This is from the Waynesville Mountaineer:
In a scene crafted from an old tent revival mixed with PowerPoint salesmanship and a heaping helping of “throw the bums out” populism, about 200 people from around Western North Carolina met in Canton Friday night to take on civic complacency.
The gathering took place at Canton’s historic Colonial Theatre, an aptly-named setting for the meeting that featured plenty of patriotism, from sing-a-longs of “God Bless America” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag” to a speech by a Thomas Payne impersonator. It was a meeting organized by a group called the Haywood County 9/12 Project. The group’s aim is to encourage more civic participation through planning, community organizing and discussion.
“I’d like to propose that this is our time to defend America and the Constitution,” said Lynda Bennett in her opening remarks at the Friday meeting. “I want you to stand up next to me to defend the Constitution. Let’s get started.”
