Letters to the Editor 04-08-2004
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Character Attacks - Same-Sex Marriage - FOP Thanks
Character Attacks
Editor, Times-Union:Mr. Helm recently wrote to defend his law partner's, Mr. Rigdon's, earlier letter by accusing me of lying. Mr. Rigdon's original letter stated, "Now we see that the president and his political advisers are continuing to use the instruments of war and the trauma of innocent casualties as political tools." The sentences before and after this allegation both referred to the war against Iraq. In this context, a reasonable reader clearly relates the term "innocent casualties" to the war in Iraq. Of course, the word "casualties" usually refers to war-related deaths and injuries, "innocent casualties" is the term often used by those opposing military action and the vast majority of the casualties in Iraq were inflicted by the United States military.
Mr. Helm does not know me well enough to appreciate how wrong he is to impugn my integrity. Unlike some lawyers who routinely attack others' characters and lightly accuse others of lying and falsehood, I received a very different kind of training from the United States Marine Corps - training that highly emphasizes "integrity." The Marine Corps Core Values card I carry in my wallet states, "Marines ... maintain a high standard of integrity." As a judge advocate and 21-year veteran of the Marine Corps who served as an infantry company commander during the first Gulf War and who, like Mr. Helm's family members, recently served as an activated reservist in the Persian Gulf, I find his lawyerly attack on my personal honor and integrity to be an unfortunate and imprudent overreaction which Mr. Helm should retract and for which Mr. Helm should apologize.
The sad common thread between Mr. Rigdon's and Mr. Helm's letters is that they engage in personal character attacks. Unfortunately, such character attacks have become commonplace for too many lawyers and too many political campaigns, and detract from civil public debate. It is no wonder many lawyers and politicians have lost the prestige they once held in our society.
Setting aside Helm's character attack, the point remains: Sept. 11 is an event that will, and should, be a critical factor in the presidential election for two very important reasons. First, the attacks demonstrated the magnitude of the threat that the terrorists pose to our national security. Second, President Bush's leadership of the nation and response to the terrorist threat showed qualities that all Americans should desire in our president when the nation's security is threatened. The events of Sept. 11, like the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, are seared into our memories as images. There is nothing wrong with showing those images to highlight the importance of national security and leadership when considering whether to re-elect the president.
Bob Durgin
Winona Lake
via e-mail
Same-Sex Marriage
Editor, Times-Union:We are one nation under God. How you perceive that God or worshipping God is the founding fathers great legacy to us, freedom of religion. They did not want to restrict religion, they just wanted to be able to choose. For those who choose to live in a godless state, let them go to a country that suits them or else live by the laws of this great country. Homosexuality is forbidden in Jewish, Christian and other faiths. Thus there can be no same-sex marriage. This is in response to the recent letters on the Catholic church. It is unsettling to me that a person could be so narrow-minded and indoctrinated in the Catholic church to write what has been sent to the editor. I do not believe that even scholars in the Catholic church would support the views that have been printed. I have also been amazed that no other faith's followers have responded to the untruths.
What I am about to say may or may not be confirmed by Bible scholars at the university level, yes, even Notre Dame, where there are many of different faiths studying all discovered historical writings and other evidences to understand the truth of God. The long and short of the story is that there was a Jewish nation with a long history thus the Old Testament of the Bible. Jesus Christ, the son of God, came to Earth and was born of Mary, he lived about 30 years, preached for three years, was crucified for your and my sins and arose to sit at the right hand of God the Father. Then the New Testament was written to tell for all ages how we should live. No pope has been mentioned in any of the writings, only apostles who had part in the writing of the New Testament that we may believe. To become a Christian is simple, you must confess before men that you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, be baptized by immersion thus dying to the old life and arise to walk in newness of life and your sins will be washed away. If you do not confess Jesus before men, he will not confess you before God in heaven.
Lee Webb
Pierceton
via e-mail
FOP Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:The Kosciusko County Fraternal Order of Police wishes to thank all of those who helped and supported the Jon Hershberger Benefit. The assistance provided to Jon would not have been possible without the tremendous support from our local businesses, citizens and community organizations. Especially the American Legion and the Moose Lodge, who made this event possible.
The Casino Night along with the raffle was an outstanding success. At the request of the family, the amounts will be kept confidential. Jon and Marlene have received all of the proceeds raised. The winner of the RCA TV was Tom Hoover, and the RCA home theater system was Ryan Ramsey. Congratulations to you both and enjoy your new entertainment systems.
Travis C. Marsh
President Lodge #149
Fraternal Order of Police
via e-mail
[[In-content Ad]]
- Character Attacks - Same-Sex Marriage - FOP Thanks
Character Attacks
Editor, Times-Union:Mr. Helm recently wrote to defend his law partner's, Mr. Rigdon's, earlier letter by accusing me of lying. Mr. Rigdon's original letter stated, "Now we see that the president and his political advisers are continuing to use the instruments of war and the trauma of innocent casualties as political tools." The sentences before and after this allegation both referred to the war against Iraq. In this context, a reasonable reader clearly relates the term "innocent casualties" to the war in Iraq. Of course, the word "casualties" usually refers to war-related deaths and injuries, "innocent casualties" is the term often used by those opposing military action and the vast majority of the casualties in Iraq were inflicted by the United States military.
Mr. Helm does not know me well enough to appreciate how wrong he is to impugn my integrity. Unlike some lawyers who routinely attack others' characters and lightly accuse others of lying and falsehood, I received a very different kind of training from the United States Marine Corps - training that highly emphasizes "integrity." The Marine Corps Core Values card I carry in my wallet states, "Marines ... maintain a high standard of integrity." As a judge advocate and 21-year veteran of the Marine Corps who served as an infantry company commander during the first Gulf War and who, like Mr. Helm's family members, recently served as an activated reservist in the Persian Gulf, I find his lawyerly attack on my personal honor and integrity to be an unfortunate and imprudent overreaction which Mr. Helm should retract and for which Mr. Helm should apologize.
The sad common thread between Mr. Rigdon's and Mr. Helm's letters is that they engage in personal character attacks. Unfortunately, such character attacks have become commonplace for too many lawyers and too many political campaigns, and detract from civil public debate. It is no wonder many lawyers and politicians have lost the prestige they once held in our society.
Setting aside Helm's character attack, the point remains: Sept. 11 is an event that will, and should, be a critical factor in the presidential election for two very important reasons. First, the attacks demonstrated the magnitude of the threat that the terrorists pose to our national security. Second, President Bush's leadership of the nation and response to the terrorist threat showed qualities that all Americans should desire in our president when the nation's security is threatened. The events of Sept. 11, like the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, are seared into our memories as images. There is nothing wrong with showing those images to highlight the importance of national security and leadership when considering whether to re-elect the president.
Bob Durgin
Winona Lake
via e-mail
Same-Sex Marriage
Editor, Times-Union:We are one nation under God. How you perceive that God or worshipping God is the founding fathers great legacy to us, freedom of religion. They did not want to restrict religion, they just wanted to be able to choose. For those who choose to live in a godless state, let them go to a country that suits them or else live by the laws of this great country. Homosexuality is forbidden in Jewish, Christian and other faiths. Thus there can be no same-sex marriage. This is in response to the recent letters on the Catholic church. It is unsettling to me that a person could be so narrow-minded and indoctrinated in the Catholic church to write what has been sent to the editor. I do not believe that even scholars in the Catholic church would support the views that have been printed. I have also been amazed that no other faith's followers have responded to the untruths.
What I am about to say may or may not be confirmed by Bible scholars at the university level, yes, even Notre Dame, where there are many of different faiths studying all discovered historical writings and other evidences to understand the truth of God. The long and short of the story is that there was a Jewish nation with a long history thus the Old Testament of the Bible. Jesus Christ, the son of God, came to Earth and was born of Mary, he lived about 30 years, preached for three years, was crucified for your and my sins and arose to sit at the right hand of God the Father. Then the New Testament was written to tell for all ages how we should live. No pope has been mentioned in any of the writings, only apostles who had part in the writing of the New Testament that we may believe. To become a Christian is simple, you must confess before men that you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, be baptized by immersion thus dying to the old life and arise to walk in newness of life and your sins will be washed away. If you do not confess Jesus before men, he will not confess you before God in heaven.
Lee Webb
Pierceton
via e-mail
FOP Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:The Kosciusko County Fraternal Order of Police wishes to thank all of those who helped and supported the Jon Hershberger Benefit. The assistance provided to Jon would not have been possible without the tremendous support from our local businesses, citizens and community organizations. Especially the American Legion and the Moose Lodge, who made this event possible.
The Casino Night along with the raffle was an outstanding success. At the request of the family, the amounts will be kept confidential. Jon and Marlene have received all of the proceeds raised. The winner of the RCA TV was Tom Hoover, and the RCA home theater system was Ryan Ramsey. Congratulations to you both and enjoy your new entertainment systems.
Travis C. Marsh
President Lodge #149
Fraternal Order of Police
via e-mail
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