Letters to the Editor 04-06-2006
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Don't Drink And Drive - Webster School Debt - Ferguson Raceway - Gay Libbers - Sympathy For A Soldier
Don't Drink And Drive
Editor, Times-Union:This letter is to everyone young, old, black, white, rich and poor. I want to address the effects of alcohol that helped me get put in prison.
I say helped because I knew that I shouldn't drink and drive, but due to the consumption of alcohol, I made a very poor choice on the night of July 8, 2005. That night I lost a very good friend of mine. As a matter of fact, I was at his side when he took his last few breaths of life. I do not ever want to to see or hear the things I did that night. It will haunt me for the rest of my life.
Everyone who is reading this knows of someone who has drank and got behind the wheel. I beg you, the readers, to stand up and do whatever it takes to keep anyone from drinking and driving. They might tell you that they aren't "really drunk" or that they "will be OK, I live just down the road." They may not make it home to their family.
I would give or do anything to have my friend back. Prison is not the worst part of my life right now. All the nightmares and sleepless nights aren't either. Neither is not seeing my 3-year-old son or him asking me when I'm going to come home and play with him. No, the worst is not having my friend and knowing my actions took him from his family. To this day I have nightmares and lay in my bunk and cry. I will never forget what happened that night.
I beg everyone to be responsible and to help others do the same. Before you get behind the wheel after drinking, stop and think of what can happen. Think of your kids, your brothers and sisters, mom and dad and how they would feel without you. Or how you would feel knowing you caused another innocent human being to die. You can't re-do or give life back. You can't take away the pain or the thoughts, but you can take away the keys. Please!
If I am lucky I hope to see my friend in heaven when I get there. If I'm lucky. I write this thinking of my friend and hope he knows I miss him and I hope this letter saves lives. I ask again. Please don't drink and drive.
Jonathon Byrer
Bunker Hill
Webster School Debt
Editor, Times-Union:As one drives through northern Kosciusko County, one cannot help but notice the brand new elementary school in North Webster. It is a beautiful building on many acres on the outskirts of town. Although, did the town of North Webster and the county of Kosciusko really need this new elementary school? Did we need to go millions of dollars in debt when we already had a sufficient building and the school corporation was already in debt from another school building project? Sure, the old school building was getting old and was not the most attractive building in town. But whatever happened to remolding and repair? Parts of the old building have recently been remolded for other uses, for fractions of the cost of the new elementary. At least the old building is being put to good use.
I just think that the school corporation could have done things differently. They could have waited until the previous debt was paid off before taking on an even bigger debt. We see how the old building has been partly remolded. So I think they could have done some remolding to the old building and saved a couple million. The new building has also raised taxes for locals.
Debt has become a very common thing among our society and our nation. What does this teach the children in these very schools about managing their money? In the Bible it says in Romans 13:8a: "Let no debt remain outstanding." I believe that the school corporation needs to pay off their debts as soon as possible, especially if they consider taking on another building project. I think that the school corporation could set a great example to others by taking care of their debt.
David Slabaugh, via e-mail
Syracuse
Ferguson Raceway
Editor, Times-Union:My first excitement over speed and power was when I was 7 years old living on Scott Street, right next to the railroad. What a thrill to watch a giant locomotive roar by at 80 miles an hour. Later, my thrills got better at the Indianapolis time trials. At the same time, the jalopy races thrilled me at the fairgrounds. Much later came the Long Beach, Calif., grand prix.
Finally, however, I have come full circle to the most exciting sight of all. South Ferguson Road in the morning and evening. This race puts them all to shame. All shapes, sizes and horsepower careening around every curve for at least two miles. Don't forget the 18 wheelers!
What a thrill. I have a front-row seat and don't even need to get out of bed since my closed circuit cameras put the race right on my big screen.
I have an idea and called the governor about it. I know a wealthy Arab who wants to lease the road and turn it into a real international speedway. With that money we could repair all the other roads around the county. Unfortunately, the governor wasn't in.
Or we could tax the people who employ all those race car drivers to keep the road up. All I want is the concession on wrecked car auto parts and the empty beer can profits. But I also want to wave the checkered flag on that last curve for those that make it that far.
Tom Metzger, via e-mail
Warsaw
Gay Libbers
Editor, Times-Union:If the gay libbers aren't trying to ban the Bible as hate literature, then they are trying to twist it to fit their political agenda.
Three alleged gay couples - Ruth and Naomi, David and Jonathan, and the Centurion and his servant - are cited as proof that the Bile condones homosexuality. But is there any proof these couples are gay and even if there was, would the gay libbers still endorse their conduct? Nothing in the Bible indicated any of these people were gay. C.S. Lewis decried, "The theory that every firm and serious friendship is really homosexual ... And this, though it can not be proved, can never, of course, be refuted. The fact that no positive evidence of homosexuality can be discovered in the behavior of the two friends does not disconcert the wiseacres at all: that, they say gravely, is just what we should expect. The very lack of evidence is thus treated as evidence. Those who can not conceive friendship as a substantive love but only as a disguise or elaboration of Eros betray the fact that they have never had a friend." (Lewis, "The Four Loves," 90-91).
Some claim Ruth and Naomi were lesbians. But Ruth was married to Naomi's son (Ruth 1:1-5). Would the gay libbers condone a woman having sex with her mother-in-law? Some claim David and Jonathan were gay. But David was married to Jonathan's sister, Michal (I Sam 18:20). Would gay libbers condone a man cheating on his wife with her own brother?
Besides, the Bible clearly says adultery is wrong and it does not become all right just because the two people involved are the same sex.
Another allegedly gay couple is the centurion and his servant (Luke 7:1-10). The gay libbers claim that Jesus condoned their relationship by healing the servant. But would the gay libbers condone a man having sex with a boy? Would they condone a master having sex with a slave, a person with no rights and in no position to give or refuse consent. The gay libbers assure us they can read between the lines, when they obviously can't read the lines.
Pro- and anti-gay activists have one thing in common - they see homosexuals everywhere.
Yours,
William M. Kelly
Warsaw
Sympathy For A Soldier
Editor, Times-Union:I had the card. I had the obituary in front of me. Several survivors were listed as being from Warsaw, but I could not find any addresses in the phone directory. It occurred to me that I could take this method to express my condolences with more empathy than most concerning the death of Staff Sgt. Brock Alan Beery in Iraq.
So to all of the relatives and people that were close to SS Beery, I extend my heartfelt sympathy.
You see, I/we lost my son, Second Lt. Michael O'Connell in late October 1969 in far-away Vietnam. My consolation is not to question "Why?," but thinking, if dying at the age of 22 had to happen, thank goodness he died a hero fighting a war for his countrymen.
I hope you may all hold onto that thought.
Lila O'Connell, via e-mail
Pierceton
[[In-content Ad]]
Latest News
E-Editions
- Don't Drink And Drive - Webster School Debt - Ferguson Raceway - Gay Libbers - Sympathy For A Soldier
Don't Drink And Drive
Editor, Times-Union:This letter is to everyone young, old, black, white, rich and poor. I want to address the effects of alcohol that helped me get put in prison.
I say helped because I knew that I shouldn't drink and drive, but due to the consumption of alcohol, I made a very poor choice on the night of July 8, 2005. That night I lost a very good friend of mine. As a matter of fact, I was at his side when he took his last few breaths of life. I do not ever want to to see or hear the things I did that night. It will haunt me for the rest of my life.
Everyone who is reading this knows of someone who has drank and got behind the wheel. I beg you, the readers, to stand up and do whatever it takes to keep anyone from drinking and driving. They might tell you that they aren't "really drunk" or that they "will be OK, I live just down the road." They may not make it home to their family.
I would give or do anything to have my friend back. Prison is not the worst part of my life right now. All the nightmares and sleepless nights aren't either. Neither is not seeing my 3-year-old son or him asking me when I'm going to come home and play with him. No, the worst is not having my friend and knowing my actions took him from his family. To this day I have nightmares and lay in my bunk and cry. I will never forget what happened that night.
I beg everyone to be responsible and to help others do the same. Before you get behind the wheel after drinking, stop and think of what can happen. Think of your kids, your brothers and sisters, mom and dad and how they would feel without you. Or how you would feel knowing you caused another innocent human being to die. You can't re-do or give life back. You can't take away the pain or the thoughts, but you can take away the keys. Please!
If I am lucky I hope to see my friend in heaven when I get there. If I'm lucky. I write this thinking of my friend and hope he knows I miss him and I hope this letter saves lives. I ask again. Please don't drink and drive.
Jonathon Byrer
Bunker Hill
Webster School Debt
Editor, Times-Union:As one drives through northern Kosciusko County, one cannot help but notice the brand new elementary school in North Webster. It is a beautiful building on many acres on the outskirts of town. Although, did the town of North Webster and the county of Kosciusko really need this new elementary school? Did we need to go millions of dollars in debt when we already had a sufficient building and the school corporation was already in debt from another school building project? Sure, the old school building was getting old and was not the most attractive building in town. But whatever happened to remolding and repair? Parts of the old building have recently been remolded for other uses, for fractions of the cost of the new elementary. At least the old building is being put to good use.
I just think that the school corporation could have done things differently. They could have waited until the previous debt was paid off before taking on an even bigger debt. We see how the old building has been partly remolded. So I think they could have done some remolding to the old building and saved a couple million. The new building has also raised taxes for locals.
Debt has become a very common thing among our society and our nation. What does this teach the children in these very schools about managing their money? In the Bible it says in Romans 13:8a: "Let no debt remain outstanding." I believe that the school corporation needs to pay off their debts as soon as possible, especially if they consider taking on another building project. I think that the school corporation could set a great example to others by taking care of their debt.
David Slabaugh, via e-mail
Syracuse
Ferguson Raceway
Editor, Times-Union:My first excitement over speed and power was when I was 7 years old living on Scott Street, right next to the railroad. What a thrill to watch a giant locomotive roar by at 80 miles an hour. Later, my thrills got better at the Indianapolis time trials. At the same time, the jalopy races thrilled me at the fairgrounds. Much later came the Long Beach, Calif., grand prix.
Finally, however, I have come full circle to the most exciting sight of all. South Ferguson Road in the morning and evening. This race puts them all to shame. All shapes, sizes and horsepower careening around every curve for at least two miles. Don't forget the 18 wheelers!
What a thrill. I have a front-row seat and don't even need to get out of bed since my closed circuit cameras put the race right on my big screen.
I have an idea and called the governor about it. I know a wealthy Arab who wants to lease the road and turn it into a real international speedway. With that money we could repair all the other roads around the county. Unfortunately, the governor wasn't in.
Or we could tax the people who employ all those race car drivers to keep the road up. All I want is the concession on wrecked car auto parts and the empty beer can profits. But I also want to wave the checkered flag on that last curve for those that make it that far.
Tom Metzger, via e-mail
Warsaw
Gay Libbers
Editor, Times-Union:If the gay libbers aren't trying to ban the Bible as hate literature, then they are trying to twist it to fit their political agenda.
Three alleged gay couples - Ruth and Naomi, David and Jonathan, and the Centurion and his servant - are cited as proof that the Bile condones homosexuality. But is there any proof these couples are gay and even if there was, would the gay libbers still endorse their conduct? Nothing in the Bible indicated any of these people were gay. C.S. Lewis decried, "The theory that every firm and serious friendship is really homosexual ... And this, though it can not be proved, can never, of course, be refuted. The fact that no positive evidence of homosexuality can be discovered in the behavior of the two friends does not disconcert the wiseacres at all: that, they say gravely, is just what we should expect. The very lack of evidence is thus treated as evidence. Those who can not conceive friendship as a substantive love but only as a disguise or elaboration of Eros betray the fact that they have never had a friend." (Lewis, "The Four Loves," 90-91).
Some claim Ruth and Naomi were lesbians. But Ruth was married to Naomi's son (Ruth 1:1-5). Would the gay libbers condone a woman having sex with her mother-in-law? Some claim David and Jonathan were gay. But David was married to Jonathan's sister, Michal (I Sam 18:20). Would gay libbers condone a man cheating on his wife with her own brother?
Besides, the Bible clearly says adultery is wrong and it does not become all right just because the two people involved are the same sex.
Another allegedly gay couple is the centurion and his servant (Luke 7:1-10). The gay libbers claim that Jesus condoned their relationship by healing the servant. But would the gay libbers condone a man having sex with a boy? Would they condone a master having sex with a slave, a person with no rights and in no position to give or refuse consent. The gay libbers assure us they can read between the lines, when they obviously can't read the lines.
Pro- and anti-gay activists have one thing in common - they see homosexuals everywhere.
Yours,
William M. Kelly
Warsaw
Sympathy For A Soldier
Editor, Times-Union:I had the card. I had the obituary in front of me. Several survivors were listed as being from Warsaw, but I could not find any addresses in the phone directory. It occurred to me that I could take this method to express my condolences with more empathy than most concerning the death of Staff Sgt. Brock Alan Beery in Iraq.
So to all of the relatives and people that were close to SS Beery, I extend my heartfelt sympathy.
You see, I/we lost my son, Second Lt. Michael O'Connell in late October 1969 in far-away Vietnam. My consolation is not to question "Why?," but thinking, if dying at the age of 22 had to happen, thank goodness he died a hero fighting a war for his countrymen.
I hope you may all hold onto that thought.
Lila O'Connell, via e-mail
Pierceton
[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092