Reader urges taxpayers to speak out against funding for Christian Learning Centers

Opposes funding

I recently read about the $1.5 million state donation to Christian Learning Centers of Greenville. I’m reasonably new to South Carolina (2018) and wondering how best to make my displeasure known.

There are so many dangerous legislative and judicial precedents impacting our lives today. We don’t need more.

A court case will hopefully nip this in the bud, but I feel that constituents should also be loud and clear to thwart anyone else attempting the same.

In South Carolina, and in the Upstate especially, there are so many Christians that many forget they have non-Christian neighbors, and that this is a major point of church and state separation — we don’t have an “official religion” of the State of South Carolina.

Catherine Moore, Greer

“One pill can kill”

International Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31 is an opportunity for communities to support families of those who have died by drug overdose.

Overdose deaths were already rising prior to the pandemic, but during the pandemic have reached the highest number ever in South Carolina and our nation.

The increasing rates continue to be fueled by the presence of fentanyl, a powerful opioid that is usually unknowingly added to other drugs such as heroin or cocaine.

Most alarming now is the presence of fentanyl and related drugs into pressed pills. These fake, counterfeit pills are designed to look exactly like medicines that are widely prescribed to youth and young adults for conditions such as attention deficit disorder and anxiety disorders. As a result, recent deaths include youth who die after taking one pill unknowingly laced with fentanyl.

I urge all readers to look at the DEA’s “One Pill Can Kill” initiative and talk to your loved ones about not taking anything that does not come from their own prescription bottle.

The consequences are too high, and too tragic.

Dr. Pam Imm, Lexington

Abortion’s harm

David Travis Bland’s op-ed “Abortion bill is a grab for votes,” (8/18), reeks of ignorance and arrogance.

His claim that “abortion is not murder,” just a simple “medical procedure,” is astounding.

Is Mr. Bland indeed the “author of life”? Is Mr. Bland really an “authority” on what actually takes place during an abortion?

The truth of the matter is abortion harms everything and solves nothing, and to state otherwise is being deceptive.

Doug Lawhead, Columbia

Can we grow wisely?

Growth planning throughout the Midlands is a complex issue. Decisions affect many facets of our lives, such as jobs, housing, income, infrastructure, etc.

Watching the Midlands grow, I detect a missing piece of the planning process, which is protection of green space/wildlife habitat.

These questions and concerns come to mind:

How important is stewardship of creation that God has entrusted to us, staying aware that future generations will inherit our decisions?

Is it possible for development and stewardship to coexist?

Why aren’t citizens educated, encouraged and provided incentives to form conservation easements?

Could a portion of the penny sales tax and contributions from developers, real estate agents and mortgage lenders create incentives to encourage easements?

How can growth planning be addressed without bias?

A recent article about trees at the Bull Street project said cutting trees there “was unavoidable.” It’s unavoidable only if you have a one-track mind.

Someone once said, “We should walk on creation with moccasins not cleats.”

Are we forgetting trees produce oxygen?

Ken Clark, Irmo