Bond plan under fire

Councilman questions schools’ financing plan

October 21, 2006

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

A Greenwood County councilman thinks Greenwood School District 50’s new bond plan may be unconstitutional.
Dee Compton, R-Greenwood, vice-chairman of the council, announced Friday afternoon that he is investigating District 50’s installment purchase bond plan because it detours South Carolina’s state constitution.
Bonds are typically sold by government agencies to the public and investors to fund large projects.
The money derived from the bond sale is given to the issuing agency and paid back over an established amount of time.
Compton said he faxed and mailed a Freedom of Information Act requesting all documents related to the bond plan to the District 50 office and The Index-Journal late Friday afternoon.
Superintendent Darrell Johnson was unavailable for comment Friday night.
Board chairwoman Dru James said she didn’t know anything about Compton’s FOIA request, so she didn’t want to comment.
Compton claims the district is trying to circumvent South Carolina’s constitution by using state Act 388 of 2006.
The act gives school districts until the end of the year to use the installment bond plan or lose it for good. The district has been pursuing the bond plan since the end of July.
Bond proceeds could range from $105 million to be paid back in 15 years to $145 million to be paid back in 25 years.
The school board’s latest action dealing with the plan included hiring three architects to work on different sections of District 50’s construction projects.
Three elementary schools are proposed to be built as part of renovations and modifications to most of the district’s facilities.
Compton said the board has been running its 8 percent bonded indebtedness to the maximum for years now, but there wasn’t anything he could do about it legally.
School boards are allowed by Article 10, Section 15 of the state constitution to spend about 8 percent of the assessed value of their real property on construction.
That comes to about $9 million a year for District 50, Compton said.
The district wants to spend $150 million in one lump sum to avoid the 8 percent cap and is doing so without seeking the public’s approval in the form of a referendum.
“The school district has been tone deaf about the public’s feelings on this for years,” Compton said.
The FOIA request also seeks information about the proposed compensation for the bond program’s nonprofit corporation’s board of directors.
The district has planned to create a non-profit corporation chosen by superintendent Darrell Johnson without the board’s vote, Compton said.
Directors on the corporations board would be paid well.
“They seem to have a financial interest in it,” he said.
The board has been holding closed meetings about the bond plan, and the public has not been allowed to ask the board questions about the plan, Compton said.
Board members have told everyone that once money for the bond plan is secured, the schools will be built.
District 50 board members are asking the public to trust them no matter what, Compton said.
“That’s not democracy at work,” he said.
Compton said he plans to sift through whatever information he receives from the FOIA by himself.
He said he will share any information he finds with anyone interested.

School arrests connected to drinking

Report: GHS students had strong smell of alcohol while on campus

October 21, 2006

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

Three Greenwood High School students were arrested and ticketed for public disorderly conduct, after school officials reportedly found the teenagers on school property while under the influence of alcohol.
The arrests were made Thursday, after a school resource officer and school administrator saw Rachel Lynn Miller, 17, of 101 Mallard Court, Greenwood, and Kenneth Brandon Kelly, 18, of 111 Pineridge Drive, Greenwood, having difficulty walking about 8:30 a.m. in the school’s courtyard area, according to the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office incident report.
The incident report gave this account: After approaching the students, the school resource officer noticed there was a strong smell of alcohol coming from the two. When asked what they had been doing that morning, the students had difficulty focusing on the officer. The officer observed the students’ eyes to be bloodshot, and their pupils appeared to be dilated.
Miller and Kelly were taken to the school office and were questioned by administrators.
The report indicates Miller said they had been drinking since about 6 a.m. that morning, adding they were drinking a mixture of cola and cherry vodka. Miller said she didn’t know where the alcohol came from, adding it had appeared on her sink as she was getting ready for school. The administrator asked Miller if she would allow school officials to administer a portable alcohol breath test, which she agreed to, and the results recorded an amount that was “the highest the machine would read.” Miller was placed under arrest and taken to the Greenwood Law Enforcement Center, where another alcohol breath test was administered “to ensure that she was not in danger of having an alcohol level too high for her safety.”
The report said Miller’s second test yielded a result of 0.18 percent. Kelly also was questioned by administrators, but he said he had not had anything to drink and became “loud and boisterous.” He was checked by the school nurse and taken to Self Regional Medical Center, where he was later released and taken to the law enforcement center.
A third student, Brent Austin Wham, 17, of 105 Lynn St., Greenwood, was arrested later Thursday, after administrators questioned students about the incident, the report said. Wham had a smell of alcohol, the report said, and he told administrators he had been drinking the night before but had stopped about 2 a.m. Wham was arrested and ticketed for public disorderly conduct, and he was taken to the law enforcement center.
The report did not give official blood-alcohol concentration percentages for Wham or Kelly.
Greenwood High School Principal Beth Taylor had no comment Friday on what disciplinary action had been taken by the school or if the students had been suspended following the incident.
The Greenwood School District 50’s Students’ Rights and Responsibilities Handbook for 2006-2007 says “possession, consumption, or being under the influence of drugs or alcoholic beverages (or a facsimile of) or possession of drug paraphernalia at school or school sponsored events” has a recommendation for expulsion and law enforcement involvement as suggested punishments for first offenses.
Robert McClinton, assistant superintendent for administration with Greenwood School District 50, said “the district has not taken any action at this time,” adding the school is handling any disciplinary measures that would be taken against the students. He said the school is still investigating the incident.
In their booking photos, the students appear to be wearing costumes, and McClinton said Greenwood High students were participating in Spirit Week as part of a preparation for homecoming on Friday.
“It’s unfortunate and we feel bad that the students have made some bad choices,” McClinton said. “We feel bad for the parents that are also involved in this. I feel that we really have to work hard to remind students to make the appropriate choices when dealing with these types of things.”
Thursday’s incident comes about two months after the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office raided a high school party on Deer Creek Road, leading to the arrests of more than 20 people on alcohol- and drug-related charges.
McClinton said the district is taking the issue of underage drinking seriously, adding that officials are “brainstorming” ideas to help raise awareness of the problem.
One possibility, he said, is the creation of a panel — comprised of students, parents, District 50 and college-level faculty and local business leaders — to discuss the issue.
“We are interested in ... discussing this issue and seeing if we can come up with some viable alternatives in dealing with this problem,” McClinton said.

Lining up for last respects

Funeral processions keep rolling along in the South

October 21, 2006

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

Here in Greenwood and throughout the South, funeral processions are one last way to pay your respects to the recently departed.
While processions are almost extinct in larger cities and the Northeast, the rules of Southern hospitality still extend to the dead.
Most processions aren’t very large, but city, county and other law agencies still escort many a loved one to his place of rest, said chief deputy Mike Frederick.
Processions are mainly a Southern tradition, said Wayne Gantt, president of Blyth Funeral Home and Cremation Services on Montague Avenue.
The funeral home offers local processions to the gravesite only.
Processions on the highway can really mess up traffic, Gantt said.
Police escort processions at the request of funeral homes, Frederick said. The sheriff’s office considers the safe arrival of processions to their destinations to be important.
Larger processions that snake through town for miles can cause traffic problems, so law enforcement tags along free of charge to the funeral home to make sure everything goes smoothly, Frederick said.
Processions used to be easier for drivers to spot because every car had its lights on, Gantt said. Now, many newer cars have lights that stay lit whenever the car is running.
Police cars often lead hearses in processions to let motorists know what’s approaching, Gantt said. Without a hearse near the front, people wouldn’t even get out of the way for the police.
“It can create a scene sometimes,” Gantt said.
Sometimes cars in a procession will run red lights, thinking that they can’t be pulled over while with a police escort. That’s not so.
Hearses and other funeral vehicles have to obey traffic laws just like everyone else, Gantt said.
People sometimes ease or cause problems pulling over onto the shoulder of the road when a funeral procession passes them, Frederick said. The sheriff’s office doesn’t enforce cars to pull over for a procession.
Not every town offers processions.
Some metropolitan areas, including Myrtle Beach, have passed ordinances requiring funeral homes to pay police officers for their trouble, Frederick said.
Other counties, including Greenville, have discontinued police escorts all together, Gantt said.
Frederick said deputies can handle a quick funeral and never miss a call. If they are needed, sheriff’s vehicles break off from the procession and head to the scene.
“They’re going to be out there patrolling, regardless,” Frederick said.
Gantt said Blyth’s processions are usually escorted by Greenwood City Police or the sheriff’s office, depending on the location of the cemetery.
Major Lonnie Smith of the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office has seen a few funerals in his 23 years of service. He figures he has seen or helped escort at least 1,000 funeral processions in Greenwood.
The longest procession was for former Dixie Drive-In owner Pete Kerhoules in May 1990.
Smith said about 200 to 250 cars stretched up U.S. 25 for the funeral.

Obituaries

Emma Jean Bolden

WILLIAMSTOWN, N.J. — Emma Jean Bolden, 68, of 4576 Coles Mill Road, died Wed., Oct. 18, at Burdette Tomlin Mem. Hospital, Cape May, NJ. She was born in Greenwood, SC, to the late Tinsley and Ida Frazier. She attended Greenwood Public Schools. She joined Johns Creek Bapt. Church, where she attended regularly until she moved to make her home in Phila., PA, area. She later moved to Williamstown, NJ, where she resided until her death. She was a gifted pianist and often rendered her services to churches that needed her to play. She was a profound homemaker and care provider. She cared for and reared several foster children in her home.
Surviving are three daughters, Tammy (Quency) Green, with whom she made her home, Cynthia G. Cenyour, Teresa (Paul) Bryant, Jr. of Williamstown; two sons, Effie (Pearlena) Bolden, Jr. and Linus (Tina) Bolden of Williamstown; five sisters, Betty B. Prince, Doris K. Abrams of Abbeville, SC, Rebecca (James D.) Kennedy of Greenwood, Jessie L. Taggart of Phila., PA and Leitha M. Ligon of Bronx, NY; one brother, Howard A. (Rosa Kate) Frazier of Newark, NJ; 14 grandchildren, several reared in the home; 21 great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends that will miss her.
She was preceded in death by a precious little girl, Vanessa Bolden, a sister and three brothers.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Cecil Deliverance Tabernacle, 1110 Coles Mill Road, Williamstown, NJ. Viewing will be from 9-11 a.m. Tuesday at the church. May Funeral Home, 4th and Walnut Streets, Camden, NJ 08103 is in charge. Announcement courtesy of Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.

Judy A. Cockrell

NINETY SIX — Judy Ann Cockrell, 63, of 221 Duke Street, wife of Zimmerman Cockrell, died Thursday, October 19, 2006 at her home.
Born in Ninety Six, she was a daughter of the late Ralph Fletcher and Kathleen Smith Williams. She was retired from Greenwood Mills and was a member of Ninety Six Pentecostal Holiness Church, where she was a member and secretary/treasurer of the Charles Brown Sunday School Class.
Surviving is her husband of the home; a daughter, Kathy Brewer and her husband, Mike, of Saluda; a son, Michael Duffie and his wife, Kathy, of Saluda; a stepdaughter, Kathy Edgely and her husband, Wilber, of Ward; four stepsons, Jacky Cockrell and his wife, Karen, of Edgefield, Jeffery Cockrell and his wife, Angela, of Aiken, Nicky Cockrell and Ricky Cockrell, both of Ward; a sister, Inez Chandler of Ninety Six; a brother, John Williams of Ninety Six; 26 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Services will be at 4 p.m. Sunday at Ninety Six Pentecostal Holiness Church, with the Rev. Chris Stansell and the Rev. Terry Carpenter officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be David Stockman, Larry Akins, Jason Ridlehoover, Steve Taylor and Kyle Parnell.
Honorary escort will be the members of the Charles Brown Sunday School Class of Ninety Six Pentecostal Holiness Church.
The family will receive friends at Harley Funeral Home on Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. The body will be placed in the church at 3 p.m. on Sunday.
The family is at the home.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Thelma L. Darby

SHARON — Ms. Thelma Lillian Darby, 57, of 4883 W. McConnells Highway, died Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2006 at Piedmont Medical Center in Rock Hill. Born June 26, 1949 in Sharon, she was a daughter of Mrs. Ella Mae Roberts Darby and the late John Arthur Darby.
Thelma was educated in York Public Schools and graduated from Jefferson High School. She worked for Arvin Meritor (formerly Rockwell Industries). She was a member of St. Luke #2 Baptist Church, where she served as a Sunday school teacher and member of the Usher Board. She was a member of Chapter 18 of the A.P.&B. Society and Eastern Star #303, Prince Riley Chapter.
Survivors are her son, David F. Darby (Valeria) of the home; her mother of the home; four grandchildren; four brothers, Rev. John Edward Darby, Arthur Darby, Paul Darby (Lisa), all of York and Chris Cornwell of Chester; two sisters-in-law; three aunts; one great-aunt; her fiancé, Rev. Emanuel Spearman of Hodges; four special friends; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other special relatives and friends.
Services will be held Sunday, Oct. 22, 2006 at St. Luke #2 Baptist Church at 3 p.m., with Rev. Percelle Ross officiating and Rev. George Lowry, Sr. delivering the eulogy. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2006 at Wright Funeral Home in York from 6-8 p.m.
Announcement courtesy of Robinson & Son Mortuary, Inc., Greenwood.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com.

Virginia Dorn

McCORMICK — Virginia Frances Minor Dorn, 85, resident of 114 Calhoun Street, widow of Jennings Gary Dorn, Sr., died Oct. 19, 2006 at the Self Regional Medical Center.
Born Sept. 7, 1921 in McCormick, a daughter of the late Oscar B. and Frances Weeks Minor, she was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She had conducted many fund-raising events for the S.C. Department for Mental Health and was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and Daughters of the American Revolution. She was also a member of the McCormick First Baptist Church where she had been a Sunday School teacher for many years.
Survivors include her son, Jennings Gary Dorn, Jr. and wife Hilda of McCormick; five grandchildren, Erika Dorn of McCormick, J. Gary Dorn, III and wife Lacey of Greer, Lindsay Hannah Dorn and Hillary Ann Dorn, both of McCormick, Jason O’Briant Dorn and wife Shonda of Lady’s Island, SC; three great-grandchildren, Robbie, Hollie and Hunter; a number of nieces and nephews also survive.
Funeral services will be conducted Sunday at 4 p.m. at the McCormick First Baptist Church, with Reverend Doug Caughman, Reverend Dennis Lynn and Reverend Henry Gambrell officiating. Interment will follow in McCormick City Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Kenny Bladon, Ben Ferqueron, John L. Caudle, G.W. Hall, Tommy McGrath and Terry Moore.
Honorary escort will be members of the Board of Deacons at McCormick First Baptist Church, John Daniels, Maurice Corley, Brandt Vickery, Edward Deason, Sandra Calliham and Ebie Greer.
The family is at the home and will receive friends from 3-4 p.m. Sunday in the parlor at McCormick First Baptist Church.
For additional information and online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Dorn family.

Daniel Fullard

Daniel Fullard, 77, of 116 Russell St., died Thursday, Oct. 19, 2006, at his home.
The family is at the home.
Percival-Tompkins is in charge.

Betty Stancil Johnson

Betty S. Johnson, 57, of 120 Independence Way, died Wednesday, Oct. 18 at her home.
Born in Greenwood County a daughter of Magnolia G. Stancil and the late John Henry Garrett, she was a member of Dunham Temple CME Church.
Surviving is her mother of N. Augusta, SC, her husband, John Johnson of Greenwood, three sons, James Johnson, Michael Stancil and Anthony Stancil of Greenwood, two brothers, John Garrett of Greenwood and James Robert Garrett of California, one sister, Shirley Morton of Greenwood.
Memorial services are 12 noon Saturday at Percival-Tompkins Chapel, with Rev. James McKee officiating.
The family is at 518 Marion Street.

Carolyn McClain

DONALDS — Dorothy Carolyn Thackston McClain, 71, wife of James Douglas McClain of 1104 Smith St. Extension, died Friday, Oct. 20, 2006 at her home. She was a daughter of the late James C. and Jenille DeShields Thackston. She was a member of Poplar Springs Baptist Church and was church secretary for many years.
Surviving besides her husband of the home are two sons, Keith McClain, Columbia and Kevin McClain, Honea Path; two daughters, Kathi Johnson, Laurens and Kristi Davis, Columbia; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted Sunday at 3 p.m. at Poplar Springs Baptist Church with the Rev. W. Bruce Ostrom officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
The body will be placed in the church where the family will receive friends Sunday, 2-3 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to American Diabetes Assn., Memorials In Honor Programs, P.O. Box 1132, Fairfax, VA 22038-1132.

Abbeville sends Carolina packing

October 21, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

ABBEVILLE — They could have called it quits after 24 minutes of football Friday night at Abbeville High School.
The Panthers pounded Carolina, 42-0, on Dennis Botts Field at Hite Stadium. With the win, Abbeville moves to 9-0 overall, with a Region I-AA mark of 5-0. The Trojans fell to 2-7 overall.
The Panthers wasted little time disposing of their opponent from Greenville, coasting to a 35-0 halftime lead. Referees installed a running clock in the second half, shortening the length of the Trojans’ misery considerably.
Most of Abbeville’s offensive starters only played the first half. However, for Panthers tailback Toquavius Gilchrist, one half was all he needed to post an impressive stat line.
The junior running back ripped his way to 216 yards on 13 carries, with three touchdowns. He didn’t touch the ball in the second half.
Abbeville coach Jamie Nickles said he was pleased with his team’s effort.
“We wanted to execute tonight,” Nickles said. “Our guys did that tonight. They really did. It was homecoming, which is always special, so it was a good win tonight.”
Nickles praised Carolina coach and former Greenwood High player Adrian Wideman, saying Wideman runs a class program and that his team played clean and hard.
Abbeville quarterback Mack Hite said it was important for the Panthers to get a solid win after what he described as a sluggish performance at Liberty a week ago.
“We didn’t play well at Liberty,” Hite said. “We thought it was important to come out tonight and show we still had it.”
Abbeville lit up the scoreboard on its first possession.
After forcing a Carolina punt, the Panthers set up shop at their own 45-yard line.
On the second play of the possession, Gilchrist took a hand-off off the right side before meeting the Trojans’ linebacking corps.
However, he shed their tackle attempts and took off down the sideline, racing in for a 40-yard touchdown to put the Panthers on top, 7-0, with 9:53 left in the first quarter.
Abbeville was right back on the attack on its next possession.
Using runs to each side from Gilchrist, Desmond Peterson and James Moore, Abbeville pounded its way downfield. A tackle-breaking run by Moore got the Panthers down to the Carolina 4-yard line. Gilchrist took the ball across the goal line from there, scoring his second touchdown to put Abbeville up 14-0 with 1:20 left in the first quarter.
Hite praised Moore’s tough play.
“James is kind of our dark horse back,” Hite said. “He doesn’t get as much of the credit, but he is a great blocker and he runs hard.”
Late in the first quarter, Abbeville’s defense got in on the scoring barrage.
Panthers’ senior linebacker Marquis Tillman picked off the pass of Carolina’s Ronnie Martin and rumbled down the right sideline.
He crossed the goal line 40 yards later to give Abbeville the 21-0 lead heading into the second quarter.
Abbeville hosts West-Oak next Friday.

Eagles wave goodbye to Easley

October 21, 2006

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports editor

The Easley High School football team, though much improved, still proved to be the typical homecoming foe for Greenwood.
The Eagles scored on three straight possessions, two from sophomore tailback D.J. Swearinger, and rolled to a 28-0 victory over the Green Wave Friday night at J.W. Babb Stadium.
“Easley’s a very good football team. We had to play awfully hard,” said Greenwood coach Shell Dula, whose Eagles won for the ninth straight time over Easley. “We really had two nice drives in the first half and I felt we were beginning to get an identity offensively. We did a lot of good things out there.”
Swearinger, the Eagles’ starting free safety, pulled double duty for the second-straight game and capped the first half with a 10-yard touchdown run and opened the second by going 4 yards for the score. The sophomore, who was in the backfield in place of injured starters Jarvie Robinson and Marcus Carroll, split the handoffs with senior Zach Norman.
Swearinger had 15 handoffs for 78 yards, while Norman ran the ball nine times for 68 yards.
The two combined to get the Eagles on the board before the close of the first quarter. After punting away the first two possessions, Greenwood opened the third near midfield with 30 seconds left in the quarter. Swearinger opend the series with a 21-yard run. Norman took the counter trap on the next play and went 34 yards for the score. Andrew Timms, who had three touchbacks, booted the extra point for the 7-0 lead.
“Our offensive line did a great job. I thought D.J. and Zach both ran well,” Dula said.
Swearinger’s first touchdown capped a 12-play, 59-yard scoring drive that ate up almost of 5 minutes off the clock, leaving Easley 38 seconds left in the first half.
Quarterback Jay Spearman, who passed for 80 yards and ran for 53, set up Swearinger’s second score on the first play of the second half. Spearman rolled out right and launched a deep pass for Chris Floyd, who outleaped Ivan Raymond for the 42-yard pass.
Swearinger scored two plays later to give Greenwood the 21-0 lead.
Spearman added to the Eagles’ tally later in the third quarter, hitting Josh Norman on a 14-yard touchdown pass to go up 28-0.
The Greenwood defense smothered the Green Wave offense, forcing Easley to punt six times, while stuffing two fourth down plays.
Easley’s best chance to get on the board came midway through the fourth quarter behind back up quarterback Brian Ragsdale. Green Wave starting QB Michael Raymond was knocked out of the game after taking a tough hit from senior defensive tackle Wes Abrams. Raymond, who was sacked three times and knocked down well more, finished with 16 yards passing and an interception.
Ragsdale came in and completed his first five passes, bringing Easley down to the Greenwood 11-yard line. But on first-and-10, Ragsdale was dropped for a 5-yard loss after being sacked by an unblocked blitzing Josh Norman.
“That sack moved the ball back and so from there they had to throw the ball deep,” Norman said. “And from there, we let our defensive line do the work for us. It’s big for us to get the shutout. We had a goal in mind to come out and get the shutout, and we did it.”
After a short pass, Ragsdale faced heated pressure from the Eagles’ defensive line and threw two straight incomplete passes for the turnover on downs.
“I’m proud of our defense for shutting them out,” Dula said. “It’s something to build on when you shut someone out in the region.”

Opinion

World peace is elusive, but hope cannot be lost

October 21, 2006

No one in his right mind would want conflict to define what goes on in the world. They would much rather talk about world peace. You have to wonder, though. Is world peace attainable?
Of course, for many South Carolinians the term “world peace” is associated with satires on beauty contests and the lampooning of contestants. When asked what they would like to see happen most, they respond with “world peace.” That, of course, evokes a lot of laughter.
It is funny, to be sure, when it’s satire. When it’s reality, though, there is nothing to smile about.
History says, emphatically, that world peaee is a pipedream. Ever since biblical times there have been few occasions when the world is not rocked by conflict, conquest and wholesale killing.

MANY WOULD-BE PEACEMAKERS have tried and many have failed. Remember when U. S. President Jimmy Carter, Israel’s Menachem Begin and Egypt’s Anwar Sadat crafted a peace agreement in the Middle East. It didn’t take long for assassins to eliminate Sadat. Carter was denied a second term by voters, and Begin passed away. Peace, then, was short-lived.
Look at the Middle East today. So many people are at each other’s throats it’s hard to tell who is who and what is what.
There have been wars and rumors of war so much that nothing is permanent, especially world peace.
There’s always hope, though, even when there’s not much to base it on. Nevertheless, we must continue to try to make peace a reality. As bad as it is, if we didn’t try, it’s discouraging to ponder how bad it would be.

ONE DAY, MAYBE, THE RIGHT individual will come along with the key. That thought, too, generates a question ..... a very big question. Will that someone be who we think it will be? No doubt about it. It will have to be a Supreme Being. No one else could tackle the mess that mere mortals have made in the world ..... from time immemorial. It is all too clear that world peace is not within the kin of mankind. We prove that time after time. That’s sad, certainly, but it’s even sadder to think that we often do it in the name of God. Muslims kill Muslims, and have for ages. But, then, so do Christians. World Wars I and II proved that.
Pessimism, it seems, reigns all over. Still, hope does indeed spring eternal. We can give thanks for that.