Today, I find myself compelled to speak not only as the publisher of The Guardian but also as a concerned citizen who, like many of you, believes in the power of using our platforms for good. It’s with a heavy heart that I delve into a recent issue that has ignited a fiery debate in our community – the City of Chillicothe’s arrangement to house inmates in Ross County. What is truly perplexing, however, is how this issue has been shamelessly politicized to the detriment of our community’s wellbeing.
Enter “the page.” I won’t dignify this cesspool of vitriol with its actual name, for it doesn’t deserve the publicity it craves. This page is run, in part, by a local pastor named Terry Williams. Now, one would expect a man of the cloth to embody values such as compassion and decorum, but Mr. Williams appears to have skipped that part of his pastoral training. In fact, I’ve personally saved screenshots of his social media comments, where he casually peppers his discourse with profanity, including the notorious “f-word.” It begs the question: What kind of reverend talks like that? What kind of spiritual leader hides behind an alias while hurling baseless accusations at others?
Let us not gloss over the stark irony that this pit of toxicity, this hotbed of division and animosity known as “the page,” is run by none other than a pastor – a man of God, or so he claims. It’s a lamentable state of affairs when someone who professes to shepherd a flock of believers instead tends to a virtual garden of hatred, sowing the seeds of discord with every keystroke.
Unlike Mr. Williams, the individuals he targets – including myself – have the courage to express our opinions openly and honestly, without the cowardly veil of anonymity. We stand by our beliefs and work tirelessly for the betterment of our community. Disagreement on policy and legislation is natural, but resorting to creating memes and launching ad hominem attacks reflects a lack of class and, frankly, contradicts the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Mr. Williams and his congregation, including key member Kevin Shoemaker, ought to be hanging their heads in shame. Mr. Shoemaker, who aspires to be Chillicothe Council’s President, is financially supported by none other than Luke Feeney, a fellow liberal and Democrat. Don’t even get me started on the Feeneys, or this editorial will stretch on for paragraphs.
So, who lurks behind the curtains of “the page”? Well, it’s primarily Terry Williams and a motley crew of, shall we say, “others.” We know who they are, and so do they. Mr. Shoemaker should be questioning his association with such a cesspool of hate, especially given his position as a board-appointee at Adena Regional Medical Center. Cocaine, Mr. Shoemaker? Really? You want to be associated with cocaine, profane-laced pastors, and believe you’re fit to run our city?
Since we’re on it, let’s turn our attention to Shoemaker, a man who, by association and through shared alignment, has allowed himself to be tainted by the same cauldron of hate and divisiveness that Terry Williams has stirred. Mr. Shoemaker, it is my sincere hope that you will hear these words not as an attack but as a call for self-reflection and redemption, for you have aligned yourself with the very forces that seek to tear our community apart.
Mr. Shoemaker, your affiliation with Terry Williams and his sordid online realm, “the page,” is a grievous error in judgment. As a board-appointee at Adena Regional Medical Center, you hold a position of trust and responsibility, entrusted with decisions that impact the health and well-being of our citizens. Yet, your association with Mr. Williams, who promotes a culture of hate and hostility, is incompatible with the values of empathy and compassion that should define healthcare leadership.
Your candidacy for Chillicothe Council’s President is further evidence of your ambition to lead in our community. However, your financial backing from Feeney, coupled with your continued association with Mr. Williams, raises concerns about your ability to lead impartially and to represent the diverse voices of our city.
It is my strong belief, and I say this with all the scathing honesty that the situation warrants, that Mr. Shoemaker, you should resign from your position at Adena Regional Medical Center and reconsider your candidacy for public office. Your involvement with individuals who sow discord and spew venom reflects poorly on your judgment and your suitability for leadership.
Chillicothe deserves leaders who can rise above the fray, who can work across the aisle to find common ground, and who can unite our community in pursuit of a brighter future. Aligning yourself with those who thrive on hate and division is a grave disservice to our city, and it undermines any credibility you may have as a leader.
In the spirit of accountability and self-improvement, I urge you, Mr. Shoemaker, to step away from the shadows of “the page” and its divisive rhetoric. It’s time to distance yourself from those who have chosen the path of hatred and hostility, and to demonstrate a commitment to the principles of unity, respect, and collaboration that our community so desperately needs.
To Mr. Terry Williams, I implore you to consider the very words from the Bible that you undoubtedly preach to your congregation. Are you not familiar with Proverbs 6:16-19, which states, “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers”?
Mr. Williams, you may wear the cloth, but your actions speak volumes louder than your vestments. Your online conduct is nothing short of a desecration of the values you profess to uphold. Your willingness to hide behind the façade of “the page” while flinging accusations and fanning the flames of hatred is a betrayal of the very principles you should be exemplifying.
As a fatherly figure in our community, you should be striving to bridge divides, to foster understanding, and to promote unity. Instead, you revel in divisiveness, relishing in the chaos you’ve helped unleash.
Let us also ponder the words of Ephesians 4:29: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” It’s a simple message, Mr. Williams, one that even a child can understand – use your words for good, not for tearing down.
In your misguided quest to advance your personal agenda and political affiliations, you have betrayed the very essence of your role as a spiritual leader. The cloak of “Reverend” should be a badge of honor, earned through a life of humility, compassion, and service. Yet, in your case, it’s a tattered garment draped over the shoulders of a man who has forsaken his calling.
Chillicothe deserves better. Our community deserves leaders who uplift, who inspire, and who unite. It’s time to turn away from the path of hate and division, Mr. Williams, and to rediscover the true meaning of your vocation. Remember, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). It’s not too late to change course and become a force for good in our beloved city.
Comments are closed.