Letters to the Editor 08-03-2005
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Older Generation - Hot Summer - Support The Troops
Older Generation
Editor, Times-Union:Do you like to hear people say, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks?"
People refer this to the older generation. Why is it that younger people think that older people are set in their ways? As one looks back on one's life, are we ever set in our ways?
Having looked back on one's life, this person went to grade school in the deep depression, where everyone was poor and we were glad to have clothes and shoes to wear to school. No one was any better than the other.
During one's high school years, 1941-45, we experienced World War II, where our lives were changed. A very great change in our lives at that time. Our thoughts were not on ourselves but on our service people.
There was gas rationing.
There was food rationing.
Students and teachers rode bicycles to school or walked.
Women went to work.
There was a great change in everyone.
The greatest change that happened in our country after the war was in the late '50s, '60s and '70s. Rock 'n' Roll and Hippies, the Me and I generation, the I don't care how I look, free sex, loose living and etc.
Fashions changed and some of us changed with it, to a more casual dress. I did. And to a more moderate way of living and thinking. What keeps people going is accepting certain changes. There are changes in life that one can accept and things we can not accept. This is true with all ages.
Why have I written this? Because in our churches today, the words "traditional services" are for the older generation. The word tradition means: "the handing down of customs, practices, doctrines, etc., something so handed down." (Webster Dictionary).
I would say people of my age that I know, are more moderate.
The contemporary services (Just how Contemporary is it?): More modern music, yet all music is played on seven notes, what's new about that?
They take an offering, well that's also in the traditional service, what's new about that? The church has been doing that for many generations.
Sermons, what's new about that - even Peter preached a sermon back in 35 A.D. That's quite traditional!
One thing very traditional with that - Christians took Sunday for their sabbath which has been going on for thousands of years, I would say that's very traditional. There are many things about our services, both the traditional and contemporary that are traditional, right?
So both services are traditional.
When one gets down to it, is there any difference in the traditional and contemporary services? No.
Ecclesiastes 1: 9-10 "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said. See, this is new? It hath been already of old time, which was before us."
Now, who are set in their contemporary ways, it seems the I and Me generations. Well you can have it your way, but for me, I like God's way.
Joyce A. Phaneuf
North Webster
Hot Summer
Editor, Times-Union:For several days now, we have had a temperature of 90 degrees or more; furthermore, we still have several more weeks of summer to contend with, including August, and who knows what August will bring?
One thing we can be thankful for is that magnificent modern convenience for keeping cool, the soothing, refreshing heaven-sent air conditioner. How well I recall those times decades ago when summer came round with its scorching hot weather, and due to lack of air conditioning, much misery and discomfort came with it. During those days of the depression, many of the poor and middle class citizens of the community could little afford the luxury of an air conditioner; therefore, they had to make do with just a small electric fan to give themselves a bit of relief from the stuffy, sweltering atmosphere.
I remember when families couldn't afford a refrigerator, only an ordinary icebox and how, when you forgot to empty the water catcher beneath it, water would overflow onto the kitchen floor, and if there was a dog or cat around, the animal was in its glory keeping cool by lapping up the ice-cold water off the kitchen floor.
And then there was the iceman, the poor iceman, who often had to tote 50 pounds of ice on his back up several flights of stairs of an apartment building. Dismounting from his truck, he would glance up and detect a card in a customer's window designating the fact that that certain customer wanted 50 pounds of ice delivered; so, the iceman would heave 50 pounds of ice up over his shoulder, then, huffing and puffing, he would lug it up two or three flights of stairs. Once in a while, after the iceman had arrived at the top of the stairs, the customer would inform the iceman that he needed only 25 pounds of ice, that he turned the wrong side of the card toward the window. Oh, for the life of an iceman!
Now, in reference to the hot weather, I have another little tidbit. I once heard the tale of a man who, on a hot summer's night, lay in bed sweltering in the dark with the window closed; so, deciding that he needed some air, rather than get up to open the window, he reached down, grabbed his shoe off the floor and threw it at what he thought was the window. Hearing a shattering of glass, with great relief, he fell asleep. The only trouble was, he didn't hit the window. It was the mirror that had shattered.
In closing, I think of the old lady, who, with a tired yawn, uttered, "Well, this world, then the next, then come the fireworks!" In that case, let's hope that these fireworks are no hotter that the "fireworks" that we are experiencing at the present time!
Don Kaiser
Warsaw
Support The Troops
Editor, Times-Union:A group of Veteran's Organizations are endeavoring to establish each Friday, beginning July 22, a Red Friday.
We are encouraging all citizens to wear something red, each Friday, as long as the war on terrorism lasts, to show visible support for all our troops, especially those in harm's way.
Our brave young men and women are doing a fantastic job in Iraq and Afghanistan and need to know they have our overwhelming, continued support!
"Hate the war, if you will, but not the warrior!"
Don Guard
Leesburg
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- Older Generation - Hot Summer - Support The Troops
Older Generation
Editor, Times-Union:Do you like to hear people say, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks?"
People refer this to the older generation. Why is it that younger people think that older people are set in their ways? As one looks back on one's life, are we ever set in our ways?
Having looked back on one's life, this person went to grade school in the deep depression, where everyone was poor and we were glad to have clothes and shoes to wear to school. No one was any better than the other.
During one's high school years, 1941-45, we experienced World War II, where our lives were changed. A very great change in our lives at that time. Our thoughts were not on ourselves but on our service people.
There was gas rationing.
There was food rationing.
Students and teachers rode bicycles to school or walked.
Women went to work.
There was a great change in everyone.
The greatest change that happened in our country after the war was in the late '50s, '60s and '70s. Rock 'n' Roll and Hippies, the Me and I generation, the I don't care how I look, free sex, loose living and etc.
Fashions changed and some of us changed with it, to a more casual dress. I did. And to a more moderate way of living and thinking. What keeps people going is accepting certain changes. There are changes in life that one can accept and things we can not accept. This is true with all ages.
Why have I written this? Because in our churches today, the words "traditional services" are for the older generation. The word tradition means: "the handing down of customs, practices, doctrines, etc., something so handed down." (Webster Dictionary).
I would say people of my age that I know, are more moderate.
The contemporary services (Just how Contemporary is it?): More modern music, yet all music is played on seven notes, what's new about that?
They take an offering, well that's also in the traditional service, what's new about that? The church has been doing that for many generations.
Sermons, what's new about that - even Peter preached a sermon back in 35 A.D. That's quite traditional!
One thing very traditional with that - Christians took Sunday for their sabbath which has been going on for thousands of years, I would say that's very traditional. There are many things about our services, both the traditional and contemporary that are traditional, right?
So both services are traditional.
When one gets down to it, is there any difference in the traditional and contemporary services? No.
Ecclesiastes 1: 9-10 "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said. See, this is new? It hath been already of old time, which was before us."
Now, who are set in their contemporary ways, it seems the I and Me generations. Well you can have it your way, but for me, I like God's way.
Joyce A. Phaneuf
North Webster
Hot Summer
Editor, Times-Union:For several days now, we have had a temperature of 90 degrees or more; furthermore, we still have several more weeks of summer to contend with, including August, and who knows what August will bring?
One thing we can be thankful for is that magnificent modern convenience for keeping cool, the soothing, refreshing heaven-sent air conditioner. How well I recall those times decades ago when summer came round with its scorching hot weather, and due to lack of air conditioning, much misery and discomfort came with it. During those days of the depression, many of the poor and middle class citizens of the community could little afford the luxury of an air conditioner; therefore, they had to make do with just a small electric fan to give themselves a bit of relief from the stuffy, sweltering atmosphere.
I remember when families couldn't afford a refrigerator, only an ordinary icebox and how, when you forgot to empty the water catcher beneath it, water would overflow onto the kitchen floor, and if there was a dog or cat around, the animal was in its glory keeping cool by lapping up the ice-cold water off the kitchen floor.
And then there was the iceman, the poor iceman, who often had to tote 50 pounds of ice on his back up several flights of stairs of an apartment building. Dismounting from his truck, he would glance up and detect a card in a customer's window designating the fact that that certain customer wanted 50 pounds of ice delivered; so, the iceman would heave 50 pounds of ice up over his shoulder, then, huffing and puffing, he would lug it up two or three flights of stairs. Once in a while, after the iceman had arrived at the top of the stairs, the customer would inform the iceman that he needed only 25 pounds of ice, that he turned the wrong side of the card toward the window. Oh, for the life of an iceman!
Now, in reference to the hot weather, I have another little tidbit. I once heard the tale of a man who, on a hot summer's night, lay in bed sweltering in the dark with the window closed; so, deciding that he needed some air, rather than get up to open the window, he reached down, grabbed his shoe off the floor and threw it at what he thought was the window. Hearing a shattering of glass, with great relief, he fell asleep. The only trouble was, he didn't hit the window. It was the mirror that had shattered.
In closing, I think of the old lady, who, with a tired yawn, uttered, "Well, this world, then the next, then come the fireworks!" In that case, let's hope that these fireworks are no hotter that the "fireworks" that we are experiencing at the present time!
Don Kaiser
Warsaw
Support The Troops
Editor, Times-Union:A group of Veteran's Organizations are endeavoring to establish each Friday, beginning July 22, a Red Friday.
We are encouraging all citizens to wear something red, each Friday, as long as the war on terrorism lasts, to show visible support for all our troops, especially those in harm's way.
Our brave young men and women are doing a fantastic job in Iraq and Afghanistan and need to know they have our overwhelming, continued support!
"Hate the war, if you will, but not the warrior!"
Don Guard
Leesburg
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