Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

The proverb is true. "A man should never say what he would not do, because time will prove him to be a liar." If you are reading this, then there has been a change in policy. You will have to excuse me if this message is cryptic due to length restraints set out in policy.

There is, and has been, a lot of talk about hard times befalling Millen and Jenkins County.

Now is the time to take a good look at you and see what you have that is valuable and desirable. You have at least two flowing springs. You have friendly, loving, hard working, caring people. You have a beautiful topography, a mild climate and the cost of living is reasonable. You have a river, and several creeks and streams. You have an abundance of wildlife. Soon you will have four-lane highways accessing I-20, I-95 and I-16. And best of all, you have wonderful young people full of energy and hope for the future, that are ready and willing to live and work here.

With all of these wonderful things in your favor, the question is what do you want for this community? Do you want it to be a map dot, a truck stop and a retirement community? Do you want it to prosper or just get by? My guess is that prosperity sounds good to most of you. Prosperity requires forwardlooking vision and you are lacking in that department. Prosperity needs diversity and tolerance; you're lacking there, too. Prosperity is dependent on freedom and it abhors dogma. Prosperity means that attitudes and outlooks must change. The entrepreneur friendly designation has been awarded, but it has not been embraced. A thorn by any other name is still a thorn.

What can you do? First and foremost, tolerance levels have got to be adjusted. You cannot be like a one-way street with "no parking" zones posted everywhere. You cannot remain a gated community if you want prosperity. Prosperity cannot be confined. The sun shines upon us all, good and evil alike.

You have truly been blessed with resources, and you need to market them to the world. You should make the attitude adjustment, and look for entrepreneurs to exploit your potential.

Merry Christmas to all, and may you soak up God's blessings like a sponge soaks up liquid.

Wayne Salter Suburbs of Perkins