Weekly column by Kaelyn Pfenning
With the 2016 Olympics coming to a close and school starting back, fans are ready to jump back into the football season.
Not everyone likes sports, but most of my family and friends follow at least one team to some degree.
The enthusiasm is fascinating.
It’s that time of year again. As I reflect on my own first days of school, one stands out from the rest.
The summer of 2002, my family moved from Vermont to South Carolina before my freshman year of high school.
The other day, as I drove to work, I noticed the left blinker start on the vehicle in front of me.
I slowed down.
Soon after, that vehicle pulled into the right-hand lane to pass the vehicle now in front of me.
Smiling, I said to myself, “Nice try, Dude.”
Risk, by its very nature, involves danger.
History is marked by risk. Heroes are born out of risk. Countries rise and fall by the risks of their leaders.
Risks often involve standing firm in opposition to a crowd, sticking with principles regardless of the cost and staying true to core values.
In history, governments have used media outlets to promote their ideologies.
In response to these tendencies, the founding fathers of America sought to preserve the freedom of the press through the Bill of Rights.
One of the responsibilities of media outlets is to hold public officials accountable to the people who elect them.
When tragedy strikes, we look for something or someone to blame.
It is a natural reaction.
Some blame circumstances; others blame the individuals involved. Some blame the things used to cause the harm; others blame those who share what happened.
Many are asking “why” questions.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
Liberty comes with responsibility.
Despite what many try to say, we do not have the right to do whatever we want. Choices have consequences.
The other day, I drove up behind a vehicle with a gun depicted on the back.
At first inclination, I felt protected. On second thought, I felt fear as I pictured a terrorist behind the wheel.
My reaction made me think about the debates prevalent today about guns.
Last night, I attended the regular June 20 meeting of the Greer Planning Commission.
As I waited for the meeting to start, residents kept arriving until additional chairs needed to be added to the more than 60 chairs already present.
Hi, my name is Kaelyn Pfenning, and I am a new member of the Greer Citizen team.
I am excited to become a part of the Greer community through the gift God has given me in writing. One of my guiding principles comes from 2 Corinthians 4:2, to set “forth the truth plainly.”
