Letters to the Editor 09-21-2001
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Trust God - Court System Outrage - WHS Commemoration - Gas Advantage - Church And State - Spiritual Strength
Trust God
Editor, Times-Union:Reflecting on the events of the past week, I have questioned what my response should be. As I began to see what was happening, I am afraid that the response of my heart and mind was not right. Out of shock and frustration I thought and said things that were not right.
I needed to get the right perspective on these events and my response. The following are my conclusions. I will mention some passages from the Bible. Please find a Bible and read these for yourself. Limited space does not allow the quoting of them.
First, I note that God says we are living in a world that harbors evil (Psalm 37:5-9).
Second, in the midst of an evil world Jesus said he would give peace. This peace is not dependent upon perfect circumstances (John 14:27).
Third, there is a proper response within the realm of justice and righteousness. This is given to the authority of the government as ordained by God (Romans 13:1-5). The people in these positions are held accountable before God for their actions that they are just and right.
Fourth, there is an individual response apart from the powers that be. The responsibility of the individual is to love your enemy; be good to them; pray for them. Do not seek vengeance against them or repay evil for evil. This is God's prerogative and will be done in a perfectly just way (Romans 12:14-21). It is a shame upon America that there are those who are striking out against people of Islamic faith (some who are even American citizens).
Fifth, there will come a time when true peace will reign on the Earth (Isaiah 9:6,7).
Until this is all played out in history, it is necessary to understand the above mentioned points. We need to trust an all knowing, loving and sovereign God. Continue to pray for our country and God Bless America!
A citizen who loves God and America,
Don Moffett
Warsaw
Court System Outrage
Editor, Times-Union:I am outraged as we all should be. We all need to be concerned about our courts and the judicial system.
I attended a sentencing hearing this morning for a child molester. I was there for moral support for the victim and their family. This child molester had pleaded guilty to the crime. The victim gave a very powerful impact statement, telling how it has affected their life. The victim stated that it will remain with them forever and of the nightmares they have because of it. The victim asked the court to please make sure that this child molester will never be able to harm another child and please put him in jail. The parents were not allowed to give a statement to the judge in court this morning, to tell the judge how this has affected this child and their family, how it will be with them forever. After the statement was made, the judge said "OK," then proceeded to "sentence" this guy. We were all shocked at what happened next. The jduge put this child molester on probation. The one time he spent in jail was one day. It was called "a plea agreement." This child molester had already pleaded guilty to this horrendous crime against a child. But still there was a plea agreement. When this crime happened, this child molester was in a position of authority. He told the judge this morning that this is the first time he had done anything like this. I believe this was the first time he had been caught. A few minutes after the sentencing was over, a deputy sheriff walked him to his car, protecting him. Where were the authorities when this crime was happening? Were they there to protect the victim? No. Don't victims have rights? Or do these child molesters have all the rights?
We need to take a long, hard look at our laws and the judicial system. We need judges who will have enough backbone to put these predators where they belong. We need judges who will stand up and say, "You will never harm another child" and put them in prison where they will never harm another and not to roam the streets to prey on other victims. We need judges who will listen to victims and their families. We don't need plea agreements, we need justice.
Remember this at election time.
Dallas Baugher
Warsaw
WHS Commemoration
Editor, Times-Union:During the summer, I decided that I would invest in two ideas that had been on my mind for several years. The first idea was creating some gadget to celebrate the West Main Street school building that was known mostly as Warsaw High School. The school was demolished in 1978, after sitting vacant for three years. At the time of demolition many people collected bricks from the building as souvenirs. However, nothing much came of properly identifying these souvenir bricks.
I've posted a picture of the building in its original configuration, before the science/gymnasium and auditorium wings were added, to the Warsaw High School Class of 1956 Web site. The picture is from a post card which noted that the original section was built in 1895. Since we're celebrating a building, I took that as the birth date and used the demolition date as the death date.
The Web site is: warsaw56.org and is linked to the Warsaw Times-Union Web site.
I've had made a limited edition magnesium plaque which can be affixed to a WHS brick as noted in the picture. The plaques are for sale for $15 each, which includes the mailing. Installation instructions or suggestions are also included.
The plaque makes a great gift to those high school friends you treasure. Be the first on your block to have one! This is of value to an eighty-something-year WHS alumni.
To purchase, just send a note with your order and a check to: Bill Chinworth, 2322 E. Hawthorne St., Tucson, AZ 85719-4942.
Bill Chinworth
Tucson, Ariz.
Gas Advantage
Editor, Times-Union:The United States endured one of the worst losses in history. So many thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost loved ones and to those who have been injured. May God be with you. It saddens me to think, at a time when our country is mourning, how these gas stations can jack their prices up and take advantage of such a sad situation.
As President Bush said during a news conference, "They may be able to move buildings, but they CAN'T move the American people. We are strong and we're proud to be in America." So people please, it's time to stand up and refuse not to pay these ridiculous gas prices. Car pool if you have to, don't worry about your lawns, they'll be there tomorrow, next month, next spring, as far as that goes. Eventually the gas stations will drop their heads in shame, and they should.
Ginger S. Moore
Claypool
Church And State
Editor, Times-Union:This is to inquire as to if we REALLY have a separation of church and state or just when it's convenient. On Thursday 9/13/2001my children were made to listen to the church service in Washington. I REALLY don't have a problem with this. What I DO HAVE a problem with is the fact that a group of people and the courts can rule not to put the Ten Commandments on the front lawn of a courthouse, and deny children the right to hold prayer meetings in school, yet "when it's convenient" make the entire school watch a church mass. Let's put the morals that most of us grew up with back in society and BRING BACK THE UNITY OF CHURCH AND STATE!
This is why the youth of today is so confused, there are two sets of rules ... one for administrators and one for everyone else!
Lawrence V. Tezekjian
Winona Lake
via e-mail
Spiritual Strength
Editor, Times-Union:There are several ways children can be handicapped. However, I would like to suggest a way that is less obvious until a tremendous personal or national disaster happens.
Parents who haven't spiritual strength themselves are handicapped and lack the ability to help their sons and daughters who become handicapped.
Due to parents' love and care for their children, they are given the place of most influence in their children's lives. What happens is that their values or lack of values are assumed by their offspring. If and when the spiritual dimension is not given, their children are handicapped to face the basic challenges of life which are spiritual. To feed, clothe, give shelter and to school them alone is hard enough, but to neglect their training in spiritual reality is to rob them of basic strength to live successfully and helpfully, which the creator God intends for each and everyone born to earthly life.
The Holy Bible in the early book of Deuteronomy, verses 6-7 of Chapter 6, gives instruction to all parents so that they and their children not be handicapped spiritually but ready to face the personal and even disasters of national dimensions such as presently with us.
Parents, the places of worship in your community have been built by people and sustained by people who have faith in God your and our creator. If you have passed these places by until now, know that the people therein are worshiping God to not be spiritually handicapped but ready to face life with confidence and hope in spite of personal and national disasters.
Someone rightly said, "You are not ready to live until you are ready to die." God help you to go now to the church of your choice or your neighborhood for your and your children's sake.
C.L. Hendrix
Winona Lake
via e-mail
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- Trust God - Court System Outrage - WHS Commemoration - Gas Advantage - Church And State - Spiritual Strength
Trust God
Editor, Times-Union:Reflecting on the events of the past week, I have questioned what my response should be. As I began to see what was happening, I am afraid that the response of my heart and mind was not right. Out of shock and frustration I thought and said things that were not right.
I needed to get the right perspective on these events and my response. The following are my conclusions. I will mention some passages from the Bible. Please find a Bible and read these for yourself. Limited space does not allow the quoting of them.
First, I note that God says we are living in a world that harbors evil (Psalm 37:5-9).
Second, in the midst of an evil world Jesus said he would give peace. This peace is not dependent upon perfect circumstances (John 14:27).
Third, there is a proper response within the realm of justice and righteousness. This is given to the authority of the government as ordained by God (Romans 13:1-5). The people in these positions are held accountable before God for their actions that they are just and right.
Fourth, there is an individual response apart from the powers that be. The responsibility of the individual is to love your enemy; be good to them; pray for them. Do not seek vengeance against them or repay evil for evil. This is God's prerogative and will be done in a perfectly just way (Romans 12:14-21). It is a shame upon America that there are those who are striking out against people of Islamic faith (some who are even American citizens).
Fifth, there will come a time when true peace will reign on the Earth (Isaiah 9:6,7).
Until this is all played out in history, it is necessary to understand the above mentioned points. We need to trust an all knowing, loving and sovereign God. Continue to pray for our country and God Bless America!
A citizen who loves God and America,
Don Moffett
Warsaw
Court System Outrage
Editor, Times-Union:I am outraged as we all should be. We all need to be concerned about our courts and the judicial system.
I attended a sentencing hearing this morning for a child molester. I was there for moral support for the victim and their family. This child molester had pleaded guilty to the crime. The victim gave a very powerful impact statement, telling how it has affected their life. The victim stated that it will remain with them forever and of the nightmares they have because of it. The victim asked the court to please make sure that this child molester will never be able to harm another child and please put him in jail. The parents were not allowed to give a statement to the judge in court this morning, to tell the judge how this has affected this child and their family, how it will be with them forever. After the statement was made, the judge said "OK," then proceeded to "sentence" this guy. We were all shocked at what happened next. The jduge put this child molester on probation. The one time he spent in jail was one day. It was called "a plea agreement." This child molester had already pleaded guilty to this horrendous crime against a child. But still there was a plea agreement. When this crime happened, this child molester was in a position of authority. He told the judge this morning that this is the first time he had done anything like this. I believe this was the first time he had been caught. A few minutes after the sentencing was over, a deputy sheriff walked him to his car, protecting him. Where were the authorities when this crime was happening? Were they there to protect the victim? No. Don't victims have rights? Or do these child molesters have all the rights?
We need to take a long, hard look at our laws and the judicial system. We need judges who will have enough backbone to put these predators where they belong. We need judges who will stand up and say, "You will never harm another child" and put them in prison where they will never harm another and not to roam the streets to prey on other victims. We need judges who will listen to victims and their families. We don't need plea agreements, we need justice.
Remember this at election time.
Dallas Baugher
Warsaw
WHS Commemoration
Editor, Times-Union:During the summer, I decided that I would invest in two ideas that had been on my mind for several years. The first idea was creating some gadget to celebrate the West Main Street school building that was known mostly as Warsaw High School. The school was demolished in 1978, after sitting vacant for three years. At the time of demolition many people collected bricks from the building as souvenirs. However, nothing much came of properly identifying these souvenir bricks.
I've posted a picture of the building in its original configuration, before the science/gymnasium and auditorium wings were added, to the Warsaw High School Class of 1956 Web site. The picture is from a post card which noted that the original section was built in 1895. Since we're celebrating a building, I took that as the birth date and used the demolition date as the death date.
The Web site is: warsaw56.org and is linked to the Warsaw Times-Union Web site.
I've had made a limited edition magnesium plaque which can be affixed to a WHS brick as noted in the picture. The plaques are for sale for $15 each, which includes the mailing. Installation instructions or suggestions are also included.
The plaque makes a great gift to those high school friends you treasure. Be the first on your block to have one! This is of value to an eighty-something-year WHS alumni.
To purchase, just send a note with your order and a check to: Bill Chinworth, 2322 E. Hawthorne St., Tucson, AZ 85719-4942.
Bill Chinworth
Tucson, Ariz.
Gas Advantage
Editor, Times-Union:The United States endured one of the worst losses in history. So many thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost loved ones and to those who have been injured. May God be with you. It saddens me to think, at a time when our country is mourning, how these gas stations can jack their prices up and take advantage of such a sad situation.
As President Bush said during a news conference, "They may be able to move buildings, but they CAN'T move the American people. We are strong and we're proud to be in America." So people please, it's time to stand up and refuse not to pay these ridiculous gas prices. Car pool if you have to, don't worry about your lawns, they'll be there tomorrow, next month, next spring, as far as that goes. Eventually the gas stations will drop their heads in shame, and they should.
Ginger S. Moore
Claypool
Church And State
Editor, Times-Union:This is to inquire as to if we REALLY have a separation of church and state or just when it's convenient. On Thursday 9/13/2001my children were made to listen to the church service in Washington. I REALLY don't have a problem with this. What I DO HAVE a problem with is the fact that a group of people and the courts can rule not to put the Ten Commandments on the front lawn of a courthouse, and deny children the right to hold prayer meetings in school, yet "when it's convenient" make the entire school watch a church mass. Let's put the morals that most of us grew up with back in society and BRING BACK THE UNITY OF CHURCH AND STATE!
This is why the youth of today is so confused, there are two sets of rules ... one for administrators and one for everyone else!
Lawrence V. Tezekjian
Winona Lake
via e-mail
Spiritual Strength
Editor, Times-Union:There are several ways children can be handicapped. However, I would like to suggest a way that is less obvious until a tremendous personal or national disaster happens.
Parents who haven't spiritual strength themselves are handicapped and lack the ability to help their sons and daughters who become handicapped.
Due to parents' love and care for their children, they are given the place of most influence in their children's lives. What happens is that their values or lack of values are assumed by their offspring. If and when the spiritual dimension is not given, their children are handicapped to face the basic challenges of life which are spiritual. To feed, clothe, give shelter and to school them alone is hard enough, but to neglect their training in spiritual reality is to rob them of basic strength to live successfully and helpfully, which the creator God intends for each and everyone born to earthly life.
The Holy Bible in the early book of Deuteronomy, verses 6-7 of Chapter 6, gives instruction to all parents so that they and their children not be handicapped spiritually but ready to face the personal and even disasters of national dimensions such as presently with us.
Parents, the places of worship in your community have been built by people and sustained by people who have faith in God your and our creator. If you have passed these places by until now, know that the people therein are worshiping God to not be spiritually handicapped but ready to face life with confidence and hope in spite of personal and national disasters.
Someone rightly said, "You are not ready to live until you are ready to die." God help you to go now to the church of your choice or your neighborhood for your and your children's sake.
C.L. Hendrix
Winona Lake
via e-mail
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