DECEMBER 22, 2011 ISSUE
Letters to the Editor
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Christians Should Call for Peace, End to Wars
Editor:
In this time when many of us celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace I have been thinking about what Isaiah of Jerusalem said about the new age to come: “…they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isaiah 2:4) I have been thinking about what the psalmist said about God’s ultimate victory over the nations: “He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire” (Psalm 46:9) I have been thinking about the words of praise offered by the heavenly host on the occasion of Jesus’ birth: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14). I have been thinking about what Jesus said, and continues to say, to his disciples: “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9). I am convinced that these scriptures have primary relevance to the “here and now,” not to be reserved for some apocalyptic scenario. I believe, in fact, that we have been living in the end-times since Jesus came and that we ignore the teachings of both the Old and New Testaments to our own peril.
For personal peace, for forgiveness of sin, individuals do need to have a personal relationship with God through Jesus based on repentance and faith. To have this experience is also to become a part of the Christian Church, the Body of Christ. Both individual Christians and the Body of Christ must be committed to sharing the good news of Jesus, personal salvation and justice to society, which will end war.
Worldwide, a good number of churches came out strongly against the Iraq War. A war in which 4,500 U.S. military personnel have died and 32,000 have been wounded and estimated Iraqi casualties are 110,000 plus, with over 2.5 million displaced. A war in which Joseph Stiglitz, in his book on the Iraq conflict, estimates the true cost at 3 trillion dollars. Curtailing U.S. military operations in Iraq is a step toward peace. What about Afghanistan?
Congressman Walter Jones, a Christian, voted in 2002 to authorize the Iraq War. Over time he has come to believe that the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan violated his Christian principles. Asked about how the faith community could help, Jones responded: “The faith community needs to start speaking out…I don’t understand why the church has been so quiet on the issue of Afghanistan.”
In the name of the Prince of Peace, let us pray and work for peace in the human heart and in society.
Sincerely,
Herbert Hash, Jr.
What is FAIR?
There is a lot of talk about “fairness these days. What is FAIR? My wife and I send the government a large chunk of the money we worked hard to earn (the more we earn the more we are taxed) and the federal government is supposed to use it for national defense and infrastructure—for our benefit and protection.
But now there is something else that is “FAIR”—if you are very successful, the liberals think it is “fair” to add a special tax on top of that—and use it to “spread the wealth around.” What our President and his Democratic Party leaders are really pushing onto us, is REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH—which is not being fair to those who work very hard to achieve their dreams that bring wealth.
The “freedom to achieve” has populated our country with the most prosperous people from one nation in world history and the largest percent of its citizens with wealth derived from employment in our world-leading businesses. Giving our business leaders the incentive to compete successfully in this world marketplace (plus “American Exceptionalism”) will do this, NOT A BIGGER and MORE INTRUSIVE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT!
My wife and I are now in our retirement years or very close to it, and we want for our children and grandchildren to have the American prosperity that we experienced during our past careers—prosperity earned in a free and FAIR economic system in which individuals are rewarded for hard work and innovation. Government exists NOT to “spread the wealth around” but to protect our individual rights. Certainly NOT the “transformation of America” to a failing socialistic economy propagandized by the current administration.
Mr. Donald Bolster
Sugar Grove
A Very Special Christmas!
Dear Editor
I wonder how many times this story will be repeated in our High Country homes this Christmas. It reads: “This is one family that is planning for a huge Christmas celebration. It will be the first year in a long time that Hope has felt free to join us. And this year, she is bringing her partner, Joy, whom we have never met. During these years of estrangement, regrettably, Hope did not feel welcomed in our family. It wasn’t that we stopped loving her. We just didn’t know what to think when she disclosed her sexual orientation one night by phone. Talk about shock! She spoke of falling in love with her friend Joy and wanting one day to marry her in a lifelong commitment. First, our painful rejection...then a prayer for her to change...then the slow realization that this is who Hope is. Finally, letting her know of our change of mind and heart and that our love for her remained unconditional. It’s wonderful...the excitement of having our family circle restored with two additions! Now, how do we get Christmas to come sooner?”
Love and Peace! Boone
Bill Rogers
Secondhand Smoke Causes Cancer
Dear Editor,
I am a sixth grade student at Blowing Rock School. In my science class, we are learning about secondhand smoke. We have learned that it is very dangerous, and we think it should stop.
Secondhand smoke contains more than four thousand ingredients, and over 60 of them cause cancer. I think we should help educate people about smoking, and all the dangers that come with it. That might stop people from deciding to smoke. Smoking doesn’t just hurt the people doing it, it hurts other people around them.
I think we should stop smoking altogether. It is unhealthy for everyone, even the people who have never picked up a cigarette in their life. Every year 40,000 people in the United States die because of secondhand smoke. It needs to stop. It is unfair to everyone.
Sincerely,
Lucy Gray
Blowing Rock 6th grade
Counter-response to Bolster’s December 15 Letter
This is in response to Donald Bolster. First of all Sir, the Middle East protests all started off peacefully; the violence started when repressive governments used violence on peaceful protesters with guns, tanks and even (in the case of Libya) rockets! Are you in favor of dictators and repressive governments? If you don’t like what type of government the PEOPLE choose, too bad because that is what democracy is all about. And by the way, the bailout of large corporations was started by G.W. Bush.
Second, Republicans and corporations are the ones fighting the prosecution of the corporate criminals who caused the financial meltdown (remember it is Republicans who removed the regulations and are still blocking new regulations, e.g., the new consumer protection agency).
Third, there was NO nudity, sex crimes or deaths by the 99%! That was a lie perpetrated by Fox News and was proven wrong! Repeating a lie over and over does not make it a truth! I have participated and have friends who have participated in 99% peaceful demonstrations; there was no nudity! It is fall for gosh sakes, much too cold to run around naked. As for dress, these are average, working Americans, and most cannot afford three-piece suits or silly tea party hats—talk about bad dress choices!
Fourth, as far as fair taxes, even Warren Buffet has said his secretary pays a higher tax rate than he does and that the rich should pay higher taxes. Yet the right says the rich need more tax breaks to create jobs. They have had their tax breaks for over 10 years, and where are the jobs? The rich are spending their money at places like Tiffany’s (i.e. Newt GinGRINCH) and on other luxury items that do not provide jobs for us. If you are living below the poverty level (because your job was shipped overseas) you shouldn’t have to pay taxes.
Fifth, we DO write and call our representatives and they reply “we will take your comments under consideration” (just ask Virginia Foxx a question) and then they vote to give subsidies to oil companies (who made the highest profits in history). Free market seems to mean “send American jobs overseas and more profit for the rich.” I invite you to come to a 99% rally; we are willing to listen to you but you are not willing to listen to us.
The right is like a little kid who doesn’t get his way. How many times is the right going to threaten to shut down the government in order to get its way? It’s said, “God helps those who help themselves”—and the right sure has helped themselves!
J. Brewer
EDITOR'S NOTE: High Country Press does not verify the information in the letters to the editor submitted to the newspaper and does not endorse the positions expressed in the letters. The opinions and assertions are those of the writers alone.
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