Letters to the Editor 06-16-2003
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- U.S. 30 - Liberal Thought - Father's Day - Right To Dissent - AWL
U.S. 30
Editor, Times-Union:I really enjoy the opinions column, particularly on days when it's filled with a variety of hodgepodge.
The subject of traffic deaths out on 30 is just about boring me to tears. People die in traffic accidents every day.
An article on Thursday's front page caused me to ask myself a question. The article was titled "Warsaw Man Charged with Dealing Cocaine." The question is for the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force. Just how big of a bite out of crime would you be willing to take to rid Warsaw of this cocaine problem? To publicly humiliate the guy selling it by printing his name on the front page was a real good step one. This is my suggestion for step two.
Certainly after all that surveillance you would have some kind of a concept of exactly who it is that's buying it. In fact, in as small a town as this is, you'd probably know who their moms and dads are. Let's start listing the names of the users and who their moms and dads are, as well as where they work.
Now that summer is here, it's a great time to travel, so let's send some of this corporate trash on down the highway doing the nomad shuffle with their kids in tow. Let's take a real bite out of crime and stop protecting their identity.
Since they don't seem to be creating very many new jobs right now, let's give them something to do besides taking up space in our downtown coffee shops drinking Chai tea.
If we were to shuffle the corporate deck like that, it would be good for the local economy too, with all those nice houses for sale.
Maybe I'm being a little unfair pointing a finger at people of a particular socioeconomic status, but when I take the trash out it doesn't make any difference to me what it's wrapped in - it's still trash, and it's gotta go.
There is undoubtedly some law against publicly disclosing information like that, but I just love to witness the corporate nomad shuffle. It's the dance of tough love.
Steven R. Frantz
Warsaw
Liberal Thought
Editor, Times-Union:Sometimes I find the press amazing. Since January we have heard sounds of "doom and despair" because the Dow had dropped so dramatically. First off, the Dow was experiencing one of its greatest highs for two years prior. We had never had numbers like we did, so I wasn't too concerned when it went back to being normal number-wise. But I do find it quite amusing now, especially this week, that it is over 9,000 and we don't hear sounds of rejoicing from the press.
I conclude again the liberal thought in the press and in this country just can't be happy unless it is making mountains from mole hills with anything concerning our conservative government right now.
And what is all the ruckus about the "WMD." Let's see, we have a guy who has killed thousands of innocents and puts that part of the world in a state of constant terror, and it does not merit free countries doing something about it?! We gave them so much time to dispose of or hide everything that could hold them accountable before the weapons inspectors got there, and while they were being manipulated where to look and not look, but again you are on the bandwagon to blame President Bush. I find all this plain bullarkey.
We'd better watch it, America, or everything we hold dear including our freedom will be taken out from under us without notice. If we keep thinking and speaking the rhetoric of liberal politicians, actors, feminists, ACLU, etc., we'll think ourselves into a state of oblivion where "peace and love" will be the forethought and our enemies will shoot us in the back.
Get a grip, people. We are in for the fight of our lives if you are a conservative, faith-believing Christian; if you stand up for Israel, believe our country should maintain its militia and defense programs, believe you have the right to defend your home and family and believe more than anything you have a right to speak your mind, well, beware. There are legions out there who look and talk and act like real nice people, who are leading you down a path with rose-colored glasses.
I contend most of us do not have a clue how lucky we are to live in this country and have the rights we do. We take our lives for granted. We should have a true "amour patriae."
So if there are any conservative Americans out there who know what I'm saying, stand up and say it too. I've said it before and I'll say it again, we need to show our support to a president and conservative government who have our best interests at heart. They aren't infallible but they are the best thing that has happened to this country in a long time.
Make the most of each day; Emerson said, "Each moment has its own beauty ... A picture which was never seen before, and which shall never be seen again."
Phyllis L. Barger
Warsaw
Father's Day
Editor, Times-Union:Well, here it is Father's Day again. This is my eighth year of not being able to celebrate with my dad, Junior G. Goon of Leesburg. You may have known him from Leesburg Lumber or Builders Mart. He was the one with the great big smile, the smile that I miss so much, especially on Father's Day. Just one more Father's Day and one more hug I would do just about anything for! One more special card I picked out just for him and one more special gift would mean so much to me. Just to see him smile with tears of love and appreciation when he opens them and gives me that big favorite hug of his and hearing his "I love you, Sally." That's all I would need, just that, would do my heart wonders.
You know what? If you can do that, count yourself very, very lucky and appreciate every single minute you spend with your dad on his special day. Because I'm here to tell you, when it's gone, it's tough on the old heart. You always have your memories, but it's just not the same. I just needed to say that - thanks for listening.
Sally Goon
Leesburg
Right To Dissent
Editor, Times-Union:During the North Webster town board meeting June 11, certain specific questions of importance and concerns were raised regarding the Indiana Code relating to the correct procedure of taking minutes, the availability of minutes to the public and the work schedule of the town clerk-treasurer. The reaction of one or more of the members, in my opinion, was that of disdain and insolence. After the meeting a confrontation between two attendees continued. What this board must realize is that each citizen, and that means all of us, has a constitutional right to dissent and to question any government body without fear of retribution or castigation. This is what this great country was founded upon and this board must abide by our constitution no matter what commentary or questions a citizen raises.
John Routh
North Webster
AWL
Editor, Times-Union:For several years I have read about the financial needs of the AWL. They don't have enough funds or the proper facilities to take care of the animals and they encourage us to adopt pets from there. The problem is, people aren't going to want to spend money to get a sick pet. I don't know what the answer is or have any quick suggestions except that something needs to be done.
We adopted a puppy from there one week ago, on June 7. He was the cutest Husky mix, very playful, gentle and great with our four young kids. Four days later he completely changed and when we took him to the vet, we were told that he had the Parvovirus. Four days later, on Father's Day morning, we received a call from the vet that he died in the night.
Now, don't get me wrong, I am not upset with the AWL. We knew the risks when we adopted. The thing is, we can't get our $50 adoption fee refunded, but we can go get another puppy from them for free. I ask you, why would we want to do that? Once an area is contaminated with Parvo, the virus can stay alive for weeks, which means that more than likely most or all of the puppies at the AWL have Parvo. Even though we only had him at our home for a few days, we got quite attached to the little guy and we don't want to be put through that again.
My point is that the AWL is trying to do a good thing by the animals, but they don't have the facilities or the funding to do it like they should. If they had a larger building, they could quarantine new animals to make sure that they are disease-free before they allow them to live among the others. Believe me, if we were financially blessed, we would be one of the first to help them out. (But now we have a $500 vet bill.) The employees and volunteers there are great considering what they have to work with. One of the things they would have to do to completely get rid of Parvo would be to sanitize the facility. (How could they do that with all of those animals there and no place for them to go?)
We're glad for the short time we had with our new puppy. We only hope that the AWL can get this under control before there are more families that have to incur large veterinary bills and the loss of the pet that their children just became attached to. Maybe someone who reads this will be able to come up with a solution or be the solution.
Tina Carson
Milford
via e-mail
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- U.S. 30 - Liberal Thought - Father's Day - Right To Dissent - AWL
U.S. 30
Editor, Times-Union:I really enjoy the opinions column, particularly on days when it's filled with a variety of hodgepodge.
The subject of traffic deaths out on 30 is just about boring me to tears. People die in traffic accidents every day.
An article on Thursday's front page caused me to ask myself a question. The article was titled "Warsaw Man Charged with Dealing Cocaine." The question is for the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force. Just how big of a bite out of crime would you be willing to take to rid Warsaw of this cocaine problem? To publicly humiliate the guy selling it by printing his name on the front page was a real good step one. This is my suggestion for step two.
Certainly after all that surveillance you would have some kind of a concept of exactly who it is that's buying it. In fact, in as small a town as this is, you'd probably know who their moms and dads are. Let's start listing the names of the users and who their moms and dads are, as well as where they work.
Now that summer is here, it's a great time to travel, so let's send some of this corporate trash on down the highway doing the nomad shuffle with their kids in tow. Let's take a real bite out of crime and stop protecting their identity.
Since they don't seem to be creating very many new jobs right now, let's give them something to do besides taking up space in our downtown coffee shops drinking Chai tea.
If we were to shuffle the corporate deck like that, it would be good for the local economy too, with all those nice houses for sale.
Maybe I'm being a little unfair pointing a finger at people of a particular socioeconomic status, but when I take the trash out it doesn't make any difference to me what it's wrapped in - it's still trash, and it's gotta go.
There is undoubtedly some law against publicly disclosing information like that, but I just love to witness the corporate nomad shuffle. It's the dance of tough love.
Steven R. Frantz
Warsaw
Liberal Thought
Editor, Times-Union:Sometimes I find the press amazing. Since January we have heard sounds of "doom and despair" because the Dow had dropped so dramatically. First off, the Dow was experiencing one of its greatest highs for two years prior. We had never had numbers like we did, so I wasn't too concerned when it went back to being normal number-wise. But I do find it quite amusing now, especially this week, that it is over 9,000 and we don't hear sounds of rejoicing from the press.
I conclude again the liberal thought in the press and in this country just can't be happy unless it is making mountains from mole hills with anything concerning our conservative government right now.
And what is all the ruckus about the "WMD." Let's see, we have a guy who has killed thousands of innocents and puts that part of the world in a state of constant terror, and it does not merit free countries doing something about it?! We gave them so much time to dispose of or hide everything that could hold them accountable before the weapons inspectors got there, and while they were being manipulated where to look and not look, but again you are on the bandwagon to blame President Bush. I find all this plain bullarkey.
We'd better watch it, America, or everything we hold dear including our freedom will be taken out from under us without notice. If we keep thinking and speaking the rhetoric of liberal politicians, actors, feminists, ACLU, etc., we'll think ourselves into a state of oblivion where "peace and love" will be the forethought and our enemies will shoot us in the back.
Get a grip, people. We are in for the fight of our lives if you are a conservative, faith-believing Christian; if you stand up for Israel, believe our country should maintain its militia and defense programs, believe you have the right to defend your home and family and believe more than anything you have a right to speak your mind, well, beware. There are legions out there who look and talk and act like real nice people, who are leading you down a path with rose-colored glasses.
I contend most of us do not have a clue how lucky we are to live in this country and have the rights we do. We take our lives for granted. We should have a true "amour patriae."
So if there are any conservative Americans out there who know what I'm saying, stand up and say it too. I've said it before and I'll say it again, we need to show our support to a president and conservative government who have our best interests at heart. They aren't infallible but they are the best thing that has happened to this country in a long time.
Make the most of each day; Emerson said, "Each moment has its own beauty ... A picture which was never seen before, and which shall never be seen again."
Phyllis L. Barger
Warsaw
Father's Day
Editor, Times-Union:Well, here it is Father's Day again. This is my eighth year of not being able to celebrate with my dad, Junior G. Goon of Leesburg. You may have known him from Leesburg Lumber or Builders Mart. He was the one with the great big smile, the smile that I miss so much, especially on Father's Day. Just one more Father's Day and one more hug I would do just about anything for! One more special card I picked out just for him and one more special gift would mean so much to me. Just to see him smile with tears of love and appreciation when he opens them and gives me that big favorite hug of his and hearing his "I love you, Sally." That's all I would need, just that, would do my heart wonders.
You know what? If you can do that, count yourself very, very lucky and appreciate every single minute you spend with your dad on his special day. Because I'm here to tell you, when it's gone, it's tough on the old heart. You always have your memories, but it's just not the same. I just needed to say that - thanks for listening.
Sally Goon
Leesburg
Right To Dissent
Editor, Times-Union:During the North Webster town board meeting June 11, certain specific questions of importance and concerns were raised regarding the Indiana Code relating to the correct procedure of taking minutes, the availability of minutes to the public and the work schedule of the town clerk-treasurer. The reaction of one or more of the members, in my opinion, was that of disdain and insolence. After the meeting a confrontation between two attendees continued. What this board must realize is that each citizen, and that means all of us, has a constitutional right to dissent and to question any government body without fear of retribution or castigation. This is what this great country was founded upon and this board must abide by our constitution no matter what commentary or questions a citizen raises.
John Routh
North Webster
AWL
Editor, Times-Union:For several years I have read about the financial needs of the AWL. They don't have enough funds or the proper facilities to take care of the animals and they encourage us to adopt pets from there. The problem is, people aren't going to want to spend money to get a sick pet. I don't know what the answer is or have any quick suggestions except that something needs to be done.
We adopted a puppy from there one week ago, on June 7. He was the cutest Husky mix, very playful, gentle and great with our four young kids. Four days later he completely changed and when we took him to the vet, we were told that he had the Parvovirus. Four days later, on Father's Day morning, we received a call from the vet that he died in the night.
Now, don't get me wrong, I am not upset with the AWL. We knew the risks when we adopted. The thing is, we can't get our $50 adoption fee refunded, but we can go get another puppy from them for free. I ask you, why would we want to do that? Once an area is contaminated with Parvo, the virus can stay alive for weeks, which means that more than likely most or all of the puppies at the AWL have Parvo. Even though we only had him at our home for a few days, we got quite attached to the little guy and we don't want to be put through that again.
My point is that the AWL is trying to do a good thing by the animals, but they don't have the facilities or the funding to do it like they should. If they had a larger building, they could quarantine new animals to make sure that they are disease-free before they allow them to live among the others. Believe me, if we were financially blessed, we would be one of the first to help them out. (But now we have a $500 vet bill.) The employees and volunteers there are great considering what they have to work with. One of the things they would have to do to completely get rid of Parvo would be to sanitize the facility. (How could they do that with all of those animals there and no place for them to go?)
We're glad for the short time we had with our new puppy. We only hope that the AWL can get this under control before there are more families that have to incur large veterinary bills and the loss of the pet that their children just became attached to. Maybe someone who reads this will be able to come up with a solution or be the solution.
Tina Carson
Milford
via e-mail
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