Editor, Times-Union: On May 16, the Winona Lake Lions Club received a letter from the Town Council of Winona Lake directing them to remove the Boy Scout Cabin building in 60 days from the date of the letter. Here is a little history of the Club.
The Lions Club was meeting at the Westminster Hotel in 1955-1958 and Mr. and Mrs. James Thomas saw that we were outgrowing our meeting room. He said if we could find a building lot, he would make a donation in honor of Homer Rodeheaver, long-time friend of the young people of the area, to the Winona Lake Lions Club, and the fund would be called the Boy Scout Cabin Fund.
A group of members went to the Winona Lake Town Board and they offered to us several locations, of which we chose the one at the end of West Canal Street. The Town Board donated this lot to the Winona Lake Lions Club in 1958. We had names of 105 contributors (some were members of the Town Board) that made donations. The Lions Club members worked very hard and it was not until 1963 that we had the mortgage burning ceremony. Now an engraved plaque hangs outside the cabin in honor of Homer Rodeheaver. The Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, Cub Scouts and other youth groups have used this cabin for 45 consecutive years. We care about our youth. Now the Town Board members do not want the Boy Scout Cabin there anymore!
I keep thinking of the past 48 years and all the people who spent thousands of hours serving the community without personal financial rewards. As a charter member, I know all the past and present Lions members would want me to stand up for keeping the Cabin as is. Also, Homer Rodeheaver, a long-time friend of the young people, would want the Scout Cabin to stay put. The Lions Club does many good things for the community, state and world since it is the largest service organization in the world. I am the only charter member left in the Club and also a lifetime member.
The Lions Club simply is standing up for the Scouts and trying to correct an error that was created by a "gentlemen's agreement" of donated land between the former Winona Lake Town Board and the Lions Club. The litigation is to be used to create a legal deed to the property in the Lions Club name.
Satan uses greed and deception through the use of human form to accomplish his goals! Who gains from the removal of the Scout Cabin? Is it the Town of Winona Lake depriving many future boys and girls of the proven benefits gained through Scouting, or is it the greed of a certain few?
Clarence DeTurk Winona Lake
Hostages At Home
Editor, Times-Union: Fear tactics in Afghanistan rendered the Afghan people helpless, and in their submission the Taliban did as they pleased. The recent passing of the Patriot Act has given members of the Justice Department carte blanche to search homes without justifiable cause. Could we have as much to fear from the terrorists trying to get here as the ones who already are?
We need not look too close to see that there are some profound similarities between the Department of Homeland Security and the Islamic schools of Pakistan known as madrasas. Both project suspicion and fear.
Baby Face Tom Ridge, and Mullah John Ashcroft appear inseparable during news conferences. From my humble perspective, it seems counterproductive to raise the terrorist level one day only to appear on national television the next with the message that there is nothing to be afraid of. The message is "don't be afraid, just be cautious."
How ironic that Baby Face's appearance should then be followed by the Mullah. After we've been double-teamed the message is clear. Be afraid, don't be afraid, be afraid. Americans are a little tired of Jack in the Box. It just sounds like a bunch of chatter to us. What is that? Some kind of a secret message?
As Americans we're not going to allow someone else to determine our daily anxiety level. We know the sky is not falling, but even if it was, why would we want to know in advance? The words "we told you so" won't be much of a consolation with our faces pinned to the ground. Where's Osama? Where's Saddam? I don't care, I want to know what Baby Face and the Mullah are up to. You should too, because if we're not vigilant we might wind up floating down a croc-infested river with our heads bobbing up and down. Remember, trust is an option, and with the burglar in the neighborhood, you're not going to want him in your house.
He struck last week and left us in the dark. I never thought special interest groups would result to fear tactics to gain government subsidies, but you would have thought they could have been a little more discreet about it. Domestic terrorists don't appear to hide very well from anyone except congressmen.
We've got a whole subcommittee of those that are going to let us know in a week to 10 days just how that blackout could have happened. If it took me that long to wake up, I don't think I could ever get anything done. Corporate Morse Code is a little unseemly, don't you think? Let's not mention inconvenient and costly. It doesn't seem like a Pamper is appropriate attire for a hot-headed executive, but then again maybe it is.
It's one thing to be held hostage in your own country, but what's even more degrading is when you have to wipe his behind after he's done, too.
Yes, a lot of things have changed since 9/11. Burglar tactics haven't though. They still corral everybody in a dark corner and let them writhe in fear while clearing out the bank.
