Comments by Gene Scarborough | Eastern North Carolina Now

Thank you, Tom, for one of the most incisive articles to appear in BCN in many a moon. The series I am doing now on "finding a way to live together" is but a more detailed expression of what you simply said in this fine article.

As a former and current minister, insurance professional, small tree surgery business owner it gives me hope we have such mature advisers as you!

The noted Pastor/Writer of WWII era, Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick, described much discourse of his day as "Intellectual excursion without moral persuasion." He was citing the same need for civility and a moral factor in important matters.

I once heard of a church business meeting in the heat and fury of Integration. The discussion had to do with whether you seated anyone of color in your church for "white Christians only." One of the debaters rose to have his say and prefaced it with "I don't know whether this is Christian or not but . . ." The Pastor/Moderator immediately said, "You, sir, are out of order---the rule above Roberts Rules of Order here is the Bible and Jesus Christ as our Saviour! We have no discussion in this church meeting which is not based on Christ!"

It seems the more "righteous" certain politicians have become, the more crudely they act. To forget "love your neighbor as yourself" is, perhaps, the greatest sin of today in American politics --- in my view . . .

Commented: Saturday, August 1st, 2015 @ 3:49 pm By: Gene Scarborough

Well, well --- that was a mouthful, Stan . . .It sounds more like a stump speech than a reasoned argument with courtesy toward women and respect for them as the only part of Creation fitted to conceive and nurture a baby for 9 months of gestation.

I happen to know any number of Pediatricians and the only ones I have talked with revere life and would never abort after the first trimester. On the other extreme are those who act like every abortion is a crush the skull / suck the body parts out mutilation --- which few are!

I am being more practical and more spiritual than you care to think. It appears you are being a bit male chauvinist to me . . .

Commented: Saturday, August 1st, 2015 @ 3:06 pm By: Gene Scarborough

Stan---what the heck makes you assume I condone this kind of baby killing???

I am simply saying: "To outlaw abortion puts us back in the closet with a coat hanger for women who have prayed about their situation and do not want to bring an unwanted child into their life and this world."

You really jumped to a conclusion on this one with absolutely no basis for your false accusation, buddy . .

Commented: Saturday, August 1st, 2015 @ 10:43 am By: Gene Scarborough

YEP ---- are you smelling anything as you sip your morning coffee and breath???

Commented: Friday, July 31st, 2015 @ 8:53 am By: Gene Scarborough

This is most interesting!!! Is the wonderful "fix it our way" Conservative Coalition falling apart from within?

When you base your campaign on mud-slinging --- and win --- and enjoy it, you don't have "liberals" to kill anymore. Then what do you do with your mean????

I have watched NC deteriorate over the last 20 years (or since I moved here to Eastern NC in 1986) from a Progressive State to abject Regression. Underfunding Education is not wise, nor is letting our infrastructure go into disrepair. NC is losing one major bid after another for new industry after another to surrounding states --- with less educated workers who are also being hired to turn bolts on their assembly line with low pay.

Meanwhile, we are being told Conservatives are reducing taxes --- WHILE the average worker in NC is getting less refunds and has lost most deductions given years ago!!! Toll roads are the "IN" thing these days in a state which took pride in the "best roads and highways in the USA and a mighty tourist industry."

Now we have voted to FRACK inland with the chemicals used being made a felony to disclose. As I write this, sonar studies for seabed oil are underway in the Graveyard of the Atlantic and between the Outer Banks and Gulf Stream.

In 20 more years, if this continues, Beaufort County will become a crude oil sandwich.

Stan won't have so many subjects for astounding pics of nature and natural beauty in NC. The waters of the Pamlico River have been declared polluted enough to endanger swimmers just this week!!!!

You do realize the majority of our crabs and shrimp are going to Maryland because their price is higher and the Chesapeake is polluted beyond description!

Are we still PROGRESSIVE --- OR are we becoming so REGRESSIVE as to try and take the place of the Gulf States over pollution and poorly paid educators with the public University system in a sad array???? They obsess over football and graduate mental midgets while being sure their beer is cooling and grills warming on any Saturday of the SEC madness. . .

Tobacco Road is full of potholes and Universities along it are headed DOWN FAST, in my view, Mr. Clifton . . .

Commented: Friday, July 31st, 2015 @ 6:49 am By: Gene Scarborough

Bobby Tony has cited an important part of Jimmy Carter failure ~~~ HE WAS A DC OUTSIDER! No one could agree with him more than me on that one. However, it draws a question:

Do we have an American politic that is so entrenched in certain circles that a duly elected President put in by the people stands NO CHANCE of success without worshiping the system politic? If that be the case, we need to clean house and start over, in my view . . .Any Incumbent goes in time / TERM LIMITS to Congress.

Stan---I have been thinking overnight about your continued distortion of "Jimma and Hussein." Even the late night talk hosts who make any President the butt of their jokes show respect by saying their names better than Rush Limbaugh, et al, ---who have nothing to say for themselves as positive suggestions.

THEY ONLY CRITICIZE AND COMPLAIN --- THEN ASK PEOPLE FOR MONEY!!!

In many places that is called PROSTITUTION!!! Besides getting money a good prostitute usually ends up with the clap. I used to do financial planning and insurance around Raleigh, Fayetteville, and Durham. As a result, I ran into independent contractor ladies who made their money the hard way---nude dancing in stiletto heels--- and had NO benefits nor health insurance.

When I started going through the health questions, it is hard to describe the change in image I had from a beauty fully clothed I saw to a lady entertaing, but with awful social diseases underneath! Most, sadly, were uninsurable.

You figure it out on that one and consider using respectful names for ANY President.

Commented: Thursday, July 30th, 2015 @ 6:04 am By: Gene Scarborough

Stan---you should go get you one of the Raptors that don't work in their all-seeing helmet and go to Iraq, buddy. At that point you will enjoy the fruits of war and recession first hand.

Here is the site to see the Costs of War = watson.brown.edu

You claim you love our county and save it money / you want the biggest and most expensive war machine on the earth --- YOU CAN'T HAVE BOTH, man . . .

Commented: Wednesday, July 29th, 2015 @ 9:45 am By: Gene Scarborough

This debate is just starting on a good note. It is growing in hits beyond anything I have posted before. I have faith in the readers to decide for themselves. Nobody wins when you so focus on war you let this country go down on infrastructure and jobs.

Still, you seem to miss the point of the Reagan results of excess war spending and a tax code letting rich and corps invest their tax savings abroad and bank offshore without penalty.

Reagan was surrounded by GREED and HATE in his cabinet and advisors. He was, personally, a nice man --- and the slickest ad actor ever to occupy the White House, in my view. His place in "The Butler" has him giving the hired help raises the man in charge would not grant . . .I believe that about him.

Commented: Wednesday, July 29th, 2015 @ 5:42 am By: Gene Scarborough

Stan says: "When you start making up facts as argument devices, you are deep in that fold."

Gene says: IF THEY ARE LIES THEN PROVE IT, BUDDY . . .

Before the vote ever came over Carter / Reagan, I was sure he was the world's best salesman of Borax and GE. He was hardly qualified for nation duties for me. People in California were already complaining about promises to lower taxes and then not cutting spending to accommodate it.

I knew enough about the Ollie North fiasco and Reagan's claim "he didn't know" to rest assured he was either already mentally detached or lying. Which one do you Conservatives use to excuse your loyalty . . .

All I can say is Reagan and OJ both got off with their crimes . . .

Commented: Tuesday, July 28th, 2015 @ 11:30 am By: Gene Scarborough

I have waited to join in so I could see where this goes. . .now I must comment:
(1) I didn't know there was a Washington, GA --- is it "historic"?
(2) I am insulted I was not invited to the bar hop of long ago.
(3) I heard GA closed down the state mental hospital at Milledgeville and there were questions about where 3 patients went---now we KNOW!
(4) Does the poem have any more verses?
(5) There is a Greenville, NC, so remember to be explicit over the state!

Commented: Monday, July 27th, 2015 @ 5:44 pm By: Gene Scarborough

HERE ARE THE QUESTIONS:
• If you were the one dispossessed, would you love Israel?
• Is it possible to follow the guidance of Christ to "love and forgive your enemy?"
• What is the alternative to a nuclear end of mankind?
• Why does a powerful nation like America fear any tribal desert dweller in the Middle East?

Can we move to the real meat of the discussion???

Commented: Monday, July 27th, 2015 @ 9:53 am By: Gene Scarborough

When I started the new Tree Surgery Business I was selling, creating, repairing machines to 11:00 at night many times. I was even grinding stumps with a light shining on my target.

The most amazing thing was how much I enjoyed it over the frustrations of paperwork and changing companies in the Insurance world. "If you can't find joy in your work, there is no joy to be found!"

Commented: Monday, July 27th, 2015 @ 8:10 am By: Gene Scarborough

"Does God bless a mess?" seems to be the crux of this debate centered around the era we had in the Civil War.

Best I can tell, we fought the most casualty-ridden conflict in US history up to today, yet the fight was over a slavery which still existed after the battle proved that Union is better than Seceding States of the Confederate States of America (CSA). Slavery was officially ended but citizenship was still not color blind.

We addressed the issue mid-century with Integration and Civil Rights which ended with LBJ signing off on voter rights and Title XX (War on Poverty) legislation. At the same time he made the astute political observation: "Democrats can kiss the South goodbye for the next many years!" LBJ was a shrewd a politician as America has ever had for President. He knew how to arm twist and backroom deal most any legislation into reality! He was a poor boy from Texas --- and ended a rich man from his political maneuvering . . .whether he made it through Heaven's Gates is a serious matter for spiritual analysis.

Thank God that is His judicial circuit! He judges the heart rather than the pocketbook.

It appears to me we are in a crisis now with whether we follow the "Democratic Dream" of the Founding Fathers --- or go back to the Greed and Power of the Few that existed in the Old World from whence we came.

***One Nation UNDER GOD --- or Worshiping the God of Greed and Money???
***Freedom and Justice for ALL --- or getting you off on anything if you have enough money to hire a slick Criminal Defense Lawyer that can always hang a jury --- and get you off like OJ???

Commented: Monday, July 27th, 2015 @ 6:33 am By: Gene Scarborough

The current juxtaposition of articles about Carter / Helms / etc. is amazing!!! I give Stan much credit for making sure each one has a place. They show the philosophical and political diversity of America today in clear relief.

Commented: Monday, July 27th, 2015 @ 5:40 am By: Gene Scarborough

We are reaching the point of silly on this article comment thread --- time to post the one I sent you to go up next . . .

Commented: Sunday, July 26th, 2015 @ 4:36 pm By: Gene Scarborough

I shall write soon on Seagulls --- "Are they Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal / are they Conservative or Liberal as they fight over a post?"

Commented: Sunday, July 26th, 2015 @ 12:29 pm By: Gene Scarborough

Nice pics, Stan --- THANX!!!

Commented: Sunday, July 26th, 2015 @ 9:53 am By: Gene Scarborough