A time to heal in Franklin

Franklin is a unique place to live. We have businesses, farms, community organizations, but most of all people. It is these people who live in this town that make it a truly great place to live, work, shop, and worship. But there seems to be a constitutional crisis in this community. It is the crisis of the First Amendment. The First Amendment states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."� The citizens have petitioned the government for redress of grievances to abridge the freedom of speech of a citizen. We do not however, have the right to act in such a way as to be uncivil to each other with words of hate. Civility is defined as politeness, especially in a merely formal way.

Many words of hate were given both publicly and privately during the past few weeks. Our community needs to start the process of healing our wounds of hate. I am not someone who lives a perfect life, however, I do try every day to show love to others. I believe that the citizens of this town must come together to make it a more civil environment.

Not any party is more responsible than the other. The police, councilmembers and the citizens must work together to start to heal our town. We all work and live in this community together. Please keep in mind the following words of wisdom from Ecclesiates 3:1-8 when interacting with fellow citizens.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens; a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Love thy neighbor. Thank you,
Sarah Zydon

Frankin