I won’t force my beliefs on you
To the Editor: One of the things I find baffling about those on the other side of the political divide…
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Regarding the Nikwasi Initiative’s promises
Is anyone questioning Cherokee's Chief Hicks who demanded the town turn over the deed to the mound to the Nikwasi…
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A love letter to Appalachia
Editor’s note: This article first appeared online at the website “100 Days in Appalachia.” Meredith McCarroll is from Waynesville, went to…
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The problem of childhood hunger can be fixed
A recent town hall in Cullowhee laid out a heartbreaking problem in our public schools, as well as a sensible solution.…
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Biden still the best candidate
To the Editor: Donald Trump’s association with and love of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has taught him and his cohorts…
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Pride is not a virtue
To the Editor: I have no hatred towards anyone who chooses a different lifestyle than me. The vast majority of…
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Moderates should talk to each other
To the Editor: There have been several interesting letters to the editor in The Sylva Herald and the Smoky Mountain…
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Voting can change your life
To the Editor: How can you connect at the community, regional, state and national level? At all levels, you can…
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Project 2025 must be defeated
To the Editor: The biggest threat to American democracy that no one is talking about is waiting in the wings,…
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You have to stand for something
To the Editor: Do we want to be a country where opinion is more important than fact? How is it…
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Democrats need to learn a lesson
To the Editor: Millions of people tuned in to the debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump…
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Embrace the ideals America stands for
I know that many people are so upset with the state of politics and division in our country that they struggled…
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Lessons learned in the wilderness
My last column was written just before I returned from Wilderness Trail. I’m not sure what propelled me to sign…
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Beneath the traditions, let’s consider our democracy
When our three children were young, we had a regular July 4 tradition. For probably about 15 years, we would…
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American democracy’s last stand
I was raised in a rural, conservative-leaning county with two working parents and six busy kids. My mother was a nurse…
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N.C was crucial to independence
To the Editor: On April 12, 1776, North Carolina was the first state to call for independence from Great Britain.…
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Trump ignores biblical wisdom
To the Editor: Donald Trump persists in declaring himself “an innocent man.” Yet, juries of his peers believe otherwise. In…
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Biden is the real liar
To the Editor: I have just finished wading through the tirade by Mr. Snell regarding President Trump. Everyone is entitled…
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Into the wilderness we go
When this column is published, I’ll be emerging from five days in the wilderness of Southwest Virginia. A group from…
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Let’s get real about ‘school choice’
There are some things John Hood (SMN, May 29) and his ilk don’t want you to think about in their…
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Robinson’s question proves his ignorance
To the Editor: I am writing about the opinion Mark Claxton of Bryson City gave regarding the Republican candidate for…
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We need to stop wasteful spending
To the Editor: “The Convention of States” movement, in a race against time, strongly urges the N.C. Senate to pass…
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We must learn to communicate
To the Editor: No wonder some of us do not want to talk about nor listen to what we loosely…
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Stop spending on illegal immigrants
To the Editor: Amidst an unprecedented border crisis in the United States, the United Nations’ aid plan for migrants heading…
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You got this, you know you do
One of the best things about marriage is the abundance of opportunities for continuous learning. For example, I did not…
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GOP bows to Trump’s immigration edict
To the Editor: Politics Trumps responsibility. I apologize to readers for the terrible pun, but I could not help myself.…
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Don’t weaken floodplain ordinance
To the Editor: The following comments relate to the ongoing discussion about changing the Macon County floodplain ordinance to allow…
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Finding meaning in life’s twists and turns
I recently experienced a visual about worrying. It was a mountain where the highest point is the peak of worry.
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How is it that Trump is embraced?
To the Editor: “How is it possible, what has lobotomized people who cheer and celebrate the most transparent fraud, the…
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No such thing as trans person
To the Editor: Trans person filmed in WCU bathroom ... that’s false information. There are no trans persons.
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Looking forward to SMN in 2049
This week SMN is celebrating its 25th anniversary as a business. As we mark the milestone, this industry is changing…
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Could Trump be a president for all?
To the Editor: Recently Donald Trump spoke at the NRA convention and promised to roll back gun control measures enacted…
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School choice isn’t a conspiracy
North Carolina is becoming a national leader in expanding choice and competition in education. For some North Carolinians, this is…
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Some legislation really helps
To the Editor: Everyone deserves to live a healthy life with financial security. We want to pay less for prescription…
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Border situation is a disaster
To the Editor: It is amazing how people focus on the abortion issue yet ignore important issues that affect far…
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Billionaires, public education and vouchers
Despite stiff opposition, the N.C. Senate voted this month to double the funding for Opportunity Scholarships to boost enrollment in privately run…
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Robinson’s comment taken out of context
To the Editor: I wish to respond to the recent letter from Margaret Pickett of Highlands which she opened with…
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Remember never to forget
To the Editor: I wish to say something about Memorial Day, which is coming up this Monday. I know most…
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When history really does repeat itself
Recently someone described me as a “longtime columnist for the Smoky Mountain News,” which made me realize I’ve been sharing…
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To be a moderate takes real courage
One good thing about being skeptical of your own opinions is that if the wrong candidate wins you can reassure…
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We should support individual freedom
To the Editor: This writing is not the product of extensive research. It is an opinion. The opinion of an…
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Trump masterfully uses false fears
To the Editor: I’m writing in response to the “Democrats try to scare voters” letter in the May 8 edition…
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Once heart beats, life begins
To the Editor: I’ve never written a letter to an editor but I cannot sit silent after reading Mr. Hoffman’s…
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Change is coming, and things will change
What happens when the those with the most chips in the game only have a partial stake in it? In…
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Sorry, fertilized eggs are not living beings
It is time to have a fact-based discussion about the biology and history of our knowledge about human reproduction. Much…
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Democrats try to scare voters
To the Editor: In a letter in SMN’s April 10 edition, a former official of the Haywood County Democratic Party…
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Religious tolerance should be celebrated
To the Editor: “In the beginning God created ….” Do you recognize those famous words? Many people do. They are…
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Let me know when this is published
To the Editor: The only extremists in this country are the people who support publications like yours. Liberals support child…
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Pray for the best, prepare for the worst
After what Haywood County has been through does anyone want to think about the hurricane season from June 1 to…
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Local food is the best choice
If you need a reminder of the sweet soul of humanity, visit your local farmers market on a Saturday morning.
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