Maybe it’s because I’m too old-fashioned to change my ways.

I’ve never considered myself as a politically correct person. Rather, I say what’s on my mind.

If you really think about it, &uot;PC&uot; folks have loads of inner aggression. They honestly want to speak their minds, but are so afraid they’ll offend someone. I bet’cha &uot;PC&uot; folks are the same ones who will eventually land a home behind bars for spousal abuse or being a serial killer after all those inner demons find a way out.

When I became News Editor of this publication back in November of 2000, one of my first columns described how I felt about certain social issues. Now, six years and a ton of new social issues later, it’s high time I stand my ground again.

I do not favor same-sex relationships. I do not hate gay people. I’ve worked with gay people and they were very trustworthy and easy to get along with. I simply don’t agree with their lifestyle. If I meet you and your significant other walking hand-in-hand on the street, don’t expect me to wave or nod at your passing. I don’t have a phobia about homosexuality, just an opinion.

There is no such thing as racial profiling in the Roanoke-Chowan area. I do not have a problem with 60 percent of our population being black. I choose to live here because I was born here. Some of my best friends are black, but if 60 percent of those arrested for some sort crime are black, that’s not profiling; it’s a numbers thing from a probability standpoint.

While I used it to make a point in the previous paragraph, I do not make a habit of describing a person by the color of their skin. The only time I use skin tone to describe a person is when I’m writing a law enforcement story where they use our newspaper to put out a detailed description of a suspect – height, weight, race, distinctive markings, etc.

While on that same subject, I prefer not to use the politically-correct term African-American. If you were born in America; if your parents were born in America; if your grandparents were born in America, then you are an American; period, end of discussion. The Bryants are direct descendants of the O’Bryant family whose roots trace back to South Wales in 1066. But I don’t call myself a Welsh-American.

Meanwhile, if you choose to live in this country, please take the time to learn our official language – English. Learn it and love it. If you have a desire to become an American citizen, then you must learn English. It will come in very handy at a number of things, the most important of which is simple survival.

I read a while back about the new Voting Rights Act law that went into effect this year. If my memory serves me correct, that law stated that special provisions would be made for registered voters that could not speak or write English. I interpreted that as there are non-English speaking registered voters who are allowed to elect local, state and national officials. Are you kidding me?

Gun control is another pet peeve. All these whiny liberals who think that by taking guns out of people’s hands will stop senseless murders. First of all, aren’t all murders senseless, whether or not that act of rage is carried out with a gun, a knife, a baseball bat or whatever the weapon of choice. Guns don’t kill people…people kill people. No matter what hoops a person is made to jump through to receive a gun permit or no matter what laws are passed, if someone is mad enough to take another’s life, they’ll find a way.

The United States Constitution is not open for interpretation. It’s the law of the land; either choose to live by it or, (1) become an elected official, bow down to special interest groups and lead an effort to change the wording of the Constitution, or (2) the United States has airports and passenger ship terminals; pick one and leave the country. I hear France is really nice this time of the year.

God gave us certain holes in our body. I don’t think he intended for mankind to punch other holes and stick in shiny pieces of jewelry. If you want to line your ears and eyebrows with piercings and fill those holes with gaudy items, don’t expect me to like it. If you want a silver ball attached to your tongue, lip, bellybutton or elsewhere, so be it. Transform yourself into a fishing lure for all I care, just don’t expect me to gawk at your freedom of expression.

I believe in the Pledge of Allegiance, with the phase &uot;One Nation, Under God&uot; attached. I believe in being still and quiet while our National Anthem is being performed. Don’t be offended if I cast a mean look your way if you choose to become disruptive during that time or if you choose to turn your back on the American flag or show some other sort of protest behavior. My daddy fought in World War II and I had friends to go to Korea, Vietnam and the conflicts in the Middle East. When I honor my flag, I’m really honoring them. Without their sacrifice, I might be typing these words in German, Japanese or Chinese.