Letters to the Editor 09-18-1998
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Private Life - Consequences - Gift Of Sight - Never Had Sex
Private Life
Editor, Times-Union:In 1988, ten years ago, the late Dr. Richard C. Halverson, Chaplain of the United States Senate, penned these compelling words in an article, "Earning the Public Trust":
"The people have the right - indeed the responsibility - to examine political candidates on the basis of more than their stand on issues, although issues are important. What is ultimately essential to a candidate's qualifications for public office is the trustworthiness of the candidate. Does she have integrity? Is he honest? Does he seek public office for legitimate reasons? Can she be depended upon to serve the common good even when it is unpopular to do so? Is he willing to take the political risks to work and vote as though he is not up for reelection?
"In this context, it is a contradiction to argue that the private life of a candidate is irrelevant to his/her qualifications for public office. If candidates cannot be trusted in their private affairs, they are not worthy to be granted the public trust."
One would hope that the American people would not lower the bar of integrity, honesty and personal ethics that we have a right to expect in our elected officials, at all levels, simply by the example of the person who now holds our nation's highest office. One would hope, in fact, that the backwash of public shame and disgust would cause us, for the benefit of future generations, to raise the bar!
Larry N. Chamberlain, Executive Director, Grace Brethren North American Missions, Winona Lake
Consequences
Editor, Times-Union:This is for the man who has decided not to vote anymore and everyone like him. Maybe it is better that you don't vote anymore because it is people like you who put a president like Clinton in office. What happened with our country years ago does not justify what this man has done. When Bill Clinton decided to have an affair with Monica Lewinsky he didn't just hurt his family, he hurt a whole country. If we continue to allow our presidents to get by with this sort of thing and all the other things you talked about, this country will keep going down hill. "If" President Clinton asked God from his heart to forgive him and I say "if" because, how do we know "if" he is telling the truth. God will forgive him and help him put his life back together. It doesn't mean he won't have to suffer for what he has done. Doing things that are wrong has its consequences and that is something our President and everyone who supports him needs to realize. If this sex lie, as you have put it would not have put him in front of the whole world for him to lie straight to our faces about, something else would have. He is wrong and should take what is coming to him and go on!
Kris Starner, Akron
Gift Of Sight
Editor, Times-Union:Belinda Smith was a college student when an eye disease nearly destroyed her vision. Unable to read, unable to drive, unable to earn her living, her plans to become a teacher were shattered. However, a corneal transplant restored her sight. She finished college and became the teacher she had planned to be.
Despite the recent networking of medical eye banks to supply eye tissue where needed, there are still people waiting to have their sight restored. The number of donors has not kept pace with the demand. Anyone - even a person with poor vision - is a potential eye donor.
Inform the members of your family of your desire to donate your eyes upon your death and sign the form on the back of your driver's license. Eyes donated through a will are useless because of the delay in probating the will. It is possible to give the gift of sight but your doing these two things will make it more likely to happen.
Berniece H. Dwyer, Milford
Never Had Sex
Editor, Times-Union:If Monica had been a virgin before her sexual encounter with President Clinton, she still would be because they never had sex (sexual relations/sexual intercourse).
Virgin brides have used the President's definition for centuries.
As long as the couple didn't go "all the way," no matter how intimate they were, they could honestly say they never had "sex" before marriage. True?
Rebecca Ritter, Columbia City
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- Private Life - Consequences - Gift Of Sight - Never Had Sex
Private Life
Editor, Times-Union:In 1988, ten years ago, the late Dr. Richard C. Halverson, Chaplain of the United States Senate, penned these compelling words in an article, "Earning the Public Trust":
"The people have the right - indeed the responsibility - to examine political candidates on the basis of more than their stand on issues, although issues are important. What is ultimately essential to a candidate's qualifications for public office is the trustworthiness of the candidate. Does she have integrity? Is he honest? Does he seek public office for legitimate reasons? Can she be depended upon to serve the common good even when it is unpopular to do so? Is he willing to take the political risks to work and vote as though he is not up for reelection?
"In this context, it is a contradiction to argue that the private life of a candidate is irrelevant to his/her qualifications for public office. If candidates cannot be trusted in their private affairs, they are not worthy to be granted the public trust."
One would hope that the American people would not lower the bar of integrity, honesty and personal ethics that we have a right to expect in our elected officials, at all levels, simply by the example of the person who now holds our nation's highest office. One would hope, in fact, that the backwash of public shame and disgust would cause us, for the benefit of future generations, to raise the bar!
Larry N. Chamberlain, Executive Director, Grace Brethren North American Missions, Winona Lake
Consequences
Editor, Times-Union:This is for the man who has decided not to vote anymore and everyone like him. Maybe it is better that you don't vote anymore because it is people like you who put a president like Clinton in office. What happened with our country years ago does not justify what this man has done. When Bill Clinton decided to have an affair with Monica Lewinsky he didn't just hurt his family, he hurt a whole country. If we continue to allow our presidents to get by with this sort of thing and all the other things you talked about, this country will keep going down hill. "If" President Clinton asked God from his heart to forgive him and I say "if" because, how do we know "if" he is telling the truth. God will forgive him and help him put his life back together. It doesn't mean he won't have to suffer for what he has done. Doing things that are wrong has its consequences and that is something our President and everyone who supports him needs to realize. If this sex lie, as you have put it would not have put him in front of the whole world for him to lie straight to our faces about, something else would have. He is wrong and should take what is coming to him and go on!
Kris Starner, Akron
Gift Of Sight
Editor, Times-Union:Belinda Smith was a college student when an eye disease nearly destroyed her vision. Unable to read, unable to drive, unable to earn her living, her plans to become a teacher were shattered. However, a corneal transplant restored her sight. She finished college and became the teacher she had planned to be.
Despite the recent networking of medical eye banks to supply eye tissue where needed, there are still people waiting to have their sight restored. The number of donors has not kept pace with the demand. Anyone - even a person with poor vision - is a potential eye donor.
Inform the members of your family of your desire to donate your eyes upon your death and sign the form on the back of your driver's license. Eyes donated through a will are useless because of the delay in probating the will. It is possible to give the gift of sight but your doing these two things will make it more likely to happen.
Berniece H. Dwyer, Milford
Never Had Sex
Editor, Times-Union:If Monica had been a virgin before her sexual encounter with President Clinton, she still would be because they never had sex (sexual relations/sexual intercourse).
Virgin brides have used the President's definition for centuries.
As long as the couple didn't go "all the way," no matter how intimate they were, they could honestly say they never had "sex" before marriage. True?
Rebecca Ritter, Columbia City
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