Letters to the Editor 01-26-1998
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Finding Truth - Christmas Display - Deer Kill - Petrosky Responds - Musical Chairs
Finding Truth
Editor, Times-Union:I have debated whether or not to send this letter, as I wonder if in fact it will do any good.
I have wanted to respond to some of the letters I have read in this column lately. Especially those who write of things that they do not understand, or are ignorant of, and those which are pointless in their untruth. Now, some will conclude after reading this letter that I too am ignorant; that is OK. For I am not going to attempt to convince anyone that I have all the answers. However I am going to employ a certain measuring rod, a gauge, to measure truth.
Have you ever asked what is truth? Is there such a thing as absolute truth? And if there is, where is it? If absolute truth does exist, is it easily obtainable. Well, I do believe there is absolute truth, and that it is easily obtainable, but you must be looking for it.
At some point in each of our lives, we seek something to believe in, some money, some luck, some believe in God, and some believe in some god. Now, I ask you, can truth be found in any of these, and if so, how do we know? How do we measure these for the truth? We must have a starting point. Let's start with ourselves. Our body, that is. I don't have to tell you how complex our own bodies are. For me it is truly amazing, even our own minds can't fully understand the complex workings of our own bodies. If we could we would cure any disease. My point is, where did we come from. But, more importantly, the question should be, where are we going? Both now and after this life is over.
But now you may be wondering, what is he talking about? So I'll get to the point. But, let me add, if you are unconcerned about truth, and what happens after this life, my heart breaks for you. I believe unshamefully and undoubtedly the absolute truth of the word of God, as contained in the Holy Bible, which clearly tells where we came from and where we are going. Again, I don't have the answers, but Jesus Christ does! This is where absolute truth is found, through Jesus Christ who is the only way to God the Father, who created us and the universe. Now, this isn't meant to scare you, it's meant to make you think. And I do pray you will think. If you die before you know Christ, it will be too late! I did not say this, he did! Please, God made us and he loves us very much, but he is a God of justice, true and perfect. He revealed himself through Jesus Christ, who died, then lived again for love of his people. This is love, true and perfect! Believe in him, and you too will live!
Mark Jones
Warsaw
Christmas Display
Editor, Times-Union:Just prior to Christmas, I had the opportunity to be in your city and was delighted to see such a wonderful display of Christmas exhibits and lights in Central Park.
While walking through the park, I questioned the security guard, inquiring who was responsible for the wonderful display. He advised that Larry Plummer and his crew were the ones who arranged and put up the lights and displays.
My hat is off to Mr. Plummer and his crew. I have been to larger cities and have viewed their Christmas displays and feel that the Warsaw display is one of the best.
Congratulations Warsaw and Mr. Plummer for a job well done.
Steve Schulien
Fort Wayne
Deer Kill
Editor, Times-Union:The Times-Union reported a story about a DNR-approved deer kill in Dune Acres, Ind. The story appeared Jan. 19.
A Dune Acres resident, Donald Lesch, is attempting to delay the legal kill in what he calls the "premature taking of 80 lives...Deer, that is."
I don't know what this man's beliefs are, but I wonder if he is concerned more about these animals than the fact that since 1972 there have been 35 million babies killed by abortions...35 MILLION! What have we become?
Mark Jones
Warsaw
Petrosky Responds
Editor, Times-Union:Please allow me to correct a few of the many misconceptions promoted in Daniel Stevens' recent letter. Yes, I've asked several questions of/about the Kosciusko County prosecutor regarding his investigation of my brother's death. Questions, however, are neither "facts" nor "lies," as Mr. Stevens suggests. They are tools for collecting information. I've made specific inquiries about the collision that killed my brother; the disparities between the prosecutor's public comments and his official reports; his inexplicable absence from an important meeting with my family. No response. Recently, new questions arose: What's happened to the "driving while suspended" charge the prosecutor vowed to pursue aggressively? Has this promise evaporated also? How can I possibly be ignoring the facts? They've never been provided. The prosecutor's been unwilling to participate in the public dialogue he suggested concerning my family's case. This IS a fact.
Before accusing me of making up facts and spreading lies, Mr. Stevens might have asked some questions himself. Do I have numerous letters, documents, reports, etc., which prompted my inquiries? Yes. Have I attempted to verify information with additional sources? Yes. What evidence does Mr. Stevens have for his assertions about me?
This gentleman accuses me of using hyperbole (extravagant exaggeration) following his bizarre assertion that I think "seven million people" live in Warsaw. How ironic. Did I claim the county's increasing population was the reason for increased felony filings, or say the population was rising at the same rate as filings? No. I merely pointed out that simple numbers never tell an entire story. Gary Gerard aptly demonstrated this recently by dissecting gun control statistics. Any valid statistical analysis delineates the variable that might impact its results. Population, as it relates to crime, is one of those. The huge role played by law enforcement is another. Even information sources can influence outcomes. Critical thinkers learn (as Mr. Stevens encourages) by questioning.
Since my letters never mentioned drunk driving, why did Mr. Stevens dwell on this topic? My brother wasn't killed by a drunk driver, but by an individual breaking other laws at the time of the collision. My illustration showed that "felonies filed" doesn't necessarily translate into "felony convictions." How did Mr. Stevens mutate this simple fact into a distracting discussion of DUI projections and Warsaw's census?
Drunk driving is a terrible problem. Isn't it also fairly easy to prove? Either a driver's BAC is over .10 or it's not. When a sober driver breaks several laws and kills someone in the process, that's more difficult. Shouldn't a prosecutor be concerned about ALL broken laws, not just those that are politically charged?
Requesting that a topic be closed can surely be considered a call for censorship. The prosecutor's been repetitive about certain issues also, and there's been no petition for his silence. Mr. Stevens attempts to berate me, contort my words, and change the subject only serve to highlight the prosecutor's total unwillingness to address my family's concerns truthfully himself. Kicking me out of your newspaper won't change that fact.
Teresa Petrosky Wallace
Casper, Wyo.
Musical Chairs
Editor, Times-Union:I am writing in regard to the NorthPoint Cinema. We go to the movies at least once a month. On the last several visits there, we went early to get good seats together. For the Titanic, we got there one hour early so we could sit together.
There are usually already some other early birds there when we arrive with the same idea. Well, wouldn't you know it, as time gets close to the movie starting, here come last-minute people (usually four or five together). And of course, they want to sit together. So here comes the usher and finds these "open" seats and has everyone in the row to get up and move down to accommodate these last minuters!
Excuse me! Didn't all these other people get here early so they could sit together? Now they all have to move.
I think if anyone wants and expects to sit together, they should get there early enough to find open seats together like everyone else. There was a whole group of people at the Titanic showing who had been there for 1-1/2 hours just so they could sit together. They also had to move. Needless to say, they were upset also. These people are probably the same people all the time. They know they don't have to get there early and sit waiting to get choice seats together. All they have to do is show up at the last minute and the ushers will accommodate them. Does anyone else have opinions on this?
Thanks for listening. Please write in.
Sherry Roberts
Warsaw
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- Finding Truth - Christmas Display - Deer Kill - Petrosky Responds - Musical Chairs
Finding Truth
Editor, Times-Union:I have debated whether or not to send this letter, as I wonder if in fact it will do any good.
I have wanted to respond to some of the letters I have read in this column lately. Especially those who write of things that they do not understand, or are ignorant of, and those which are pointless in their untruth. Now, some will conclude after reading this letter that I too am ignorant; that is OK. For I am not going to attempt to convince anyone that I have all the answers. However I am going to employ a certain measuring rod, a gauge, to measure truth.
Have you ever asked what is truth? Is there such a thing as absolute truth? And if there is, where is it? If absolute truth does exist, is it easily obtainable. Well, I do believe there is absolute truth, and that it is easily obtainable, but you must be looking for it.
At some point in each of our lives, we seek something to believe in, some money, some luck, some believe in God, and some believe in some god. Now, I ask you, can truth be found in any of these, and if so, how do we know? How do we measure these for the truth? We must have a starting point. Let's start with ourselves. Our body, that is. I don't have to tell you how complex our own bodies are. For me it is truly amazing, even our own minds can't fully understand the complex workings of our own bodies. If we could we would cure any disease. My point is, where did we come from. But, more importantly, the question should be, where are we going? Both now and after this life is over.
But now you may be wondering, what is he talking about? So I'll get to the point. But, let me add, if you are unconcerned about truth, and what happens after this life, my heart breaks for you. I believe unshamefully and undoubtedly the absolute truth of the word of God, as contained in the Holy Bible, which clearly tells where we came from and where we are going. Again, I don't have the answers, but Jesus Christ does! This is where absolute truth is found, through Jesus Christ who is the only way to God the Father, who created us and the universe. Now, this isn't meant to scare you, it's meant to make you think. And I do pray you will think. If you die before you know Christ, it will be too late! I did not say this, he did! Please, God made us and he loves us very much, but he is a God of justice, true and perfect. He revealed himself through Jesus Christ, who died, then lived again for love of his people. This is love, true and perfect! Believe in him, and you too will live!
Mark Jones
Warsaw
Christmas Display
Editor, Times-Union:Just prior to Christmas, I had the opportunity to be in your city and was delighted to see such a wonderful display of Christmas exhibits and lights in Central Park.
While walking through the park, I questioned the security guard, inquiring who was responsible for the wonderful display. He advised that Larry Plummer and his crew were the ones who arranged and put up the lights and displays.
My hat is off to Mr. Plummer and his crew. I have been to larger cities and have viewed their Christmas displays and feel that the Warsaw display is one of the best.
Congratulations Warsaw and Mr. Plummer for a job well done.
Steve Schulien
Fort Wayne
Deer Kill
Editor, Times-Union:The Times-Union reported a story about a DNR-approved deer kill in Dune Acres, Ind. The story appeared Jan. 19.
A Dune Acres resident, Donald Lesch, is attempting to delay the legal kill in what he calls the "premature taking of 80 lives...Deer, that is."
I don't know what this man's beliefs are, but I wonder if he is concerned more about these animals than the fact that since 1972 there have been 35 million babies killed by abortions...35 MILLION! What have we become?
Mark Jones
Warsaw
Petrosky Responds
Editor, Times-Union:Please allow me to correct a few of the many misconceptions promoted in Daniel Stevens' recent letter. Yes, I've asked several questions of/about the Kosciusko County prosecutor regarding his investigation of my brother's death. Questions, however, are neither "facts" nor "lies," as Mr. Stevens suggests. They are tools for collecting information. I've made specific inquiries about the collision that killed my brother; the disparities between the prosecutor's public comments and his official reports; his inexplicable absence from an important meeting with my family. No response. Recently, new questions arose: What's happened to the "driving while suspended" charge the prosecutor vowed to pursue aggressively? Has this promise evaporated also? How can I possibly be ignoring the facts? They've never been provided. The prosecutor's been unwilling to participate in the public dialogue he suggested concerning my family's case. This IS a fact.
Before accusing me of making up facts and spreading lies, Mr. Stevens might have asked some questions himself. Do I have numerous letters, documents, reports, etc., which prompted my inquiries? Yes. Have I attempted to verify information with additional sources? Yes. What evidence does Mr. Stevens have for his assertions about me?
This gentleman accuses me of using hyperbole (extravagant exaggeration) following his bizarre assertion that I think "seven million people" live in Warsaw. How ironic. Did I claim the county's increasing population was the reason for increased felony filings, or say the population was rising at the same rate as filings? No. I merely pointed out that simple numbers never tell an entire story. Gary Gerard aptly demonstrated this recently by dissecting gun control statistics. Any valid statistical analysis delineates the variable that might impact its results. Population, as it relates to crime, is one of those. The huge role played by law enforcement is another. Even information sources can influence outcomes. Critical thinkers learn (as Mr. Stevens encourages) by questioning.
Since my letters never mentioned drunk driving, why did Mr. Stevens dwell on this topic? My brother wasn't killed by a drunk driver, but by an individual breaking other laws at the time of the collision. My illustration showed that "felonies filed" doesn't necessarily translate into "felony convictions." How did Mr. Stevens mutate this simple fact into a distracting discussion of DUI projections and Warsaw's census?
Drunk driving is a terrible problem. Isn't it also fairly easy to prove? Either a driver's BAC is over .10 or it's not. When a sober driver breaks several laws and kills someone in the process, that's more difficult. Shouldn't a prosecutor be concerned about ALL broken laws, not just those that are politically charged?
Requesting that a topic be closed can surely be considered a call for censorship. The prosecutor's been repetitive about certain issues also, and there's been no petition for his silence. Mr. Stevens attempts to berate me, contort my words, and change the subject only serve to highlight the prosecutor's total unwillingness to address my family's concerns truthfully himself. Kicking me out of your newspaper won't change that fact.
Teresa Petrosky Wallace
Casper, Wyo.
Musical Chairs
Editor, Times-Union:I am writing in regard to the NorthPoint Cinema. We go to the movies at least once a month. On the last several visits there, we went early to get good seats together. For the Titanic, we got there one hour early so we could sit together.
There are usually already some other early birds there when we arrive with the same idea. Well, wouldn't you know it, as time gets close to the movie starting, here come last-minute people (usually four or five together). And of course, they want to sit together. So here comes the usher and finds these "open" seats and has everyone in the row to get up and move down to accommodate these last minuters!
Excuse me! Didn't all these other people get here early so they could sit together? Now they all have to move.
I think if anyone wants and expects to sit together, they should get there early enough to find open seats together like everyone else. There was a whole group of people at the Titanic showing who had been there for 1-1/2 hours just so they could sit together. They also had to move. Needless to say, they were upset also. These people are probably the same people all the time. They know they don't have to get there early and sit waiting to get choice seats together. All they have to do is show up at the last minute and the ushers will accommodate them. Does anyone else have opinions on this?
Thanks for listening. Please write in.
Sherry Roberts
Warsaw
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