Editor, Times-Union: When shoppers pass by The Salvation Army's red kettle, the symbol of Christian compassion, they are contributing to a mission that reaches millions in the United States each year. The Army receives nearly $65 million each holiday season at 18,000 kettles across the country, and earns one-fifth of its total annual income through this holiday appeal. In 1999, The Salvation Army provided emergency relief to 2,313,144 disaster victims; made the holidays brighter for 6,354,438 men, women and children; sent 103,304 boys, girls and adults to summer camp; touched the lives of 5,224,559 individuals in nursing facilities through the League of Mercy program; located 2,042 missing persons. Since 1880, The Salvation Army strives "to meet human needs in His (Jesus Christ's) name without discrimination" as indicated in the Mission Statement. The Army has served Kosciusko County since 1921 with the theme, "Sharing Is Caring." For more information, call 267-5361.
Ken Locke The Salvation Army
Pagan Holiday
Editor, Times-Union: I am writing this in response to whomever wrote the letter "reason for the season." There is this huge misconception that x-mas has something to do with Jesus. This could not be further from the truth. The cold fact is that no one knows exactly when Jesus was born if he was at all. The idea of his birth is as controversial as anything presented before us. Some cultures have no idea who Jesus is, some believed he lived but was not the messiah. The other fact of this is that Christians make up a very small portion of the world's religious orders. The evergreen tree has no conection to Jesus at all. In fact, Christians took the "x-mas tree" from the ancient pagans and adopted it in the religion of Christianity to draw more pagans into the church by incorporating their ideas. The pagans actually worshipped these trees and then burned them in sacrifice. Later this practice was adopted by "civilized" people who used candles to light the tree, which gave way to modern invention of electric lights. So when you think of your x-mas tree it means not Jesus but you are having part of a pagan practice older than Christianity. I think this would be classified as a sin. Despite all of its pagan influences in the early stages of x-mas in 601 c.e. Pope Gregory I wrote to his missionary in Europe telling him not to stop such ancient pagan festivities but to adapt them to the rites of the church only changing the meaning from "heathen" to "Christian." In this reason for the season also comes the colorful character Santa claus. Well, he is nothing but a shaman practicing magic, with his flying deer and magic-like abilities. Then we tell our children of such a being and then later in life have to LIE to them and crush their belief in all that they have known. Not to mention the day that x-mas happens to fall on is the day the Romans worshipped the sun god, the most powerful god to the Romans. Even to this day modern-day pagans still celebrate this holiday. So I must say to all by all means celebrate this pagan holiday.
Skot Diablo Claypool via e-mail
Toys For Tots
Editor, Times-Union: With fire truck lights flashing and the WCHS Select Chorale singing, Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. David Morales and WNDU's morning crew, Trisha and Gordy, welcomed in Saturday morning's annual Toys for Tots drive. The toy drive started with the local Kosciusko County Organized Labor Association volunteers bringing seven pickup loads - over $5,000 worth of toys to start filling the first Ryder truck. Two buses then pulled into the lot and the swim team stopped to drop off their gifts on the way to a meet.
Grossnickle Eye Center brought their pickup full of toys into the line-up as the traffic continued to pull through the National City Bank parking lot. Santa dropped by to see how we were doing and welcomed the bus FULL of toys collected by the local schools. Gracious individuals brought boxes and bags by the car- and truckful.
Our entire county was well represented by businesses, church groups and schools from Wawasee, Syracuse, Triton, Etna Green and Jimtown. WCHS students brought gifts from FCCLA, J.V. cheerleaders, co-op students and student council. The student council raised their money through concessions and fulfilled their childhood fantasies by buying the toys that they always wanted and then giving them to the community. It was a wonderful way to share!
Santa had the little ones telling him what they wanted for Christmas while they warmed up with hot chocolate and coffee in the Kosciusko County Foundation building.
Area industry and realtors were well represented with their generous giving as well.
Cub Scout Pack 3767 knew that the kids would need to keep warm, so they decided to donate two dozen to three dozen hats and gloves instead of toys - what a great idea!
Did you know that all of the toys collected in the three large Carriage Rental Ryder trucks will stay in our community?
To all the groups and individuals who donated, and to all who helped make the event a success, we THANK YOU.
To all the recipients of the gifts, we hope your holidays will be a little brighter.
Christmas blessings to ALL and to all a good night!
