Leadership and ‘plantations’: It means taking action | Letters
This is about leadership vs. waiting until it is safe. We should not be applauding “leaders” who only take action when there is little risk to them in their position or in general. Here are a few examples:
It is not leadership when Nikki Haley has the Confederate flag removed only after a horrendous event and extreme political pressure is evident. You only get credit if you do the right thing because you know it is right regardless of the political winds. This should have been done years before.
It is not leadership when Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal vetoes the religious liberty legislation only after business leaders publicly pressured him because it would impact business in the state. He should have vetoed it based on its discrimination against LBGTQ citizens, regardless of his party’s bias.
It is not leadership when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell now says he was wrong to criticize Colin Kaepernick in 2016 and beyond because of the current pressure on him. He should have stated this in 2016 when it was the right thing to do.
And now, it is not leadership to say we will conduct a survey of residents to see if they agree with changing the name of Hilton Head Plantation (or other “plantations”) rather than leading the discussion in full support for changing it.
Leadership is taking action if you can or speaking up (use influence of job title) to promote doing the right thing, whether it is popular or not.
Richard Hammes
Hilton Head Island
Race, history not the issue in truck-business complaint
Your paper picks it quotes and narratives. Please print it all.
Carolina Trucking operates what I believe is a toxic trucking operation within feet of residences and our sensitive marshes and watersheds. It involves changing oil, both engine and hydraulic, tires and washing truck debris that ends up in the back yards and marshes of the entire area.
This business never existed until two years ago. It is not a historic or family run business. Mr. Charlie Simmons Jr. and his father were wonderful neighbors who sold most of the area to residential development. They farmed the remaining area and lived with everyone in harmony.
The Town of Hilton Head Island has hours of video showing toxic truck activity and any accusation of race or island native history is a travesty to those who truly care about that heritage and history and the ecology and beauty of the island.
Phil Smith
Hilton Head Island
‘Path Forward’ needs a re-do
In response to Ray Warco’s letter regarding the Path Forward Readiness Plan and his criticism of Rabbi Brad Bloom’s column:
If the plan were as successful as Ray states, we wouldn’t have the current rise in the virus’ spread and hospitalizations, the crowds of unprotected tourists who directly threaten the health of the residents, and the chaos surrounding the opening (or not) of our schools in the next several months.
Certainly, the mention of South Carolina and our island as a national virus “hot spot” on nightly news day after day is not the kind of publicity the Path Forward envisioned. I’d say the Path Forward needs a re-do.
Karen Cerrati
Hilton Head Island