Michael Weisel: Learning N.C. values

Echoing the May 8 Point of View “Not from around here,” like the author, James Seay, I moved to North Carolina 42 years ago.

I well remember the question, “Who are your people?” Well, my people settled in Philadelphia in 1732 and fought in the Revolution, was my retort.

I came to understand it was really a question about my values and character. Through Sens. Robert Morgan and Terry Sanford and Gov. Jim Hunt, I absorbed the character and values being a North Carolinian entailed. To help the weak grow strong and to be rather than to seem.

I hope I succeeded in some small measure over these past years in achieving them. Perhaps we should ask our current political leadership, “Who are your people?”

This story was originally published May 14, 2016 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Michael Weisel: Learning N.C. values."