Editor, The Smithfield Times:

In reply to a misunderstanding/misinterpretation of a statement I made (“Memories and monuments, Aug. 19), I offer the following: It distresses me greatly that anyone would pick one sentence out of an article and so badly misinterpret it (“Dialogue needed in Isle of Wight,” Aug. 26). Don’t ever be “satisfied” either personally, spiritually or educationally.

I repeat: Celebrate your people’s accomplishments. Again, the ancient Egyptians enslaved the ancient Hebrews and slavery still exists in parts of the world today. It is an abdominal practice whether in centuries long past or today. But, with all due respect, the writer’s statement “To deny, avoid and hold onto the evils/wrongs that have occurred in our history is unacceptable” contradicts himself.

When Jesus delivered His teachings on prayer, the prayer itself is a mere five verses in the King James Version, but the two verses that He followed up with said basically (and I paraphrase), “If we do not forgive others for their sins, our Heavenly Father will not forgive us of our sins.”

Helen Eggleston

Surry