Editor, Times-Union: In reverence to Cynthia Tucker's Column of Aug. 16, Galileo got in trouble with the church, not so much because his views conflicted with the Bible, but because he disagreed with the greatest scientific thinker of that time - Aristotle. The Bible doesn't teach an Earth-centered universe. It does contain references to the sun rising and sun setting (Josh 10; Ps. 19), but this is language we use even today, centuries after Galileo. Aristotle (who was not a Bible-thumping fundamentalist) taught that the universe was Earth- or geocentric. Other Greek thinkers disagreed, but Isaac Asimov (who wasn't a Bible thumping fundamentalist either) said in "The Stars in Their Courses" that Aristotle so brilliantly refuted his opponents that his views held sway for centuries. In the Middle Ages, scholars like St. Thomas Aquinas merged Christian theology with Greek philosophy, which was regarded as the final word on science, and produced Scholasticism. Bible references to sunrise were taken to confirm Aristotle and hence to disagree with him was considered heresy. Sometimes resistance to scientific research doesn't come from religion but from other scientists.
William Michael Kelly Warsaw
Clarifying Beliefs
Editor, Times-Union: I would like to write one more time in an attempt to further elucidate and to clear something up.
First of all, Jon, I did not say that no one ever quoted the book of Leviticus. What I said was that I haven't read any letter from any Christian that says homosexuals should be put to death. To clarify, what I meant was that this is not the opinion of Christians, and that no one has written in saying that the death penalty is what homosexuals deserve.
God may have said it to Moses, and someone else may have quoted it, but that's it.
Secondly, Jon, let's forget quoting scripture, I can see that the very direct words of God and how he feels about homosexuality, isn't going to change your mind.
What I can say for sure is that God doesn't set anyone up to fail. He gave us a way to escape death by surrendering our hearts to his son and by doing our best to turn away from the sins that are spelled out in the Bible.
By the way, Webster defines "liberal" as lacking moral restraint, broad-minded and not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy or traditional forms. Sorry, my Jesus was NOT a liberal.
Scott Wickens Warsaw via e-mail
Freedom And Separation
Editor, Times-Union: Since religion, especially matters concerning church and state, is frequently debated in letters to the editor, I thought I would add to that debate. First I will define freedom of religion and the separation of church and state.
Freedom of religion is the right of each person to peacefully practice a particular religion or no religion at all and to be free from religious persecution and forced religious conversion by any part or whole of any government whether at the local, state, national or international levels.
Separation of church and state is the duty of any government to refrain from establishment of a theocracy or a militantly atheistic state, to refrain from outlawing, regulating, harassing or giving preferential treatment to any religion or no religion, to refrain from the establishment, operation and support of public churches, and to refrain from the punishment of those who peacefully practice a religion or no religion because it differs from the religious or non-religious beliefs and practices of those who rule, are in a dominant minority or of the majority.
Now for some explanation and commentary on these definitions. First, the peaceful practice of religion does not include waging a holy war against the infidels and heretics. Second, all Americans are free to choose whether to be Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, pagan, atheist, etc. Third, no government can justifiably punish those who peacefully practice a religion or no religion by the use of the death penalty, torture, imprisonment, manual labor, deportation, monetary fines, property confiscation, etc. Fourth, the U.S. government, meaning the president, Congress, the Supreme Court, federal bureaucratic agencies, cannot establish a national Church of America with a nation-wide system of public churches that are taxpayer funded and filled up by compulsory attendance. Fifth, the lack of a government-mandated national church or religion whether it be Protestant or Catholic or one of the other major religions or even atheistic/secular humanist, keeps politics and warfare out of the religious lives of Americans.
I believe that these two principles of Freedom of Religion and Separation of Church & State are something that all Americans should continue to support if they value the peace and freedom that we have enjoyed because of the adherence to these two principles.
Alexander Houze Leesburg
Hurricane Thanks
Editor, Times-Union: Thank you, Indiana, for all you did to help us recover from Hurricane Charley.
Sincerely, Norma Copeland, Delores McDaniel, Port Charlotte, Fla.
Hire Park BMX Track
Editor, Times-Union: Since moving to Warsaw three years ago I've been trying to find an excellent sport-related activity for my 8-year-old son to get involved in. I finally found one of the least known about, but well organized events right here in town - the BMX bicycle track at Hire Park.
Not only do you get good challenging exercise for your kids but you also get to see a sincere fellowship of helping and teaching each other, from the older young adults all the way down to 4-year-olds with training wheels who are first learning to safely ride a bike.
The small number of people in and around the town that have even heard of this park is puzzling. There was even a state race with photographers and many people there Aug. 21 and 22. Since I did not see any coverage or photos in the newspaper or on the radio, I decided to write and try to make more people aware of this great opportunity for parents and kids looking for a unique activity to get involved in.
This park has recently been renovated and buildings have been remodeled solely by local volunteers. This effort was led by Dan Rumple, who must spend at least three or more days a week of his own time there, just so the park remains open for the families that have been lucky enough to find out about the track. They have a motto on their flier that relates to the benefit that the kids receive. "Where no one sits on the bench."
Kim E. England Warsaw
School Problems
Editor, Times-Union: The Warsaw community has seen a curious and public circus play out within its school corporation this year. A maelstrom of protest erupted over three elementary school closings as Warsaw Community Schools district officials made controversial administrative and budgetary decisions. Other scattered incidents occurred involving district employees. A wrongful-termination lawsuit was filed Aug. 18 by two former business department employees that seems to bear much credibility.
Surely it was strange to find that in a year in which three elementaries were closed in the district for financial reasons - supposedly saving the corporation hundreds of thousands of dollars over the next few years - the district's superintendent and assistant superintendent received sizable salary raises. I should like to know just how they earned them, as problems within the corporation are glaring. Could it be that the Warsaw school board is largely stocked with members who bow to the superintendent's bidding, with "yes" people? In a word, yes.
As a 2000 Warsaw Community High School graduate, this situation angers me. A heap of discord and carelessness permeates the Warsaw school corporation at present. Its top leaders ooze with unprofessionalism. This is hardly to say that most or all district employees are complicit in such a multifaceted case of mismanagement. Certainly they're not, but the ones that are involved have duties to perform and decision-making power that they've used wrongly. They've twisted figures when they needed to validate budgetary decisions and bent facts to save face when firing longtime employees. Their faces should in fact be red. I encourage Warsaw voters to remember the improprieties of this school district's superintendent and its elected board come November. Men reap what they sow. Certain players within Warsaw Community Schools seem ripe to reap a whirlwind.
Jonathan Scott Muncie via e-mail
'Rumpelstiltskin' Success
Editor, Times-Union: The Center for Arts and Culture would like to thank all the participants and businesses that made the production of "Rumpelstiltskin" a success. It was exciting to see local young people have the opportunity to interact with professional actresses/directors such as Heather and Julie. It was gratifying to know that the Missoula Children's Theatre has developed an excellent program to promote the arts to the younger generation.
Your participation and support made it possible for our children to have this opportunity to have a growing experience, to increase their communication skills and to develop constructive group dynamics while having a good time. Thank you for your part in this endeavor.
Center for Arts and Culture
Warsaw
My Man ... Joe
Editor, Times-Union: My man Mitch, I wrote Mitch Daniels in 2003 when he was White House Director of Management and Budget about an article I read in the Times-Union stating that the Pentagon lost track of 3.7 trillion taxpayers dallars. Also of a program I saw on PBS of a former Pentagon accountant who went looking for the million dollars missing from his account. His supervisor told him to stop, that NO ONE CARES! He also told how Pentagon employees were using federal credit cards - that our taxpayers pay for - to pay their mortgages, buy new cars, vacation in Europe and gamble in Vegas.
I wrote my man Mitch to tel him I CARED! Three-point-seven trillion would give my grandchildren great schools, would give my country great health care - and maybe the Pentagon could have sent young men and women to war better equipped.
What was my man Mitch's reply? "He didn't recognize the 3.7 trillion dollar figure." What! A small town newspaper and a country housewife knows more than the White house Director of Management and Budget! Is my man Mitch going to be that misinformed about Indiana's tax dollars?
Then there's the article in the Times-Union May 8, 2003, that states my man Mitch is named in an IPALCO securities lawsuit. That doesn't sound like a man I want governing Indiana. So Mitch Daniels, I have to say My Man Joe Kernan.
One last thought: With all the letters about "Farenheit 911" it would be nice if the theater in town would show the film so we could make up our own minds. They aren't prejudiced, are they?
Carol May Etna Green
Chistmas In July
Editor, Times-Union: Thanks to all who contributed to the "Christmas in July" School Supply Give-Away to help low-income students returning to a new school year. Each year, your contributions help kids approach a new school year with the tools they need to help them learn, to achieve their goals and become our next generation of leaders.
To date, 597 students from 40 area schools received school supplies this year. This is only possible thanks to your continued support and commitment to helping others.
Dan Clay Combined Community Services
via e-mail
V.J. Day
Editor, Times-Union: I was pleased to read the comments in letters to the editor about V.J. Day. I had nearly forgotten that event.
My unit was in the Rhineland when V.E. Day came (May 8, 1945). We were hoping to become part of the occupation troops in Germany. Most of us had been gone for two years or more and the thought being redeployed to the jungle of Asia was not a happy one. Everyone thought the war would last another two years.
We withdrew to the coast of France to a transient camp. These camps were named after cigarettes. We were put in camp Twenty Grand. Rumors had it that we were to be sent to Burma (now Thailand). Our spirits were pretty low.
The orders finally came to start loading the ships in the harbor at LeHarve, France. I was assigned about 60 German POWs to do the loading. There had been some news about a large bomb being dropped on Japan, bu it didn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary. As I recall, it was late in the day when we were getting bogged down with so much equipment to be loaded when the anti-aircraft guns began firing, and then guns of all kinds started firing. All ships have flare guns aboard, and the various ships in the harbor started firing flare shells at each other. We had to take cover as these bounced off the decks.
Finally we got the news that Japan had surrendered. Everybody but me and the 60 POWs took off to the city to celebrate. We got our orders changed and headed for New York. This was a happy occasion.
I believe the 50,000 casualties suffered in taking Okinawa prompted the use of the A-bomb. With Japan's many suicide weapons, the government estimated it would cost a million and a half men to invade Japan proper.
If you were one of those million and a half men, you were glad for the A-bomb. At least in WWII we didn't have the Hollywood gang and the letter writers giving aid and comfort to the enemy. It would have been called treason 60 years ago.
George Plew Warsaw
Voting Machines
Editor, Times-Union: I think the punch card voting was an excellent and very accurate system, was very simple, and counting was quick and easy to count by machine and left a paper trail. It was not an expensive system to purchase and maintenance was not costly. The people who had trouble using this system will never be able to use a computer screen. I think we should continue using it.
We read that the new and very expensive machines that are being manufactured have been having a lot of problems, and the cost of them will run into the millions and billions of dollars. They will be electrical, what will happen if the power goes off, will votes be lost, will there be a paper trail left, will the computers crash, if no power you can't vote. Computers are wonderful, but they have problems.
You don't have to agree or disagree with me but this is my opinion, I think a great mistake was made when our "so-called" voting problems were blamed on the voting system we were using.
