Letters to the Editor 02-11-2005
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Building A Little School - School Importance - No Harassment - Views On Soc. Sec.
Building A Little School
Editor, Times-Union:Numerous thoughts have progressed through my mind after returning from a selected task of bringing funds and energy for the construction of a rural elementary school in Honduras. Not only did the task and time provide a growth experience, but a time of spiritual centering as well.
As a group of energetic and creative persons, we came with our "weapons": shovels, a pick-axe, a wheelbarrow, spatulas, cleaning cloths, paint brushes, brooms, mops, school books and supplies. After the completion of the school we gave these weapons to the community for continued constructive uses.
So here I am at home, exhilaration comes as I remember this gift of love shared through the building of this little schoolhouse in Honduras. Then I hear the media announce the loss of life, including innocent women and children in Iraq - a violence perpetrated without reason, projected from a fear and selfish desire, a need for "power." My muscles tighten, nausea spreads through me and so I step to the window for light, as if God's message was written within those rays. Yes, God, where and how do I respond?
Have the perpetrators of this violence not experienced love as expressed and shared in this school-building experience? Or is self-love the way which requires this defensiveness? Does the cost of this little school, roughly $10,000, draw any comparison with the proposed $1.1 billion requested for construction of a new facility for weapons at Oak Ridge, Tenn.?
My God, may I sit before I faint? Or are we on our way to build another little school?
Rev. Dr. Velma M. Shearer
North Manchester
via e-mail
School Importance
Editor, Times-Union:Our newly elected Warsaw Community School board is in place, now that the special election is over. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each elected member for deciding to run and serve as a school board member. The previous school board dealt with some very serious issues regarding our school system.
I foresee the current one grappling with more serious issues, one of them being financing from the state of Indiana. Our new governor has frozen educational spending and if I am reading the news correctly, every school district in the state will be making cuts almost immediately to try to stay within their current budget.
Our school system has already made many cuts to achieve the balanced budget in place. But it would seem that given the current situation with state finances that even more cutbacks and/or reductions will be necessary, not only for WCS, but for each and every school corporation in the state of Indiana.
I would like to encourage everyone to attend the next WCS board meeting. It is important for everyone to review the agenda and direction the new board is proposing. Whether you have children currently in the system or not, the proposals will not only affect the education opportunities for current students but also for future generations of WCS students.
Laura Wagner
Warsaw
via e-mail
No Harassment
Editor, Times-Union:I fail to see how I was harassing Mr. Kitson, when you consider: He personally addressed me in his letter, asking for a response; my letter that he replied to had nothing to do with him at all, it was about the "hunting preserve."
I failed to see the point of his letter, but nonetheless felt compelled to write as it was a subtle jab at me, despite my opinion that this isn't really suited for a public forum.
I don't harass Mr. Kitson any more than he harasses me or other writers in this space. I respect his opinion, but have entirely different views. I assume he thinks likewise. I also feel I have a right to voice my opinion in the Times-Union because: I lived around Warsaw for 22 years of my life, and have fond memories of growing up there; most of my family is still living there; I can express my views to any newspaper in the nation, regardless of your disapproval. It's called the First Amendment.
My job has nothing to do with my opinions expressed in this newspaper, so why would I write about it? Should I slip in the fact that I've worked for three of the nation's biggest 35 newspapers as well as a stint at the world's largest news service? I'm proud of what I've accomplished and the opportunities it's allowed me, but how does that relate to my views on canned hunting?
What is the point of your letter, except maybe to -wait, oh no -harass me? Don't worry though, it doesn't bother me, much like I'm sure it doesn't bother Mr. Kitson - we're both big boys who can deal with differing opinions.
Anyone who writes a letter in a public space should expect a response, and I will continue to express my opinions as I feel the need.
FYI, my social life is killer. I mean, you asked, right?
And what's really "sad" is your apparently frail grasp of the English language, evidenced when you commend Mr. Kitson with "... I hope people never quit harassing you ..."
Do you even read what you write before clicking the "send" button? (Quick lesson: That was a rhetorical question, which if you were to look it up, means that it's not supposed to be answered.)
Matt Perry
San Diego, Calif.
via e-mail
Views On Soc. Sec.
Editor, Times-Union:I believe two articles are "must reads" regarding Social Security. First, Cynthia Tucker's column in the Times-Union of Feb.8, "Campaign Against Social Security Is Full Of Falsehoods." Second, Time Magazine's Feb. 14 issue, page 38, titled "Social Security, the 4 Percent Solution." I must admit while reading Cynthia Tucker's article, I think I heard Don Guard yelling out "Way to go, Georgie Boy!" And that's fine ..., we all have our own views.
D.G. Lundgren
Warsaw
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- Building A Little School - School Importance - No Harassment - Views On Soc. Sec.
Building A Little School
Editor, Times-Union:Numerous thoughts have progressed through my mind after returning from a selected task of bringing funds and energy for the construction of a rural elementary school in Honduras. Not only did the task and time provide a growth experience, but a time of spiritual centering as well.
As a group of energetic and creative persons, we came with our "weapons": shovels, a pick-axe, a wheelbarrow, spatulas, cleaning cloths, paint brushes, brooms, mops, school books and supplies. After the completion of the school we gave these weapons to the community for continued constructive uses.
So here I am at home, exhilaration comes as I remember this gift of love shared through the building of this little schoolhouse in Honduras. Then I hear the media announce the loss of life, including innocent women and children in Iraq - a violence perpetrated without reason, projected from a fear and selfish desire, a need for "power." My muscles tighten, nausea spreads through me and so I step to the window for light, as if God's message was written within those rays. Yes, God, where and how do I respond?
Have the perpetrators of this violence not experienced love as expressed and shared in this school-building experience? Or is self-love the way which requires this defensiveness? Does the cost of this little school, roughly $10,000, draw any comparison with the proposed $1.1 billion requested for construction of a new facility for weapons at Oak Ridge, Tenn.?
My God, may I sit before I faint? Or are we on our way to build another little school?
Rev. Dr. Velma M. Shearer
North Manchester
via e-mail
School Importance
Editor, Times-Union:Our newly elected Warsaw Community School board is in place, now that the special election is over. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each elected member for deciding to run and serve as a school board member. The previous school board dealt with some very serious issues regarding our school system.
I foresee the current one grappling with more serious issues, one of them being financing from the state of Indiana. Our new governor has frozen educational spending and if I am reading the news correctly, every school district in the state will be making cuts almost immediately to try to stay within their current budget.
Our school system has already made many cuts to achieve the balanced budget in place. But it would seem that given the current situation with state finances that even more cutbacks and/or reductions will be necessary, not only for WCS, but for each and every school corporation in the state of Indiana.
I would like to encourage everyone to attend the next WCS board meeting. It is important for everyone to review the agenda and direction the new board is proposing. Whether you have children currently in the system or not, the proposals will not only affect the education opportunities for current students but also for future generations of WCS students.
Laura Wagner
Warsaw
via e-mail
No Harassment
Editor, Times-Union:I fail to see how I was harassing Mr. Kitson, when you consider: He personally addressed me in his letter, asking for a response; my letter that he replied to had nothing to do with him at all, it was about the "hunting preserve."
I failed to see the point of his letter, but nonetheless felt compelled to write as it was a subtle jab at me, despite my opinion that this isn't really suited for a public forum.
I don't harass Mr. Kitson any more than he harasses me or other writers in this space. I respect his opinion, but have entirely different views. I assume he thinks likewise. I also feel I have a right to voice my opinion in the Times-Union because: I lived around Warsaw for 22 years of my life, and have fond memories of growing up there; most of my family is still living there; I can express my views to any newspaper in the nation, regardless of your disapproval. It's called the First Amendment.
My job has nothing to do with my opinions expressed in this newspaper, so why would I write about it? Should I slip in the fact that I've worked for three of the nation's biggest 35 newspapers as well as a stint at the world's largest news service? I'm proud of what I've accomplished and the opportunities it's allowed me, but how does that relate to my views on canned hunting?
What is the point of your letter, except maybe to -wait, oh no -harass me? Don't worry though, it doesn't bother me, much like I'm sure it doesn't bother Mr. Kitson - we're both big boys who can deal with differing opinions.
Anyone who writes a letter in a public space should expect a response, and I will continue to express my opinions as I feel the need.
FYI, my social life is killer. I mean, you asked, right?
And what's really "sad" is your apparently frail grasp of the English language, evidenced when you commend Mr. Kitson with "... I hope people never quit harassing you ..."
Do you even read what you write before clicking the "send" button? (Quick lesson: That was a rhetorical question, which if you were to look it up, means that it's not supposed to be answered.)
Matt Perry
San Diego, Calif.
via e-mail
Views On Soc. Sec.
Editor, Times-Union:I believe two articles are "must reads" regarding Social Security. First, Cynthia Tucker's column in the Times-Union of Feb.8, "Campaign Against Social Security Is Full Of Falsehoods." Second, Time Magazine's Feb. 14 issue, page 38, titled "Social Security, the 4 Percent Solution." I must admit while reading Cynthia Tucker's article, I think I heard Don Guard yelling out "Way to go, Georgie Boy!" And that's fine ..., we all have our own views.
D.G. Lundgren
Warsaw
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