To the editor:

I can hardly believe that you actually published the “Too quick to say yes” editorial (Aug. 24 edition) just below your “Mission Statement,” which declares that you will serve your community with integrity and report news that affects the people fairly and accurately.

That editorial is nothing but a bunch of blowhard by someone — it doesn’t say who — who has a bunch of factless, faceless opinions about something he or she knows little or nothing about.

For starters, riding golf carts is a “fad”? I have been riding my cart for seven years, and I was not the first one to jump on the bandwagon. I might add that this is seven years without incident.

Also, what does having a golf cart have to do with walking? The author suggests that if one chooses to ride a cart, that they don’t walk. What kind of logic is that? I happen to walk several times a week. I also have a car and a motorcycle, and a job, and still I walk for my health, as well as pleasure. What has one got to do with the other? They are totally different experiences.

Does this person live here in Eclipse? I wish I knew so that I could speak with him face to face. I have lived here for 52 years, and am willing to bet that I am more qualified to speak on this subject.

Too quick to speak? This decision was two and a half years in the making. It was the result of many conversations between our local Ruritan Club members and our city officials, as well as at least two petitions. This is not a fly-by-night decision by anyone.

To even suggest the possible “death of a child’ in this editorial was very irresponsible, at best. Is there more of a chance of that happening with a golf cart than with a bicycle, skateboard, scooter or walking?

If speed is an issue, we, as cart owners, are certainly not at fault. That is a separate issue that maybe the police department should address. Actually, I do not think we have an above-average number of speeders in this community, but I do know that large, slower, very visible vehicles will help that situation.

I hope that you will publish this rebuttal, because I will keep this up until you get the story and the facts correct, like your Mission Statement says you do.

Cathy Darden

Eclipse