Editor, Times-Union: You cannot vote Democrat and be a Christian.
If you think you can, you are wrong. If I did not write this I would be guilty of not standing up for God and God's holy laws.
It is a time for the Christian people to take a stand for God. What are Christians? "Born again," "saved," "redeemed by grace," "got your name written in the Lamb's book of life." If we do nothing, is that right when we state we are Christians? Jesus said after healing a sinner "go and sin no more." We are supposed to forgive our trespassers, but should we continue to support their sins? The Democratic Party supports abortion and stem cell research (the killing of a live child for a secular society). The Democratic party supports homosexuality. The Democratic party supports the removal of God from schools, government buildings, etc. What is next? Who would vote for a Democrat? Abortionists, homosexuals, liberal Hollywood stars, Michael Moore, ACLU supporters, Natalie Maines, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Larry Flynt and drug dealers to name a few. The special-interest groups have come between the Democratic party and the people. The party is no longer a link to most Americans. "So, bang the drum slowly and play the fife lowly, for the sun is setting over a waiting grave." Democratic Georgia Senator Zen Miller."A vote is like a rifle: its usefulness depends on the character of the user." Former President Theodore Roosevelt.
If we vote Democrat this November we are moving this nation towards another Sodom and Gomorrah. The Bible tells us this, but man has never followed God's path, set out for us.
The Lord has a way of revealing those of us who really know him and those that don't. This year Sen. John Kerry gave a speech about how his faith is so "important" to him. In his attempt to convince the American people that we should consider him for president, he announced that his favorite Bible verse is John 16:3. Of course the speechwriter and Sen. Kerry meant John 3:16, but nobody including Sen. Kerry was familiar enough with Scripture to catch the error. And do you know what John 16:3 says? John 16:3 says, "They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me." The spirit sure does works in strange ways.
Michael A. Helton Warsaw via e-mail
Address To Arabs
Editor, Times-Union: It seems to me that it's about time for President Bush to borrow a tactic of Osama bin Laden. He could park in front of a video camera, look the audience in the eye and address the Arab people with a message like this:
Dear Arab/Muslim Friends: Please let me speak to all of you, wherever you are, from my heart. I also speak on behalf of all people of good will in the United State and our allies. Ours is a message that can bring hope to all people on both sides of all issues that divide us. This is a crucial moment in our world's history.
"First let me say that there may be many more things on which all humans agree than those that divide us. For instance, we were embarrassed, angered and humiliated by the revealing, degrading pictures of six or eight of our guards who mistreated Iraqi prisoners of war. They broke God's laws, international laws among nations and the law of human decency on our culture and yours!
"Let me assure you that the guilty people will pay a terrible price for their illegal, indecent acts. They will be punished for such inexcusable actions.
"Some say: 'Now the Arabs know how we felt when we saw the bodies of several Americans dragged through the streets of Fallujah.' Note: We did not rejoice when we saw the evil deeds of a few from our army mistreat a few of you. Believe me when I tell you that we were angry and embarrassed!
"Second, we understand the desires off your people for freedom and for their share of the Earth's wealth. Years ago our people longed to be free from the domination of England. Here we have now been free and prosperous longer than any nation in history. We want to share the joys of that freedom and that prosperity with you in that part of God's Earth with fair trade practices. There's enough freedom and prosperity for everyone!
"Third, we understand that you are also children of Abraham, whom we claim as our spiritual ancestor along with you and millions of others.
"Abraham was a man of faith. He believed in God. He believed his God was good, righteous, just and loving toward all people. He was strong in his faith but he was tolerant toward other people who were different. He knew and acknowledged that all humans had more to unite them than all the things that could divide them.
"The lesson of kindness, love, tolerance and patience that Abraham learned is a lesson to all of us, of every opinion or persuasion desperately need to learn.
"We Christians and Jews feel as strongly about our religion as you do. But we all need to learn tolerance and 'gentle persuasion' lest we wipe each other off the face of God's good Earth. That would be neither wise nor good, but utterly stupid. Let's be wise and survive! That slogan rhymes in English. Maybe you Muslims could figure a way to make it rhyme in your language.
"Thanks for trying!" J. Robert Boggs Winona Lake
School Coverage
Editor, Times-Union: I am writing to respond to David Smolen's letter to the editor, which was published on Aug. 25.
Mr. Smolen, I applaud you for taking the time to attend the WCS board meetings and encourage you to continue to do so in the future.
I do, however, have some comments regarding your letter.
¥ As Gary Gerard, managing editor, pointed out below your letter, the reporter did not use the quotes as you indicated (with the exception of the word "interrupted") in a news story.
¥ I do feel that Laurie Hahn was correct to use the one that you mentioned, "pass the outburst baton," in her opinion column because it did appear that Mr. Minatel was on the defense when the public made comments.
¥ I believe that the Times-Union has reported the news in an accurate, non-biased manner. It is impossible for them to include "everything" that transpires at these meetings (i.e., Mr. Minatel's apology and my comment to Mr. Ray indicating I had not directed my comment to him personally). Additionally, I believe it is unfair to criticize Laurie for not "catching off-record comments" after the meeting. It would be unethical to report anything other than "on-the-record" discussions/comments.
¥ Perhaps you have not attended all the WCS board meetings and do not understand why sometimes the citizens get frustrated. Often the board would not accept questions and/or declined to answer questions from the public. Just for clarification, it is not anyone's intent to show any disrespect to any member of the WCS board. And yet the citizens of Kosciusko County still have many major concerns/questions which have not been addressed in an open, truthful manner by the WCS board.
¥ Regarding showing "respect" to Dr. McGuire and some board members, I was taught that respect is something that is "earned." Due to their evasive tactics and/or double-talk to the courts, and us, the taxpayers, they certainly have not earned my respect.
This past winter Dr. McGuire stated that their recorder was broken, minutes could no longer be recorded and they did not have the funds to purchase a new recorder. This is not a state-of-the-art piece of equipment and I am confident, if they wanted, they could purchase a new recorder for under $50. By doing this, recorded minutes would be available to the public, which would eliminate any confusion regarding discussions/comments at these meetings.
On a personal note, I support salary increases for the teachers. As I said at the meeting, these are the individuals who are "hands-on" in educating our children. Regarding raises for the administration, it made me "sick to my stomach" to hear all their complaining for months about lacking funds for the schools, closing the three elementary schools, complaining about state funding, threatening to lay off teachers due to limited funds ... and yet voted raises for themselves! To a common person such as myself, if you close three schools because the school funds are low, you do not give yourself a raise!
