LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Re: Truckers need to be accountable for reckless driving

A dangerous situation continues at the intersection of Bogue Road and Highway 99 that in my observation seems to be continually worsening. For some reason, Semi-trucks have increasingly not been stopping for red lights on Highway 99. From large distances away from the intersection, trucks flash their lights and blare their horns and blast right through red lights as if stopping is optional. Several times in the last few weeks I’ve had to jam on my brakes going east-west on Bogue to nearly be hit by trucks not even slowing down through the red-lit intersection.

The community needs to either 1) lower the speed limit in the area altogether; 2) increase patrols at the intersection; 3) double the penalties for this reckless driving. We obviously have a problem if trucks are unable to stop for intersections. We’ve already experienced death in recent history at this intersection as a result of the reckless driving of Semi-trucks. We’re going to experience a lot more tragedy in the future if we don’t hold drivers more accountable for their actions.

Re: Sin’s dilemma

Bryn Burns Yuba City

These days, sin seems to have a bad name. Yes? My trusty cell phone definition defines sin as “An immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law.” Further, my cell phone’s definition of an immoral act: “Not conforming to acceptable standards of morality.” So sin is connected to morality! Whether one agrees with another’s level of moral judgement there are certain behaviors that almost all individuals will deem immoral. What about the Ten Commandments? For example, “You shall not steal, murder, lie, or covet. Perhaps there are a few loonies who think it’s ok to steal, murder, covet, or lie any time it is convenient for them. However, for most humans, these behaviors would be immoral and unacceptable.

Factions in our government have tried for years to remove the Ten Commandments from government properties such as courthouses and schools. Their justification is of course the Separation of Church and State (not mentioned in the US Constitution). Whether or not this makes sense to you, do you not see the humor in it? In effect, the government is implying that they do not need to comply with these fundamental moral standards. So our government can freely lie, steal, murder and covet, but at the same time hold its citizens to a greater moral standard (think paying taxes).

Another one of the commandments is to “Honor your father and mother, that you will have a long life.” What about George Washington, the Father of our country? Applying this commandment to our country, it would infer that for the USA to have a long life we need to honor George Washington as the Father of our country. A George Washington quote: “Religion and morality are the essential pillars of a civil society.”

Is there possibly a “mother” of our USA? I suggest the Mayflower that brought over the pilgrims. They established the first successful attempt by any country at self-government. The Mayflower Compact which the pilgrims wrote on the Mayflower before they established a colony at Plymouth, MA, began with these words, “Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and the advancement of the Christian faith…” It seems that their implied sincere desire to establish a self-government was dependent on their high moral standards.

How we treat ourselves and others is important - what we say, how we say it, and respecting others, even when we disagree with them. Sin’s dilemma is this: Without attempting to live by moral principles we will devolve into a society dependent on corrupt behaviors such as lying, stealing, coveting, and murder. If so, our liberties and freedoms will be greatly eroded by an abusive government that ignores the people’s will.

Art Fruhling Yuba City