Difference in views divides Grovetown remarks

Editor:

I am writing in reply to David G. Edmiston Sr.s letter of Feb. 12 (http://newstimesonline.com/stories/021203/ let_letters_021103_1207_4.shtml), in which he condemns my Jan. 29 letter relating to corruption within Grovetown (http://newstimesonline.com/stories/012903/ let_letters_012903_1744_6.shtml).

First and foremost, I apologize for any offense my letter may have caused Edmiston or any of the honorable citizens of that city. That was not my intention. I dont know if Edmiston is a relative newcomer (say, within the last 20 years) to Grovetown and Columbia County or not. My memories of Grovetown go back a very long time.

I have never met Edmiston, to my knowledge, so I will refrain from any character assassinations. Someone should be considered honorable until proven otherwise, and I would never try to slam him as he did me. We have a difference of opinion and I will fight for his right to voice his.

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Edmiston described my letter as dastardly. I would apply that connotation to the problems that Grovetown has seemingly had since time immemorial.

The line of thinking that I deduce from his letter has been a significant contributor to the perpetuation of those problems.

It is also this line of thinking that allowed Adolf Hitler to rise to power in Nazi Ger-many, Benito Mussolini in Fascist Italy, and Saddam Hussein in present-day Iraq.

If the cop involved (in my case) had been right, I would have been the first to jump to his defense. Forgive me for my perceived character flaws; I hate liars, thieves and injustice. That is just the way I am.

I agree that my attitude and demeanor contributed to the sentence of two months probation. I was outraged. Edmiston would be, too, if it had happened to him.

He needs not worry about my avoiding Grovetown. Although I used to live there (about 25 years ago), my wife grew up there, and I have friends and relatives who live there, I never intend to go back there, ever.

Larry Waks

Harlem