Writer is right: you can’t fix stupid
To the Editor: After reading the letter “You can’t fix stupid” in the March 15 edition of The Smoky Mountain…
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Unity instead of division; keep politics friendly
By Joseph Trisha • Guest Columnist So who else is tired of negative politics and the constant negative President Donald Trump…
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Monteith leaves a lasting legacy in Swain
It was July or August of 1999, best I remember, and the Swain County Commissioners at that time were meeting…
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Departing Trump’s alternate universe
To the Editor: As a journalist and former member of the working press, I continue to be appalled and frankly…
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We all need to speak up
To the Editor: Does opening your email or Facebook feed or nightly news programs make your blood pressure go up?…
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You just can’t fix stupid
To the Editor: First off, no anonymous person here. My name is Sandy Sanders. I read Chris Cox column a…
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Enjoy the articles by Chris Cox
To the Editor: I sure enjoy the opinion columns by Chris Cox in The Smoky Mountain News. I enjoy reading…
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From beauty pageants to soccer fields
It’s not my proudest accolade, but I spent a significant portion of my childhood in a pageant dress. The doctors…
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Trump’s rise has some similarities to Hitler
To the Editor: Among the many sources available to explain current events in Washington is an excellent recent book that…
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Perhaps school board has learned a lesson
Since it is, after all, the Haywood County School Board, I can only hope they’ve learned a lesson. Last week…
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Trump tweets himself back into the muck
As near as I can tell, the readers of this newspaper are pretty evenly divided on whether I should continue…
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Let’s keep a little separation between God and politics
He’s a respected member of the community, a physician, and we ran into each other unexpectedly. “I really have to…
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Protecting privacy in two steps
To the Editor: North Carolina state Sen. Jim Davis, Franklin, in a recent newspaper interview indicated he opposes the repeal…
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How the mountain towns died
To the Editor: Once there was once a busy, thriving community nestled in beautiful mountains that surrounded the town on…
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Rep. Mark Meadows has gone missing
To the Editor: As a constituent of Rep. Mark Meadows, R-Asheville, I am disappointed that he did not use this…
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Let’s just get people back to work
To the Editor: People do not appear to understand how important it is that Obamacare be repealed with no replacement.…
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The big lie about immigration
To the Editor: Everyone wants to feel safe. We want to protect our lives, our property and our jobs. When…
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Time to solve problems
To the Editor: Obviously, the GOP has won control of government for a brief while. The use of such language…
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For me, there is real joy in solitude
My favorite time of day is quiet time. Every morning before the hustle and bustle of the day begins, before…
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The cracks are beginning to deepen
There has never been a president like Donald Trump. There has never been a campaign like the campaign that Trump…
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Article’s premise was totally unfounded
To the Editor: The article ”Unfair collection practices in tax collector’s office?” (Feb. 25 edition) wisely includes a question mark…
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Why I still vote Democrat
To the Editor: For the last decade, I have questioned my party allegiance, as well as the allegiance of others…
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Listening can work magic
To the Editor: Democrats might well consider that you can’t justify your actions based on the idea that, “we are…
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We should all rally for the environment
To the Editor: The right to clean air and clean water seems to have become a partisan issue in our…
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Remember the 1970s before gutting EPA
To the Editor: We have made much progress in our long-term protections of air, water and the environment since President…
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We deserve the truth from Trump
To the Editor: In these days of political bickering, I believe that words we use must be precise in order…
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We were the original immigrants
To the Editor: It is interesting that the U.S. is so outraged over Mexican illegal immigration when Mexico was actually…
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Tax collector likely too easy on too many
We reported last week that Haywood County Tax Collector Mike Matthews may have been showing favoritism to some local Republican…
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The next war must not happen
By Stephen Wall • Guest Columnist On August 6, 1945, an atomic bomb exploded 1,500 feet over Hiroshima. Only 1.5 percent…
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An escape into a magical world
I was in the Disney bubble for seven days straight, so it was rather depressing driving home with the daily…
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The world joins in supporting democracy
To the Editor: The Constitution guarantees the right to assembly, and Americans continue to exercise that right throughout history. In…
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NATO is too important to scrap
To the Editor: Our fathers and grandfathers fought in World War II to save the world from Nazi domination. Over…
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Defining pro-choice, pro-life
To the Editor: Unfortunately, anti-abortion supporters named themselves pro-life, thereby labeling pro-choice supporters pro-death. This serves to demonize the pro-choice…
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Please take time to give feedback
Many thanks to The Smoky Mountain News for the recent article by Becky Johnson (www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/19193) to update the citizens of…
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What to make of Trump’s eruptions
To the Editor: It’s gotten to the point that I’m hesitant to listen to or read the news. President Trump’s…
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Valuable lessons from failed annexation
To the Editor: Thank you Smoky Mountain News and Becky Johnson for writing an article bringing to a close the…
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Most presidents learn from criticism — not this one
By Martin Dyckman • Guest Columnist The press must be the keyboard on which the government can play. — Joseph…
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Two essays that left a lasting influence
They were both quiet, their voices barely audible even during roll call, and absolutely silent otherwise. Even as a new…
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New commissioner stumbles out of the gate
Brandon Rogers almost certainly disappointed — and surprised — many of his supporters during Monday’s Haywood County Commissioners meeting. Apparently…
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Newspapers with real reporters and editors matter
By Frank Queen • Guest Columnist I was surrounded by newspapers growing up. Dad worked for the government in the…
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Trump’s bigotry exposed in immigration order
To the Editor: The very first section of President Donald Trump’s order banning immigrants from seven nations refers to the…
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No room for alternative news
“Ignorance and misinformation, if allowed to prevail in foreign policy, handicaps the country’s security. In a world of complex and…
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Internet availability a problem in WNC
To the Editor: Regarding Scott McLeod’s piece last week about the availability of internet service (www.smokymountainnews.com/opinion/item/19234), it is a big…
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Why rush to repeal ACA?
To the Editor: I am writing to express my concern about the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, or “Obamacare.”…
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A once happy week now darkened
We leave for Disney World this weekend. I should be more excited, but with all that’s going on in our…
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Our allegiance is to the ideals, not to a president
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then…
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How much did legislators get from Duke?
To the Editor: Those job killing North Carolina Republicans are at it again. The Republican General Assembly has cost North…
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The digital divide is still way too wide
It was just a press release, one among the dozens a week that media outlets receive and that may or…
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Appreciate the opinion
To the Editor: Mr. McLeod, am writing to commend your timely Opinion piece. You made a number of excellent points.…
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Please keep your dogs leashed
To the Editor: I am writing this letter in hopes that people walking their pets will be more considerate to…
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