Page 8 - The FayettevillePress newspaper December 2024 Holiday Edition

Page 8
Editorial / Opinion
The Fayetteville Press Newspaper welcomes letters from its readers. All letters must be signed and must include a home address and a daytime phone number.
Mail or E-mail your letters to: The Fayetteville Press Newspaper, P.O. Box 9166, Fayetteville NC 28311
Open our minds … it’s a New Year … 2025
Donald Trump could be President
of the United States despite his felony
convictions.
Many Americans believed a felon
could not be elected President of the
United States. However, on November 5,
2024, Donald Trump was elected as Presi-
dent. I personally observed our current
Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign
team choose not to invest in our local
African American radio stations. Prior to
any inquiry, I stated on my 11am weekly
radio show Visions airing on 97.7 fm and
1400 am, that to not to do so would be
proof of a conspiracy to lose. We had a
local FM station 104.5 owned by the
Carson Family and one of the first Afri-
can American FM radio stations in NC.
The Carson’s sought to market VP Har-
ris but were denied. I then began to ques-
tion the seriousness of her candidacy for
President. Thus it appears to have been
more about politics , optics, and misin-
formation than about success. However,
there is a silver lining as President Elect
Donald Trump sits at the pinnacle of our
countries value system; his success de-
spite felony convictions serves to lift
other felons above a barrier that in the past When the child became an adult he ultimately
limited them from jobs, professions, and
opportunities. If you can be President of
the USA with felony convictions surely
you should be worthy of trust and able to
work and serve in any other capacity.
A college degree while nice to have
is not required for success and prosper-
ity. Our community college system at
FTCC offers many certifications that
qualify you immediately for jobs with six
figure salaries. I’ve often noted how all
the janitorial staff in our court house ap-
pears to be black but all the engineers,
electricians, and technical staff are
mostly non African American. There are
many programs at FTCC that are a year or
less that could qualify you for a higher
paid more technical job or position. Our
local Public Works Commission has many
employees whose training at FTCC af-
By Dr. Shanessa Fenner, Principal
The Fayetteville Press December 2024 Holiday Edition
All letters are subject to editing. We will not publish unsigned or pseudonymous letters.
E-mail: fayepress@aol.com
lions of dollars playing video games, writ-
ing music, and others through social me-
dia. Our churches need to do a better job The Fayetteville Press
attracting young people based on charac- Newspaper
ter as opposed to titles. My dear friend Jeff “Your Community Newspaper”
Washington of Lumberton, North Carolina
P.O. Box 9166
a used car salesman recently passed. Jeff Fayetteville * NC 28311
gave hope and opportunity to many fami-
lies whose destiny was limited to those (910) 323-3120 - Office
from whom they could seek a ride because www.fayettevillepress.com
they were without transportation. With his E-mail:
help people were empowered with; fami- fayepress@aol.com
By Atty Allen W. Rogers lies were strengthened; opportunities were
(910) 433-0833 limitless and goals were met. *Publisher - JJ Jones
My Dad Zack Rogers Jr. was a com-
forded career positions that substantially im- mon man a truck driver with a 10th grade *General Manager
Chrystal M. Thomas
proved their quality of life. education. He was a devoted husband, great
In our legal system we watched children father, and a powerful man of GOD. Hav- *Sales Manager
grow up in homes where we knew criminal ing grown up in a time where a child work- Dwight Brown
activity and violence was a daily and common ing to support the family was a priority as
experience. opposed to an education, he would often *Editor - Jae McKrae
Allowing our children to be exposed to an say “we have done so much for so long with
environment inconsistent with our stated val- so little that we can do almost anything *Special Corespondent
ues and norms for success perpetuates an ex- with nothing.“ When he would lean back in Queen Degraphenrei
ponential community of the same. I once the pulpit at The New St John Holiness Staff Writer
worked a case where a child was allowed to Church in Laurinburg and lift his left leg Shelia Mclaughlin
stay in a home in which law enforcement knew and point his right index finger (after run-
was a place of huge drug sales and activity. ning around the church in his black robe *Photgrapher
with gold trim 3 times at 90) he’d say “Give Bruce Carpenter
began to work that family business. After his us to know“… and wisdom would drip from *Account Executives
father’s death the state would take that same his mouth as did the sweat from his brow. Dr. Don Reid
investigation and direct it toward the son. He His faith, his character, his depth and de-
spent over 24 years in prison for his involve- termination had a huge impact upon his *Distribution
ment despite the clear evidence that he had family, his community, and our society. He Michael Dykes
been groomed all his life at the pleasure of often said “if you don’t have time to do it Nero B. Coleman
the state for what he became involved with. We right the first time you definitely don’t
must look for innovative ways to protect these have time to do it over.“ My father in his * Graphic Designed By
Roslyn Graphic
children from such mental abuse in their 93 years did it right.
homes. *Staff Chaplain
The character of a man is not measured Let’s open our minds to this New Year Bishop
by what he acquired for himself but by the fruit and opportunities to improve ourselves, our Larry O. Wright, Jr.
he bore and from those affected by his gifts circumstances, and succeed in spite of any
and compassion for mankind. There was a pow- perceived barriers. We still live in the E-Mail:
erful message at the WIDU prayer breakfast greatest country in the world and “GOD has fayepress@aol.com
2024, that encouraged our churches to not given us to know” ….”He’s still in charge.” Web-Site
limit their heroes to lawyers and doctors. In www.fayettevillepress.com
this society success can be achieved through Merry Christmas and Happy New For
many occupations and disciplines never con- Year Atty. Allen W Rogers -The Rogers Subscriptions
sidered in the past. Some people make mil- Firm PLLC Call
(910) 323-3120
A New Year with New Beginnings
Happy New Year! 2025 is going to be a year of prosperity and peace of mind. Here are some tips to ponder while setting your New Year’s
resolutions:
1. Keep your resolutions simple and realistic. Make your resolutions specific, measurable and attainable. Devise a step-by-step plan
of action to achieve them.
2. Place your resolutions where you can see them every day. It is imperative to write your resolutions down and place them in an
area where you can see them on a daily basis. This keeps them in the forefront of your thoughts and mind.
3. Stay focused and obtain an accountability partner. Keep your eye on the prize and have someone who has your best interest to help
keep you on track when you get discouraged. If you fall off, get back on track.
4. Celebrate! Continue to celebrate your big and small successes towards your resolutions. This will keep you motivated as you get closer
to achieving them.
Here are a few New Year’s resolutions to consider for 2025:
1. Perform an act of kindness each week. Strive to make the world a better place. There is nothing more meaningful than helping
others. It makes my day when I am in the McDonald’s drive thru and someone has paid for my breakfast. Pay it forward. Put a smile on
someone’s face.
2. Have a little talk with Jesus. Build and have a relationship with Jesus Christ. He will bless and restore your joy and peace. You may
not always get what you want, but he will give you what you need. Experience the greatness of God because you are the seed of
Abraham. In him is who I trust.
3. Learn a new hobby or skill. Adopt the mindset of being a lifelong learner. Don’t be put in a box and only knowing how to do one thing
in life. You have to have backup plans. I love being multifaceted and no one can take it from me.
4. Be courageous and intentional. You were not given a spirit of fear. Go after what you want. Make things happen. If you don’t go
after what you want, you will never have it. Do not miss your moment or opportunity.
5. Don’t settle for less. Desperation causes you to settle for anything, everything or something. You see the red flags in a relationship, but
you continue to ignore them. You are being abused and misused because you have been alone for so long. Know your worth. You are the
head and not the tail which means you are on the top and never at the bottom.
6. Focus on your mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health. You have to learn how to have a healthy balance of these for your
self-care and well-being. They are interconnected and prioritizing wellness is the key to improving your overall health.