Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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The World According to Squirrely Olen by PITT DICKEY Recall the great scene in A Few Good Men where Jack Nicholson, playing Colonel Jessup, yells at Tom Cruise: "You can't handle the truth." Let us consider Jack's observation in connection with current North Carolina politics in light of the teachings of the great Blue Ridge Mountain philosopher and moonshiner, Squirrely Olen. Squirrely was an alcohol entrepreneur back in the 1930s. There wasn't a whole lot going then economically in the Blue Ridge mountains except for producing moonshine. On one occasion, Squirrely was spending an afternoon in court facing criminal charges for his production of illegal hootch. As a result of a court reporter's talents we have a transcript revealing a profound moment of universal clarity. Consider the following question by the district attorney and Squirrely's response. For a moment ponder the beauty and majesty of this interaction. Can we apply it to our own humble lives? Prosecutor: "Can you give examples as to whether you know the difference between right and wrong?" Squirrely: "Now you are talking my language. Right is when I cheat you, wrong is when you cheat me." There you have it. Life in a nutshell. The philosophy of Art Pope's N.C. Republicans, who are now the sole owners of our state government, is set out in Squirrely's reply to his prosecutor. Right is when the Pope Republicans cheat the poor, the blacks, the unemployed and the medically uninsured. Wrong is when these people cheat the Republicans by voting, eating or getting sick or injured. I am not saying all Republicans are bad. To the contrary, some of my best friends are Republicans. Our Governor is kind to the ladies; he brings them cookies when they protest. They are so cute when they protest. North Carolina has been in the national news lately regarding our government's fearless foray into the wonderful world of obstructing voting rights, contracting Medicaid and shrinking unemployment benefits. Like Room 237 in the Overlook Hotel in The Shining, a lot of things have been happening in North Carolina and not all of them are good. Ponder our new voter ID law. This law was intended to make it harder to vote for groups that don't tend to vote Republican — blacks, poor people, Hispanics and students. Voter suppression is a perfectly rational response by the Republicans to a demographic wave that will one day sweep them out of power. Cranky middle-aged white men are not going to be around forever. They don't reproduce. The anger they tote around inside will lead to hypertension and shortened life spans. Who could blame them for trying to put off the inevitable population tide that is going to wash them out to sea? It is only logical for them to grab for all the gusto they can get while they are temporarily in power. The Republican's argument that there is rampant voter fraud that unfortunately cannot be proven is like the Big Pharmaceutical companies coming up with new diseases like Social Anxiety Disorder that can only be cured by a new pill they just invented. The Republican contention that you need an ID to get on a plane or cash a check falls somewhat short when you realize that getting on a plane and cashing a check are not guaranteed by the Constitution as a right for Americans. The Republicans, who can't tolerate the thought of background checks for gun buyers because the Constitution guarantees the right to bear arms, have no trouble with background checks before voting. Somehow the Constitutional right to vote requires background checks that the right to bear arms does not. Maybe not all constitutional rights are created equal. As George Orwell wrote in Animal Farm , "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." Kindly allow Mr. Pope's minions to toss the voting baby out with the bath water. We don't need PITT DICKEY, Contributing no more stinking voters. This is now Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@ the best of all possible worlds. upandcomingweekly.com. This is your chance to shine! COLLEGE APPLICATION ESSAY CLINIC Saturday, September 21, 2013 8:30 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. Room 140, School of Business & Economics Building Fayetteville State University • 1200 Murchison Road • Fayetteville, NC 28301 You've got a lot riding on this assignment. Sometimes, the application essay is the difference between denial and acceptance. The essay is your chance to shine. Style, word choice and grammar all matter. Wow admissions officers with original, focused and structured essays. Monterrey Mexican Restaurant serves Authentic Mexican Cuisine made fresh with the best quality products in the market. 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Led by English professors who are also authors and editors, the course includes: • 5 hours of in-class instruction and writing • Collaborative exercises • A personal inventory to reveal topics • Grammar Q&A • Sample essays • One-on-one coaching sessions • Maximum of 50 students • Lunch For more information: Contact Continuing Education 910.672-1228 Email: ContinuingEdu@uncfsu.edu or tsowens@uncfsu.edu FEE $79.00 Sponsored by the Department of English and Office of Continuing Education WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM (910) 307-0312 Louis Feraca President www.uslogoworks.com 4200 Morganton Road Fayetteville, NC 28314 SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2013 UCW 7