Letters to the Editor 12-19-2002
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Gift Of Sight - Christmas Truth - Lowman Memories - Crucifying Lott - Sacred Occasion
Gift Of Sight
Editor, Times-Union:Are you having difficulty finding an appropriate gift for someone this holiday season? Why not give the gift of sight?
Gifts toward sight restoration can be given on behalf of friends or relatives in the form of a financial contribution to the Indiana Lions Eye Bank, Indiana University Medical Center, 702 Rotary Circle, Indianapolis, IN 46202.
Gifts may be made in memory of a deceased person, in recognition of an anniversary or to assist in the work of the Eye Bank.
An acknowledgement of the gift will be sent to both parties.
What more significant gift could one give than one toward the restoration of sight?
Berniece Dwyer
Milford
Christmas Truth
Editor, Times-Union:Christmas is many things to many people, but the ultimate truth of Christmas is that it celebrates the birth of Christ Jesus, the son of God, regardless of how it has been watered down and changed into a generic "holiday season." The joyous greeting of "Merry Christmas" is given freely to family, friends and neighbors by word, letter or e-mail. These words of greeting have always been a source of pleasure to both the receiver and the sender.
This year, unfortunately, the greetings of "Have a merry Christmas" or even "Happy Holidays" have been tarnished by a section of society that seeks to destroy rather than promote life. This year you can send a greeting that declares, "Choice on Earth!" not peace, not good will, not life, but choice; the choice to end life in the womb.
Christmas celebrates the birth of a child, a child whose life changed the world, a child whose life continues to bring joy, goodness and peace to the hearts of all who trust in him. A greeting that promotes the destruction of life is a greeting against the season, against the reason for the season and against life. It is not a choice it is a truth: to have peace of Earth, all life must be protected for all life is truly precious and sacred.
Warren Walmer
Warsaw
Lowman Memories
Editor, Times-Union:I saw the picture of Paul Lowman and his lion in the paper and it caused me to remember some things. After WW II, in the summer of 1947, I started taking flying lessons at Smith Field Airport north of Warsaw on Ind. 15, which Paul Lowman was operating.
He gave me my first lesson and then assigned me to another instructor. On my first lesson he took me through a cloud, making me suddenly realize that when in clouds you have no sense of up, down, right or left; you have to watch the little airplane on the panel for controlled flight. He told me, "We are going to go into a spin, and follow me through on the controls." We went into a spin, I let go of the controls and grabbed the back of his seat. He said, "Dammit, Wallace, we are going to do it again and this time keep your hands on the controls." We did and I did keep my hands on the controls. After that I did a lot of spins and loops with the plane for fun.
Paul told me about the lion, said the lion did not like him, the lion did not like the water and when Paul arrived it meant another ride on the water ski. Paul said, "When we are on the water ski I am the boss," as the lion was afraid of the water. The lion's cage was at the edge of the lake and the lion liked, and was a friend of, the man who took care of him with food, etc. I do not know the name of the man who took care of the lion for Paul.
This must have been about 1936 to 1939, as Paul and a Smith from Warsaw went to Canada before the U.S. entered World War II, and they ferried war planes to Africa for the Canadian government. After we entered the war, they were transferred to the U.S. Air Force but still continued to ferry planes for the U.S. Smith lost his life on the return trip to U.S. by ship, which was sunk.
Wallace W. Huffman
Warsaw
Crucifying Lott
Editor, Times-Union:Now, let me see ... We are crucifying Trent Lott for remarks he made in honor of a man (Strom Thurmond) who ran for president in the '40s, and lost. If Thurmond is such a horrible person, why was he honored with a big gala of a party anyway? Shouldn't he be put away with the same shame that was imposed on Nixon?
I'm sure Thurmond had many good attributes. How do we know Lott was not talking about something other than segregation? I have a history book from college that tells me FDR and Truman were not totally against segregation, but they are still on the "Wonderful Leader List." FDR allowed an immigration official to stay in power that turned away Jews who came to our shores. The Jews were returned to Germany, and met at the dock by Nazis who killed them on the spot.
Again, we are destroying a decent man's career and character for some remarks that very possibly were taken the wrong way; but we allowed a being, (I can't bring myself to call him a man) Bill Clinton, who lied, cheated on his wife, had sex, yes, sex in our White House, made a mockery of the office of president and generally is a shot glass of slime, to stay in office as the president of our country.
People, get a clue.
Connie Hileman
Warsaw
via e-mail
Sacred Occasion
Editor, Times-Union:Again, it's the Christmas season, a season commemorating a most holy and sacred occasion. It's also a season for becoming involved with a great deal of commercialism and secularity. Whenever I mention the fact that Christmas is approaching, certain individuals (mostly women) will often answer with an angry retort, "Don't mention Christmas to me! I hate Christmas! The children are all grown and I hate it! Anymore, it's so commercialized! All you hear during the Christmas season is 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!'"
Yes, nowadays the Christmas season is commercialized, and very much so. Frankly, I love Christmas and I thrill to the fact that as Christmas Day draws nearer, human beings seem to show more kindness, warmth and consideration toward one another. (It's as though the love of Jesus were rubbing off on them.)
I reiterate: I love Christmas, that is, the true meaning of Christmas. I fondly recall how, on Christmas Eve, everyone used to go to church to see and to listen to the sprightly young kiddies as they poured every ounce of vim and vigor they could muster into their rendition of a lively Christmas carol, or proclaim in song that ever beloved, ever immortal Christmas hymn, "Silent Night."
On Christmas night, after all of the holiday activities are over and you are alone, did you ever sit down in your quiet living room and gaze at the brightly lighted Christmas tree and just think about what Christmas really stands for? I have done that, and as I sat there gazing at the tree in quiet meditation, I would start thinking of that night centuries ago when the three wise men stood in reverence, gazing up at the beautiful, bright star in the east which guided them to the holy manger in Bethlehem where the Christ Child lay, attended by Joseph and Mary. As the scriptures state, "And she brought forth her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in the manger; for there was no room for them in the inn." As that sacred revelation passed through my mind while I sat quietly in the still, peaceful atmosphere of the living room on Christmas night, an ecstatic, unexplainable feeling of holiness took hold of me.
At times, during that period of quietude and solemn meditation, I would amble to the window and glance toward the east where a bright, glittering star shone in all its glory and splendor. That star seemed to light up the whole universe and shower its blessing over all humanity. As I gazed at that radiant, heavenly glare, I felt the devout words of Robert Browning when he wrote: "God's in his heaven - all's right with the world!"
Don Kaiser
Warsaw
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- Gift Of Sight - Christmas Truth - Lowman Memories - Crucifying Lott - Sacred Occasion
Gift Of Sight
Editor, Times-Union:Are you having difficulty finding an appropriate gift for someone this holiday season? Why not give the gift of sight?
Gifts toward sight restoration can be given on behalf of friends or relatives in the form of a financial contribution to the Indiana Lions Eye Bank, Indiana University Medical Center, 702 Rotary Circle, Indianapolis, IN 46202.
Gifts may be made in memory of a deceased person, in recognition of an anniversary or to assist in the work of the Eye Bank.
An acknowledgement of the gift will be sent to both parties.
What more significant gift could one give than one toward the restoration of sight?
Berniece Dwyer
Milford
Christmas Truth
Editor, Times-Union:Christmas is many things to many people, but the ultimate truth of Christmas is that it celebrates the birth of Christ Jesus, the son of God, regardless of how it has been watered down and changed into a generic "holiday season." The joyous greeting of "Merry Christmas" is given freely to family, friends and neighbors by word, letter or e-mail. These words of greeting have always been a source of pleasure to both the receiver and the sender.
This year, unfortunately, the greetings of "Have a merry Christmas" or even "Happy Holidays" have been tarnished by a section of society that seeks to destroy rather than promote life. This year you can send a greeting that declares, "Choice on Earth!" not peace, not good will, not life, but choice; the choice to end life in the womb.
Christmas celebrates the birth of a child, a child whose life changed the world, a child whose life continues to bring joy, goodness and peace to the hearts of all who trust in him. A greeting that promotes the destruction of life is a greeting against the season, against the reason for the season and against life. It is not a choice it is a truth: to have peace of Earth, all life must be protected for all life is truly precious and sacred.
Warren Walmer
Warsaw
Lowman Memories
Editor, Times-Union:I saw the picture of Paul Lowman and his lion in the paper and it caused me to remember some things. After WW II, in the summer of 1947, I started taking flying lessons at Smith Field Airport north of Warsaw on Ind. 15, which Paul Lowman was operating.
He gave me my first lesson and then assigned me to another instructor. On my first lesson he took me through a cloud, making me suddenly realize that when in clouds you have no sense of up, down, right or left; you have to watch the little airplane on the panel for controlled flight. He told me, "We are going to go into a spin, and follow me through on the controls." We went into a spin, I let go of the controls and grabbed the back of his seat. He said, "Dammit, Wallace, we are going to do it again and this time keep your hands on the controls." We did and I did keep my hands on the controls. After that I did a lot of spins and loops with the plane for fun.
Paul told me about the lion, said the lion did not like him, the lion did not like the water and when Paul arrived it meant another ride on the water ski. Paul said, "When we are on the water ski I am the boss," as the lion was afraid of the water. The lion's cage was at the edge of the lake and the lion liked, and was a friend of, the man who took care of him with food, etc. I do not know the name of the man who took care of the lion for Paul.
This must have been about 1936 to 1939, as Paul and a Smith from Warsaw went to Canada before the U.S. entered World War II, and they ferried war planes to Africa for the Canadian government. After we entered the war, they were transferred to the U.S. Air Force but still continued to ferry planes for the U.S. Smith lost his life on the return trip to U.S. by ship, which was sunk.
Wallace W. Huffman
Warsaw
Crucifying Lott
Editor, Times-Union:Now, let me see ... We are crucifying Trent Lott for remarks he made in honor of a man (Strom Thurmond) who ran for president in the '40s, and lost. If Thurmond is such a horrible person, why was he honored with a big gala of a party anyway? Shouldn't he be put away with the same shame that was imposed on Nixon?
I'm sure Thurmond had many good attributes. How do we know Lott was not talking about something other than segregation? I have a history book from college that tells me FDR and Truman were not totally against segregation, but they are still on the "Wonderful Leader List." FDR allowed an immigration official to stay in power that turned away Jews who came to our shores. The Jews were returned to Germany, and met at the dock by Nazis who killed them on the spot.
Again, we are destroying a decent man's career and character for some remarks that very possibly were taken the wrong way; but we allowed a being, (I can't bring myself to call him a man) Bill Clinton, who lied, cheated on his wife, had sex, yes, sex in our White House, made a mockery of the office of president and generally is a shot glass of slime, to stay in office as the president of our country.
People, get a clue.
Connie Hileman
Warsaw
via e-mail
Sacred Occasion
Editor, Times-Union:Again, it's the Christmas season, a season commemorating a most holy and sacred occasion. It's also a season for becoming involved with a great deal of commercialism and secularity. Whenever I mention the fact that Christmas is approaching, certain individuals (mostly women) will often answer with an angry retort, "Don't mention Christmas to me! I hate Christmas! The children are all grown and I hate it! Anymore, it's so commercialized! All you hear during the Christmas season is 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!'"
Yes, nowadays the Christmas season is commercialized, and very much so. Frankly, I love Christmas and I thrill to the fact that as Christmas Day draws nearer, human beings seem to show more kindness, warmth and consideration toward one another. (It's as though the love of Jesus were rubbing off on them.)
I reiterate: I love Christmas, that is, the true meaning of Christmas. I fondly recall how, on Christmas Eve, everyone used to go to church to see and to listen to the sprightly young kiddies as they poured every ounce of vim and vigor they could muster into their rendition of a lively Christmas carol, or proclaim in song that ever beloved, ever immortal Christmas hymn, "Silent Night."
On Christmas night, after all of the holiday activities are over and you are alone, did you ever sit down in your quiet living room and gaze at the brightly lighted Christmas tree and just think about what Christmas really stands for? I have done that, and as I sat there gazing at the tree in quiet meditation, I would start thinking of that night centuries ago when the three wise men stood in reverence, gazing up at the beautiful, bright star in the east which guided them to the holy manger in Bethlehem where the Christ Child lay, attended by Joseph and Mary. As the scriptures state, "And she brought forth her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in the manger; for there was no room for them in the inn." As that sacred revelation passed through my mind while I sat quietly in the still, peaceful atmosphere of the living room on Christmas night, an ecstatic, unexplainable feeling of holiness took hold of me.
At times, during that period of quietude and solemn meditation, I would amble to the window and glance toward the east where a bright, glittering star shone in all its glory and splendor. That star seemed to light up the whole universe and shower its blessing over all humanity. As I gazed at that radiant, heavenly glare, I felt the devout words of Robert Browning when he wrote: "God's in his heaven - all's right with the world!"
Don Kaiser
Warsaw
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