Letters to the Editor 11-06-1998
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Don't Use Drugs - Thanks To Slater Market - Libertarians - Letter In Bad Taste - Barking Dogs - Great Health Care - Animal Welfare League - Morality - Evolution/Creation - Thanks To Grace Students
Don't Use Drugs
Editor, Times-Union:I would like to encourage students to not use drugs.
Not using drugs will make it easier to achieve goals. You'll be able to remember things better, and you'll also show some interest in activities. If you don't use drugs you'll have a better chance of having a long life.
When people say, "Everyone does drugs," don't believe it. Only 14 out of every 100 people do drugs. If you like following the crowd, you shouldn't use drugs.
These are some reason to not use drugs!
Rachelle Prater, Claypool Elementary - 6th grade
Thanks To Slater Market
Editor, Times-Union:In appreciation to the Slater Market at Sidney.
I would like to take this opportunity to express thanks to Harold and Barbara Slater for a most enjoyable evening in Sidney - (Halloween night).
Harold and Barbara have been serving a meal to the trick or treaters and residents of Sidney and surrounding area for many years. They served ham and beans (cooked in a big pot outside), cornbread, hotdogs and cider. Also desserts.
This is such a good thing for our little town of Sidney and gives the kids something to do.
This is the first year I have attended and hope they do this for many more years. I'm sure it takes a lot of time and money to do this every year and Slaters deserves a big "thank you" from everyone.
Beulah Wolfe, Sidney
Libertarians
Editor, Times-Union:Thank-you 1,218 times. Given a choice of liberty, personal and economic freedom, 1,218 people voted Libertarian. In local races November third, over 10 percent of voters sided with Libertarians when offered that choice. Personal thanks from Michael Houze, Deanna Newton and Daniel Stevens.
Although the Libertarian Party formed nationally in 1971, locally the Libertarian Party of Kosciusko County officially organized with just a handful of people July of this year. From that handful, three candidates sought to provide economic and personal freedom with Libertarian solutions. Your vote was not wasted. The Libertarian party of Indiana has been growing between 5 and 10 percent each month. Four years ago there were only 5 LP candidates statewide. This election there were over 85 LP candidates across Indiana. Three Kosciusko LP candidates this year. Twenty Kosciusko LP candidates by the 2000 election.
Every 20 years, third parties are given a chance to obtain ballot access in Florida. Guess who wants a chance to vote Libertarian? 67 percent of Florida voters put Libertarians on the ballot for the year 2000. Massachusetts, Nebraska and New Mexico were also added to the list of states with LP ballot access. In all, the Libertarian Party ran 836 candidates for local, state and federal office, the most ever in party history and the largest slate of third-party candidates since the 1930s. You can be a part of the solution. Call (800)-682-1776 or http://www.LP.org for free information. Read, learn and register for the next election.
Daniel Stevens, Warsaw
Letter In Bad Taste
Editor, Times-Union:I think the letter from Rex Bradt on Nov. 2 was in very bad taste. To put down the Libertarian Party in such a way and not even giving them time to reply before the election. (How cowardly) It is time for everyone to realize there are not only two parties to choose from. And if you love your freedom and love to make your own decisions voting Libertarian is the only way to go. I commend the Libertarian Party for the effort they have put in to this election. And for trying to make this country better. Impossible is not in their vocabulary. And to tell them they don't have a chance was uncalled for. "Can't never did anything." And they will not give up. The Libertarians will try again next election. They will have my vote again. And hopefully after we all pay yet higher taxes, lose more freedom and have more of our rights taken away the next couple of years. The rest of you will wise up and vote Libertarian also.
Sheri Braden, Warsaw
Barking Dogs
Editor, Times-Union:In response to barking dogs I thought dogs were supposed to bark, and as far as the smell coming from the foundry I guess we could always shut it down because of the smell but are you willing to support the people who lose their jobs probably not. I don't know if you ever worked in a manufacturing atmosphere but any I have been in, in the last 30 years all have a different smell about them. By the way I do live way out in the country and I hear dogs bark from a long way off and in the summertime when the windows are all open and I wake up and hear the dogs barking I think, thank God it's not gun shots.
Wendell D. Randall, Claypool
Great Health Care
Editor, Times-Union:We are very fortunate in our city to have access to the very best in health care. I had the heart-breaking task of placing my wife of 56 years in a nursing home. But the compassion and patients of the wonderful people at Miller's Merry Manor (Warsaw) has dulled my pain very much. These marvelous women and men do a very difficult service for our elderly. God bless them all.
John Montgomery, Warsaw
Animal Welfare League
Editor, Times-Union:In a recent story in the Times-Union it was said that AWL, not otherwise identified, would be taking over the management of the Kosciusko County Animal Shelter. AWL means the Kosciusko County Animal Welfare League, a long established organization whose goals are the neutering of and, particularly, the finding of homes for unwanted small animals. One of their needs has been a home of their own, which until now they have not had.
The only view expressed in the story was that of Kay Amsden, present Operations Manager of the County Shelter. She seemed neither happy nor optimistic about the shelter's takeover by AWL, which will receive $30,000 yearly for the operation expense of the Shelter and in addition the salary for the Operations Manager. This support will come from the County Commissioners. AWL does not come to the Shelter as a penniless Bride. It has recently received a grant which will bring with it a yearly income that will be donated during their tenancy.
This new arrangement can only be for the benefit of the public. It is unlikely that the Shelter will ever have more funds than it needs, and friends are invited to help if they can see a way to do so.
Philip Holliday, North Webster
Morality
Editor, Times-Union:We look at our great country today and see a deterioration in the standards of conduct and morality in many of its citizens from the President on down. The strong belief in God and freedom of religion upon which our country was founded is being threatened by liberals and certain subversive organizations hiding behind seemingly patriotic slogans and charters. We see the fighting and bickering over trivial things by our elected representatives in our statehouses and Washington, DC, while very important items are tabled as they spend their time searching for 30 year old flaws in the lives of opposing party members. Billions of our tax dollars are being wasted on projects that are totally unrelated to our citizen's well being. Are these the things that our veterans put their lives on the line for in all of our nation's conflicts? Whether we like it or not, they are.
Our veteran's sacrifices seem more worthwhile and meaningful when we see a group of teenagers having prayer on the front steps of their school, we see a writeup in our local newspaper about the "Special Olympics," we find churches by the thousands of various denominations across the country open to all, we are able to travel from one state to another without the hassle of border guards and interrogators, Salvation Army and church sponsored soup kitchens for our homeless, the right to vote as we please, we still enjoy free speech, our "Bill of Rights" and "Constitution" are still intact. These are some of the important reasons that our veterans risked their lives and hundreds of thousands gave their lives for.
My wife's brother served as a co-pilot on a bomber in Europe in World War II. Most of the missions were flown with the crew's knowledge that they had only a 50/50 chance of returning to their base. A couple of years ago, my wife called her brother and thanked him for his part in protecting our freedoms. He broke down and said that she was the first one in over 50 years to thank him for his part in the war.
In our seniors golfing group in southern Georgia we have a man that joined the Marines in the early 40s and battled the Japanese in the South Pacific. His company of 28 men fought in many of the tough battles like Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal. He was the only one of the 28 that survived. All the rest were killed. Last Veteran's Day I put my hand on his shoulder and thanked him for my freedom. He told me I was the second one to thank him in over 50 years.
Let's find a veteran this Veteran's Day, shake his or her hand and tell them how much we appreciate their sacrifice for the freedom that each of us enjoy today.
Lest we forget.
Bob Inman, Mentone and Georgetown, Ga.
Evolution/Creation
Editor, Times-Union:It is vitally important to understand the evolution/creation debate and its philosophical implications and moral consequences. Mr. Hunter attempted to discuss this issue in his recent letter (Oct. 6). In a subsequent letter Mrs. Rousos-Stangis was critical of his comments and challenged his sources of information (Oct. 21). Fortunately, the sources are plentiful which I will gladly supply upon request.
Darwinian evolution unequivocally dictates that the universe and the existence of all life are the result of an unguided, mindless, purposeless process. It is a doctrine completely founded on naturalism, and that nature is all there is. There is no role for God or any other creative agent in this process. It says that we are freaks of nature; our existence is a fluke, an accident that could just as easily not occurred. In stark contrast, Creationists believe that the universe is the result of a loving God's special creation which gives each life meaning and purpose, a position well supported by the Scriptures. These mutually exclusive ideologies form the basis of the dominant worldviews present today.
Unfortunately, many Christians attempt to compromise with the proposition that evolution was a God guided process. This position, called theistic evolution, is completely untenable. It is merely a pathetic exercise in conflict avoidance.
Evolutionary theory and all its baggage has had a free ride for far too long. As a scientist I resent that it is taught in public schools as factual when there is virtually no scientific basis for it. Darwin fervently believed that the fossil record would prove out this theory. Yet, the fossil record militates against evolution. Even the most ardent evolutionists today such as Harvard's Stephen Jay Gould admit that the fossil record does not support the theory. The problem is that there are no transitional species in the fossil record and, therefore, no evidence for the gradual transition from one species to another which the theory prescribes. Evolution also contradicts the second law of thermodynamics and other first principles of scientific inquiry.
Microbiologist Michael Behe examined evolution from the microbiological standpoint and concluded that it was unfounded essentially because even the simplest life forms are irreducibly complex. Below a certain level of complexity life ceases to exist and there is no known mechanism by which it could reach the most basic level of complexity. Space doesn't permit a complete airing of the additional myriad scientific difficulties opposing the validity of this theory.
The alternative position is never given a fair hearing in schools or by the popular media. Scientific dogma claims the sole grasp of reality and matters involving religion or the Creator are not in the realm of science and, therefore, not worthy of serious discussion or consideration. Yet, science cannot disprove the existence of God, although naturalistic evolution is the secular world's best shot at it.
As mentioned the implications of the opposing worldviews are significant. Since evolution is purposeless, the life it purportedly gave rise to is necessarily purposeless, and therefore without meaning. Without meaning or any form of accountability to a higher being, what difference does it make how we behave towards one another or what we think? It should come as no surprise then that evolutionary theory serves as foundational doctrine of the worldview embraced by noted atheists such as Hitler, Marx, Stalin, Mao, Sanger, etc. As an example of the type of thought processes the evolutionary worldview spawns, consider Margaret Sanger. This early 20th century promoter of promiscuous sex, actively embraced Germany's left-wing socialist (NAZI Party) regime's eugenics program as a way of controlling (limiting) procreation of the non-Caucasian races and other "undesirables." Sanger went on to become the founder of Planned Parenthood which today remains the nation's largest slayer of unborn human beings. Even the Suffragists of the 20's and 30's were anti-abortion and rejected her callous disregard for human life. This vile woman is still honored today by P.P. which annually gives out an award in her name. Incidentally, the subtitle of Darwin's book on origins is "The Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life."
When God created man He also gave his free will, the option to choose right from wrong and the choice to spend eternity with Him or separated from Him. Only He provides purpose for our existence and gives meaning, hope, and fulfillment to all those willing to accept it. Only the Creation worldview provides time-proven, immutable truths by which we should live. So choose wisely.
Todd Smith
Thanks To Grace Students
Editor, Times-Union:I want to extend my thanks publicly to the students of Grace College who worked so diligently to provide an outstanding evening of fun for the children of this community last Friday. For those who are not aware, the Lancer Gym was transformed into an undersea wonderland with games and small prizes for all, win or lose. I only had to look into the faces of the children that evening to see the excitement and joy. I hope you as young adults know what a tremendously good influence you are. Many thanks to all of you who made the evening such a delight for the children of this area.
Janet McFarren, Winona Lake
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- Don't Use Drugs - Thanks To Slater Market - Libertarians - Letter In Bad Taste - Barking Dogs - Great Health Care - Animal Welfare League - Morality - Evolution/Creation - Thanks To Grace Students
Don't Use Drugs
Editor, Times-Union:I would like to encourage students to not use drugs.
Not using drugs will make it easier to achieve goals. You'll be able to remember things better, and you'll also show some interest in activities. If you don't use drugs you'll have a better chance of having a long life.
When people say, "Everyone does drugs," don't believe it. Only 14 out of every 100 people do drugs. If you like following the crowd, you shouldn't use drugs.
These are some reason to not use drugs!
Rachelle Prater, Claypool Elementary - 6th grade
Thanks To Slater Market
Editor, Times-Union:In appreciation to the Slater Market at Sidney.
I would like to take this opportunity to express thanks to Harold and Barbara Slater for a most enjoyable evening in Sidney - (Halloween night).
Harold and Barbara have been serving a meal to the trick or treaters and residents of Sidney and surrounding area for many years. They served ham and beans (cooked in a big pot outside), cornbread, hotdogs and cider. Also desserts.
This is such a good thing for our little town of Sidney and gives the kids something to do.
This is the first year I have attended and hope they do this for many more years. I'm sure it takes a lot of time and money to do this every year and Slaters deserves a big "thank you" from everyone.
Beulah Wolfe, Sidney
Libertarians
Editor, Times-Union:Thank-you 1,218 times. Given a choice of liberty, personal and economic freedom, 1,218 people voted Libertarian. In local races November third, over 10 percent of voters sided with Libertarians when offered that choice. Personal thanks from Michael Houze, Deanna Newton and Daniel Stevens.
Although the Libertarian Party formed nationally in 1971, locally the Libertarian Party of Kosciusko County officially organized with just a handful of people July of this year. From that handful, three candidates sought to provide economic and personal freedom with Libertarian solutions. Your vote was not wasted. The Libertarian party of Indiana has been growing between 5 and 10 percent each month. Four years ago there were only 5 LP candidates statewide. This election there were over 85 LP candidates across Indiana. Three Kosciusko LP candidates this year. Twenty Kosciusko LP candidates by the 2000 election.
Every 20 years, third parties are given a chance to obtain ballot access in Florida. Guess who wants a chance to vote Libertarian? 67 percent of Florida voters put Libertarians on the ballot for the year 2000. Massachusetts, Nebraska and New Mexico were also added to the list of states with LP ballot access. In all, the Libertarian Party ran 836 candidates for local, state and federal office, the most ever in party history and the largest slate of third-party candidates since the 1930s. You can be a part of the solution. Call (800)-682-1776 or http://www.LP.org for free information. Read, learn and register for the next election.
Daniel Stevens, Warsaw
Letter In Bad Taste
Editor, Times-Union:I think the letter from Rex Bradt on Nov. 2 was in very bad taste. To put down the Libertarian Party in such a way and not even giving them time to reply before the election. (How cowardly) It is time for everyone to realize there are not only two parties to choose from. And if you love your freedom and love to make your own decisions voting Libertarian is the only way to go. I commend the Libertarian Party for the effort they have put in to this election. And for trying to make this country better. Impossible is not in their vocabulary. And to tell them they don't have a chance was uncalled for. "Can't never did anything." And they will not give up. The Libertarians will try again next election. They will have my vote again. And hopefully after we all pay yet higher taxes, lose more freedom and have more of our rights taken away the next couple of years. The rest of you will wise up and vote Libertarian also.
Sheri Braden, Warsaw
Barking Dogs
Editor, Times-Union:In response to barking dogs I thought dogs were supposed to bark, and as far as the smell coming from the foundry I guess we could always shut it down because of the smell but are you willing to support the people who lose their jobs probably not. I don't know if you ever worked in a manufacturing atmosphere but any I have been in, in the last 30 years all have a different smell about them. By the way I do live way out in the country and I hear dogs bark from a long way off and in the summertime when the windows are all open and I wake up and hear the dogs barking I think, thank God it's not gun shots.
Wendell D. Randall, Claypool
Great Health Care
Editor, Times-Union:We are very fortunate in our city to have access to the very best in health care. I had the heart-breaking task of placing my wife of 56 years in a nursing home. But the compassion and patients of the wonderful people at Miller's Merry Manor (Warsaw) has dulled my pain very much. These marvelous women and men do a very difficult service for our elderly. God bless them all.
John Montgomery, Warsaw
Animal Welfare League
Editor, Times-Union:In a recent story in the Times-Union it was said that AWL, not otherwise identified, would be taking over the management of the Kosciusko County Animal Shelter. AWL means the Kosciusko County Animal Welfare League, a long established organization whose goals are the neutering of and, particularly, the finding of homes for unwanted small animals. One of their needs has been a home of their own, which until now they have not had.
The only view expressed in the story was that of Kay Amsden, present Operations Manager of the County Shelter. She seemed neither happy nor optimistic about the shelter's takeover by AWL, which will receive $30,000 yearly for the operation expense of the Shelter and in addition the salary for the Operations Manager. This support will come from the County Commissioners. AWL does not come to the Shelter as a penniless Bride. It has recently received a grant which will bring with it a yearly income that will be donated during their tenancy.
This new arrangement can only be for the benefit of the public. It is unlikely that the Shelter will ever have more funds than it needs, and friends are invited to help if they can see a way to do so.
Philip Holliday, North Webster
Morality
Editor, Times-Union:We look at our great country today and see a deterioration in the standards of conduct and morality in many of its citizens from the President on down. The strong belief in God and freedom of religion upon which our country was founded is being threatened by liberals and certain subversive organizations hiding behind seemingly patriotic slogans and charters. We see the fighting and bickering over trivial things by our elected representatives in our statehouses and Washington, DC, while very important items are tabled as they spend their time searching for 30 year old flaws in the lives of opposing party members. Billions of our tax dollars are being wasted on projects that are totally unrelated to our citizen's well being. Are these the things that our veterans put their lives on the line for in all of our nation's conflicts? Whether we like it or not, they are.
Our veteran's sacrifices seem more worthwhile and meaningful when we see a group of teenagers having prayer on the front steps of their school, we see a writeup in our local newspaper about the "Special Olympics," we find churches by the thousands of various denominations across the country open to all, we are able to travel from one state to another without the hassle of border guards and interrogators, Salvation Army and church sponsored soup kitchens for our homeless, the right to vote as we please, we still enjoy free speech, our "Bill of Rights" and "Constitution" are still intact. These are some of the important reasons that our veterans risked their lives and hundreds of thousands gave their lives for.
My wife's brother served as a co-pilot on a bomber in Europe in World War II. Most of the missions were flown with the crew's knowledge that they had only a 50/50 chance of returning to their base. A couple of years ago, my wife called her brother and thanked him for his part in protecting our freedoms. He broke down and said that she was the first one in over 50 years to thank him for his part in the war.
In our seniors golfing group in southern Georgia we have a man that joined the Marines in the early 40s and battled the Japanese in the South Pacific. His company of 28 men fought in many of the tough battles like Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal. He was the only one of the 28 that survived. All the rest were killed. Last Veteran's Day I put my hand on his shoulder and thanked him for my freedom. He told me I was the second one to thank him in over 50 years.
Let's find a veteran this Veteran's Day, shake his or her hand and tell them how much we appreciate their sacrifice for the freedom that each of us enjoy today.
Lest we forget.
Bob Inman, Mentone and Georgetown, Ga.
Evolution/Creation
Editor, Times-Union:It is vitally important to understand the evolution/creation debate and its philosophical implications and moral consequences. Mr. Hunter attempted to discuss this issue in his recent letter (Oct. 6). In a subsequent letter Mrs. Rousos-Stangis was critical of his comments and challenged his sources of information (Oct. 21). Fortunately, the sources are plentiful which I will gladly supply upon request.
Darwinian evolution unequivocally dictates that the universe and the existence of all life are the result of an unguided, mindless, purposeless process. It is a doctrine completely founded on naturalism, and that nature is all there is. There is no role for God or any other creative agent in this process. It says that we are freaks of nature; our existence is a fluke, an accident that could just as easily not occurred. In stark contrast, Creationists believe that the universe is the result of a loving God's special creation which gives each life meaning and purpose, a position well supported by the Scriptures. These mutually exclusive ideologies form the basis of the dominant worldviews present today.
Unfortunately, many Christians attempt to compromise with the proposition that evolution was a God guided process. This position, called theistic evolution, is completely untenable. It is merely a pathetic exercise in conflict avoidance.
Evolutionary theory and all its baggage has had a free ride for far too long. As a scientist I resent that it is taught in public schools as factual when there is virtually no scientific basis for it. Darwin fervently believed that the fossil record would prove out this theory. Yet, the fossil record militates against evolution. Even the most ardent evolutionists today such as Harvard's Stephen Jay Gould admit that the fossil record does not support the theory. The problem is that there are no transitional species in the fossil record and, therefore, no evidence for the gradual transition from one species to another which the theory prescribes. Evolution also contradicts the second law of thermodynamics and other first principles of scientific inquiry.
Microbiologist Michael Behe examined evolution from the microbiological standpoint and concluded that it was unfounded essentially because even the simplest life forms are irreducibly complex. Below a certain level of complexity life ceases to exist and there is no known mechanism by which it could reach the most basic level of complexity. Space doesn't permit a complete airing of the additional myriad scientific difficulties opposing the validity of this theory.
The alternative position is never given a fair hearing in schools or by the popular media. Scientific dogma claims the sole grasp of reality and matters involving religion or the Creator are not in the realm of science and, therefore, not worthy of serious discussion or consideration. Yet, science cannot disprove the existence of God, although naturalistic evolution is the secular world's best shot at it.
As mentioned the implications of the opposing worldviews are significant. Since evolution is purposeless, the life it purportedly gave rise to is necessarily purposeless, and therefore without meaning. Without meaning or any form of accountability to a higher being, what difference does it make how we behave towards one another or what we think? It should come as no surprise then that evolutionary theory serves as foundational doctrine of the worldview embraced by noted atheists such as Hitler, Marx, Stalin, Mao, Sanger, etc. As an example of the type of thought processes the evolutionary worldview spawns, consider Margaret Sanger. This early 20th century promoter of promiscuous sex, actively embraced Germany's left-wing socialist (NAZI Party) regime's eugenics program as a way of controlling (limiting) procreation of the non-Caucasian races and other "undesirables." Sanger went on to become the founder of Planned Parenthood which today remains the nation's largest slayer of unborn human beings. Even the Suffragists of the 20's and 30's were anti-abortion and rejected her callous disregard for human life. This vile woman is still honored today by P.P. which annually gives out an award in her name. Incidentally, the subtitle of Darwin's book on origins is "The Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life."
When God created man He also gave his free will, the option to choose right from wrong and the choice to spend eternity with Him or separated from Him. Only He provides purpose for our existence and gives meaning, hope, and fulfillment to all those willing to accept it. Only the Creation worldview provides time-proven, immutable truths by which we should live. So choose wisely.
Todd Smith
Thanks To Grace Students
Editor, Times-Union:I want to extend my thanks publicly to the students of Grace College who worked so diligently to provide an outstanding evening of fun for the children of this community last Friday. For those who are not aware, the Lancer Gym was transformed into an undersea wonderland with games and small prizes for all, win or lose. I only had to look into the faces of the children that evening to see the excitement and joy. I hope you as young adults know what a tremendously good influence you are. Many thanks to all of you who made the evening such a delight for the children of this area.
Janet McFarren, Winona Lake
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