probably heard about the more than 200 concerned citizens

that showed up this past Tuesday at the Fayette Council

meeting to voice their opinions about the proposal from

Hooters "Restaurant" to open their operation

here in Fayetteville.

At the meeting, it was

refreshing to me to hear all the comments. They ranged

from 10-year-old boys to white-haired men and women. They

all had one thing seemingly in common - they all

were very concerned about the future of Fayetteville and

the futures of their families.

Whereas the overwhelming

majority seemed to be there to voice their opposition to

the operation of Hooters, there were a few who in my

estimation voiced the death knell of our morally sliding

society. Some voiced the view that Hooters has the right

to make a living, that we need to just let it come in and

just don't support it when it gets here.

They forget the principle

that if we want our children to learn good character,

they must see good character being modeled. My wife, the

educator, says it is Albert Bandura's "Social

Learning theory." I, the pastor, call it

"practicing what you preach."

The very presence of a

brick and stone restaurant shows that society allowed it

and condoned its being built.

I was part of the group

that marched and demonstrated against the New York Video

store in Union City when it came in under the guise of a

"book store" and when they got their slimy

hands on the "book store" property, they

brought in more of their slime in their pornography.

This, of course, was the plan from the start.

They are still there today

because they slid and got into the saddle before anyone

could act. Now is the time to continue to voice your

concerns if you care.

When confronted with

concerned citizens who don't want this type of business

in their community, these promoters wrap themselves in

the flag and hide behind the law and look for any

loophole with which to foist their agenda upon us.

It is interesting that when

soldiers come into the military, they must stand before

the flag of the United States and raise their right hands

and solemnly swear or affirm that they will defend this

country against "all enemies both foreign and

domestic." Personally I strongly feel that this is a

"domestic enemy." Any operation that seeks to

undermine the morals and marriages of families of America

is my enemy.

I got to the council

meeting a bit late last Tuesday, but I heard references

to the "good food" that Hooters would be

serving. That's like people who over the years would say

to me, "Chaplain, I read Playboy for the

stories."

Sure they did.

If good men and women do

not stand up and be counted, we will get what "we

DIDN'T stand up for!" What about the "Red

Lobster" part? I just threw that in while I was

thinking about good food. If people want good food, and

not panting men ogling short-shorts and tight tank tops,

bring on Red Lobster!

The Rev. Dr. Knox Herndon

is the pastor of His House Community Church (SBC) and a

substitute school teacher in the Fayette County school

system, and a former Army chaplain. The church is

currently meeting in the American Legion Log Cabin across

from the fountain on the Square in Fayetteville, but not

for long. It will be moving to its new location near

Senoia in August. Prayer line 770-719-2365; e-mail [email protected] .