Letters to the editor
War is not the only answer
Dear editor:
At the chance that I might stir someone’s ire, I would like to point out that the motto on our money and our federal buildings is “In God We Trust,” NOT “In Jesus We Trust.” God is nondenominational and Jesus is wholly Christian. The Constitution does not allow our governments, state, local or federal, to endorse any religion. All religions believe in a higher being and most are known as gods. This is, therefore, a nondenominational country. That is how it was set up. If some religions want to impose their teachings on all Americans, then we become a Caliphate I do not want to live in one.
Now, concerning Iran and its nuclear ambitions. We chose to enter into a six-nation negotiation with Iran, rather than just go to war. Bear in mind that our allies made it clear that they were not going to continue imposing sanctions if we backed out of the deal. We would be the only country imposing economic sanctions. If there was a deal and Iran violated it, then all the nations would reimpose those sanctions. We have done this for 50 years with Cuba and the Cubans are still not living in a democracy.
We have imposed sanctions on Russia and they still hold Crimea and are still in Ukraine and are now imposing their will in Syria in support of Assad. Sanctions by us alone will not work. And, if we were to leave the six-party agreement, Iran would be free to continue its nuclear program as if nothing had happened. If nothing else, we have bought the world some time to strategize and maybe come up with a more viable solution.
War is not the only answer to all of our problems. Iran is an ally of both Russia and China. They really do not need our trade if they can trade with those two countries. We really have to learn from history. For the time being, this is the best solution we could have come up with short of another war.
And if you think the war in Iraq and Afghanistan has been long and costly, it will not compare to the cost of war with Iran. By all accounts, Israel has the bomb, even if they won’t admit it. They also have the strongest economy in the Middle East, the best intelligence and the best equipped military. They have proved that they can take care of themselves quite nicely.
We need to extricate ourselves from this never-ending conflict in the Middle East and start taking care of us. Our infrastructure is in horrible shape, as are our schools. As long as we continue to spend outrageous amounts of money on the military instead of our domestic needs, we will surely end up like the Soviet Union. They went bankrupt spending money on their military. Steven Bank Hot Springs
Our political future
Dear editor:
The statement “separation of church and state” is from a speech. It isn’t in the Bill of Rights.
Most of our forefathers who set the government to be different from monarchies were Christians! They emphasized “separation of church and state,” referring to separation from the church of “England!” Our forefathers wanted freedom of choice, no king rulers, but to have government with representatives (to represent the citizens) and the other part, the Senate, to represent states with having a president.
The president is not to declare war! It’s Congress who declares war! They (Congress) have the power to approve or disapprove the needed money to finance a war.
I want less government encroachment and the U.S. not to have tyranny. No socialism, but freedom, all freedom in a true democracy. What’s in our political future? Debbie Frenzel
Hot Springs
Humanity is one tribe
Dear editor:
Famed entomologist E.O. Wilson has pointed out that even in the life of ants, tribalism is a survival mechanism. And so it extends to other forms of life, including the human animal. The tribalism of ISIL (The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) is a reaction to the aggressive actions of America’s “War on Terror.”
Yes, there was a small faction of extremists that existed at the time of 9/11. Osama bin Laden led this group of extremists. And if you look into the wishes that bin Laden hoped for in his 9/11 attack, you will find that he hoped the action would bring America into the Middle East to fight a war against Islam. He knew this would be a way for the Middle East tribe to come together and fight what they saw as America’s quest for global empire.
You don’t need to agree with my interpretation, but at least look at the evidence. The twin towers were the highest buildings in New York and exemplified the power of the corporate world. To level these towers was very symbolic to the economically weak Middle East. When George Bush began his “War on Terror,” Osama bin Laden’s wishes were fulfilled.
The number of people who hate America and have joined radical groups to fight America’s military might has only grown since we began our “War on Terror.” It is the opinion of some of us that the only way toward finding common ground with the majority of people and Muslims in the world is for America to allow the Middle East to decide their own fate. Bernie Sanders and others have recommended America to not become more involved but to demand that the Muslim countries in the area take more responsibility. Many of us know that radical fundamentalists of any religion separate themselves from the majority of sane people that exist. We should stand and support the sane people. But the battle of extremism in the Middle East is their battle.
The Levant is the area of the world that was the birth place of the religions of Islam, Judaism and Christianity. They all have the same Mosaic foundation and all worship the same God. The fact that this God is at war with himself, shows the problems that specific tribalism creates when it separates itself and concretizes its beliefs.
We need a new mythology that brings the world’s people together. In the end, humanity must see itself as one tribe. An example of the world working together may be seen in the Large Hadron Collider. Over 10,000 scientists and engineers from over 100 countries, as well as hundreds of universities and laboratories collaborate with hopes of finding why we exist and where we came from. This is the tribe that we all need to join. The discoveries that they make may be able to give us new sources of safe energy that may provide us ways to save Earth from its current road toward destruction. Bill Wiedmann
Hot Springs
Stronger president needed
Dear editor:
Madalyn Murray O’Hair, along with brain dead U.S. Supreme Court in 1963, began the downfall of this once great country when together they took prayer out of our schools and from then, everything Christian has been removed from this country. We are not allowed to have a Christian holiday celebrated on any government property. This country was founded on Christian principals, but our esteemed president has told us and the world that this is no longer a Christian country.
I am old school and still believe actions speak better than words. Mr. Obama may claim to be a Christian, but his words and actions speak otherwise. When we can no longer put a Christmas scene on the courthouse lawn without some left-wing judge saying it is against the Constitution, which has been going on for a long time now, we are just marking time. I am old enough to remember when people immigrating to this country came here to have a better life, and in the process learned our language, obeyed our laws and left their ideologies from the countries they fled in the country they fled
from. That could still happen if we didn’t print all government documents in various languages. This is an English-speaking nation. If you desire to speak some other language, go to a country where that is their language.
And while I am at it, this “dual citizenship” blabber is total nonsense. I come from German stock, but I am an American. If I was born in Germany, then I would be a German. You are where you were born. I believe this to be true as long as you were born to parents who are in this country legally. This “anchor baby” nonsense needs to be a thing of the past. It was a bad idea from the beginning, and only gets worse with time.
I pray for a president strong enough to put us back on our feet. It has been a long time since I was able to vote for someone I wanted to vote for instead of voting for the lesser of two evils.
Bill Drews Hot Springs
Council appreciates help
Dear editor:
Knights of Columbus Council 6419’s efforts have again been greatly blessed to do His work helping the hungry, the sick, the homeless, the addicted (substance abuse) and many other underprivileged neighbors among us. We give Him thanks again and again for our rummage sale donors, our rummage sale customers and our year round rummage sale volunteer workers: Liz and Don Sass, Sue and Dennis Wood, Carol and Bob Koch, Martha Lockwood, Evelyn and Paul Enderlin, Mildred and Joe Giompoletti, Carole Cook, Gil Gibbons, Barbara and Phil Genauldi, Susan Harper, Sue Stephens, Cheryl King, Jody Tooke, Stan DeGruccio, Luis Rivera, Leonard Buchholz, Harold Hager, Jim Elder and Dennis Bosch. Plus, Chief Chef Joe Giompoletti and his assistants — Chuck Pavlovich, Phil Genauldi and Don Sluyter.
And, our 2015 fall rummage sales staff: Ed King, Gail Flagg, Jayne Dierks, Bob and Sandy Kortenber, Rusty Baltz, Don Sluyter, Danny Morrison, Jerry Jennings, Rick Dwyer, George Purifoy, Chris Bosch, Audrey McDonald, Jody Dvorak, Tony Shields, Pam Dwyer, Marty Schnoebelen, Karen Gibbons, Leonard and Miriam Didier, Joe Dierks, Mary Ellen Purifoy, Dawn Thompson, Janet Kanopsic, Tom and Barbara Gilleran, Gwen DeGruccio and Evelyn Worsham.
Council 6419’s previous rummage sales record set in October of 2013 totaled $28,000.
Council 6419 looks forward to your future support as we continue doing God’s work to help the many needy people and families in Garland County. We again ask for your support of our spring 2016 rummage sale (dates TBD) in April 2016. Charlie Cook
Recorder Knights of Columbus Council 6419
Pay attention to pronouns
Dear editor:
I have several issues with Mr. Hoffman’s letter in Wednesday’s paper. Mr. Hoffman, you seem to want to apply the Bible to yourself, instead of applying yourself to the Bible, which we are to do. If by your reference to the verses in Matthew you are implying that you are being persecuted by individuals who have responded to your previous letter, I would challenge your definition of persecution. I hardly think this applies as people who have truly been persecuted in the past and will be in the future would attest to.
The scripture you are referring to in Matthew has a timing issue and it is directed to a group (ye — plural) not (you — singular) and that group is Israeli saints. These scriptures have mainly to do with the tribulation and what men will have to go through.
When reading the Bible, one has to pay careful attention to the pronouns, who is speaking, to whom is the speaker directing his words to and the timing issue. Cheryl Montemayor
Hot Springs
Arrests needed before attacks
Dear editor:
It’s strange to me, the leader of attacks around the world can be found and killed or arrested within eight hours after an attack. I think if our intelligence is so great, why can’t we arrest these leaders eight hours before an attack. Profile, arrest, deport or kill them! Chuck Lilly Hot Springs
Correction or acceptance?
Dear editor:
On Nov. 18, 2015, George Lindholm wrote, “Everyone has a right to their personal views, but no person has the right to make statements that are not accurate and true.” He goes on to say, “It is not necessary that we always agree, sometimes we are wrong.”
But Mr. Lindholm, if I do not have the right to make statements that are not accurate and true (according to whom?), how would anyone know whether we are right or wrong? I say we have the right to be wrong. I say we have the right to offend and to be offended. Of course the laws concerning libel and slander are operational here, but by and large, all discussions are between people who disagree about what is right and what is wrong.
Again, Mr. Lindholm writes, “Dishonesty, deception and misinformation at all times needs to be corrected.” And again, “My church teaches acceptance, compassion, love and infinite grace.” So make up our minds, Mr. Lindholm, is it correction or acceptance? M. Wayne Spencer
Hot Springs