July 4th and the Temple-ites!

Enlightening Commentary by 

Kirk D. Smith

Our family enjoyed the recent Independence Day fireworks sponsored by Ammons Family and held at the Sanford Health and Rehabilitation Center.  We greatly appreciate the generosity of the entire Ammons family’s funding and hosting such a distinctly American Celebration!  Our commendations go to Joel Ammons for his personal efforts to provide a wonderful fireworks display!

 We greatly appreciated the Sanford Herald’s courage to present the truth of our American Christian Heritage in their printing the full page ad sponsored by Hobby Lobby “In God We Trust!”  Surely our local progressive secular humanists will counter with their ad.  Of course the light of historical truth will shine brightly as does the celebration of our Independence!

Before the fireworks began, I took the opportunity to do a little campaigning as I am one of the three Republican Nominees for a Lee County Commissioner At Large seat.  As an added attraction, wearing a Continental soldier’s uniform offers a unique opportunity for photo ops as many a parent wants their children’s picture with a Continental soldier, especially on Independence Day!

While working the crowd a woman (young at heart) setting in a lawn chair, called out . . . “We need a tourist bureau!”    To which I asked . . . What does Lee County have that possibly would warrant a tourist bureau?  We don’t have the beach or the mountains to tout as a tourist attraction. .  She replied, “We have the Temple Theater!”  Ah-h-h yes, I should have seen the bumper sticker on the back of her PT Cruiser!!  Something about supporting the Temple Theater!

As I moved closer to the young lady, my wife sensing an intense discussion moved on to join the rest of the family.  I politely told the lady that we don’t have the money to fund a tourist bureau.  We have the highest unemployment and highest property taxes than the neighboring four counties.  The fine young gentleman sitting next to her chimed in with words to the effect, “the arts will attract business!”

Really, how long has the Temple Theater been in Sanford?  Where are all the businesses that came simply because of the Temple Theater . . . and that stayed?  She insisted we need the arts and the Temple Theater is an attraction that brings people into Sanford.  I asked; what event in Lee County attracts visitors and fills every hotel room in the surrounding area?  She responded, “The pottery festival?” 

No, the Pottery Festival attracts day-trippers who drive, visit the festival and leave.  The event that fills every hotel in Sanford and the surrounding area is the Southern Side By Side Championship and Exhibition at Deep River Sporting Clays!  Of course being a connoisseur of the tax-payer funded arts, she most likely found it appalling that “shotguns” would attract people to Lee County, and without a tourist bureau!  I suggested that the Temple Theater and the Chamber of Commerce approach the LEED-PAC as they have plenty of money to provide political advertisements!  Surely they could fund a “tourist bureau” in order to foster economic development and tout our education achievements!

 Furthermore, I shared with the young couple that while campaigning for Ed Page during the last municipal election, I met an elderly woman, recently widowed.  She wasn’t sure she would be able to vote as it is so expensive getting around!  This woman lives on a meager fixed income and the fine Councilman Walter McNeil votes for her taxes to pay for a golf course, a theater, corporate welfare, and the recent increase in the city water and sewer fees!  How many Lee County citizens, living on fixed incomes with higher food, energy, water, sewer, and taxes, that are struggling to make ends meet?  We can’t afford a tax payer funded tourist bureau in this economy.

 Again, I suggested that the Temple Theater and the Chamber of Commerce approach the LEED-PAC as they have plenty of money to provide advertisements!  Surely they could fund a “tourist bureau.”  I added, never in my life have I ever personally known as many people who have lost their jobs or who are underemployed due to this economy.  One neighbor lost his job when a plant closed in Chatham County.  Another neighbor lost his job when Wyeth was taken over by Pfizer and his wife recently lost her job at Pfizer!   Remember Wyeth / Pfizer Pharmaceuticals received tax-payer funded bribes courtesy of the Economic Development Corporation!  

 

Our closest neighbor is now doing more work with less pay and incentives for the company he works for. . . So how can we justify a tax payer funded tourist bureau?  A long time friend lost his federal job at Fort Bragg as the Obama administration works at gutting the military, he is still looking for work.  So how can we justify a “tax payer funded” theater or golf course?  Again the gentlemen setting next to her chimed in “the arts will attract companies to Lee County.”  How long has the Temple Theater been in Sanford?  What company came because of the Temple Theater?

I repeated the fact that our economy is suffering with the highest unemployment and property taxes.  Still the dear lady insisted that the Temple Theater is an attraction worthy of a tourist bureau. . . I had to tell her that having lived in Lee County for twenty years I have never been to the Temple Theater and most likely never will.   Again, I suggested that the Temple Theater and the Chamber of Commerce approach the LEED-PAC as they have plenty of money to provide advertisements!  Surely they could fund a “tourist bureau.”

With the approaching darkness, I cordially broke off the conversation, joined my family to enjoy the fireworks, and lament the direction my country is heading. . Again our thanks to the Ammons family and the Sanford Herald for the memorable Independence Day! 

As always, I shall remain, in search of our GOD given Liberties!