Memorial Day: Honoring those who gave lives for freedom
By CLAY N. MIDDLETON Special to Charleston Currents MAY 30, 2011 — I, like many others, am relieved that Osama bin Laden is dead. As a company commander in the South Carolina Army National Guard, I know that our mission is nowhere near being completed, and we remain at a high level of readiness and awareness. And as an Iraq War veteran, I rejoiced with others when Saddam Hussein was brought to justice. Emotions are high since the Al-Qaeda leader is no longer on this earth, and Americans are impatient as a result and want all service...
read moreThe Need to Join Forces
As published on whitehouse.gov For the past 10 years, our nation has been at war. As the members of our Armed Services deploy, it is critical that they need to know that their family has the support it needs. Those that have volunteered to serve in the military must have the peace of mind of knowing that when their deployment and service is over, they will have a sustained support system. To help mobilize this support for military families and veterans, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden have started the Joining Forces...
read moreIn Rare Form
A Few School Board Members Are Not Acting In The Best Interest Of Our Students by Clay N. Middleton As published in the Charleston City Paper on April 20, 2011 In the daily battle of politics, it can be enlightening to attend a different public or political meeting just to observe, have a good laugh, and see that someone else has it worse than you. At a recent Charleston County School Board meeting, I experienced all three. I respect the members of the board due to the elected position they hold, and I know they have no easy task. However,...
read moreSesquicentennial Stalemate: The celebration will continue
As we approach the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War, some Southerners remain troubled that the South lost. Others tend to focus on the traditions of the Old South and the attitudes and conditions of the time that led to the war. And then there are those who look at the realities of the past and use them to shape a better future. Misinterpreting history leads to mistrust, unnecessary conflicts, and, in some cases, generations of hatred. We cannot fully account for our forebears’ actions, and we ought not to make up stories full of...
read moreThe Democrats Prepare For Precinct Reorganization
Party Building by Clay N. Middleton As published in the Charleston City Paper on February 15, 2010 Every two years the Democratic Party conducts a meeting to reorganize its precincts. On Feb. 20, every precinct in South Carolina will meet to elect precinct officers, discuss the party’s platform, share ideas, hear from candidates, enjoy fellowship, and, more importantly, gear up for a long election year. In 2008, Charleston County went blue because of the organization of the Obama campaign and the excitement shared by many. In 2010,...
read moreYou Be The Judge
Published in the Charleston City Paper February 9, 2011 Groups Should Disclose Who Pays For All Political Ads You Be the Judge by Clay N. Middleton During this year’s midterm elections, many knew that the Republican Party would gain seats in Congress as well as in statewide races across the country. In response to the large amounts of money spent by corporations in this election cycle, the Democrats are now more determined than ever to address the issues caused by the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on Citizens United v. Federal...
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