Editor, Times-Union: A few years ago, Vaclay Hvel, president of the Czech Republic, came to Philadelphia and gave a July 4 speech. He told his audience that despite the prosperity and physical comfort, modern civilization has produced the world of our experience seem chaotic, disconnected confusing.
We do not know exactly what to do with ourselves. We know much about the world about us but we understand our own lives less and less.
What is happening? Today, to avoid hurting any one or more persons feelings we are slipping from the moorings of the strong docks which the earliest founders of our country built for greatness, stability, and an assured strong future for our and succeeding generations.
The founders of our country were, by and large, Christians. The Holy Bible was a great influence in the forming of the Declaration and Independence, the Constitution, and the Federalist Papers: These are core documents at the beginning of the United States of America.
The Separation clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution is designed to prevent the establishment by the government of a particular brand of religion in the United States. Present day jurisprudence is purging our civic and political life of religion altogether. The failure to make this distinction is costing us dearly.
What is missing? The awareness that we are more than earthly beings. Aware that this life is not the end is found in all religions and other beliefs. This carries the sense of right and wrong to all. An accountability is built in to us. People need a higher vision of themselves which no court or law can give. Law and courts can condemn, sentence, or release, but they cannot give spiritual regeneration. This is what is missing.
Christmas is that joyful reality that came from a loving God for all people and the problemed world that exists today. From that manger at Bethlehem came a Man,Jesus Christ, who taught a new way of life, demonstrated it, and even died that every person could know it, live it and know the life fulfillment now and forever.
This is what is now missing. This is what we need.
This Christmas let us go to Bethlehem's manger and thank God for, and accept God's great gift of the Savior Jesus, and live as He commands us.
C.L. Hendrix Winona Lake, via e-mail
Christmas
Editor, Times-Union: I'm amazed that some merchants are willing to take my "Christmas" money but refuse to wish me a "Merry Christmas." "Happy Holidays" just does not do it for me - on Christmas I celebrate the day God came to earth to redeem me from my sin and to adopt me into His own family with the full rights of a son. That is definitely not just another holiday.
If Christmas, one of our most precious holidays, is offensive to a few and the majority must, therefore, bow before the American Communist Lawyers Union, then perhaps we should neutralize all holidays which might offend a few and just celebrate them all as just another holiday.
For example, some folks in our "land of the free" are, unfortunately, racists. Must we therefore make Martin Luther King Day just another unnamed holiday?
Some in our land are opposed to USA altogether - should we not honor this minority by calling Memorial Day, Independence Day, Flag Day and Veterans Day as just holidays without mentioning the reason we are celebrating?
Many in our nation are offended by gay rights and what the gay community teaches about their diversity, so we certainly should not celebrate Gay Pride Day, just another holiday.
Halloween - just a holiday, because many are offended by witches and goblins and everything for which that days stands.
And while we're at it, since the ACLU wants to remove all mention of God from school, it should be absolutely illegal to curse on the play grounds or anywhere on school property.
If we really put our minds to the task, we could take some of these idiotic ideas of the atheistic, anti-God element of our country, and just destroy everything for which this country was founded and which has made her the envy of the world. We might even whitewash America so much that we wouldn't have to patrol our borders to keep illegals out - if we do everything the ACLU wants us to, few would want to come here anyway.
Ronnie Sams Warsaw, via e-mail
Special Interests
Editor, Times-Union: Special interest groups are attempting to control and change every facet of our daily life.
I am all done with political correctness, special interest groups and minority groups that want to ruin the country. They will get no sympathy from me.
Here's a few reasons why: It is a Christmas tree, not a holiday tree. Always has been always will be a Christmas tree. I don't want someone telling me it's incorrect to call it a Christmas tree.
It is Christmas, not X-mas. Let's not take Christ out of Christmas and substitute him with an X. After all, what do you think Christmas is all about?
Some nut doesn't think we should have prayer in the statehouse and has sued to stop it. If there was ever a place that needed prayer and lots of it, it is in the statehouse.
I don't want to listen to school announcements on the local radio in Spanish. In the USA, we speak English. I want the Spanish people to learn to speak English. I am sorry but they must have known we speak English here before they came.
I want the Wawasee Warriors, Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves, Florida Seminoles and every other team with an Indian name to be left alone. No one is disrespecting the Indian.
Before you know it, PETA will complain about the Tigers, Bears, Cubs and Dolphins.
Where does it all end? Have a Merry Christmas. Greg White Chapman Lake, via e-mail
Gospel Truth
Editor, Times-Union: I believe that it is imperative that our nation not be afraid to embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ. All of our freedoms depend on it. Please take to heart the following quote: "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great Nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here." - Patrick Henry.
I would encourage everyone who reads this to send it, repeat it, print it, etc. After all, it can not be emphasized too strongly or too often.
