Letters to the Editor 12-18-1998
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- No Impeachment - Custody - Christmas Past - Thanks To Grace Village - Barking Dogs - AIDS Column - Festival Of Trees
No Impeachment
Editor, Times-Union:Haven't we heard it said repeatedly by judges, attorneys, scholars, other persons in high offices and even by Bob Dole - that President Clinton should not be impeached - but rather censured.
We all have found his sin repugnant and yet it is miniscule and certainly not a high crime or an act of treason.
Actually, I have been amazed at President Clinton's resilience when one considers how frequently during his years in office that he has been assailed, attacked and accused. His unrelenting opponents have been perniciously tenacious in their pursuit to bring Clinton down.
I personally found the Iran-Contra situation far more serious and devious than the reasons for this endeavor to impeach the president.
I join the choir of voices opposed to impeachment. I implore those in a position to decide - to spare our country the excruciating and possibly calamitous effects of an impeachment. Thank you.
Patricia A. Stangis, Warsaw
Custody
Editor, Times-Union:A few weeks ago, Doug Calvelage wrote a letter to the editor (11/23/98), and I would like to respond.
He stated that he knew the mothers family, and babbled on about how the father wrote the letters that his two daughters really wrote.
I have only met the girls once, but I have known Phil's family for almost 20 years, 10 years of that, I lived two doors down from them. I can honestly say that this is a good family. I have been pretty well informed of Phil's situation for some time, and to say anything ill of him, of the way he treats his kids is a GROSS LIE. I think Phil should be awarded custody of his kids. These two girls, ages 13 and 14 personally asked the judge to let them stay with their dad. The woman who was given custody has no biological ties to these children, yet, there is a biological father who wants them. These girls have spent all their lives with their father, and now they are taken away. This decision to award custody to the adoptive parent is wrong. Isn't there anything that can be done about this?
Nicole Whitaker, Silver Lake
Christmas Past
Editor, Times-Union:In this generation, whenever I think of Christmas involving all of the high-pressure commercialism, and how many millions of dollars that must be spent to satisfy a great number of people, my mind reverts back to those days of a long ago era, when individuals didn't depend completely on commercialism to satisfy them at Christmastide.
In the first place, in the old days, merchants didn't commence to publicize Christmas the minute a tree shed its first leaf in September. Decades ago, most businessmen waited till around the first of December to display their holiday wares.
I remember on Christmas Day in the late '20s, when two well-spent one dollar bills made me the happiest kid alive! I was 7 years old, when my grandfather (unbeknownst to me, of course) gave my aunt two dollars to buy me Christmas gifts; therefore, on Christmas morning, I discovered the dining room table spread with a variety of Christmas knickknacks from "Santa." There were coloring books, little cars, little tin soldiers, a mouth harp, etc; and, of course, there was the inevitable lengthy stocking, stuffed with a big, juicy orange, a shiny, red apple, and a sack of sweet, tasty chocolate drops. (A year or two later, after having caught grandpa in the act of stuffing my stocking, the big, juicy orange didn't taste quite so juicy, and the chocolate drops didn't taste quite so sweet.)
In the late '20s, as an extra Christmas delight, on Christmas morning the town dignitaries of Leesburg sponsored a chartered bus which carried a load of happy, jubilant boys and girls into Warsaw, where the old Centennial Theatre presented a holiday movie and treats for the kids. An "Our Gang" (later called "The Little Rascals") comedy was shown; then, after the show, fruit and big sacks of candy and nuts were passed out among hordes of excited, anticipatory youngsters.
I'll never forget that Christmas season in 1943, when I called on a poor Leesburg family who resided down by the railroad track. They were too poor to buy a Christmas tree, but they represented the Christmas spirit with an enormous weed (which, in spite of December weather, still remained surprisingly green). It stood, tall and stately, in one corner of the room, vividly but cheaply decorated with strings of popcorn, multicolored paper chains, and ropes of deep red cranberries, amidst an array of bright, sparkling tinsel. Gazing at that weed put a lump in my throat, for that lowly humble weed and what it stood for seemed to represent more than ever the true spirit of Christmas.
At times, on Christmas Eve, I just like to sit alone gazing at the sparkling, luminous Christmas tree in all of its lavish splendor, and think of the Wise Men and The Angels on High, heralding the birth of the Christ Child, and with strong faith and deep belief in The Christ Child, I come to realize that the world doesn't seem to be such a bad place after all.
Don Kaiser, Warsaw
Thanks To Grace Village
Editor, Times-Union:Thank the Lord we found Grace Village five years ago. My brother Wilson and his wife Mary were getting on in years, and Wilson asked me if I would make sure that they were taken care of when he could no longer make decisions.
Wilson broke his hip and that's when I looked into Grace Village. Wilson settled into the Health Care Center and three weeks later, we helped Mary move into the Independent Living Area where she lived until one year ago last June.
Mary was transferred to Health Care at the Village when she needed 24 hour care. Whenever I dropped by to see her, the nursing staff made me feel so welcome. Mary received wonderful care from a very giving staff. When she became seriously ill, Kathy Rhoades and Eva Shaw, both R.N.'s, kept me informed of her status. They went beyond the call of duty to keep us posted. In Mary's final days, they called two and three times a day. I always knew I could call for information and they never made me feel like I was bothering them.
I can't say enough about the excellent care my brother and sister-in-law received at Grace Village.
Eldon Horn, Warsaw
Barking Dogs
Editor, Times-Union:The letter from Roger Webb has finally forced me to write the letter that I've wanted to write for so long.
Yes, Mr. Webb, the country has many great sounds to hear, and a dog in the distance would not be so bad, but try 15 to 20 dogs placed as close to your property as possible, and you'll find that it isn't nearly so pleasant.
Dogs ARE supposed to bark! They bark for many reasons: 1) Someone has pulled in your drive. The dog barks, "Hey! We have company!" The owner comes out and the dog quiets down. 2) The dog is hungry. He barks, "Get out here and feed me!" The owner eventually comes out to feed the dog, the dog quiets down. 3) Other animals are outside their kennel. The dog barks, "Help - get out here and get rid of these rats, they are eating all of my food." The owner never cleans up around the kennel, hence the rat stays, breeds more rats, therefore the dog never stops barking. 4) No one is paying attention to the dog. The dog barks, "Let me out of this cage to be able to run and play like other dogs!" The owner doesn't have time to mess with the dog (or is just plain lazy), so the dog continues to bark.
Maybe some people like to have trash in their yard. Do they have the right to throw their trash into their neighbor's yard? No. Well, then, if you like to have barking dogs, does that mean that your neighbor should have to listen to them, too? No.
If Roger Webb, and the list of people that he can get that like to hear their dogs bark, think that it is okay to allow their dogs to bark, then there would not already be a State Law that enables one to file a civil suit against others for nuisance, which is what barking dogs fall under. All Herschel Rainwater and others are trying to do, is to get the county involved, so that neighbors aren't having to sue each other and fill our court system with this type of action.
No one is telling anyone that they are not allowed to have dogs. If you want one hundred dogs, that's okay with me! Just take the responsibility to take care of these dogs, and perhaps they won't bark constantly.
Oh, Mr. Webb, to hear just a barking dog in the distance ... wouldn't that be wonderful!
Lori Dotson, Silver Lake
AIDS Column
Editor, Times-Union:Mr. David Slone gave his opinion about AIDS Day (that came and went) in your December 15 newspaper. Shouldn't a Staff Writer of a newspaper have more knowledge on a subject he gives his opinion on, than what he has? True, the heading was about the AIDS Day (that came and went). But, wasn't his most important opinion that of "judging others" (that will always be around)?
Should a Staff Writer say that the Bible "says" when it doesn't "say"? His words: "The Bible tells everyone that they should not judge, it's God's job." Just where does the Bible say that everyone should not judge? The Bibles that I have read, say that one shouldn't judge until one has been given the right to judge. True, the Staff Writer says that one will never have the right to judge until one can create heavens or earths, walk on water, or raise the dead. But scripture clearly reveals what one can do to be given the right to judge.
The Bible says that a spiritual man judges all things! Why are there no spiritual men in christianity (or on newspaper staffs) who are "spiritual" so they have a right to judge others for doing wrong? (But didn't the Staff Writer take the liberty to do a bit of judging in his article? Didn't he judge those who throw stones who don't have the power to create stones?) Why don't any know the Bible's instructions on what to do so one who judges isn't a hypocrite? Why don't any know the Bible's qualifications for one to have the right to "throw stones?"
The Staff Writer says, "it's God job." True, the Bible does say that it is God's job to judge some things. It says that He judges things outside of christianity. But it says that those inside are to judge those inside. It even identifies those who are commanded to be thrown out of christianity!
The Staff Writer says that one can't be a human being unless there is compassion for those who are dying (from AIDS). Why not have enough compassion to go to those who identify themselves as being on a road that is taking them to a place that is even much more destructive than AIDS ever could be? Why not have enough compassion to teach them how wrong they are? Why not have enough compassion to show them how to keep from becoming victims of sin (AIDS)?
The Staff Writer judges those who throw stones but can't create heavens. What about the One who did create heavens? Why doesn't He have enough compassion to eliminate the AIDS problem? If He created AIDS, why doesn't He have enough compassion to "uncreate" AIDS? If He is so indifferent about the AIDS sufferers, should those who know why the AIDS victims suffer, be trying to undo what God has done?
The Staff Writer also said, "But each man finds it himself." True, the great majority of the AIDS sufferers have found their "suffering" by what they deliberately did themselves (with the aid of another) that was "religiously unlawful." How many of these sufferers might not be suffering, right now, if only there would have been a spiritual man with compassion, having the right to judge, in their past who could have helped the sufferer find a much better way of life that would have prevented the disease?
The Staff Writer also says that it is inhumane to not want every "indecent person" to, "deserve the decency of living and dying in dignity and in compassion." Do those who deliberately do things that bring on their suffering (who are being ignored by God) deserve any dignity? Do those who teach that others should be allowed to become so undignified, deserve any dignity? Just how humane is it to see others doing things that could bring on suffering and not "judge" them?
Why not have our religious opinions based on Bible facts?
Robert Stichter, Milford
Festival Of Trees
Editor, Times-Union:Once again, we are closing the book on another Festival of Trees. This year's "Christmas in the Park" was the combined effort of hundreds of individuals, businesses and organizations. Together, a beautiful display of holiday trees was created for the enjoyment of over 2000 visitors. Probably most significant, however, is that through this event, our community provided the means to continue to support the Health Care Foundation programs: the ParentShare mentoring program, the B.A.B.E. Boutique incentive program and the Mini-Grant Program. These programs will continue to positively impact the lives of several hundred individuals and families in our area.
I am mindful of our dependence on those who have given so generously of their time, creativity and resources to this project, as well as to our programs throughout the year. It is impossible to find words to fully express our gratitude for their many gifts. I can only hope that somehow, through this holiday season and beyond, that our many benefactors - festival visitors, contributors, designers, sponsors and others - will receive in some way a glimpse of the blessings they have given to so many.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff of the Health Care Foundation of Kosciusko County Inc., I thank you and wish you a blessed holiday.
Julie Steele, Executive Director
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- No Impeachment - Custody - Christmas Past - Thanks To Grace Village - Barking Dogs - AIDS Column - Festival Of Trees
No Impeachment
Editor, Times-Union:Haven't we heard it said repeatedly by judges, attorneys, scholars, other persons in high offices and even by Bob Dole - that President Clinton should not be impeached - but rather censured.
We all have found his sin repugnant and yet it is miniscule and certainly not a high crime or an act of treason.
Actually, I have been amazed at President Clinton's resilience when one considers how frequently during his years in office that he has been assailed, attacked and accused. His unrelenting opponents have been perniciously tenacious in their pursuit to bring Clinton down.
I personally found the Iran-Contra situation far more serious and devious than the reasons for this endeavor to impeach the president.
I join the choir of voices opposed to impeachment. I implore those in a position to decide - to spare our country the excruciating and possibly calamitous effects of an impeachment. Thank you.
Patricia A. Stangis, Warsaw
Custody
Editor, Times-Union:A few weeks ago, Doug Calvelage wrote a letter to the editor (11/23/98), and I would like to respond.
He stated that he knew the mothers family, and babbled on about how the father wrote the letters that his two daughters really wrote.
I have only met the girls once, but I have known Phil's family for almost 20 years, 10 years of that, I lived two doors down from them. I can honestly say that this is a good family. I have been pretty well informed of Phil's situation for some time, and to say anything ill of him, of the way he treats his kids is a GROSS LIE. I think Phil should be awarded custody of his kids. These two girls, ages 13 and 14 personally asked the judge to let them stay with their dad. The woman who was given custody has no biological ties to these children, yet, there is a biological father who wants them. These girls have spent all their lives with their father, and now they are taken away. This decision to award custody to the adoptive parent is wrong. Isn't there anything that can be done about this?
Nicole Whitaker, Silver Lake
Christmas Past
Editor, Times-Union:In this generation, whenever I think of Christmas involving all of the high-pressure commercialism, and how many millions of dollars that must be spent to satisfy a great number of people, my mind reverts back to those days of a long ago era, when individuals didn't depend completely on commercialism to satisfy them at Christmastide.
In the first place, in the old days, merchants didn't commence to publicize Christmas the minute a tree shed its first leaf in September. Decades ago, most businessmen waited till around the first of December to display their holiday wares.
I remember on Christmas Day in the late '20s, when two well-spent one dollar bills made me the happiest kid alive! I was 7 years old, when my grandfather (unbeknownst to me, of course) gave my aunt two dollars to buy me Christmas gifts; therefore, on Christmas morning, I discovered the dining room table spread with a variety of Christmas knickknacks from "Santa." There were coloring books, little cars, little tin soldiers, a mouth harp, etc; and, of course, there was the inevitable lengthy stocking, stuffed with a big, juicy orange, a shiny, red apple, and a sack of sweet, tasty chocolate drops. (A year or two later, after having caught grandpa in the act of stuffing my stocking, the big, juicy orange didn't taste quite so juicy, and the chocolate drops didn't taste quite so sweet.)
In the late '20s, as an extra Christmas delight, on Christmas morning the town dignitaries of Leesburg sponsored a chartered bus which carried a load of happy, jubilant boys and girls into Warsaw, where the old Centennial Theatre presented a holiday movie and treats for the kids. An "Our Gang" (later called "The Little Rascals") comedy was shown; then, after the show, fruit and big sacks of candy and nuts were passed out among hordes of excited, anticipatory youngsters.
I'll never forget that Christmas season in 1943, when I called on a poor Leesburg family who resided down by the railroad track. They were too poor to buy a Christmas tree, but they represented the Christmas spirit with an enormous weed (which, in spite of December weather, still remained surprisingly green). It stood, tall and stately, in one corner of the room, vividly but cheaply decorated with strings of popcorn, multicolored paper chains, and ropes of deep red cranberries, amidst an array of bright, sparkling tinsel. Gazing at that weed put a lump in my throat, for that lowly humble weed and what it stood for seemed to represent more than ever the true spirit of Christmas.
At times, on Christmas Eve, I just like to sit alone gazing at the sparkling, luminous Christmas tree in all of its lavish splendor, and think of the Wise Men and The Angels on High, heralding the birth of the Christ Child, and with strong faith and deep belief in The Christ Child, I come to realize that the world doesn't seem to be such a bad place after all.
Don Kaiser, Warsaw
Thanks To Grace Village
Editor, Times-Union:Thank the Lord we found Grace Village five years ago. My brother Wilson and his wife Mary were getting on in years, and Wilson asked me if I would make sure that they were taken care of when he could no longer make decisions.
Wilson broke his hip and that's when I looked into Grace Village. Wilson settled into the Health Care Center and three weeks later, we helped Mary move into the Independent Living Area where she lived until one year ago last June.
Mary was transferred to Health Care at the Village when she needed 24 hour care. Whenever I dropped by to see her, the nursing staff made me feel so welcome. Mary received wonderful care from a very giving staff. When she became seriously ill, Kathy Rhoades and Eva Shaw, both R.N.'s, kept me informed of her status. They went beyond the call of duty to keep us posted. In Mary's final days, they called two and three times a day. I always knew I could call for information and they never made me feel like I was bothering them.
I can't say enough about the excellent care my brother and sister-in-law received at Grace Village.
Eldon Horn, Warsaw
Barking Dogs
Editor, Times-Union:The letter from Roger Webb has finally forced me to write the letter that I've wanted to write for so long.
Yes, Mr. Webb, the country has many great sounds to hear, and a dog in the distance would not be so bad, but try 15 to 20 dogs placed as close to your property as possible, and you'll find that it isn't nearly so pleasant.
Dogs ARE supposed to bark! They bark for many reasons: 1) Someone has pulled in your drive. The dog barks, "Hey! We have company!" The owner comes out and the dog quiets down. 2) The dog is hungry. He barks, "Get out here and feed me!" The owner eventually comes out to feed the dog, the dog quiets down. 3) Other animals are outside their kennel. The dog barks, "Help - get out here and get rid of these rats, they are eating all of my food." The owner never cleans up around the kennel, hence the rat stays, breeds more rats, therefore the dog never stops barking. 4) No one is paying attention to the dog. The dog barks, "Let me out of this cage to be able to run and play like other dogs!" The owner doesn't have time to mess with the dog (or is just plain lazy), so the dog continues to bark.
Maybe some people like to have trash in their yard. Do they have the right to throw their trash into their neighbor's yard? No. Well, then, if you like to have barking dogs, does that mean that your neighbor should have to listen to them, too? No.
If Roger Webb, and the list of people that he can get that like to hear their dogs bark, think that it is okay to allow their dogs to bark, then there would not already be a State Law that enables one to file a civil suit against others for nuisance, which is what barking dogs fall under. All Herschel Rainwater and others are trying to do, is to get the county involved, so that neighbors aren't having to sue each other and fill our court system with this type of action.
No one is telling anyone that they are not allowed to have dogs. If you want one hundred dogs, that's okay with me! Just take the responsibility to take care of these dogs, and perhaps they won't bark constantly.
Oh, Mr. Webb, to hear just a barking dog in the distance ... wouldn't that be wonderful!
Lori Dotson, Silver Lake
AIDS Column
Editor, Times-Union:Mr. David Slone gave his opinion about AIDS Day (that came and went) in your December 15 newspaper. Shouldn't a Staff Writer of a newspaper have more knowledge on a subject he gives his opinion on, than what he has? True, the heading was about the AIDS Day (that came and went). But, wasn't his most important opinion that of "judging others" (that will always be around)?
Should a Staff Writer say that the Bible "says" when it doesn't "say"? His words: "The Bible tells everyone that they should not judge, it's God's job." Just where does the Bible say that everyone should not judge? The Bibles that I have read, say that one shouldn't judge until one has been given the right to judge. True, the Staff Writer says that one will never have the right to judge until one can create heavens or earths, walk on water, or raise the dead. But scripture clearly reveals what one can do to be given the right to judge.
The Bible says that a spiritual man judges all things! Why are there no spiritual men in christianity (or on newspaper staffs) who are "spiritual" so they have a right to judge others for doing wrong? (But didn't the Staff Writer take the liberty to do a bit of judging in his article? Didn't he judge those who throw stones who don't have the power to create stones?) Why don't any know the Bible's instructions on what to do so one who judges isn't a hypocrite? Why don't any know the Bible's qualifications for one to have the right to "throw stones?"
The Staff Writer says, "it's God job." True, the Bible does say that it is God's job to judge some things. It says that He judges things outside of christianity. But it says that those inside are to judge those inside. It even identifies those who are commanded to be thrown out of christianity!
The Staff Writer says that one can't be a human being unless there is compassion for those who are dying (from AIDS). Why not have enough compassion to go to those who identify themselves as being on a road that is taking them to a place that is even much more destructive than AIDS ever could be? Why not have enough compassion to teach them how wrong they are? Why not have enough compassion to show them how to keep from becoming victims of sin (AIDS)?
The Staff Writer judges those who throw stones but can't create heavens. What about the One who did create heavens? Why doesn't He have enough compassion to eliminate the AIDS problem? If He created AIDS, why doesn't He have enough compassion to "uncreate" AIDS? If He is so indifferent about the AIDS sufferers, should those who know why the AIDS victims suffer, be trying to undo what God has done?
The Staff Writer also said, "But each man finds it himself." True, the great majority of the AIDS sufferers have found their "suffering" by what they deliberately did themselves (with the aid of another) that was "religiously unlawful." How many of these sufferers might not be suffering, right now, if only there would have been a spiritual man with compassion, having the right to judge, in their past who could have helped the sufferer find a much better way of life that would have prevented the disease?
The Staff Writer also says that it is inhumane to not want every "indecent person" to, "deserve the decency of living and dying in dignity and in compassion." Do those who deliberately do things that bring on their suffering (who are being ignored by God) deserve any dignity? Do those who teach that others should be allowed to become so undignified, deserve any dignity? Just how humane is it to see others doing things that could bring on suffering and not "judge" them?
Why not have our religious opinions based on Bible facts?
Robert Stichter, Milford
Festival Of Trees
Editor, Times-Union:Once again, we are closing the book on another Festival of Trees. This year's "Christmas in the Park" was the combined effort of hundreds of individuals, businesses and organizations. Together, a beautiful display of holiday trees was created for the enjoyment of over 2000 visitors. Probably most significant, however, is that through this event, our community provided the means to continue to support the Health Care Foundation programs: the ParentShare mentoring program, the B.A.B.E. Boutique incentive program and the Mini-Grant Program. These programs will continue to positively impact the lives of several hundred individuals and families in our area.
I am mindful of our dependence on those who have given so generously of their time, creativity and resources to this project, as well as to our programs throughout the year. It is impossible to find words to fully express our gratitude for their many gifts. I can only hope that somehow, through this holiday season and beyond, that our many benefactors - festival visitors, contributors, designers, sponsors and others - will receive in some way a glimpse of the blessings they have given to so many.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff of the Health Care Foundation of Kosciusko County Inc., I thank you and wish you a blessed holiday.
Julie Steele, Executive Director
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