JOURNAL NEWS
OPINION VOICES FROM YOUR COMMUNITY, HEARD HERE
Dear Editor: President Barack Obama made history in the fight against pancreatic cancer by signing into law the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act, formerly known as the Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act. This bill will require the National Cancer Institute to develop a plan, or scientific framework, for pancreatic cancer research. This means we are one step closer to creating a national strategy for combating pancreatic cancer, developing early detection tools and effective treatments and improving the lives of those affected by this devastating disease. Pancreatic cancer is anticipated to move from the fourth-leading cause of cancer death to the second-leading cause of cancer death by 2020, possibly as early as 2015. Speaking for the thousands who have lost the battle and for those brave people fighting pancreatic cancer today, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network volunteer group of S.C. thanks everyone who helped us in advocating for this much need legislation. Each and every time you made a phone call, sent an email, spoke to your congressman or senator or updated your Facebook status on this issue, you were an important part of making this day a reality. The family of Josh Worley, and all the other S.C. families who lost loved ones to this terrible disease, sincerely thanks you. Joyce Worley Mauldin, SC Dear Editor, Tommy Stringer’s recent “In My Own Words” column conflating the depravity of man and the remedy for America’s malaise in the wake of the Newtown massacre was flawed in several respects.
January 25
America’s Calvinist and evangelical bent has been the subject of much investigation in recent years, from Mark Noll’s “America’s God” to Dan Williams’ “God’s Own Party.” Williams traces, among other things, the John Birch Society ingredient latent in the current tea party that infected some of the more virtuous aspects of Billy Graham’s America. And Stringer mentioned Graham as one we need again on the current scene. Stringer seems to suggest that with the likes of a Billy Graham, troubled folks wouldn’t get their hands on assault and multi-clip weapons and go shootin’ up political appearances, theatres and elementary schools. The Pulitzer Prize winner Marilynne Robinson has a collection of essays, “The Death of Adam,” a thoroughgoing exploration of, among other bits of America’s character, the depravity of man and the influence of John Calvin on our body politic. She is a much deeper thinker than either Mr. Stringer or Billy Graham. Two years ago she spoke at Furman on a Sunday afternoon. Evidently Mr. Stringer didn’t get out to hear her, and his essay shows no evidence he is familiar with her thought. One of Furman’s grandest alums, Marshall Frady, wrote a 1979 bio of Graham, “A Parable of American Righteousness.” Even more recent is Joe Crespino’s “Strom Thurmond’s America,” which follows this evangelical civic boosterism’s effects on Upstate S.C. as it fleshes out Thurmond’s significance, not only for S.C., but the direction of the Republican party the last 40 years. It is must reading for all folks in the Upstate who take their faith and citizenship as seriously as the likes of Stringer challenge us. Long story short, as the son of a Gaffney minister who pilgrimmed there from 19621978, I have been wrestling with these matters a good bit of my waking hours. And in my 59th year, I find Mr. Stringer’s conclusions very sophomoric, to say the least. Stephen M. Fox, Furman, ’75 Collinsville, Ala.
G H S H e a lt H e d u c at i o n
Open House
Guyology: Just the Facts
Sun., Jan. 27 • 2-4 p.m. • Medical Center Powdersville Tour and meet the staff of this new facility, a collaboration between GHS and Baptist Easley Hospital featuring MD360® urgent care, surgery, orthopaedics, physical therapy, and more. Learn more at medicalcenterpowdersville.org.
Sun., Feb. 10 • 2:30-4:30 p.m. • Patewood Medical Campus This program for boys in 4th and 5th grade eases the transition into puberty through open discussion. Fee: $50 dad/son. To register, visit the events page at girlology.com.
Dangers of Excessive Sugar Intake Mon., Feb. 4 • 6:30 p.m. • GHS Life Center® Learn how sugar affects the body, read and compare nutrition labels, and identify healthy sugar alternatives. Fee: $10; includes food samples, recipes and handouts. To register, call 455-4001.
Get the Facts on Heart Disease Tues., Feb. 5 • Noon-1 p.m. • Caine Halter Y Find out the signs of heart disease and tests to diagnose heart problems from GHS cardiologist Dev Vaz, MD. Lunch provided. Free; registration required. Free blood pressure screenings from 1-3 p.m.
Understanding Integrative Oncology Tues., Feb. 19 • 12:15-1:15 p.m. • Greenville Memorial Hospital Learn about integrative oncology and how evidence-based complementary therapies impact cancer care. Lunch provided. Free; registration required. To register, for more information or to see a full schedule of events, visit ghs.org/360healthed or call 1-877-GHS-INFO (447-4636).
Preventing Heart Attacks, Strokes & Vascular Disease Sat., Feb. 9 • 11 a.m.-1 p.m. • Embassy Suites GHS clinicians will discuss preventing these conditions. Blood pressure checks and hands-only CPR demonstrations at 10:30 a.m. Lunch provided. Free; registration required. 130034
JANUARY 25, 2013 | THE JOURNAL 7