.
Did you read the obit for James Clark
last week? Clark, his obituary told us,
was bom in Canada in 1928 (glad he got
out before the current unpleasantries).
He grew up on Lake Ontario, fell in love
with the open water and worked on
ships as a marine engineer.
But then his fascination with trains
overtook his fascination with boats. So
he went to work for the railroad and
wound up retiring as a conductor.
Then he became a gentleman farmer
in Ontario.
But somehow amidst all that, James Clark also found time
to be a professional wrestler. He was known in Canada as
Sailor Jim Clark. And the wrestling bit is what drew him
to America, which offered more money and excitement
for professional wrestlers. Here, he became known as Ivan
Zukoff in the 1950s and 60s, a notorious Russian “bad guy”
wrestler who used dirty tricks to upend his foes. To a child
of the 1980s like myself who attended the WWF at Dorton
Arena in Raleigh, N.C., it sounds like he was a forerunner of
1980 s wrestling legend Nikolai Volkoff. But Clark did him
one better — he even wrestled a bear.
Meanwhile, he met and married Forsyth native Patsy Clark,
and in 2002 they moved back here, presumably because at 74
the wrestling gigs were getting tougher.
What a life! Sadly, Clark passed away last Sunday at the end
of his 93rd year. It sounds like he mustered more life out of
his nine decades than most. And boy do I wish I had gotten
to know him. Nothing can be done about that now. But there
are many more interesting people with unique life experi
ences all around us in Monroe County. Whether at church, at
lunch or at a local concert or play, I think I’ll be more careful
to get to know them. That way, when I read their obituary, I
won’t have to say, “I didn’t know that!” Instead, I can say, “yep,
that was him!”
I’m fortunate in my job as newspaper publisher to meet a
lot of people. Not sure whether it means anything or not, but
my iPhone tells me I have 2,086 contacts.
While we all use our smart phones to stay in touch with
people, I am not sure whether smart phones and social
media have, in the end, strengthened our relationships with
others. In fact, I would dare say they have destroyed them.
Of course, loneliness is a permanent problem for human
ity. It didn’t start when the iPhone was released in 2007. But
here’s a question to ponder if you’re older than 40: do you
remember going to more or fewer weddings, church events,
family reunions, class reunions and parties 30 years ago than
today? Without hesitation I would say more. Maybe I’m just
older. Maybe I just don’t get invited. But I stand by my thesis.
Oh sure, people try to use social media to connect with
others. But it doesn’t seem to really work. It’s the same reason
virtual church doesn’t really work for long. Or Zoom meet
ings. On-line relationships either push toward an in-person
meeting, or they die for lack of interest. God gave us eyes,
ears, soft hands, faces and emotions when He made us. He
intends for our whole being to be engaged when we relate to
one another.
A few years ago I was in small group at church on a
Wednesday night. We went around the circle to share our
story. It was heart-breaking how many widows and older
women there were who confessed they had just moved to
Monroe County in the past few years and really didn’t know
anyone, or have anyone to talk to. If you think they are the
exception, I have some Re-Elect Biden signs to sell you.
CO\TD took an existing situation of social fracturing, or
atomising, and made it much, much worse.
Why does it matter? My high school physics teacher Ted
Hersey taught us, among other things I didn’t really under
stand, the Law of Entropy. I only know it now because I read
about it in one of my favourite books, “Changes That Heal”
by Dr. Henry Cloud. The Law of Entropy, notes Dr. Cloud,
says that the entire universe breaks down into chaos over
See ON THE PORCH . Page 5A
DRAWING ON THE NEWS by AF Branco
REECES PIECES by Sieve Reece
Our hands, everyday miracles
Look at your hands. Those two
things at the end of your arms that
you give such little thought to. Your
dexterous, agile, flexible, strong, and
sensitive hands tell the story of your
life whether they be gnarled and old,
twisted, bruised and bumpy, or soft
and manicured. They are always
busy, regardless of occupation or age.
From infancy into our old age, our
hands define us, they create the things
we think in our brains and put them
before us.
Even if calloused and rough from
hard work, our hands can comfort
our friends or even strangers. Even
the most hardened worker can feel the
softness of a baby as they hold them,
dress them, and keep them warm and
well-fed.
We touch the frightened
faces of the dying then put
our palms together to pray for
them. Our hands can heal the
sick and comfort the lonely.
You can press your fingers
against the cheek of a loved
one and tell them without
words how much you ap
preciate and care for them.
The sense of touch in our
fingers makes us aware if something is
hot, cold, warm, soft, smooth, or even
nasty.
Our hands construct the world
around us. They build our homes,
buildings, roads, bridges and busi
nesses. They can hold a nail then
swing down a hammer on its head.
Hands can saw and hands can weld.
With them, we weed our gardens,
trim the lawn and build birdhouses.
Then we can go inside and use our
hands to write a little bird poem with
a computer, a pen, or a dab of ink on
the tip of a feather.
Do you want to show your wife or
girlfriend you’re proud of her in pub
lic? Simply grab her hand as you walk
around the square. Want to show your
buddy you’re a true friend? The bro
handshake is easy enough. Or these
days, maybe a fist bump. We can hold
a baseball bat and somehow smack
a speeding ball over a wire fence 100
yards away or catch it just before it
goes over. Every day our hands per
form hundreds of wonderful things,
all unnoticed and unappreciated.
My father’s hands were work-worn
and calloused and often stained from
hard work. Yet years of abuse
never diminished the intri
cate details he put into his
work. The hands that held me
when I was a baby continued
to serve him for nearly 80
years without a hitch except
for the time a cat bit him in
the fleshy part of his hand
between his thumb and his
index finger. He nearly lost it
due to the infection, but thankfully he
recovered with the same strong grip
he was known for and continued with
his creations. More proof that our
hands are miraculous.
My mother could hold a tiny needle
and make things of great beauty. She
could also hold a maple switch with
equal ease and inflict great pain. And
just by holding up one finger at the
supper table, she was able to imme
diately command complete silence.
By placing her hand in my dad’s, we
knew that she loved him.
My own hands are less calloused
than earlier in my life when I spent
years working with wood outside
in the weather. I carry the scars of
my guitar picking on the tips of the
fingers of my left hand that will never
go away, but I now use the hands of
a writer, a bit softer. Somehow, my
fingers instinctively know the keys
to strike as quickly as my brain can
conjure up the words. Along with the
occasional typo.
When I was a kid, my Uncle
Marvin lost his hands while working
on the lines of Georgia Power. He
was told the electricity was off and
he grabbed two Eve wires. The shock
was so strong, it completely knocked
both of his climbing boots off his feet.
I remember well how the tragedy
affected the entire family. The relief of
him surviving the accident was damp
ened by the loss of his hands. Even
though I don’t believe I could survive
without the use of my own hands,
Uncle Marvin has gone through his
life undeterred in furniture making,
driving, fishing, and anything else any
ordinary man can do. But my uncle
is not ordinary, even though we now
have amazing prosthetics that can do
anything the human body can do, my
uncle has stayed with the rudimen
tary claws he was given in place of his
hands and no one who knows him
considers him to be handicapped. He
was an inspiration to me growing up
and always will be.
Unfortunately, hands can also kill,
maim, and do harm to others. They
hold pistols, knives and rifles, steering
wheels, and hypodermic needles full
of dangerous drugs. They can shove
someone off a cliff or push them
down the stairs. We can ball them up
into a fist and knock someone out for
a ten-second count or just plain slap
them silly.
In our hands we hold the power to
create a better world. The way you
use yours is up to you.
Steve Reece is a writer for the Report
er and a known crime fighter. Email
him at stevereece@gmail.com.
CAROLYN S CORNER by Carolyn Martel
is published every week by The Monroe County Reporter Inc.
Will Davis, President • Robert M. Williams Jr., Vice President
Cheryl S. Williams, Secretary-T reasurer
OUR STAFF
Will Davis
Publisher/Editor
publisher@mymcr.net
Tammy Rafferzeder
Business Manager
business@mymcr.net
Steve Reece
Reporter
stevereece@gmail.com
Diane Glidewell
Community Editor
news@mymcr.net
Donna Wilson
Advertising Manager
ads@mymcr.net
Amy Haisten
Creative Director
mymcrgraphics@gmail.com
Official Organ of Monroe
County and the City of Forsyth
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Deadlines noon on Friday prior to issue. Comments featured on opinion pages are the creation of
the writers, the do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Reporter management.
Publication No. USPS 997-840
Sticks and stones, but words can really hurt
W e’ve probably all heard
the old saying, “Sticks
and stones may break
my bones, but words
will never hurt me.” Wrong! Words
can hurt and hurt deeply. I think of
malicious gossip, when it comes to
words that can hurt. Some people
are busybodies.They seek harmful
information on another person and
spread it by means of gos
sip, slander and backbiting.
Those who enjoy gossip, love
digging up dirt on someone
else. In doing so, it elevates
their egos, self importance
and arrogant pride. It would
seem that gossipers are blind
to their own faults
and shortcomings.
THE HEBREW
word for gossip is
closely associated with the word used
for whisperer. The whisperer is one who
talks about people behind their backs
in a negative manner. I Eke a Facebook
post that Shauna Bramlett, owner of
Hometown Boutique & Monograms
posted recently. The post said, “Sur
round yourself with women who wiE
pray for you behind your back”
JESUS SAID, “Love your neighbor as
yourself” Matt. 22:39. How can you love
your neighbor as yourself and gossip
about him or her? Before you talk about
someone in a damaging or
injurious manner ask yourself,
“Would you want this said
about you?” If the answer is
no, then stop spreading gossip.
Gossip can destroy a person’s
reputation. The effects of hurt
ful remarks can last a Efetime!
JESUS SAID, “And why
worry about the spec in
your friend’s eye when
you have a log in your
own? How can you think of saying,
‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that
speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see
past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite!
First get rid of the log in your own eye;
then you wiE see well enough to deal
with the spec in your friend’s eye” Luke
6:41-42. Before we start to criticize, con
demn and look smugly down our nose
at someone else’s sins, we must look
inward at ourselves. Jesus said to look
at the log in your own eye! Before you
judge another, look at your own sins,
weaknesses, wrong motives and lack of
humility, love and mercy.
IF YOU are tempted to gossip,
consider what James, the brother of
Jesus wrote: “Those who consider
themselves reEgious and yet do not keep
a tight reign on their tongues deceive
themselves, and their reEgion is worth
less” James 1:26. Moral of the lesson?
Stop the runaway gossip, rumors and
mudsEnging! Jesus said it best: “Do unto
others as you would have them do unto
you” Matt. 7:12.
Carolyn Martel is the retired advertis
ing manager of the Reporter. Email her at
carolynmartell @bellsouth. net.