Won’t you be my neighbor?
To the editor:
I settled in Cornelia last summer. Daunted somewhat at the cow to human ratio and lack of Sunday brunch options, I nevertheless decided that I liked Habersham County. A transplant from Alpharetta and Buford respectively, I appreciate the nearby impressionistic red barn resting at a coquettish lean, the 10-minute commute to the store, and evenings of sonorous frogs and cicadas resonate from a nearby thicket.
Yet, in one regard, apart from the apparent lack of champagne before noon, I acknowledge only a single disappointment, but this a considerable one, and that is a real dearth of small town friendliness. After years of academic research in the form of reruns on TV Land, I expected the hospitality of a local chicken sandwich chain and the quaintness of a downhome country restaurant. Hence, my consternation when I downloaded the Nextdoor App and joined a countywide neighborhood Facebook page. Until that moment, I thought I liked my local restaurants, coffee shops, neighbors, and grocery stores. Yet, I learned that the waitress was always on her phone, the barista incompetent, that Ted needs to mow his grass, and the self-checkouts operate as an equivalent to Soviet Era breadlines.
If you can believe it, I thought the local small business I visited last week served quality products, paid their employees well, and treated customers with respect. Yet, according to one online contributor, beneath the friendly actions and exteriors, this business held secret, nefarious beliefs and agendas! By these descriptions, country living looks a lot like 8 Mile Road in Detroit.
Now, I want to emphasize that during my time in Cornelia more than a few individuals opened their front doors, back porches, and UGA painted cornhole boards for myself and my husband. I have even formed a few meaningful friendships. Yet, now I can’t help but wonder if these very same friends sometimes speed on J Warren Road, sit down for a moment during their 10-hour work shifts, or even make a mistake on a person’s coffee order.
The good news is, I’ll likely soon find out their dark deeds when I next go online.
Carly Camejo
Cornelia
Trans people are fine, actually
To the editor:
As a member of the LGBTQ+ community here in Habersham, I’d like clarify some things that have been gunked up and poisoned by the media, especially on the right. I’ll keep my statements short, to the point, and backed up by rigorous scientific evidence (what’s left of it after the Nazis burned so much of it in the 30s).
Trans or queer people are not pedophiles or groomers any more than straight or cisgender people are. In fact, they have lower rates of sexual offenses than the general population while being more likely to have been sexually abused or assaulted.
Trans and queer people are not indoctrinating anyone, and they certainly aren’t doing it in age-inappropriate ways. Many clips that purport to show this criminal activity have been manipulated or spliced to combine adult only events with children events, or simply misrepresent their actual content for the purpose of maintaining narrative.
Trans and queer people have always and will always exist regardless of the current political system. The difference is how safe it is for them to be trans or queer in public without being harassed, assaulted, or even killed.
Sex-change surgeries are not performed on minors (there are some very very rare exceptions). Gender affirming care is also frequently provided to cisgender children and adults. This care is not dangerous or experimental and has been in existence since the 1920s.
You cannot legislate trans people out of existence. You cannot make trans people stop existing. This is genocidal thinking.
Trans suicide rates are 40 percent only when they are not supported and their gender identity affirmed. If they are supported, the rates drop significantly to about general population rates.
Ally Nguyen
Alto
Here we go again
To the editor:
Isn’t it amazing that after three meetings of hearing complaints by county residents, that it is decided to raise taxes again? You will hear comments like “Well, hardly anyone showed up to complain.” Truth is, it doesn’t matter! Looking back at all the cities I have lived in, worked in or worked for … it truly does not matter. The commissioners have made up their minds, and you will never hear something like “Hmmmm, the people are correct, we had better change our minds about this decision.”
So what becomes of this new money for the county? Will it be like last time when we added how many employees to the Recreation department? Will it be another new position made like the Public Information Officer? Maybe our County Manager could use another raise. After all, salary wise she is making more than the Governor of our state! I’m sure I’ve missed other items, but hope you get the idea that we are becoming liberalized like our current “Big Government” in Washington. Tax and spend, Tax and spend!
Taxes are needed, but need to be managed correctly. We have all heard it before that when a family’s needs and costs go up, there is nothing they can do about it except to redo their budget. It would be great if I could contact Social Security and get an increase of my money to help pay bills. When a TV provider’s costs increase, a family can reduce what programing they are paying for. When Georgia Power rates increase, you cut back on power usage. When taxes go up, you are stuck.
According to one commissioner, you say a few choice words then go ahead and pay your taxes. So apparently, we are being told to not worry about what is voted on, just keep the blinders on and keep paying until you are broke. The county needs to sit down and take a hard look at the way they spend our money.
There is a big difference between needs and wants!
Rick Raus
Alto