Letters to the Editor 06-09-2000
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Better Understanding - Labels - Knight Is His Own Man - Color Guard - Gun Locks
Better Understanding
Editor, Times-Union:This letter is in reference to the letter written by Justin Butts that was printed June 5, 2000. I am sorry that you are shunned by some Christians at school. IÊappreciate your desire to reach out to them in a positive way. We all need to look beyond our feelings of anger and indifference and show one another respect. Perhaps your insight will help them to respond better as they observe this issue from your perspective. Open and considerate communication concerning differences can lead to a better understanding of one another.
You said in your letter that morals are not taught by the Bible.Ê According to Webster's Dictionary, morals deal with the distinctionÊ between right and wrong in conduct. If you study the Bible, you will see that the God who created us shares His distinction between right and wrong. It is based on what His plan was for us when He created us. We are to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. You will see that He is the God of love, kindness, mercy, grace, justice, truth, righteousness and peace. His distinction of right and wrong is consistent throughout the Bible and will stand forever. You will also see that He has given to those who choose to believe the gift of His Holy Spirit, which guides us and makes it possible for us to follow the example His Son, Jesus Christ, set for us when He lived here on earth as a man. Jesus, himself, also said that we are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. He added that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. If we do this we will in fact be making right moral choices.
I agree with you that Christianity will not make all of our problems go away, because we live in a sinful world. Murdering in the name of Christianity is an example of Satan's influence. True believers and followers have been given the power through God's Holy Spirit working in their hearts to resist the temptation to sin. A true Christian's faith is maintained through daily prayer and study of the Bible, choosing obedience to God. True believers also have the promise from God of eternal life with Him. When this earth passes away and He creates a new one, Satan will not be a part of it and neither will sin.
Millions of people have witnessed through 2000 years of history that they have known the peace of God. It is a peace that passes all understanding. It is a perfect peace. It is a peace far better and in no way comparable to the peace the world gives. I know His peace.Ê Praise be to the all-powerful, all-knowing, infinite God of all creation.ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ
Sharon Jaynes
Warsaw
via e-mail
Labels
Editor, Times-Union:This is in response to the letter written by Justin Butts that appeared in Monday's edition of the Times-Union.
I, as a sophomore at WCHS, have never witnessed any teacher or student forcing religion upon any classmate in Warsaw Community Schools. I have sat in a few classes where I have been faced with more views from my classmates who believe in Satan than I have been faced with views from fellow Christians.
Most people in this world are not killed in the name of Christianity, (if you still believe that, you are in the wrong time era), rather they are killed because of violence and hatred.
I do not know of any student who has been shunned because of not being in a prayer group. I am not able to be in a prayer group because of sports and work, yet I am not shunned because of it. Many times non-Christians just believe they are being shunned and since you feel so strongly about your religion I don't see why that is of any concern to you. I strongly believe that FCA or any other prayer group would love to have non-Christians join them. That is why we call it witnessing. It's a little hard to witness to people who already believe in Christianity. I have, though, witnessed more Christians being shunned than non-believers. Just look at Jesus. He was shunned and killed because of people like you who did not believe in Him or believe He was really Jesus.
Now I might be labeled as a prep, but prep or freak, it's not always because of your religion that you are labeled that. Anyone that feels they are labeled has chosen to be labeled. Although some people cannot see past it, it is not what is on the outside that should matter.
I'll leave you with these verses and I will be praying for you. "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked." - Galatians 6:7. "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ." - Romans 1:16.
Jenna Spangle
Silver Lake
Knight Is His Own Man
Editor, Times-Union:It appears that a large number of critics and accusers are seeking to vilify Bob Knight. Why? He seems very vulnerable in society today. People want to be on the winning side.
The president, Bill Clinton, has not only embarrassed many of us American citizens, but is accused of allowing critical information regarding national defense to pass into the hands of communist China. Why don't we come down to earth and focus on the problems that really matter?
If Bob Knight, known for his discipline in teaching basketball, can not discipline himself he will disappear as if he had never been here. By disappear, Indiana University will get rid of him and likely end his career.
This is not to support Bob Knight. He is his own man. What will be, will be.
Norman Archer
Leesburg
Color Guard
Editor, Times-Union:This letter is in response to Mr. Guard's letter of June 5, 2000, as published by your newspaper.
Mr. Guard ... after reading your letter, it is quite obvious to me that you know nothing about the military marching command. "Secure Arms" is always given when a Color Guard enters a cemetery for purposes of rendering final respect to all the fallen comrades who are within these hallowed grounds of their final resting place. I am certainly not going to waste space here trying to explain this "command" to someone who has such a vast amount of varied Color Guard experience such as yourself. However, I do wonder how some of your observations concerning other Color Guard etiquette could be so wrong.
Your letter, Mr. Guard, tells me that while you have great concern for the flag of this great country of ours, you have no concern whatsoever for its veterans or its veterans' organizations whose members, some of whom were disabled while defending your country, were proud to take the time to "uniform" themselves as best they could and come to Oakwood Cemetery to pay their respects while you were evidently somewhere else warming up your typewriter so that you could show everyone your "true colors."
Mr. Guard, why don't you consider joining a veterans' organization such as the American Legion or the VFW (if you are eligible)? I am sure there are many other veterans who would like to talk to you about the concerns you have raised with your letter to the editor.
Tom Everett
American Legion, Post 49
Color Guard Commander
Gun Locks
Editor, Times-Union:Congratulations to all the women who marched on Washington, D.C., to get new gun laws, like gun locks. Now when the bad guys break in to your home, you can ask the bad guys if they would please not shoot you or your kids. Just tell them, my husband went to work and he has all the keys to our gun locks, he gets off at 3:00, if you could please come back then, thank you. GOT GUN LOCKS?
Michael L. Stevens
Pierceton
via e-mail
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- Better Understanding - Labels - Knight Is His Own Man - Color Guard - Gun Locks
Better Understanding
Editor, Times-Union:This letter is in reference to the letter written by Justin Butts that was printed June 5, 2000. I am sorry that you are shunned by some Christians at school. IÊappreciate your desire to reach out to them in a positive way. We all need to look beyond our feelings of anger and indifference and show one another respect. Perhaps your insight will help them to respond better as they observe this issue from your perspective. Open and considerate communication concerning differences can lead to a better understanding of one another.
You said in your letter that morals are not taught by the Bible.Ê According to Webster's Dictionary, morals deal with the distinctionÊ between right and wrong in conduct. If you study the Bible, you will see that the God who created us shares His distinction between right and wrong. It is based on what His plan was for us when He created us. We are to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. You will see that He is the God of love, kindness, mercy, grace, justice, truth, righteousness and peace. His distinction of right and wrong is consistent throughout the Bible and will stand forever. You will also see that He has given to those who choose to believe the gift of His Holy Spirit, which guides us and makes it possible for us to follow the example His Son, Jesus Christ, set for us when He lived here on earth as a man. Jesus, himself, also said that we are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. He added that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. If we do this we will in fact be making right moral choices.
I agree with you that Christianity will not make all of our problems go away, because we live in a sinful world. Murdering in the name of Christianity is an example of Satan's influence. True believers and followers have been given the power through God's Holy Spirit working in their hearts to resist the temptation to sin. A true Christian's faith is maintained through daily prayer and study of the Bible, choosing obedience to God. True believers also have the promise from God of eternal life with Him. When this earth passes away and He creates a new one, Satan will not be a part of it and neither will sin.
Millions of people have witnessed through 2000 years of history that they have known the peace of God. It is a peace that passes all understanding. It is a perfect peace. It is a peace far better and in no way comparable to the peace the world gives. I know His peace.Ê Praise be to the all-powerful, all-knowing, infinite God of all creation.ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ
Sharon Jaynes
Warsaw
via e-mail
Labels
Editor, Times-Union:This is in response to the letter written by Justin Butts that appeared in Monday's edition of the Times-Union.
I, as a sophomore at WCHS, have never witnessed any teacher or student forcing religion upon any classmate in Warsaw Community Schools. I have sat in a few classes where I have been faced with more views from my classmates who believe in Satan than I have been faced with views from fellow Christians.
Most people in this world are not killed in the name of Christianity, (if you still believe that, you are in the wrong time era), rather they are killed because of violence and hatred.
I do not know of any student who has been shunned because of not being in a prayer group. I am not able to be in a prayer group because of sports and work, yet I am not shunned because of it. Many times non-Christians just believe they are being shunned and since you feel so strongly about your religion I don't see why that is of any concern to you. I strongly believe that FCA or any other prayer group would love to have non-Christians join them. That is why we call it witnessing. It's a little hard to witness to people who already believe in Christianity. I have, though, witnessed more Christians being shunned than non-believers. Just look at Jesus. He was shunned and killed because of people like you who did not believe in Him or believe He was really Jesus.
Now I might be labeled as a prep, but prep or freak, it's not always because of your religion that you are labeled that. Anyone that feels they are labeled has chosen to be labeled. Although some people cannot see past it, it is not what is on the outside that should matter.
I'll leave you with these verses and I will be praying for you. "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked." - Galatians 6:7. "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ." - Romans 1:16.
Jenna Spangle
Silver Lake
Knight Is His Own Man
Editor, Times-Union:It appears that a large number of critics and accusers are seeking to vilify Bob Knight. Why? He seems very vulnerable in society today. People want to be on the winning side.
The president, Bill Clinton, has not only embarrassed many of us American citizens, but is accused of allowing critical information regarding national defense to pass into the hands of communist China. Why don't we come down to earth and focus on the problems that really matter?
If Bob Knight, known for his discipline in teaching basketball, can not discipline himself he will disappear as if he had never been here. By disappear, Indiana University will get rid of him and likely end his career.
This is not to support Bob Knight. He is his own man. What will be, will be.
Norman Archer
Leesburg
Color Guard
Editor, Times-Union:This letter is in response to Mr. Guard's letter of June 5, 2000, as published by your newspaper.
Mr. Guard ... after reading your letter, it is quite obvious to me that you know nothing about the military marching command. "Secure Arms" is always given when a Color Guard enters a cemetery for purposes of rendering final respect to all the fallen comrades who are within these hallowed grounds of their final resting place. I am certainly not going to waste space here trying to explain this "command" to someone who has such a vast amount of varied Color Guard experience such as yourself. However, I do wonder how some of your observations concerning other Color Guard etiquette could be so wrong.
Your letter, Mr. Guard, tells me that while you have great concern for the flag of this great country of ours, you have no concern whatsoever for its veterans or its veterans' organizations whose members, some of whom were disabled while defending your country, were proud to take the time to "uniform" themselves as best they could and come to Oakwood Cemetery to pay their respects while you were evidently somewhere else warming up your typewriter so that you could show everyone your "true colors."
Mr. Guard, why don't you consider joining a veterans' organization such as the American Legion or the VFW (if you are eligible)? I am sure there are many other veterans who would like to talk to you about the concerns you have raised with your letter to the editor.
Tom Everett
American Legion, Post 49
Color Guard Commander
Gun Locks
Editor, Times-Union:Congratulations to all the women who marched on Washington, D.C., to get new gun laws, like gun locks. Now when the bad guys break in to your home, you can ask the bad guys if they would please not shoot you or your kids. Just tell them, my husband went to work and he has all the keys to our gun locks, he gets off at 3:00, if you could please come back then, thank you. GOT GUN LOCKS?
Michael L. Stevens
Pierceton
via e-mail
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