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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4 DECEMBER 23 - 29, 2015 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM I was a little girl when Jimmy Carter was president. While I would never classify him as one of my top 30 presidents, I do remember quite a few things about him. I remember how his Southerness became fodder for late night TV hosts and other sophisticates who found his honesty and lack of sophistication humorous. I remember his family. His beloved mother, Lillian, reminded me a lot of my own grandmother. His wife Rosalynn reminded me a lot of my aunts. Her quiet dignity was often taken for granted, but she never gave the nation cause to be embarrassed. I remember Amy. Oh, how I did not like Amy. And it all stems from her galloping through the family's walk following the inauguration. She hopped and jumped about. As we were the same age, I found it embarrassing. This was a moment in history and her actions did not reflect that. Looking back now, that was rather unfair. She was a little girl who was pushed into the national spotlight–and whose whole life became a target. I'm sorry Amy. I remember Carter's infamous quote about lusting in his heart and his total inability to crack the D.C. code – none of which impressed me much. Perhaps the best memory I have of his presidency is of a press conference he held as he was going out of office. It was around this time – Christmastime. He was talking about the hostages in Iran, and in that moment, even I, as a little girl, could see that he was a broken man. While talking about the hostages he turned to his faith, and to a Christmas carol, to explain how he felt. It was in that moment that I found him to be the most presidential. And it was that moment that I remember more than anything else about him. In the spirit of Christmas, and because it is as fitting today as it was then, I would like to share that carol. But first a little bit about it. It was written in 1863 as the Civil War raged in our country. It was written by a father whose son had been injured during war. I'm talking about "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," which was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old, familiar carols play, and wild and sweet The words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men! And thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along The unbroken song Of peace on earth, good-will to men! Till ringing, singing on its way, The world revolved from night to day, A voice, a chime, A chant sublime Of peace on earth, good-will to men! Then from each black, accursed mouth The cannon thundered in the South, And with the sound The carols drowned Of peace on earth, good-will to men! It was as if an earthquake rent The hearthstones of a continent, And made forlorn The households born Of peace on earth, good-will to men! And in despair I bowed my head; "There is no peace on earth," I said; "For hate is strong, And mocks the song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!" Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men." May the spirit of this season of love fill your hearts with joy. PUBLISHER'S PEN Hope in Dark Times by JANICE BURTON STAFF PUBLISHER Bill Bowman Bill@upandcomingweekly.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Janice Burton editor@upandcomingweekly.com EDITOR Stephanie Crider stephanie@upandcomingweekly.com SENIOR REPORTER Jeff Thompson jeff@upandcomingweekly.com ART DIRECTOR Sara Smith art@upandcomingweekly.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS D.G. Martin, Pitt Dickey, Margaret Dickson, John Hood, Erinn Crider, Jim Jones, Shanessa Fenner, Heather Griffiths BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Karla Allen karla@upandcomingweekly.com SALES ADMINISTRATOR/ DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Laurel Handforth laurel@upandcomingweekly.com ACCOUNTING Paulette Naylor accounting@upandcomingweekly.com MARKETING/SALES Linda McAlister Brown linda@upandcomingweekly.com Beverly Pone beverlypone@upandcomingweekly.com Melissa Zalaznik melissa@upandcomingweekly.com ––––––––––– Up & Coming Weekly www.upandcomingweekly.com 208 Rowan Street P.O. Box 53461 Fayetteville, NC 28305 PHONE: (910) 484-6200 FAX: (910) 484-9218 Up & Coming Weekly is a "Quality of Life" publication with local features, news and infor- mation on what's happening in and around the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community. Up & Coming Weekly is published weekly on Wednesdays. Up & Coming Weekly welcomes manuscripts, photographs and artwork for publi- cation consideration, but assumes no responsibil- ity for them. We cannot accept responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts or material. Opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to edit or reject copy submitted for publication. Up & Coming Weekly is free of charge and distributed at indoor and outdoor locations throughout Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, Pope Air Force Base, Hope Mills and Spring Lake. Readers are limited to one copy per person. ©2007 by F&B Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or advertisements without permission is strictly prohibited. December 24 PM Thuderstorms December 25 AM Clouds/PM Sun December 26 Mostly Sunny December 27 Showers December 28 Scattered Storms December 29 Showers THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY HIGH 77 HIGH 76 HIGH 75 HIGH 74 HIGH 74 HIGH 72 LOW 61 LOW 55 LOW 57 LOW 58 LOW 56 LOW 55 Fayetteville's Weather Forecast Call 910-354-1679 for more info. JANICE BURTON, Associate Publisher, UP & COMING WEEKLY. COMMENTS? Edi- tor@upandcomingweekly.com. 910.484.6200. In one of his darkest moments as our country's leader, President Jimmy Carter turned to his faith, and a Christmas carol, for solace.