Opinion – Robert Scott – It was Benjamin Franklin who famously wrote, “In this world, there is nothing certain except death and taxes.” He wrote that in 1789, when our federal government was brand new. Ever since then, in every political year candidates seem to mull over Franklin’s wisdom and try to assuage the inevitability […]
Opinion – By Robert Scott – All of us send heart-felt condolences to those suffering after “The 1,000-Year Flood.” Accurate or not, that phrase describes the profound damage to people and property in South Carolina. Regular home insurance does not cover flooding; one must purchase that separately, and most people don’t. Government property is self-insured: […]
Opinion – By Robert Scott – After two columns about the uplifting visit of Pope Francis, that vision of peace has been shattered by graphic images of the latest school shooting, this time at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon. The most comments I have ever received online after writing an Edgefield Advertiser column came […]
Opinion – By Robert Scott – Last week’s column addressed the pending visit of Pope Francis to the United States, and speculated about what guidance he might share with us. He did not disappoint. First of all, it is clear that Pope Francis is profoundly a friend of America, not just of American Catholics or […]
Opinion – By Robert Scott – Our Vicar at The Episcopal Church of the Ridge, Father Tom DiMarco, will be on a well-earned vacation this week, and we were joking about who would substitute for him at church services. Since Pope Francis will be here in the U.S., perhaps he could be asked to fill […]
Opinion – By Robert Scott – Readers of this column know that I frequently write about “hot button” issues, issues that have widely varying opinions aired quite vocally in local, state, and national politics. Many of you also know that The Edgefield Advertiser’s website, www.edgefieldadvertiser.com , allows you to comment on those columns; whether you […]
Opinion – By Robert Scott – There are four themes I’ve learned about in Church that I have returned to from time to time in this column: feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, caring for our planet, and healing the sick. The budding election season is sure to highlight healing the sick, so it’s time […]
Opinion – By Robert Scott – Those of us old enough to remember a High School course named “Civics” no doubt read, studied, and discussed in class the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Adopted along with the rest of the Bill of Rights in 1791, it is short enough to quote the whole thing: […]
To the Community: The Merriwether Fire Department would like to say thank you for the generous giving during our MDA boot drive Saturday morning. We collected over $3100 in three hours at two locations on Martintown Road and Sweetwater Road. It’s nice to live in a community of people who are so willing to give […]
Opinion – By Robert Scott – The controversy behind those two choices is not a new one, and it certainly didn’t either begin or end with the Supreme Court’s 7-2 decision in Roe v. Wade, a decision that has now stood for 42 years. Many deep moral and religious arguments swirl around the court’s decision, […]