“Meet me at the big gun.”

Plenty of Haywood County residents have uttered these words, referring to a large anti-aircraft weapon featured prominently in downtown Clyde that serves as a memorial to those from the town who gave their lives in service of this country. Over time, it’s become a rendezvous point for any number of occasions, a location for ceremonies honoring veterans and those fell in combat and a prop for folks wanting a quirky photo opportunity.

To the Editor:

The Immigration Act of 1990 was the last time significant changes were made to legal immigration and is considered outdated for today’s challenges. In 2013 a bipartisanship bill passed the Senate with a strong majority, including provisions for border security, E-Verify and a pathway to citizenship, but failed to get a House vote due to lack of support from House Republicans. 

To the Editor:

This will be the shortest letter to the editor I have ever written because a retired U.S. Army paratrooper major says it better than I ever could.

So I challenge anyone reading this who still thinks that Donald Trump is a decent, honorable man who deserves to be president to watch this video. 

Recent events make it clear why senators warning military personnel about the dangers of following illegal orders was so very important. The warning was that the Department of Defense Law of War Manual clearly states that military personnel should not follow illegal orders. Following such orders may make the person following the orders guilty of a war crime. 

The National Defense Authorization Act cleared the House with bipartisan support last week, prompting the Senate’s Dec. 15 procedural vote — which all but guarantees that the $901 billion spending bill will be at the president’s desk before the holidays. This year, the “must-pass” annual legislation will represent the largest single sum of funds devoted military programs in the nation’s history. And yet, those appropriations have nothing to do with the strong opposition voiced by a community in Western North Carolina. 

In the cacophony of politics, one truth must remain clear: America’s armed forces swear allegiance not to a man, not to a party, but to the Constitution of the United States. That oath is the bedrock of our Republic. It is the firewall against tyranny. And it is being tested as never before. 

Right now, the N.C. Forest Service is offering a 20% discount on tree seedling orders placed by active, honorably discharged or retired military personnel throughout November. The discount applies to the first $500 for all new orders, up to a $100 discount. 

To the Editor:

Donald Trump has exerted power as no previous president has in our history. His actions raise a chilling question. Is Peggy Noonan right? She recently wrote in the Wall Street Journal that our republic is in jeopardy because of the actions of our president.

The recent history of international relations is fraught with examples where the sanctity of law has been compromised for political expediency. Among the most troubling instances is the Trump Administration’s alarming approach to countering drug cartels — a response that not only skirts the boundaries of legality but also risks undermining the United States’ long-standing commitment to the rule of law on the global stage. 

To the Editor:

President Trump ordered armed combat troops into Portland, Oregon, because he said the city is under attack and burning to the ground. This is not true. The city of Portland is just fine according to its own police chief and the mayor. An area just one city block long at the federal building has been the site of small demonstrations. The city is not burning to the ground.