Letters to the Editor 12-29-2004
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Our Father's Thanks - Iraq Elections - Blood Drives
Our Father's Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:The trees are trimmed and the holly is strung and children wait in grand expectation. We at Our Father's House have turned out the lights and after just one more thing we will retire to our prospective homes and enjoy this wonderful holiday. We are able to see an ancient promise fulfilled and relived as that star shines so brightly in the East. We have stood witness to the kind generosity of strangers to strangers and friend to friends and so importantly, family to family. We want to thank all of the churches, all of the service clubs and the children who gathered hats and gloves for other children. We want to thank all of the factories who sent their leftovers and the caterers who all year long make food possible here. Thank you to all of the families who sent canned goods and all of the people who collected them.
We at Our Father's House are so blessed to be able to see families teaching their children the joy of charity to others and wonderful acceptance of those whose life it enriches. This season brings out the best in most and teaches us all that as long as we remember that one perfect life that there is hope for the whole world. We send our prayers for all the people who are serving in the military and all of their families who are holding their breath until they return home safe. We at Our Father's House send our heartfelt thanks to our community for the wonderful support you give us all year long. Merry Christmas and God bless us all.
We are yours in service.
Roz Morgan
Our Father's House
Warsaw
Iraq Elections
Editor, Times-Union:On Jan. 30 elections will be held in Iraq in what should be a turning point in our favor in this current battleground in the War on Terror. However, the wrong thing is being voted on, that is the election of a 275 member National Assembly in what is supposed to be a first step toward a peaceful, democratic and united Iraq.
This is based on a mistaken assumption that most or all Iraqi people would like to continue to live together and govern each other in a country that was created by the British after World War I from three former Ottoman Empire provinces centered around Mosul, Baghdad and Basra.
This is also a country that from ancient times has been divided by feuding city-states, tribal loyalties, ethnicity and religious divisions. Most of the times that any kind of unity has been established has been by force, either when a local dictator or foreign invaders seeking to build an empire have crushed resistance to their plans.
There have been some moments of actual unity among the Iraqi people, usually in the face of outside threats, however this seems to be only temporary and fragile unity once the outside threat passes. One recent example was during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) when the Shiite Arabs of southern Iraq continued to fight for and not against Saddam Hussein's Sunni Arab-based regime, even Iran (which is religiously majority Shiite but ethnically Persian) counter-invaded Iraq in 1982.
But by 1991 just after the first Gulf War both the Shiites and Kurds rose up in rebellion, which was then ruthlessly crushed by Saddam Hussein's regime.
Therefore the people of Iraq should be allowed to decide for themselves whether they would like to live in a federation - a United States of Iraq for example - or to partition their country among the Kurds in the north, the Sunni Arabs in western and central Iraq and the Shiite Arabs in the south into smaller nation-states.
If the people of Iraq would decide that it is their best interests to divide their country, then the United States should make every effort for a swift and orderly division of their country in order to prevent a descent into chaos and violence that has afflicted such countries as the former Yugoslavia (1991-1995), Lebanon (1975-1990) and Afghanistan (1989-2001).
By doing this we would not be running the risk of having a future U.S.-imposed artificially created united Iraq collapse into civil war. Which if such an event were to occur, it would have made the sacrifices already made for nothing. Which is why we must let the Iraqi people decide their own political future if we and the Iraqi people are to have victory and the peace, prosperity and liberty that comes with it.
Alexander Houze
Leesburg
Blood Drives
Editor, Times-Union:It is very appropriate as we approach the end of calendar year 2004 to pause and thank the residents of our county on bahalf of the Kosciusko County Chapter of the American Red Cross, for their support and generosity of our Chapter programs and services. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve our residents and for those who support our Chapter as volunteers, financial donors and partners in providing preparedness training and emergency assistance in time of disaster.
We continue to enjoy success in our Red Cross Blood Program, as over 50 blood drives across the county resulted in more than 3,300 units of blood being donated. This would not be possible without the many dedicated donors who regularly participate, including eligible donors from our high schools industry and the general public. In addition, our many faithful volunteers who regularly support our blood program in a myriad of roles contribute to our overall success.
During the month of August, our Chapter announced to the public that because of the devastation resulting from the horrific hurricanes which struck several states in the South and along the eastern seaboard, we were initiating a special financial campaign to raise money specifically for the American Red Cross National Disaster Relief Fund. Donors again stepped forward and provided over $13,000 that was sent directly to the national Disaster Relief Fund to assist the victims of these devastating storms. It was particularly heartwarming to receive a gift of $5,000 from the Kosciusko REMC "Operation Round-Up" fund. We were very appreciative of the fund-raising efforts of both the Edgewood and Lakeview Middle School students who worked diligently to raise several hundred dollars in support of the Disaster Relief Fund. In addition, there were many other groups and individuals who realized the need and supported this vital request to support those who had been impacted by the hurricanes, and we are grateful for each dollar received.
In conclusion, please know that there is much more that I could share regarding support for our Chapter and the American Red Cross. "Thank you" seems so inadequate, but I sincerely thank the residents of Kosciusko County for helping us carry out the mission of the Red Cross. Our best wishes for a safe and Happy New Year!
Larry E. Peppel
Executive Director
Kosciusko County American Red Cross Chapter
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- Our Father's Thanks - Iraq Elections - Blood Drives
Our Father's Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:The trees are trimmed and the holly is strung and children wait in grand expectation. We at Our Father's House have turned out the lights and after just one more thing we will retire to our prospective homes and enjoy this wonderful holiday. We are able to see an ancient promise fulfilled and relived as that star shines so brightly in the East. We have stood witness to the kind generosity of strangers to strangers and friend to friends and so importantly, family to family. We want to thank all of the churches, all of the service clubs and the children who gathered hats and gloves for other children. We want to thank all of the factories who sent their leftovers and the caterers who all year long make food possible here. Thank you to all of the families who sent canned goods and all of the people who collected them.
We at Our Father's House are so blessed to be able to see families teaching their children the joy of charity to others and wonderful acceptance of those whose life it enriches. This season brings out the best in most and teaches us all that as long as we remember that one perfect life that there is hope for the whole world. We send our prayers for all the people who are serving in the military and all of their families who are holding their breath until they return home safe. We at Our Father's House send our heartfelt thanks to our community for the wonderful support you give us all year long. Merry Christmas and God bless us all.
We are yours in service.
Roz Morgan
Our Father's House
Warsaw
Iraq Elections
Editor, Times-Union:On Jan. 30 elections will be held in Iraq in what should be a turning point in our favor in this current battleground in the War on Terror. However, the wrong thing is being voted on, that is the election of a 275 member National Assembly in what is supposed to be a first step toward a peaceful, democratic and united Iraq.
This is based on a mistaken assumption that most or all Iraqi people would like to continue to live together and govern each other in a country that was created by the British after World War I from three former Ottoman Empire provinces centered around Mosul, Baghdad and Basra.
This is also a country that from ancient times has been divided by feuding city-states, tribal loyalties, ethnicity and religious divisions. Most of the times that any kind of unity has been established has been by force, either when a local dictator or foreign invaders seeking to build an empire have crushed resistance to their plans.
There have been some moments of actual unity among the Iraqi people, usually in the face of outside threats, however this seems to be only temporary and fragile unity once the outside threat passes. One recent example was during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) when the Shiite Arabs of southern Iraq continued to fight for and not against Saddam Hussein's Sunni Arab-based regime, even Iran (which is religiously majority Shiite but ethnically Persian) counter-invaded Iraq in 1982.
But by 1991 just after the first Gulf War both the Shiites and Kurds rose up in rebellion, which was then ruthlessly crushed by Saddam Hussein's regime.
Therefore the people of Iraq should be allowed to decide for themselves whether they would like to live in a federation - a United States of Iraq for example - or to partition their country among the Kurds in the north, the Sunni Arabs in western and central Iraq and the Shiite Arabs in the south into smaller nation-states.
If the people of Iraq would decide that it is their best interests to divide their country, then the United States should make every effort for a swift and orderly division of their country in order to prevent a descent into chaos and violence that has afflicted such countries as the former Yugoslavia (1991-1995), Lebanon (1975-1990) and Afghanistan (1989-2001).
By doing this we would not be running the risk of having a future U.S.-imposed artificially created united Iraq collapse into civil war. Which if such an event were to occur, it would have made the sacrifices already made for nothing. Which is why we must let the Iraqi people decide their own political future if we and the Iraqi people are to have victory and the peace, prosperity and liberty that comes with it.
Alexander Houze
Leesburg
Blood Drives
Editor, Times-Union:It is very appropriate as we approach the end of calendar year 2004 to pause and thank the residents of our county on bahalf of the Kosciusko County Chapter of the American Red Cross, for their support and generosity of our Chapter programs and services. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve our residents and for those who support our Chapter as volunteers, financial donors and partners in providing preparedness training and emergency assistance in time of disaster.
We continue to enjoy success in our Red Cross Blood Program, as over 50 blood drives across the county resulted in more than 3,300 units of blood being donated. This would not be possible without the many dedicated donors who regularly participate, including eligible donors from our high schools industry and the general public. In addition, our many faithful volunteers who regularly support our blood program in a myriad of roles contribute to our overall success.
During the month of August, our Chapter announced to the public that because of the devastation resulting from the horrific hurricanes which struck several states in the South and along the eastern seaboard, we were initiating a special financial campaign to raise money specifically for the American Red Cross National Disaster Relief Fund. Donors again stepped forward and provided over $13,000 that was sent directly to the national Disaster Relief Fund to assist the victims of these devastating storms. It was particularly heartwarming to receive a gift of $5,000 from the Kosciusko REMC "Operation Round-Up" fund. We were very appreciative of the fund-raising efforts of both the Edgewood and Lakeview Middle School students who worked diligently to raise several hundred dollars in support of the Disaster Relief Fund. In addition, there were many other groups and individuals who realized the need and supported this vital request to support those who had been impacted by the hurricanes, and we are grateful for each dollar received.
In conclusion, please know that there is much more that I could share regarding support for our Chapter and the American Red Cross. "Thank you" seems so inadequate, but I sincerely thank the residents of Kosciusko County for helping us carry out the mission of the Red Cross. Our best wishes for a safe and Happy New Year!
Larry E. Peppel
Executive Director
Kosciusko County American Red Cross Chapter
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