Suwannee Countians, it's time to speak your mind! How? By calling the Suwannee Democrat Rant and Rave hotline. The hotline never closes and is your way to let it out. You can let everyone know how you feel -- as long as you express yourself in a respectful way.
Note: In written entries to Rant and Rave, errors in spelling, grammar or punctuation are those of the authors.
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Nazi christians is pretty stong, but if the shoe fits? The individual has the right to say it. Christianity has a long history of conversion under death threats, often made good on! Wicca is a very real & benign belief, in many ways similar to native AMERICANS. These "christian" people also used religion to justify slavery not that long ago. This also applies to the alcohol thing. If anyone believes this will stop growth, it is only economic growth being inhibited. Folks are still coming here & hopefully will excercise their voting rights to put an end to this bizarre situation once & for all. This "bible belt" area permits all kind of crackpot beliefs,( some I won't dignify as religions), so get over it. This is a country founded on religous tolerance & individual freedom. Let's practice what we preach around here.
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Yes, I would like to congratulate all the hard working law enforcement in the county that was able to provide the drug sweep that took in the 21 drug dealers this past week. Now Mr. Jarvis, it's your turn, prosecute these people and keep them out of our neighborhoods. Don't just turn 'em loose and give 'em a new lease to return to dealing drugs to our children. Ladies and gentlemen keep an eye on them, watch 'em see what the prosecution does to 'em, make an effort to let 'em know they need to be prosecuted. Again, congratulations and thanks on all the hard work from all the law enforcement officers involved. Great job folks.
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As I drive around on the back roads near my home south of Live Oak, I am sickened by the garbage that I see EVERYWHERE. It disgusts me to know that it might be my neighbors who are responsible. My wife and I moved here 3 years ago because of our love for the outdoors and the beauty of nature. I guess we assumed that others who live here felt the same. Obviously we are wrong. Everywhere you look there are beer cans, fast-food bags, beer cans, garbage bags, beer cans, empty cigarette boxes, and BEER CANS. In hollows on the sides of the road you can see where people have unloaded their weekly garbage, when there is a dump within 2 miles. Maybe it's the good ol' boys, the ones who also don't want this county to prosper by lifting the liquor laws. They are content with what THEY have and don't give a darn about anything else...Come on Suwannee County, let's show a little pride in where we live. STOP LITTERING. And it's past time for the rest of us (those who don't litter) to start getting out and picking up where we see garbage. Maybe when the litterers see us cleaning up our roads they will think twice, and TAKE THIER GARBAGE HOME. Thank you and God Bless.
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Two things: No.1, how do we access the online voting for the question of the week? I couldn't find any way to do it, and I really tried. No. 2, this week's question is certainly framed in a strange way. "Do you think teachers in Suwannee County should have the right to practice the religion of their choice?" Well, duh.... In America, EVERYBODY has the right to practice the religion of their choice, or no religion if that's their choice. I guess I would have to say yes to that question, and no, I don't think they should talk about it in class. There's nothing worse than someone trying to push their religion off on a person who believes differently. Surely in this vast country, there is room for more than one belief. Everyone is not a Christian, thank God.
The Democrat responds: Freedom of religion is indeed one of our most precious rights. We just wondered if all our readers agreed. As per the results of our online poll, roughly one in four did not. (To access the Question of the Week online, go to suwanneedemocrat.com and scroll to the bottom of the page.)
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Yes, I don't believe anybody's ever told commissioner Wainwright how he needs to keep his land or maybe how he should live. Maybe he should rethink that before he starts forcing his ideas upon others. Also if he's really concerned about what property looks like, he needs to take a look at the yard behind the Branford public works there for the county. It's an absolute pigsty. This is signed a concerned District Five resident.
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I attended the gun show this past weekend at the armory. It was very nice to see the firearm collections and talk to some very knowledgeable collectors and fellow enthusiasts. As I was walking through the isles I heard an individual, whom was suppose to be a representative of a well known group that actively watches our Constitutional rights in Washington. This person was telling people about SB2009 which will go into law next year, that all firearms will have to be declared on your 2009 IRS tax filing along with fingerprints etc.. Well my BS radar went up,why would this person state such a thing? My conclusion is that this person was guilty of using "fear mongering" or truly ignorant of what he was saying.The next morning I received an e-mail from somebody I know touting the same thing. At that point I decided to research SB2009 well it was "fear mongering" and completely untrue. This "fear mongering " needs to stop as we already have enough hot air going around to melt the polar ice caps!
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Yes, I'd like to respond to the person that talked about the Christmas decorations keeping Christ in Christmas and I'd like to thank those that have had commercials on the radio saying how they want to keep Christ in Christmas. As a Christian that's the way it should be, that is the true reason for the season. Not Santa Claus, or Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Christ's birth is the reason for the season, it is the reason the holiday is there. Why is it that Christianity is all of a sudden the only religion in the United States that people can't practice without being criticized, but if anyone was to criticize any other religion, they're wrong. Think about it, people, we have freedom of religion. That's all religions, not freedom of religion except Christianity. Wake up, learn what the constitution says. Be strong, support your religion, support Christianity. Thank you.
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Yes, this is in response to someone who spoke in the Rant and Rave a few issues back about tinted windows. Folks, nowdays windows are tinted, and you're looking through SUV windows? Most of those windows are tinted from the back side of them by the factory. Learn what you're talking about. That ain't any reason to whine. Use the mirrors on the side of your car that's what they're there for, if you need some kind of aid to back up with. Thank you.
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Yes, the city of Live Oak and OMI, it's hard for a taxpayer like me to read your column about OMI contracts and it never being bidded out on the costs, and that Mr. Thomas, the longest seated city councilman, to say they didn't know anything about the contract in 2005. Who is making these behind the door deals? The cost has over doubled, I hear. If you only talk to one company how do you know you have the best deal for the citizens of Live Oak, and is this legal?
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Yes, I heard about John Koch's comment about Christians being Nazis. I believe that if he really believes that he needs to just move somewheres else, maybe New York, somewhere where there's atheists or something. Maybe he would feel so much more comfortable there.
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Callers to 386-208-8314 may express their thoughts, good or bad, 24/7 about community issues and politics, but not about private individuals or businesses. If you prefer, you may email your comments to nf.editorial@gaflnews.com. You don't have to give your name, and please, keep submissions to less than 45 seconds (that's about 150 words). We want everybody to have a chance to be heard. Submissions that are overly long will be discarded. If 45 seconds isn't enough time, write a Letter to the Editor. (Guidelines for letters appear on Page 6A of our print edition.)
