James Island incorporation effort is a model civics lesson
     I have been identified as an attorney assisting the incorporators of the proposed town of James Island, and an unabashed advocate for that town. This is all true, but it is not the purpose of this letter.
     The purpose is to tell a story that might not be well known, but which should be on the curriculum of every citizenship, social studies or history class, however they are currently titled, in every school in the state. It is the story of a people who will not only endure but who will prevail, regardless of the political institutions or identities of the moment.
     It begins in 1997, when a group of people not rich, not powerful, not connected, and certainly not part of a well-oiled political machine, determined to do something about the fact that the then town of James Island had been abolished by judicial order. They began meeting, in twos and threes and tens and hundreds, and decided to change the law which had determined the judge's decision. They began calling, writing and personally contacting state senators and representatives. Eventually, they went by the busload to Columbia, to appear before the legislative bodies, to have the law changed. No money, no lawyers, no press or media attention, no lobbyists - but they got it done in May of 2000.
     Armed then with a law which would allow legal formation of a new town, they continued their meetings. Still no money, no power, little press or media attention - and absolutely never a thought of personal gain. Meetings open to the public were held at least weekly. No one was ever turned away, but full and frank discussions of the pros and cons of incorporation were welcomed and fully discussed.
     For two years these weekly and then bi-weekly meetings continued. Community-wide meetings were held. Everyone was invited to attend and encouraged to speak freely. Nothing was hidden; no one's opinion was suppressed. The media were invited, sometimes came, and sometimes reported the activities of these upstart citizens. Sometimes the media reported these events with fairness, sometimes with amusement, sometimes with scorn. But the people who held these meetings, and the people who attended, were the type of people who insisted on giving and obtaining information, who insisted on sifting through the various positions to determine the truth according to their own core beliefs, and who refused to hide in the shadows and complain. They wanted the information they needed to make their own decisions; they refused to depend on someone else to inform them, or to decide for them.
     As it became apparent that the interest in a town was substantial, many people began working in earnest to satisfy the legal, informational and paperwork requirements to receive legal permission from the state to hold an election. They had to do it themselves, because they had no means to pay anyone to do it for them. They had no particular skills, or experience, or history to accomplish this task.
     When permission was granted, the secretary of state told the group that their submittal for incorporation was the best his office had ever received. It would be used as a model for future incorporations.
     These individuals, a few who have achieved recognition, with hundreds, perhaps thousands, who labored ceaselessly, now knew that they had to organize, fund and publicize the election. With no public or political party source of funds, they began holding fund raisers - selling fish dinners and door-prize tickets at their meetings, and yes, gathering on street corners to collect spare change.
     Their spokesman was sent to County Council to request a donation, on the theory that the county had received the former town's treasury (on the order of $3 million) when the town had been dissolved, and thus it was only appropriate to ask for a small amount to help fund this election. Their spokesman (me) was attacked by certain members of County Council - not over the request but by the very idea of town supporters in thinking that they were entitled to their own town. The request for a donation was soundly denied.
     The next day, money to fund the election came flooding in from residents throughout the county, embarrassed by their elected officials' actions, and determined to finance the election. One gentleman offered, with his neighbor, to fund the entire cost of the elections: approximately $11,000. His offer was politely declined. He was invited to make a smaller donation, and he was thanked.
     The story does not stop. It takes an amazing amount of organization, of effort, of learning, of bargaining, of pure old hard work to hold an election. There was no existing election commission; three people volunteered to achieve and complete this monumental and incredibly complex task. At every step of the way, they have performed heroically, knowing that every action could be the subject of a lawsuit by the opponents to the town. They will never be paid, they will never receive any personal gain, they may never receive recognition, and I am sure they do not wish to.
     These concerned citizens, without power, without personal wealth, without connections, without political power or savvy, and sometimes without any discernable organization, have, frankly, performed the impossible.
     In being invited to play some small part in this process, I have learned why I am fortunate to live in the greatest country mere humans have ever known. This country is great not because of its formidable military, its fabulous wealth, its powerful institutions, or its humane and democratic laws. This country is great because individuals like these are allowed to, and do, sweat and toil, believe and dream, fight and conciliate, act and react, listen and discuss, endure abuse and welcome occasional respect - not for gain, nor for power, but so they and their fellows may have a choice, and vote, and participate, and have a well-earned stake in their future.
     People like these are the real, the true, heroes. For you, or against you, you give us a reason to be proud
     TRENT M. KERNODLE
     914 Folly Road, Suite 2
    
     EDITOR'S NOTE-Mr. Kernodle's letter was written just prior to the successful incorporation vote.
    
Inventing words
     During the past few years, columnists, journalists, TV announcers, critics and other social-scene observers have invented so many new words and phrases and, once having invented them, cannot stop using them. Let me give you some examples.
     From my recent reading and listening, the "in" word at present is "eclectic." Used by all and sundry, it describes anything except its true meaning. For instance, movie stars are not eclectic.
     The longest running misused phrase we have had to endure is the "cutting edge." What in the world does that mean? Nobody seems to know, but every writer and announcer uses it.
     Some others? How about "hubris," "inside the beltway" and "stay-at-home moms" (we used to call them housewives)? Whatever became of housewives?
     Perhaps the most flagrant misuse of words has surely been the phrase "weapons of mass destruction." Can anybody describe what a weapon of mass destruction looks like? The words roll off the tongues of our government leaders like water off a duck's back. They tell us this country or that country has them, but they never tell us what they look like.
     Since I am no longer young and not totally in understanding of the younger generation, I decided to ask a high school student if he was taught these phrases in school. All he could reply was, "Well, it's like - you know." That's another one we are having to endure!
     I could not find any of these phrases in my Webster's dictionary, probably because the dictionary and myself are both outdated.
     PETER DAWSON
     Canterbury House
     185 Market St., Apt. 802
    
    
The 'people's comics'
     I read with amusement a recent letter advocating the abolishment of the "Doonesbury" comic from your paper. Obviously, the reader does not appreciate satire, freedom of expression or the tenets of the First Amendment.
     Further, your concerned reader appears to be living in or pining for the wonderfully disabused world of her own adolescence rather than that of the times in which we live.
     Moreover, your concerned reader seems to have missed the socio-political overtones of many of the strips your paper carries. Many, including Judge Parker (with a recent story line involving firearms and a bomb threat); Mary Worth (corporate backstabbing); Dilbert (corporate ineptitude); and even Garfield (rampant and unbridled violence against Odie and spiders alike) consistently express themes with which your reader is perhaps uncomfortable.
     Nevertheless, she should continue to read them, and share them with her children, to help her children learn her view of the world through her eyes. Even the most innocuous comic strip can be a teaching tool, although many of us read them only for amusement.
     On that point, I will close with the advisory that these are not the "children's comics." They are the people's comics, young and old alike. Next thing you know they'll want to do away with the "adult's editorial page."
     DERECK F. DEAN
     5 Hillcreek Blvd.
    
    
Help appreciated
     My wife Jane was a dedicated league tennis player, a member of three club tennis teams, until last July when a brain tumor altered her life. Since then she has a difficult nine months, but due to a recent improvement in her physical condition, she was anxious to attend some of the Family Circle Cup matches. We ordered tickets for the semifinals and sat in the stands for the Capriati-Schnyder match to its conclusion. We then decided to leave as the heat had become too much for her.
     During the match, a couple behind us were very attentive to Jane, offering anything they had to make her more comfortable, and on our exit a lady assisted Jane down the stairs to the landing while others made way and I carried our belongings. Then, at the concourse, a gentleman sought a chair for Jane while another hailed First Aid.
     The attendants at First Aid were extremely competent and helpful, cooling Jane with ice packs and keeping her comfortable and at ease. Meanwhile, another took me to our car and escorted me back to pick up Jane at the entrance to the First Aid trailer. They insisted I have the car air conditioner running before helping her aboard.
     The expertise, care and concern of everyone who helped or just made way for us on that occasion are deeply appreciated, especially those fine people in First Aid.
     GLEN C. BRADLEY
     1034 Loyalist Lane
     Mount Pleasant
    
    
Luther Z. Barnett
     I attended the funeral of Luther Z. Barnett on May 23. It was a sad day for me. I didn't call him Luther or Barnie or even Mr. Barnett. I called him coach.
     From the time I was 14 to 17 years old, Coach Barnett took me under his huge wings and taught me and many other young boys and girls at Bamberg High School how to be real athletes, how to excel in the sports of our choice, and he was our friend, our mentor, and helped shape our lives. Unlike the coaches of today, he coached all sports - football, baseball and basketball - and he also taught classes in history.
     He was more than a coach to me though; he was also my teammate in semi-pro baseball. He was by far the best third baseman I have ever seen, and he could hit a baseball out of sight. There are many great stories I could tell about his athletic abilities. He was one of the greatest athletes I've ever known. He was tough.
     Speaking for myself and other athletes from Bamberg High School, we loved and honored him during his lifetime, and we will really miss him.
     CLINT MORRIS
     Bamberg High School Class of 1956
     8548 Delhi Road
     North Charleston
    
    
Not his business
     Obviously Sen. Ritchie has no desire to run for statewide office in the future.
     First he tries to tell the people of Charleston where to put the port expansion. When that didn't work, he has decided the people of Daniel Island shouldn't decide whether to have Sunday alcohol sales. Charleston County has allowed them for a long time, and I don't see where it has created any major problems.
     I also don't see that it is any of his business.
     JIMMY LELAND
     554 Pinckney St.
     McClellanville
    
    

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