Letters to the Editor 10-27-2006
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Changing Tactics - Pray - Cornea Donation - Amendment Of War - Toll Road Correction - In God's Image
Changing Tactics
Editor, Times-Union:It was hard to keep a straight face when the President said that he was flexible in his approach to the war in Iraq and that he was not an inflexible "stay the course" person. After hearing him use this phrase many times, such a denial was the type of statement political comedians long for. Earlier, the White House tried to separate tactics and strategy and say that the tactics were changed to meet changing conditions in Iraq. But the last three times I heard the President talk about this, he lumped tactics and strategy together. Now, he is saying that the approach to the war is constantly changing.
Vice President Cheney is quoted in Time magazine as saying that "We are not looking for an exit strategy. We are looking for a victory." Last night on the News Hour, one of the people pointed out that the administration has made changes in the way they talk about victory so that the statement is a bit ambiguous. (Cheney ambiguous? Wow!)
So, let's see, we are not going to say "stay the course" any longer. And when this phrase was used earlier, the listeners should have understood that the meaning of both stay and course were constantly changing. Given that, the fluid definition of victory is not surprising.
This administration has been very good on coming up with slogans but we are now finding out that these slogans have ever-changing meanings. I propose that the presidential press secretary issue a list of definitions each Monday so we know what the current meanings are of the words in these slogans.
In looking at lists of alternatives for Iraq, it is clear that the real only way to get some form of peace in the region will be to involve Syria, Iran, the U.S., England and perhaps Turkey and/or Saudi Arabia. If this happens, and I think it will, it should be fascinating to see all the words and phrases that get redefined so the administration will not appear to be caving in to external pressure or be interpreted as being weak. To speed the process, I propose we send the President ambiguous phrases that can be used to cover this situation.
James Streator
Claypool,
via e-mail
Pray
Editor, Times-Union:We have much to be thankful for. Tornados, floods, earthquakes and so on elsewhere. We should not only ask God for our needs, but thank and praise Him for the blessings we receive, especially peace.
I would like to ask each of you to pray every night for the following:
1. Let's thank Him for peace in our country. Let's ask Him to give wisdom to security to be able to keep on top of all drugists and terrorists.
2. Election is coming up. Let's pray every night that the ones that get elected will be the ones who pleased our God, as well that it pleases us.
3. Let's also pray every night that the Lord will encourage Congress and the courts to do their work well so it pleases God. God's ways are always the best for all of us.
The Bible reads, "... You do not have, because you do not ask," James 4:2. Let's ask and then look forward for His response. This is a large order but, "All things are possible with God." Mark 10:27.
Leslie E. Swanson
Winona Lake
Cornea Donation
Editor, Times-Union:A teacher was finding that she had to hold her students' papers up close to her eyes to read them. She was losing her sight because the corneas of her eyes were becoming coned. The cornea has been called the front window of the eye - a clear, thin piece of tissue through which light must pass.
Her eye surgeon replaced the defective cornea of her left eye with a healthy cornea taken from a deceased donor's eyes. Almost immediately she had improved vision in this eye. The same procedure, a cornea transplant, was done to her right eye with the same good results.
The healthy corneas were taken from a deceased donor's eyes. You, too, can give the gift of sight when you no longer have need for your eyes. Informing your next of kin of your desire to do so will make it more likely to happen. Physicians are reluctant to remove tissue or organs without consent of next of kin.
Berniece H. Dwyer
Milford
Amendment Of War
Editor, Times-Union:This is the second part of my letter dealing with a Constitutional amendment concerning declarations of war. The first part of my letter was printed in the Oct. 3 edition of the Times-Union. There are also several more sources to be added to the 23 listed in my Oct. 3 letter that I used in writing this amendment.
24. The Oxford Guide to the United States Government.
25. Checks and Balances: The Three Branches of American Government Volume I: Executive.
26. Checks and Balances: The Three Branches of American Government Volume II: Legislative.
27. Checks and Balances: The Three Branches of American Government Volume III: Judicial.
28. Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary: 11th Edition.
29. Webster's New World: Roget's A-Z Thesaurus.
30. Keys for Writers: A Brief Handbook.
*Most of these sources of information are available at the Warsaw Community Public Library.
So in light of past wars in U.S. history, the current war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the possible wars with Syria, Iran and North Korea, Article I Section eight of the Constitution should be updated with the first part of the following proposed constitutional amendment.
Congress shall have the sole authority through the means of a declaration of war approved by a 3/4 majority of its membership to authorize the armed forces of the United States to wage offensive military operations such as war or major acts of war against any alliance(s) who have attacked the United States, or pose a credible catastrophic threat to the continued independence of the United States as a sovereign nation and its American way of life, or who have infringed upon the lives, liberties and property of American citizens or who have attacked an ally of the United States, who we have a mutual defense treaty with.
Those readers of the Times-Union who would like to use this amendment in a letter to their U.S. representative or senator are welcome to do so. The rest of the amendment will follow in later letters to the editor.
Alexander Houze
Leesburg
Toll Road Correction
Editor, Times-Union:In my Toll Road Response letter there is an incorrect number that needs corrected. The daily interest earned by the State should read $523,000 per day for the 106 days we have had it. In my original fax, I had a typo of $523,00 which the printer typed as $52,300. My missing "0" appears to verify Mr. Rensberger's number rather than refuting it.
Dave Wolkins
Winona Lake
via e-mail
In God's Image
Editor, Times-Union:Do you know you are created in the image of God? You ask, "What does that mean?" and "What does that make me?" "If so, what can I do about it?"
Let us start with the first question. The Christian Bible, the very first book, Genesis, tells the creation of our first parents, Adam and Eve. It's a fascinating story! If you have or can get a whole Bible, which has an Old Testament and New Testament in it, read the creation story of day and night, of the earth and sea, plants, sun, moon, and stars, birds, animals, fish and our first ancestors.
In that first and second chapter, God made Adam and Eve and gave them charge of all He created. Time and endless generations of people have passed and lived. Here we are, with the same opportunities that were given them, and presently given to us.
We marvel at what others have accomplished with the bodies, minds, and souls which God has given them, and is still giving to and through people. There are others who didn't and are not using God's unique talents to them to honor Him and benefit others. What a remarkably wonderful world God has given to us through those who cooperated with Him. And, what terribly distorted conditions have come from others who acted as gods selfishly to the detriment of great numbers of God's people over His world.
As a child, I was told by an older cousin that he and his brother had built a crystal radio set. I went to their home. I listened intently as it was turned on. After a lot of squawking static I heard a voice, and they and I smiled. Now, not only they heard the voice, I had also! I'm glad my cousin told me about the voice I could hear on the primitive radio, which another of God's gifted men had created.
You are a creation of God. You are unique. He made you so you could share in His creation, and laugh, and love and "tune in" to hear His voice, through prayer. There is the reason for your existence as was true in those early chapters of the Bible book of Genesis. God equipped you to fulfill His plan for you in His world.
We Christians believe that it is never too late to "tune in" to God, and if we have sinned in any way, large or small, by accepting Jesus, who died on the cross for our sins, we can get on with God's plan for our existence, plus the promise of a home in heaven with God after life is over.
You are special indeed, to God, who made you in His image. Tune in today through prayer.
C.L.Hendrix, via e-mail
Winona Lake
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- Changing Tactics - Pray - Cornea Donation - Amendment Of War - Toll Road Correction - In God's Image
Changing Tactics
Editor, Times-Union:It was hard to keep a straight face when the President said that he was flexible in his approach to the war in Iraq and that he was not an inflexible "stay the course" person. After hearing him use this phrase many times, such a denial was the type of statement political comedians long for. Earlier, the White House tried to separate tactics and strategy and say that the tactics were changed to meet changing conditions in Iraq. But the last three times I heard the President talk about this, he lumped tactics and strategy together. Now, he is saying that the approach to the war is constantly changing.
Vice President Cheney is quoted in Time magazine as saying that "We are not looking for an exit strategy. We are looking for a victory." Last night on the News Hour, one of the people pointed out that the administration has made changes in the way they talk about victory so that the statement is a bit ambiguous. (Cheney ambiguous? Wow!)
So, let's see, we are not going to say "stay the course" any longer. And when this phrase was used earlier, the listeners should have understood that the meaning of both stay and course were constantly changing. Given that, the fluid definition of victory is not surprising.
This administration has been very good on coming up with slogans but we are now finding out that these slogans have ever-changing meanings. I propose that the presidential press secretary issue a list of definitions each Monday so we know what the current meanings are of the words in these slogans.
In looking at lists of alternatives for Iraq, it is clear that the real only way to get some form of peace in the region will be to involve Syria, Iran, the U.S., England and perhaps Turkey and/or Saudi Arabia. If this happens, and I think it will, it should be fascinating to see all the words and phrases that get redefined so the administration will not appear to be caving in to external pressure or be interpreted as being weak. To speed the process, I propose we send the President ambiguous phrases that can be used to cover this situation.
James Streator
Claypool,
via e-mail
Pray
Editor, Times-Union:We have much to be thankful for. Tornados, floods, earthquakes and so on elsewhere. We should not only ask God for our needs, but thank and praise Him for the blessings we receive, especially peace.
I would like to ask each of you to pray every night for the following:
1. Let's thank Him for peace in our country. Let's ask Him to give wisdom to security to be able to keep on top of all drugists and terrorists.
2. Election is coming up. Let's pray every night that the ones that get elected will be the ones who pleased our God, as well that it pleases us.
3. Let's also pray every night that the Lord will encourage Congress and the courts to do their work well so it pleases God. God's ways are always the best for all of us.
The Bible reads, "... You do not have, because you do not ask," James 4:2. Let's ask and then look forward for His response. This is a large order but, "All things are possible with God." Mark 10:27.
Leslie E. Swanson
Winona Lake
Cornea Donation
Editor, Times-Union:A teacher was finding that she had to hold her students' papers up close to her eyes to read them. She was losing her sight because the corneas of her eyes were becoming coned. The cornea has been called the front window of the eye - a clear, thin piece of tissue through which light must pass.
Her eye surgeon replaced the defective cornea of her left eye with a healthy cornea taken from a deceased donor's eyes. Almost immediately she had improved vision in this eye. The same procedure, a cornea transplant, was done to her right eye with the same good results.
The healthy corneas were taken from a deceased donor's eyes. You, too, can give the gift of sight when you no longer have need for your eyes. Informing your next of kin of your desire to do so will make it more likely to happen. Physicians are reluctant to remove tissue or organs without consent of next of kin.
Berniece H. Dwyer
Milford
Amendment Of War
Editor, Times-Union:This is the second part of my letter dealing with a Constitutional amendment concerning declarations of war. The first part of my letter was printed in the Oct. 3 edition of the Times-Union. There are also several more sources to be added to the 23 listed in my Oct. 3 letter that I used in writing this amendment.
24. The Oxford Guide to the United States Government.
25. Checks and Balances: The Three Branches of American Government Volume I: Executive.
26. Checks and Balances: The Three Branches of American Government Volume II: Legislative.
27. Checks and Balances: The Three Branches of American Government Volume III: Judicial.
28. Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary: 11th Edition.
29. Webster's New World: Roget's A-Z Thesaurus.
30. Keys for Writers: A Brief Handbook.
*Most of these sources of information are available at the Warsaw Community Public Library.
So in light of past wars in U.S. history, the current war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the possible wars with Syria, Iran and North Korea, Article I Section eight of the Constitution should be updated with the first part of the following proposed constitutional amendment.
Congress shall have the sole authority through the means of a declaration of war approved by a 3/4 majority of its membership to authorize the armed forces of the United States to wage offensive military operations such as war or major acts of war against any alliance(s) who have attacked the United States, or pose a credible catastrophic threat to the continued independence of the United States as a sovereign nation and its American way of life, or who have infringed upon the lives, liberties and property of American citizens or who have attacked an ally of the United States, who we have a mutual defense treaty with.
Those readers of the Times-Union who would like to use this amendment in a letter to their U.S. representative or senator are welcome to do so. The rest of the amendment will follow in later letters to the editor.
Alexander Houze
Leesburg
Toll Road Correction
Editor, Times-Union:In my Toll Road Response letter there is an incorrect number that needs corrected. The daily interest earned by the State should read $523,000 per day for the 106 days we have had it. In my original fax, I had a typo of $523,00 which the printer typed as $52,300. My missing "0" appears to verify Mr. Rensberger's number rather than refuting it.
Dave Wolkins
Winona Lake
via e-mail
In God's Image
Editor, Times-Union:Do you know you are created in the image of God? You ask, "What does that mean?" and "What does that make me?" "If so, what can I do about it?"
Let us start with the first question. The Christian Bible, the very first book, Genesis, tells the creation of our first parents, Adam and Eve. It's a fascinating story! If you have or can get a whole Bible, which has an Old Testament and New Testament in it, read the creation story of day and night, of the earth and sea, plants, sun, moon, and stars, birds, animals, fish and our first ancestors.
In that first and second chapter, God made Adam and Eve and gave them charge of all He created. Time and endless generations of people have passed and lived. Here we are, with the same opportunities that were given them, and presently given to us.
We marvel at what others have accomplished with the bodies, minds, and souls which God has given them, and is still giving to and through people. There are others who didn't and are not using God's unique talents to them to honor Him and benefit others. What a remarkably wonderful world God has given to us through those who cooperated with Him. And, what terribly distorted conditions have come from others who acted as gods selfishly to the detriment of great numbers of God's people over His world.
As a child, I was told by an older cousin that he and his brother had built a crystal radio set. I went to their home. I listened intently as it was turned on. After a lot of squawking static I heard a voice, and they and I smiled. Now, not only they heard the voice, I had also! I'm glad my cousin told me about the voice I could hear on the primitive radio, which another of God's gifted men had created.
You are a creation of God. You are unique. He made you so you could share in His creation, and laugh, and love and "tune in" to hear His voice, through prayer. There is the reason for your existence as was true in those early chapters of the Bible book of Genesis. God equipped you to fulfill His plan for you in His world.
We Christians believe that it is never too late to "tune in" to God, and if we have sinned in any way, large or small, by accepting Jesus, who died on the cross for our sins, we can get on with God's plan for our existence, plus the promise of a home in heaven with God after life is over.
You are special indeed, to God, who made you in His image. Tune in today through prayer.
C.L.Hendrix, via e-mail
Winona Lake
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