Editor, Commonwealth:
I had a lot of fun Saturday at Itta Bena’s fall festival.
There was food for everyone, even for those who are on special diets. There was a lot of entertainment for young and old. The cake walk is my favorite. Hopefully one day I will be old enough for the cake walk. I want to win one of those homemade caramel cakes. I was told that a lady who is a member of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in Itta Bena makes that caramel cake.
There was great gospel singing, followed by blues singing. There was a great band performing. I love all music but rap.
There were a few political candidates there as well. I got to talk personally with some of them.
I do believe that we can use a new U.S. senator in office. I do believe that Tobey Bartee would make a great one. He has put his life on the line for this country. May all who have served in any branch of the military be blessed by our God.
Sometimes a person never knows who they may meet nor where.
I worked briefly at Heartland Catfish, and there was one professional young man there who had a smile for everyone and a polite conversation for them, no matter their station. That man is Jonathan Mills.
Mr. Mills approached me and said that his wife was running for chancery judge in District 7. I immediately told him that she had my vote. Someone had already given me some information on a card that they were passing out.
Mr. Mills, I believe, is a man of God. He loves everybody, and he has to be a good family man and husband because he had great things to say about his wife, Katie Mills, the candidate for chancery judge for District 7.
During the conversation that Mr. Mills and I had, he had only positive things to say about his wife’s opponents. A problem occurred, though, after Mr. Mills moved on to converse with other people.
A well-known, prominent woman who lives in Itta Bena approached me in a very hostile manner. She asked me why I had one of Katie Mills’ signs by my table. The prominent woman is African-American, and so am I. She kept throwing that in my face. She asked why I would want a white person to take the position also being sought by Willie Perkins.
I just think those who are already in office have become too complacent and content. And no one becomes more energized when they get older. The thinking process slows down as well.
Qualifications matter. Mrs. Mills has the qualifications and more.
I do not want anyone to ever approach me and belittle me. Shame, shame, shame on you, Mrs. Prominent African-American Lady from Itta Bena.
We want to go forward. We are not trying to go backward. Please do not counsel our young.
We are all God’s children, no matter what race, creed, color or national origin. We must share this earth.
Eddie Jean Smith
Greenwood
