Letters to the Editor 03-14-2005
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Wasteful Development - Echoes - Capital Punishment - Christians
Wasteful Development
Editor, Times-Union:When I was younger, I spent a great deal of time exploring little patches of paradise in a field near my home - occasionally knee deep in warm water teeming with more critters than I could notice in a lifetime. These small wetlands will be forever disturbed (along with the creatures, including the bald eagles neighbors have witnessed) as yet another piece of our farmland (and the animals it supports) is slaughtered in favor of pavement and spacious, wasteful homes. Our destination is a mystery to me. What will we do when we have allowed all of our land to become a speckled sweep of homes and streets? After speaking with one of the developers, Ken Millwood of Millwood Homes, it is painfully clear that many people do not understand (or respect) the intricate web of life on this planet - a balance we are so eager to upset. We need this land. This land needs us! The county commissioners assert that we need a good reason to stop the destruction - what better reason could there be than to protect the ground and the animals and plants it sustains? To protect ourselves? NOBODY "owns" this land - this Earth - we must start fighting for its survival. Please attend the next commissioners meeting (April 6) at 9 a.m. on the third floor of the Kosciusko County courthouse. This meeting will give final permission for Millwood homes to begin their destruction. Our gravest ills do not emanate from what nature bestows upon us but by what we bestow upon nature!
Carrie Ciula
Former resident
Bloomington
via e-mail
Echoes
Editor, Times-Union:I've noticed how certain representatives have taken to "echoing." Rep. Chocola has used "resolve," and now Gov. Daniels has taken "car-bombing" to a new level (lower). The "car-bombed" statement is Daniels' way of 1) insulting Democrats, and 2) creating fear for Bush's agenda. And speaking of such, did you catch the dig about Canadian drugs on Medical Investigation a couple weeks ago?
When several of our presidents and vice presidents found ways to stay out of Vietnam, I did not like it. But I agreed that they did it within our laws. So what's to say? I cannot find any reason or law that the Democrats violated by NOT voting for something that the governor wanted. First, Daniels is like Bush by wanting everything his way and not leaving much room for anyone to disagree. Daniels, as an economy adviser, didn't do much for our nation. Why would we think that he would do anything for Indiana? Daniels was/is a "Bushman." We must recognize that fact while we live with it.
When Daniels said he would cut the "pork," I figured he meant it. Now I see that may not be totally true. Why not start with our state representatives opulent saving plan? Why do our taxes pay for operating RV2? After all, isn't that one unnecessary item that only satisfies one ego? Same-o, same-o! Politics as usual.
M. Tapp
Warsaw
Capital Punishment
Editor, Times-Union:Recently the Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty should not be applied to minors or the mentally handicapped. This is a sad, sad ruling. Capital crimes, such as murder, will dramatically rise for minors.
These "minors" who commit murder now know the maximum punishment they will receive is three square meals a day, cable TV, library resources and all of the amenities to sustain a relatively comfortable existence without having to work. Local home grown terrorists, also known as gang leaders, will "hire" minors to do their dirty work, much like the Muslim terrorist cowards who prey on the young to blow themselves up for their cause.
The Bible is explicit as how to deal with murderers, put them to death. The Bible speaks of how the Earth cries out to God for the revenge of innocent blood being spilt and justice not being served. Since we, as finite beings, feel we are smarter than the infinite God, we feel as though we can subvert the commandments of God and not suffer any consequences. If God commands us not to kill and we do, there must be a punishment. God states that a murderer must be put to death. If we do not put the murderer to death, we are held in contempt in the eyes of the innocent and God. If we refuse to obey God's laws of justice, when another person commits murder, assuming that his only punishment will be time in jail, then the blood of the innocent is on us. If we neglect to obey the rules, the collateral damage is our own fault. It is our duty as a society to defend the defenseless in righting that which was wronged. The victims cry from the grave that justice be served and we "wash our hands" of the ordeal.
We are now seeing the results in our children of what happens when you attempt to teach morals without the Bible. The courts took prayer out of the schools in the early 1960s. Public schools teach the religion of the theory of evolution as fact which propagates the theory that morality is acquired by socially agreed upon values rather than by God. In other words, if evolution is how we came in to being, there is no basis for morals, there are no absolutes, no right or wrong. We are merely animals and animals have no reason for morals. Do we tell our cats and dogs, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt honor thy parents, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's catnip, blah blah blah.
Theodore Roosevelt had it right when he said, "Mere education without divine guidance is like handing a gun to an irresponsible man" and "To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society." We are reaping what we sow.
Dr. Steven A. Hite
Syracuse
via e-mail
Christians
Editor, Times-Union:The recent reading of a book made me cringe! I recognize that I am a part of a present Christian church problem. It is brought on when the author asked of himself and me, "Why don't sinners like being around us?"
Jesus seemed to draw the unsavory characters to himself. Think of this, fellow Christians, he found an intense listener in a Samaritan woman who had had five husbands, and was now living with another man. Then there was Zaccheus, a despised tax collector, who overcharged his own people in favor of their enemy. Mary Magdalene was much like the Samaritan woman. Cornelius, an enemy soldier, had a son who needed help or the boy would die. They all were drawn to and listened to Jesus eagerly.
We, fellow Christians draw mainly respectable people when we draw anyone. Are we like the Pharisees who didn't like Jesus? They thought him an uncouth rebel who didn't do things the way they knew God wanted religion done. When a rich young man asked Jesus what else he needed to do, the answer from Jesus was unsatisfactory, and he walked away from Jesus, who was sad because he had invited the young man to become his follower. We would surely have liked to have that rich young man in our church, wouldn't we? Would we have been more careful than Jesus, to get him in our church? Why are we different than Jesus to those all about us who need him?
When a loving father has a sick child, he will do anything to help him or her to get well. This is what God did for you and me and the other sinners: rich or poor, with homes or homeless, honest or not, pure or impure. God sent Jesus, His Son, Who gave us His Word. Then obedient to his father's will, but denying his human anguish, Jesus went to that terrible cross, so that he could save us all from our sins. Let's admit to being sinners and needing what he did for us there. Let's not be today's Pharisees, so we can thank God and be forgiven, and be obedient to his will to all people. God help us, amen!
C.L. Hendrix
Winona Lake
via e-mail
[[In-content Ad]]
- Wasteful Development - Echoes - Capital Punishment - Christians
Wasteful Development
Editor, Times-Union:When I was younger, I spent a great deal of time exploring little patches of paradise in a field near my home - occasionally knee deep in warm water teeming with more critters than I could notice in a lifetime. These small wetlands will be forever disturbed (along with the creatures, including the bald eagles neighbors have witnessed) as yet another piece of our farmland (and the animals it supports) is slaughtered in favor of pavement and spacious, wasteful homes. Our destination is a mystery to me. What will we do when we have allowed all of our land to become a speckled sweep of homes and streets? After speaking with one of the developers, Ken Millwood of Millwood Homes, it is painfully clear that many people do not understand (or respect) the intricate web of life on this planet - a balance we are so eager to upset. We need this land. This land needs us! The county commissioners assert that we need a good reason to stop the destruction - what better reason could there be than to protect the ground and the animals and plants it sustains? To protect ourselves? NOBODY "owns" this land - this Earth - we must start fighting for its survival. Please attend the next commissioners meeting (April 6) at 9 a.m. on the third floor of the Kosciusko County courthouse. This meeting will give final permission for Millwood homes to begin their destruction. Our gravest ills do not emanate from what nature bestows upon us but by what we bestow upon nature!
Carrie Ciula
Former resident
Bloomington
via e-mail
Echoes
Editor, Times-Union:I've noticed how certain representatives have taken to "echoing." Rep. Chocola has used "resolve," and now Gov. Daniels has taken "car-bombing" to a new level (lower). The "car-bombed" statement is Daniels' way of 1) insulting Democrats, and 2) creating fear for Bush's agenda. And speaking of such, did you catch the dig about Canadian drugs on Medical Investigation a couple weeks ago?
When several of our presidents and vice presidents found ways to stay out of Vietnam, I did not like it. But I agreed that they did it within our laws. So what's to say? I cannot find any reason or law that the Democrats violated by NOT voting for something that the governor wanted. First, Daniels is like Bush by wanting everything his way and not leaving much room for anyone to disagree. Daniels, as an economy adviser, didn't do much for our nation. Why would we think that he would do anything for Indiana? Daniels was/is a "Bushman." We must recognize that fact while we live with it.
When Daniels said he would cut the "pork," I figured he meant it. Now I see that may not be totally true. Why not start with our state representatives opulent saving plan? Why do our taxes pay for operating RV2? After all, isn't that one unnecessary item that only satisfies one ego? Same-o, same-o! Politics as usual.
M. Tapp
Warsaw
Capital Punishment
Editor, Times-Union:Recently the Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty should not be applied to minors or the mentally handicapped. This is a sad, sad ruling. Capital crimes, such as murder, will dramatically rise for minors.
These "minors" who commit murder now know the maximum punishment they will receive is three square meals a day, cable TV, library resources and all of the amenities to sustain a relatively comfortable existence without having to work. Local home grown terrorists, also known as gang leaders, will "hire" minors to do their dirty work, much like the Muslim terrorist cowards who prey on the young to blow themselves up for their cause.
The Bible is explicit as how to deal with murderers, put them to death. The Bible speaks of how the Earth cries out to God for the revenge of innocent blood being spilt and justice not being served. Since we, as finite beings, feel we are smarter than the infinite God, we feel as though we can subvert the commandments of God and not suffer any consequences. If God commands us not to kill and we do, there must be a punishment. God states that a murderer must be put to death. If we do not put the murderer to death, we are held in contempt in the eyes of the innocent and God. If we refuse to obey God's laws of justice, when another person commits murder, assuming that his only punishment will be time in jail, then the blood of the innocent is on us. If we neglect to obey the rules, the collateral damage is our own fault. It is our duty as a society to defend the defenseless in righting that which was wronged. The victims cry from the grave that justice be served and we "wash our hands" of the ordeal.
We are now seeing the results in our children of what happens when you attempt to teach morals without the Bible. The courts took prayer out of the schools in the early 1960s. Public schools teach the religion of the theory of evolution as fact which propagates the theory that morality is acquired by socially agreed upon values rather than by God. In other words, if evolution is how we came in to being, there is no basis for morals, there are no absolutes, no right or wrong. We are merely animals and animals have no reason for morals. Do we tell our cats and dogs, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt honor thy parents, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's catnip, blah blah blah.
Theodore Roosevelt had it right when he said, "Mere education without divine guidance is like handing a gun to an irresponsible man" and "To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society." We are reaping what we sow.
Dr. Steven A. Hite
Syracuse
via e-mail
Christians
Editor, Times-Union:The recent reading of a book made me cringe! I recognize that I am a part of a present Christian church problem. It is brought on when the author asked of himself and me, "Why don't sinners like being around us?"
Jesus seemed to draw the unsavory characters to himself. Think of this, fellow Christians, he found an intense listener in a Samaritan woman who had had five husbands, and was now living with another man. Then there was Zaccheus, a despised tax collector, who overcharged his own people in favor of their enemy. Mary Magdalene was much like the Samaritan woman. Cornelius, an enemy soldier, had a son who needed help or the boy would die. They all were drawn to and listened to Jesus eagerly.
We, fellow Christians draw mainly respectable people when we draw anyone. Are we like the Pharisees who didn't like Jesus? They thought him an uncouth rebel who didn't do things the way they knew God wanted religion done. When a rich young man asked Jesus what else he needed to do, the answer from Jesus was unsatisfactory, and he walked away from Jesus, who was sad because he had invited the young man to become his follower. We would surely have liked to have that rich young man in our church, wouldn't we? Would we have been more careful than Jesus, to get him in our church? Why are we different than Jesus to those all about us who need him?
When a loving father has a sick child, he will do anything to help him or her to get well. This is what God did for you and me and the other sinners: rich or poor, with homes or homeless, honest or not, pure or impure. God sent Jesus, His Son, Who gave us His Word. Then obedient to his father's will, but denying his human anguish, Jesus went to that terrible cross, so that he could save us all from our sins. Let's admit to being sinners and needing what he did for us there. Let's not be today's Pharisees, so we can thank God and be forgiven, and be obedient to his will to all people. God help us, amen!
C.L. Hendrix
Winona Lake
via e-mail
[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092