Letters to the Editor 05-02-2005
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- American Values - Good Old Days - Courageous Writer - The Rains Came
American Values
Editor, Times-Union:It's a phrase with meaning and value to us or we wouldn't use it so much! Yet how often do we ponder the deep meaning of the three words?
Warsaw Mayor Jeff Plank spoke to our men's breakfast. "Traditional American Values" was his challenging, unforgettable subject.
"My wife and I thought we should try to pass on to our children the great life-enhancing American ideals we had received," he said.
Having a problem naming these values, they asked their children to help list and discuss them around the dinner table. They listed about 12. The Planks wrestled with the challenging ideas. I hope the list affects you as it has me.
1. A belief in the sanctity of life. We all think we believe in it and assume that "terrorists" don't. Easy answers are often false!
The Sixth Commandment in our Bible teaches reverence for human life (Exodus 20:13). Starting at conception? Well, we each began there!
2. The Plank family listed as of great importance a monogamous family unit as society's basic unit where parents serve as the educational and spiritual heads of the household.
3. Common decency. A whole chapter - or book - could be written on this one. We've heard: "The most uncommon thing is common sense." Now substitute "decency" for "sense." Entertainers and athletes who work so hard to grab our attention - and money - carry on a perpetual contest to see who can shock us most by their indecency. If our "idols" in sports and entertainment do not teach decency, who's left to teach it except caring parents in our homes?
4. A good work ethic. The best work ethic must be rooted in the rich soil of personal responsibility and accountability, with proper respect for authority.
5. Our Judeo-Christian perspective on life was the order of the day. A belief in the sovereignty and reality of God was basic - stressing not only God's love but righteousness and judgment as well.
6. Respect for authority. We rejected the "divine right" of kings, and chose the rule of law instead. These rules for living - agreed upon by a majority - were to be obeyed and enforced by parents and by all levels of society. Penalties for disobeying the law were to be meted out without favoritism. The "just" penalties were to fit the severity of the offense. And the great "justice delayed is justice denied" ideas was introduced.
7. A God-centered education. If God is "ultimate reality," education rightfully revolves around that reality. It is no accident that most colleges were started by some Christian body. Most of them are still supported by their founders.
8. Three institutions we have long considered the divinely ordained foundational "pillars" of our society: family, government and church. These interrelated institutions have held us together for longer already than most civilizations in recorded history.
9. A strong community sense, with more "givers" than "takers."
10. The social responsibility of No. 9.
11. Personal self-control.
12. Personal accountability. Our strong belief in and commitment to Nos. 8 through 12 caused us to excel as a nation. Few excuses were accepted as "good enough." And the rights of victims were at least equal to those of the violators.
J. Robert Boggs Jr.
Winona Lake
Good Old Days
Editor, Times-Union:Am I missing something or not?
We went to work at 6 a.m. and worked to 3 p.m. That way we had time after work to fish or work the yard. Now they work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and want to turn the clock up an hour so they can have more daylight time.
The sign at the grocery store said: pork and beans 15 cents - lard 10 cents a pound - milk 25 cents a gallon, now it says - gasoline $2.39 - smokes $3.40 a pack - beer $26 for 18. Jesse Bradway owned a grocery store and had a 50-gallon drum of fuel oil in the back room. The Health Board made him take out the oil. If you touched food and the oil pump everyone in town would be sick.
Back then everyone ate in the kitchen and the toilets were outside. Now they moved the toilets inside so it is big time to eat outside.
When we were young, car drivers knew not to turn right on a red street light, now Indiana passed a law that you could turn right on a red light. They spent much money on cute little signs that say "no right turn on red."
We had three numbers on our telephone and never received a wrong number. Now we have eleven numbers and receive a wrong number daily. I hear that China is taking out all of the phones. They ring to many wongs.
Harold A. Garber
Warsaw
Courageous Writer
Editor, Times-Union:Kudos to M. Tapp for having the courage to write at least some of the truth about George W. Bush. He is truly evil and his brothers are unsavory individuals also. If you have a computer read the story of the Bush family (if it has not now been pulled).
While he was campaigning and after becoming president his audiences were always carefully screened by cohorts of his. These same people or more like them worked diligently in the south strengthening a group of people referring themselves as Evangelical Christians. I do not know now many churches were involved in the beginning but by the election they had taken more than 70 churches.
Frightening? If Jesus came back to earth today I think he could easily discern that this huge mass of people, (obviously, in many cases, brainwashed) were just working to help the president get elected for his last four years and were not truly religious people following in the pathways of God. The amount of money they were paid was probably staggering.
The statement that a man close to Bush was warned not to go to the twin towers on 9/11 was not the only person warned ... and passed the word to others which is why, though as you state normally 40,000 to 50,000 people would be at work in both towers each day whereas they were only 5,000 there that day.
My husband and I heard one hour on TV and I cannot recall just which channel it was but it was a shocking story of Bush's methods of buying himself yet another election, this time using religion. Much of that hour was about the fast increasing group of Evangelical Christians, as they called themselves and they had recently acquired 70 more churches before the election. We were very shocked at what we heard and fully expected to hear more said about this on other stations and from other journalists and political shows but we heard no more! Apparently the one hour we saw was not supposed to ever be on TV and was quickly quashed.
Mrs. J.B. (Donna) Butche
Syracuse
The Rains Came
Editor, Times-Union:A week or so ago it was dry. Each conversation included "We need rain!" Then gently, wonderfully the rains came.
There is a language in nature that speaks of the existence of God. We see about us in order, beauty, perfection and intelligence as we live on earth. Dr. Werner von Braun, great scientist in the development of great space rockets, left Germany after World War II at the invitation of the United States to build rockets here. He became a citizen in 1955. He believed in God. He said "The materialists ... tried to tell us that as science yields more knowledge about the creation, it makes us able to live without faith in a Creator. But with every new answer we discover new questions ... then we have more reason to marvel at the wonder of God's creation. With all the science in the world, we need faith in God."
A recent poll among scientists concluded that the greatest scientist who ever lived was Sir Isaac Newton. He believed in God. He believed in Jesus Christ, the Bible and in creation. A list of 32 great scientists, including Louis Pasteur, Michael Faraday, Johann Kepler, Leonardo DaVinci, Blaise Pascal, were Christians; all believers in creation by God, the Creator.
The Psalmist declared "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament (sky) showeth His handiwork" Psalm 19:1. God speaks through nature; in the regularity of the seasons; in the precision of the sun, moon, stars and earth; in the coming of day and night; in the supply of oxygen for our living; and as we sing it in the song "I Believe," Every time I hear a newborn baby cry," in the miracle of new life, or "touch a leaf, or see the sky" I believe.
The rains came. The earth is responding with beauty and food. God is in control of it all, but your will and mine, who are also His creation. Join me in acknowledging our Creator God, and the Savior, Jesus, whom He sent to get us back on track with His will, by His forgiveness and grace, through our faith in Him.
C.L. Hendrix
Winona Lake
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- American Values - Good Old Days - Courageous Writer - The Rains Came
American Values
Editor, Times-Union:It's a phrase with meaning and value to us or we wouldn't use it so much! Yet how often do we ponder the deep meaning of the three words?
Warsaw Mayor Jeff Plank spoke to our men's breakfast. "Traditional American Values" was his challenging, unforgettable subject.
"My wife and I thought we should try to pass on to our children the great life-enhancing American ideals we had received," he said.
Having a problem naming these values, they asked their children to help list and discuss them around the dinner table. They listed about 12. The Planks wrestled with the challenging ideas. I hope the list affects you as it has me.
1. A belief in the sanctity of life. We all think we believe in it and assume that "terrorists" don't. Easy answers are often false!
The Sixth Commandment in our Bible teaches reverence for human life (Exodus 20:13). Starting at conception? Well, we each began there!
2. The Plank family listed as of great importance a monogamous family unit as society's basic unit where parents serve as the educational and spiritual heads of the household.
3. Common decency. A whole chapter - or book - could be written on this one. We've heard: "The most uncommon thing is common sense." Now substitute "decency" for "sense." Entertainers and athletes who work so hard to grab our attention - and money - carry on a perpetual contest to see who can shock us most by their indecency. If our "idols" in sports and entertainment do not teach decency, who's left to teach it except caring parents in our homes?
4. A good work ethic. The best work ethic must be rooted in the rich soil of personal responsibility and accountability, with proper respect for authority.
5. Our Judeo-Christian perspective on life was the order of the day. A belief in the sovereignty and reality of God was basic - stressing not only God's love but righteousness and judgment as well.
6. Respect for authority. We rejected the "divine right" of kings, and chose the rule of law instead. These rules for living - agreed upon by a majority - were to be obeyed and enforced by parents and by all levels of society. Penalties for disobeying the law were to be meted out without favoritism. The "just" penalties were to fit the severity of the offense. And the great "justice delayed is justice denied" ideas was introduced.
7. A God-centered education. If God is "ultimate reality," education rightfully revolves around that reality. It is no accident that most colleges were started by some Christian body. Most of them are still supported by their founders.
8. Three institutions we have long considered the divinely ordained foundational "pillars" of our society: family, government and church. These interrelated institutions have held us together for longer already than most civilizations in recorded history.
9. A strong community sense, with more "givers" than "takers."
10. The social responsibility of No. 9.
11. Personal self-control.
12. Personal accountability. Our strong belief in and commitment to Nos. 8 through 12 caused us to excel as a nation. Few excuses were accepted as "good enough." And the rights of victims were at least equal to those of the violators.
J. Robert Boggs Jr.
Winona Lake
Good Old Days
Editor, Times-Union:Am I missing something or not?
We went to work at 6 a.m. and worked to 3 p.m. That way we had time after work to fish or work the yard. Now they work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and want to turn the clock up an hour so they can have more daylight time.
The sign at the grocery store said: pork and beans 15 cents - lard 10 cents a pound - milk 25 cents a gallon, now it says - gasoline $2.39 - smokes $3.40 a pack - beer $26 for 18. Jesse Bradway owned a grocery store and had a 50-gallon drum of fuel oil in the back room. The Health Board made him take out the oil. If you touched food and the oil pump everyone in town would be sick.
Back then everyone ate in the kitchen and the toilets were outside. Now they moved the toilets inside so it is big time to eat outside.
When we were young, car drivers knew not to turn right on a red street light, now Indiana passed a law that you could turn right on a red light. They spent much money on cute little signs that say "no right turn on red."
We had three numbers on our telephone and never received a wrong number. Now we have eleven numbers and receive a wrong number daily. I hear that China is taking out all of the phones. They ring to many wongs.
Harold A. Garber
Warsaw
Courageous Writer
Editor, Times-Union:Kudos to M. Tapp for having the courage to write at least some of the truth about George W. Bush. He is truly evil and his brothers are unsavory individuals also. If you have a computer read the story of the Bush family (if it has not now been pulled).
While he was campaigning and after becoming president his audiences were always carefully screened by cohorts of his. These same people or more like them worked diligently in the south strengthening a group of people referring themselves as Evangelical Christians. I do not know now many churches were involved in the beginning but by the election they had taken more than 70 churches.
Frightening? If Jesus came back to earth today I think he could easily discern that this huge mass of people, (obviously, in many cases, brainwashed) were just working to help the president get elected for his last four years and were not truly religious people following in the pathways of God. The amount of money they were paid was probably staggering.
The statement that a man close to Bush was warned not to go to the twin towers on 9/11 was not the only person warned ... and passed the word to others which is why, though as you state normally 40,000 to 50,000 people would be at work in both towers each day whereas they were only 5,000 there that day.
My husband and I heard one hour on TV and I cannot recall just which channel it was but it was a shocking story of Bush's methods of buying himself yet another election, this time using religion. Much of that hour was about the fast increasing group of Evangelical Christians, as they called themselves and they had recently acquired 70 more churches before the election. We were very shocked at what we heard and fully expected to hear more said about this on other stations and from other journalists and political shows but we heard no more! Apparently the one hour we saw was not supposed to ever be on TV and was quickly quashed.
Mrs. J.B. (Donna) Butche
Syracuse
The Rains Came
Editor, Times-Union:A week or so ago it was dry. Each conversation included "We need rain!" Then gently, wonderfully the rains came.
There is a language in nature that speaks of the existence of God. We see about us in order, beauty, perfection and intelligence as we live on earth. Dr. Werner von Braun, great scientist in the development of great space rockets, left Germany after World War II at the invitation of the United States to build rockets here. He became a citizen in 1955. He believed in God. He said "The materialists ... tried to tell us that as science yields more knowledge about the creation, it makes us able to live without faith in a Creator. But with every new answer we discover new questions ... then we have more reason to marvel at the wonder of God's creation. With all the science in the world, we need faith in God."
A recent poll among scientists concluded that the greatest scientist who ever lived was Sir Isaac Newton. He believed in God. He believed in Jesus Christ, the Bible and in creation. A list of 32 great scientists, including Louis Pasteur, Michael Faraday, Johann Kepler, Leonardo DaVinci, Blaise Pascal, were Christians; all believers in creation by God, the Creator.
The Psalmist declared "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament (sky) showeth His handiwork" Psalm 19:1. God speaks through nature; in the regularity of the seasons; in the precision of the sun, moon, stars and earth; in the coming of day and night; in the supply of oxygen for our living; and as we sing it in the song "I Believe," Every time I hear a newborn baby cry," in the miracle of new life, or "touch a leaf, or see the sky" I believe.
The rains came. The earth is responding with beauty and food. God is in control of it all, but your will and mine, who are also His creation. Join me in acknowledging our Creator God, and the Savior, Jesus, whom He sent to get us back on track with His will, by His forgiveness and grace, through our faith in Him.
C.L. Hendrix
Winona Lake
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