Editor, Times-Union: Presidential Candidates; What a joke! George W. Bush gets up in front of God and everybody, and says he's a religious, God-fearing, Christian man, so does John McCain, and they both believe in capital punishment. George W. Bush just killed a woman in Texas.
I believe God said thou shall not kill. Wake up George, what a couple of hypocrites. I don't know about anybody else, but I would never vote for anyone who believes in killing another human being. Have A Nice Day.
Michael L. StevensÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ
Pierceton via e-mailÊ
Win-Some Women
Editor, Times-Union: Last fall I wrote a letter to the editor relating what a wonderful time I had at the Fall Win-Some Women's Retreat. I expressed my disappointment in seeing very few ladies from Warsaw or the surrounding areas at the conference. The spring retreat is just around the corner. Now is the time to set aside the weekend of April 28-30 so that you, too, can experience the love, laughter and life-changing lessons that are part of the Win-Some Women agenda. May I challenge all of the ladies in this area to attend at least part, if not all of this unique time of fellowship. Put it on your calendars TODAY! You will not be disappointed.
For more information write to Win-Some Women, P.O. Box 894, Warsaw, IN, 46581-0894 or call 269-5843.
Kathy Blake Warsaw via e-mail
Opinion Clarified
Editor, Times-Union: I'd like to clear up a few things concerning my recent letter to the editor, and the response:
First, I believe my point was completely missed. My point was twofold: That people need to learn to accept and love each other, and that people should not believe that their personal opinions are fact. They are opinions, and someone else can find them "right" or "wrong," depending on what their views are.
The letter criticizing mine incorrectly assumed I feel that nothing is right or wrong. I feel that peoples' opinions (stress that) are neither right nor wrong. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, no matter how inappropriate it might be.
However, when someone allows their opinion to negatively affect their actions, then they do wrong. My critic brings up the example of my future son asking if it's OK to blow up the school, and said I would reply that "nothing is right or wrong." My son may want to blow up a school, however, when he turns that feeling into an action, that action can then be judged as right or wrong. Blowing up a school is wrong, and I would certainly tell my son so.
Actions are right or wrong, not opinions. We are free to think as we will, but not to act on those thoughts when the end result is detrimental to the good of society.
Tim Keyes Warsaw via e-mail
Good Schools
Editor, Times-Union: In a world quick to criticize public schools and the students, parents and staff members who make them what they are, we often fail to focus on their outstanding accomplishments. Something exciting is happening in grades three, four and five in the Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation (Akron, Burket and Mentone Elementary Schools) that certainly qualifies as an outstanding accomplishment. During the second year of the Viking Readers program, 286 total students from all three schools recently combined to independently read a grand total of 426,348 pages. Research shows that involving students in independent reading is one of the single most effective methods of increasing student achievement. In addition, a love for reading is possibly the greatest gift a child can be given.
Viking Readers could not happen without the efforts of many people, including parents, classroom teachers, high school athletic directors and coaches, high school student-athletes and many others. Viking Readers could not support a budget of nearly $900 for student reading incentives without the monetary support of several area businesses.
I'm extremely proud of the efforts of every student, adult and area business that helped make Viking Readers a motivating reading experience for our children. People like these, who care enough to do great things for kids, are the ones who make a difference in today's schools. Thank you so very much.
Brett R. Boggs, principal Akron Elementary School
Right Or Wrong
Editor, Times-Union: In response to Tim Keyes' Feb. 28 letter...
You say there is no longer any "wrong" or "right." This seems to be the classical philosophy of today's moral relativism. Then you state "we no longer live in a world of absolutes." So I am to believe there is absolutely no absolutes? Then you insist we should all go along and get along, and society would be the better with this attitude.
May I suggest you talk to me or other believers about the Good News of Jesus Christ found in the Bible. The Good News will lift us above the strife and darkness of this present age. Don't be a part of the "go along and get along" crowd, but rather join those who are living supernaturally. Living with a new hope that is both present and eternal. Listen to the "real thing"... the words of Jesus: "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." -John 10:10b. Join the crowd with the Good News.
Warren Walmer Warsaw
Truck Drivers
Editor, Times-Union: Those semi drivers all they want to do is run red lights, speed, and be a general nuisance to all other drivers. They should have to go 35 mph through Warsaw since we wereÊgoofy enough to allow 80 percent of our businesses to build along the U.S. 30 bypass. They all do drugs they never get looked at by the police let alone pulled over. Just what are they good for?
I've heard it all (or should I say read it all right here). There are obviously many misconceptions about us truck drivers. I will educate you. First of all truck drivers are just like anyone else most are good people some are not, but 98 percent of truck drivers are better drivers than all automobile drivers because of the simple fact they drive all across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Not just at vacation time or on holidays but EVERY DAY! It is not uncommon for a truck driver to drive 3,500 to 4,000 miles in one week! I personally drove in excess of 110,000 miles last year. If you work on cars, sell homes, manage a store you get better at it with experience. When you drive for 10 hours a day you get better at it in a hurry. They say a person puts 15,000 miles a year on their personal vehicle, I do that in 5 to 7 weeks. As far as truck drivers taking drugs, they are ALL, under federal law, tested for drugs and alcohol randomly. As far as trucks going through red lights, if you haven't driven a 12- to 20-thousand pound tractor with 40 to 60 thousand pounds on the trailer you shouldn't try to judge whether they could stop or not. They are the professionals. Even when going the speed limit or slower if you try to stop all of that weight without a lot of stopping distance you will lose control of the truck and trailer causing devastating results. wet,or icy pavement intensifies this by ten times. I can also tell you when it is foggy or there are white-outs or very heavy rain, cars always get in behind the truck driver. why is that? Because we are such poor drivers? No it's because car drivers are intimidated by such foul weather and they know they can depend on the truckdrivers' experience to get them through safely. Yes, truck drivers speed, but so does almost everyone else. You are a hypocrite if you think you should be able to speed in your
car, but trucks shouldn't. We're not just out shopping or commuting 20 miles home or to work, we're at work when we drive. And last but not least remember if you have it, it got to you or your store on a truck.
