Letters to the Editor 02-21-2000
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Apology - Unnatural Acts - Loss Of Benefits - Zach Randolph - Gas Prices
Apology
Editor, Times-Union:Thursday 10, of this month, a very positive freshman orientation took place at the high school. I comment that it was very positive because for the first time, the student body had the opportunity to provide representatives to speak with the eighth-graders. I was one of those representatives.
During that orientation, words left my mouth that were not appropriate for any situation, and especially detrimental to the aforementioned occasion. A very small comfort is that they were not directed toward the students.
Immediately proceeding my tours, I informed the surrounding student council members of my inexcusable mistake, and voiced intentions of attempting to redeem the situation through apologies, etc.
The next morning, Mr. Crousore was blinded by the news as distraught and understandably offended parents called in. One mother felt strongly enough about the issue to write a letter.
My feelings are that my actions were more than wrong, but also shameful and overwhelmingly humbling. Acting as a hypocrite to my own true thoughts and beliefs, I jeopardized the effects of a very positive effort put forth by student council, and I jeopardized the trust that we have been striving so hard to build between ourselves, administration and staff.
I take my job extremely serious, and strive daily to live up to the standards set for me by adults, peers and myself.
It is generally believed that such language is used as a substitute for lack of vocabulary needed to supply an explanation of emotions. I do not possess the right to hide behind this excuse as a basis for my actions.
I had been avoiding confronting many inner issues that I have. This resulted in my inability to maturely judge the situation before I entered it, so that I could have stepped back and said "I am not ready for this."
As with many students in WCHS, I am a very different person now than when I walked into these doors. Childish as it may sound, when I was with those eighth-graders, I allowed myself to neglect all of that growth that had taken place and I became uncomfortable and inappropriate. I felt an immature need to look socially acceptable.
I apologize to those who had faith in me, because I let you down.
I apologize to those who don't know me, because my actions have given you a negative impression.
I apologize to the eighth-graders in my group and the parents of those students. It was not fair of me to subject them to that environment, and give them a negative image of our school.
I kneel down in apology to the student body because you trusted me to represent you fairly, and I failed you. By acting in a questionable manner, I left your standards and ability to be questioned. For this, I am truly sorry. You are worth more, and deserve more than that.
I am proud of the school I attend, the student body that I am a part of and work for, and the job that I have done thus far.
I am willing to use myself as an example and confront the issue in an attempt to succeed in completing a functional solution that will fix the problem. To again struggle, through hard work and cooperation, to clean up this tarnished image that I have produced, and work up to the level of responsibility and maturity that I know I am capable of.
I ask forgiveness, recognizing my faults, and ask that you provide an open mind in order that I may put forth an effort to correct the situation as much as possible.
Maha Ibrahim, junior
WCHS
Unnatural Acts
Editor, Times-Union:I want to comment on the article that come out on Tuesday, Feb. 15, "Unnatural Acts," by Matt Trier. I couldn't agree with him more! I am fortunate enough and wise enough to have a pastor and church that still preach and teach sound doctrine.
The Apostle Paul tells us in II Timothy 4:3-5:
For the Time will come will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
I am not ashamed to be "an old-fashioned, conservative, Bible-believing Christian" that is thought of as an extremist. Yes, we are a minority, and it's good to see there are some Christians still willing to stand on the Rock and not sway from the Truth. I love to see people hunger for God's true Word.
I am proud to stand up and be counted with the Christians still holding to God's Word.
May God bless you for your faith and courage.
Randy Slone
Warsaw
Loss Of Benefits
Editor, Times-Union:Last year in October, my husband worked for a few weeks. Well, he received a letter from the Social Security office that he had made too much and now they are going to take his benefits away. He was never told by Social Security what his limit was a month when working, only by the year.
He has tried very hard the past few months to get a part-time job but, we believe, due to his disability they will not hire him anywhere. He will receive his last check in March from Social Security. Now we may be forced out into the streets because of our beloved government.
Mrs. Deborah Clark
Warsaw
Zach Randolph
Editor, Times-Union:As I have followed the story of Zach Randolph I would like to share an article that ran in Basketball Times concerning basketball recruiting. The writer is Dan Wetzel.
"While giving publicity to a player who has had more than one run-in with the law is not something we should probably be doing - especially with so many underpublicized kids who kept their nose clean out there - we feel compelled to compliment Marion forward Zach Randolph on his season.
"Randolph was thrown off the Marion team a year ago when he was arrested with possession of stolen firearms, his third brush with the law. He wound up serving 28 days in Indiana Juvenile Detention Center for the offense.
"For that, most kids, and adults for that matter, would have shirked responsibility, blamed others and almost certainly bailed on Marion. With a dozen prep schools around the country begging for the services of the talented 6-8 power man, in today's instant gratification society, his options were wide open.
"Instead he stood up like a man, admitted he made a mistake and asked Marion coach Moe Smedley to accept him back on the team.
"'Zach got into trouble last year and he stood up and said, "Yeah, I did it,"' said Smedley. 'He didn't fight it, he didn't look for a loophole to get out of it, he didn't blame it on anyone else. He did it, I'd say, the old school way. He said, "Yeah, I did wrong but I'm got to pay my price and move on."
"'He didn't try to hide it from people,' said Smedley. 'He came out and apologized in the local paper. I'm proud of the way he handled everything.'
"Randolph, who signed early with Michigan State, is intent on keeping his nose clean and making his hometown proud of him. He knows that a Class 4A state title will do just that. As of press time Marion was 15-0 and ranked No. 1 in the state. Randolph is having a huge season, averaging 23.2 points, 15 rebounds, 3.3 blocks and 2.1 steals a game. He's converting 63 percent of his shots and he's no ball hog, he's even found the time to dish 3.1 assists a night. He's a shoo-in for All-American honors and has been named to the Nike Hoop Summit game.
"'The Lord gave me a second chance,' said Randolph. 'I appreciate that and I came back to do the best I can.'"
This was printed in a weekly college sports paper, The Cats PauseÊ of The University Of Kentucky.
I, as an avid sports fan in this area, ask, is the treatment this young man received in our own Tiger Den befitting of our community? I think not.
Gary E. Johnson
via e-mailÊ
Gas Prices
Editor, Times-Union:I'm writing this letter in response to the current gas price explosion. Our states will blame gun manufacturers for crimes committed with guns and then sue them for it. Our states blame tobacco companies for the health problems that they can associate with smoking and then sue them for it. Then when the oil companies start gouging us every time they get a chance, nothing happens.
We have loaned money to third world countries and were supposed to be repaid with oil. We liberated Kuwait from Iraq and they were going to be our friends forever. Forever must have ended with the century. The oil companies jack their prices whenever OPEC sneezes just to profit big time from it. When all these parties involved do this, we common people suffer immensely from it. Small business, including farmers, also suffer. Day to day business is interrupted or stopped. Small businesses go under, fixed income citizens suffer even more. The country can go into a recession because people spend everything they have staying warm and going to work (if their job hasn't been affected by it). And yet our state or federal government won't go after them and sue them. If I personally had done something to disrupt the country like this, the state or federal government would take everything I own, then send me to prison to make an example of me. So my question is this: Why can't we do something about this like suing them?
Bryan Keim
Warsaw
Smaller Government
Editor, Times-Union:
For the last 30 years, more or less, the Democrats and Republicans have given us bigger government, higher taxes, more waste, greater infringement on our Constitutional rights and more intrusion into our private lives than ever before in history. Half of a working person's income is going to government. Your time is your life. Do you think they will be satisfied with 60 percent of your time, life, effort, freedom? 10 percent, 20 percent, 30 percent, 40 percent, didn't satisfy them. Why should 50 percent? How much of your life are you going to let them rob you of before you get the guts to stand up and say "This is my life you are taking!"
Most of the time it seems as though being vocal against the increasing dominance of government in our lives is like whipping a dead horse. People will usually agree that taxes are too high but they are either too busy trying to survive or they don't believe they can do anything about it. I think there is an even more serious reason why people don't try to do something about big government. I believe that a lot of people think government will not let things get too bad. This, I believe, is the most serious misconception of all because it causes people to sit back and do nothing while government takes over more and more of their lives. Do people really believe that the same people who can't seem to make anything work without taking more of your income will be able to solve the problems when they finally go too far? I'm telling you that not only will they not be able to help you, they will blame you for the problems because you refused to give them more. I see this happening right now with EDIT.
Millions and millions of dollars are being spent on new jails in counties all around Kosciusko County. Please tell the hard-working taxpayer one more time why he can't live without a new jail.
As a Libertarian, I wish the Libertarian philosophy prevailed in our government today. I believe there are millions of Americans who share the Libertarian philosophy but they have, as yet, not connected it to the Libertarian Party. Join us now before it's too late to make a difference.
Charles Carnes
Libertarian Party
Kosciusko County
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E-Editions
- Apology - Unnatural Acts - Loss Of Benefits - Zach Randolph - Gas Prices
Apology
Editor, Times-Union:Thursday 10, of this month, a very positive freshman orientation took place at the high school. I comment that it was very positive because for the first time, the student body had the opportunity to provide representatives to speak with the eighth-graders. I was one of those representatives.
During that orientation, words left my mouth that were not appropriate for any situation, and especially detrimental to the aforementioned occasion. A very small comfort is that they were not directed toward the students.
Immediately proceeding my tours, I informed the surrounding student council members of my inexcusable mistake, and voiced intentions of attempting to redeem the situation through apologies, etc.
The next morning, Mr. Crousore was blinded by the news as distraught and understandably offended parents called in. One mother felt strongly enough about the issue to write a letter.
My feelings are that my actions were more than wrong, but also shameful and overwhelmingly humbling. Acting as a hypocrite to my own true thoughts and beliefs, I jeopardized the effects of a very positive effort put forth by student council, and I jeopardized the trust that we have been striving so hard to build between ourselves, administration and staff.
I take my job extremely serious, and strive daily to live up to the standards set for me by adults, peers and myself.
It is generally believed that such language is used as a substitute for lack of vocabulary needed to supply an explanation of emotions. I do not possess the right to hide behind this excuse as a basis for my actions.
I had been avoiding confronting many inner issues that I have. This resulted in my inability to maturely judge the situation before I entered it, so that I could have stepped back and said "I am not ready for this."
As with many students in WCHS, I am a very different person now than when I walked into these doors. Childish as it may sound, when I was with those eighth-graders, I allowed myself to neglect all of that growth that had taken place and I became uncomfortable and inappropriate. I felt an immature need to look socially acceptable.
I apologize to those who had faith in me, because I let you down.
I apologize to those who don't know me, because my actions have given you a negative impression.
I apologize to the eighth-graders in my group and the parents of those students. It was not fair of me to subject them to that environment, and give them a negative image of our school.
I kneel down in apology to the student body because you trusted me to represent you fairly, and I failed you. By acting in a questionable manner, I left your standards and ability to be questioned. For this, I am truly sorry. You are worth more, and deserve more than that.
I am proud of the school I attend, the student body that I am a part of and work for, and the job that I have done thus far.
I am willing to use myself as an example and confront the issue in an attempt to succeed in completing a functional solution that will fix the problem. To again struggle, through hard work and cooperation, to clean up this tarnished image that I have produced, and work up to the level of responsibility and maturity that I know I am capable of.
I ask forgiveness, recognizing my faults, and ask that you provide an open mind in order that I may put forth an effort to correct the situation as much as possible.
Maha Ibrahim, junior
WCHS
Unnatural Acts
Editor, Times-Union:I want to comment on the article that come out on Tuesday, Feb. 15, "Unnatural Acts," by Matt Trier. I couldn't agree with him more! I am fortunate enough and wise enough to have a pastor and church that still preach and teach sound doctrine.
The Apostle Paul tells us in II Timothy 4:3-5:
For the Time will come will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
I am not ashamed to be "an old-fashioned, conservative, Bible-believing Christian" that is thought of as an extremist. Yes, we are a minority, and it's good to see there are some Christians still willing to stand on the Rock and not sway from the Truth. I love to see people hunger for God's true Word.
I am proud to stand up and be counted with the Christians still holding to God's Word.
May God bless you for your faith and courage.
Randy Slone
Warsaw
Loss Of Benefits
Editor, Times-Union:Last year in October, my husband worked for a few weeks. Well, he received a letter from the Social Security office that he had made too much and now they are going to take his benefits away. He was never told by Social Security what his limit was a month when working, only by the year.
He has tried very hard the past few months to get a part-time job but, we believe, due to his disability they will not hire him anywhere. He will receive his last check in March from Social Security. Now we may be forced out into the streets because of our beloved government.
Mrs. Deborah Clark
Warsaw
Zach Randolph
Editor, Times-Union:As I have followed the story of Zach Randolph I would like to share an article that ran in Basketball Times concerning basketball recruiting. The writer is Dan Wetzel.
"While giving publicity to a player who has had more than one run-in with the law is not something we should probably be doing - especially with so many underpublicized kids who kept their nose clean out there - we feel compelled to compliment Marion forward Zach Randolph on his season.
"Randolph was thrown off the Marion team a year ago when he was arrested with possession of stolen firearms, his third brush with the law. He wound up serving 28 days in Indiana Juvenile Detention Center for the offense.
"For that, most kids, and adults for that matter, would have shirked responsibility, blamed others and almost certainly bailed on Marion. With a dozen prep schools around the country begging for the services of the talented 6-8 power man, in today's instant gratification society, his options were wide open.
"Instead he stood up like a man, admitted he made a mistake and asked Marion coach Moe Smedley to accept him back on the team.
"'Zach got into trouble last year and he stood up and said, "Yeah, I did it,"' said Smedley. 'He didn't fight it, he didn't look for a loophole to get out of it, he didn't blame it on anyone else. He did it, I'd say, the old school way. He said, "Yeah, I did wrong but I'm got to pay my price and move on."
"'He didn't try to hide it from people,' said Smedley. 'He came out and apologized in the local paper. I'm proud of the way he handled everything.'
"Randolph, who signed early with Michigan State, is intent on keeping his nose clean and making his hometown proud of him. He knows that a Class 4A state title will do just that. As of press time Marion was 15-0 and ranked No. 1 in the state. Randolph is having a huge season, averaging 23.2 points, 15 rebounds, 3.3 blocks and 2.1 steals a game. He's converting 63 percent of his shots and he's no ball hog, he's even found the time to dish 3.1 assists a night. He's a shoo-in for All-American honors and has been named to the Nike Hoop Summit game.
"'The Lord gave me a second chance,' said Randolph. 'I appreciate that and I came back to do the best I can.'"
This was printed in a weekly college sports paper, The Cats PauseÊ of The University Of Kentucky.
I, as an avid sports fan in this area, ask, is the treatment this young man received in our own Tiger Den befitting of our community? I think not.
Gary E. Johnson
via e-mailÊ
Gas Prices
Editor, Times-Union:I'm writing this letter in response to the current gas price explosion. Our states will blame gun manufacturers for crimes committed with guns and then sue them for it. Our states blame tobacco companies for the health problems that they can associate with smoking and then sue them for it. Then when the oil companies start gouging us every time they get a chance, nothing happens.
We have loaned money to third world countries and were supposed to be repaid with oil. We liberated Kuwait from Iraq and they were going to be our friends forever. Forever must have ended with the century. The oil companies jack their prices whenever OPEC sneezes just to profit big time from it. When all these parties involved do this, we common people suffer immensely from it. Small business, including farmers, also suffer. Day to day business is interrupted or stopped. Small businesses go under, fixed income citizens suffer even more. The country can go into a recession because people spend everything they have staying warm and going to work (if their job hasn't been affected by it). And yet our state or federal government won't go after them and sue them. If I personally had done something to disrupt the country like this, the state or federal government would take everything I own, then send me to prison to make an example of me. So my question is this: Why can't we do something about this like suing them?
Bryan Keim
Warsaw
Smaller Government
Editor, Times-Union:
For the last 30 years, more or less, the Democrats and Republicans have given us bigger government, higher taxes, more waste, greater infringement on our Constitutional rights and more intrusion into our private lives than ever before in history. Half of a working person's income is going to government. Your time is your life. Do you think they will be satisfied with 60 percent of your time, life, effort, freedom? 10 percent, 20 percent, 30 percent, 40 percent, didn't satisfy them. Why should 50 percent? How much of your life are you going to let them rob you of before you get the guts to stand up and say "This is my life you are taking!"
Most of the time it seems as though being vocal against the increasing dominance of government in our lives is like whipping a dead horse. People will usually agree that taxes are too high but they are either too busy trying to survive or they don't believe they can do anything about it. I think there is an even more serious reason why people don't try to do something about big government. I believe that a lot of people think government will not let things get too bad. This, I believe, is the most serious misconception of all because it causes people to sit back and do nothing while government takes over more and more of their lives. Do people really believe that the same people who can't seem to make anything work without taking more of your income will be able to solve the problems when they finally go too far? I'm telling you that not only will they not be able to help you, they will blame you for the problems because you refused to give them more. I see this happening right now with EDIT.
Millions and millions of dollars are being spent on new jails in counties all around Kosciusko County. Please tell the hard-working taxpayer one more time why he can't live without a new jail.
As a Libertarian, I wish the Libertarian philosophy prevailed in our government today. I believe there are millions of Americans who share the Libertarian philosophy but they have, as yet, not connected it to the Libertarian Party. Join us now before it's too late to make a difference.
Charles Carnes
Libertarian Party
Kosciusko County
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