The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Dear Editor,
One Person's View of Empathy In The World
We could debate right to choose versus right to life, capital punishment, homosexuality and other issues until the cows come home! The Liberals will stand up for the rights of the individual through thick and thin, whereas the Conservatives do not want infringements on the rights of the majority such as removal of The Ten Commandments from a courthouse or disallowing prayer at a game.
The bottom line is that we have always had Liberals and Conservatives and the better they have worked together, the better it has been for our nation. They have each made important contributions.
There is a need to unite over priorities. We should have as much empathy as possible for those unable to help themselves. This would include homeless, starving, and those desperately in need of medicine, etc. When eleven percent of U.S. citizens are living below the poverty level, they should be given a top priority. The U.S. has always been the most generous nation, as evidenced by the aftermath of the huge earthquake.
When most people in the world lack basic needs, we should help them as much as possible if we are to continue as the humanitarian nation we have always been. Our President and Congress would much prefer helping people, rather than spending so much in lives and finances for the war and after effects.
As you well know, we have lost of 1,500 brave young people and many times that in Iraqi's. About two-thirds of American people think we shouldn't be there and the price is too high. Two-thirds of combat vets think the war on terrorism and the Iraq mission was necessary. Who would you think would have the best insight?
Many people seem to forget that terrorism wiped out approximately 5,000 people in one day in the 9/11 assault on our nation. If our President, Congress, and other countries hadn't acted promptly, who knows how many more thousands of American lives would have been lost?
When we took the offensive, plus developed a strong homeland security on defense, everything changed and terrorists discovered they had bitten off more than they could chew in dealing with the U.S.A.
One way we demonstrated empathy was taking out Hussein, who was the world's most evil person and was torturing hundreds of thousands of his own people with those elusive weapons of mass destruction. Unfortunately, empathy does not work with terrorism, and terrorists will not go away until we take them away. However, empathy for those less fortunate is a powerful weapon against terrorism in world opinion. The only thing terrorists really care about is being the most powerful force in our world and they will gladly give their lives for "their cause". They regard humanitarian acts as weakness. If we pull out too soon, terrorism will regain the upper hand.
The U.S. has always been the most peace loving nation and will continue to be. However, terrorism needs to be eradicated so that humanitarianism and proper priorities can be rearranged.
Weyman George
Macomb
Dear Editor,
Parents and Friends,
Darrin and I have prayed about our community for days now and now that the election is over I will have to say we decided to stick it out. I know that a lot of you have thought about moving - wondering what is going on - what is the back up plan for our schools etc...
Please if you have children - care about our community - care what happens in the future please go to the board meeting on April 11th with an open mind, with questions, and ideas.
But most of all DO NOT divide the community. We do not need this at this time! We need to stick together.
I do not know if we are able to ask questions to the board this April 11th - but I know that we could go hear what they have to say and then present our questions at a later date.
We (Darrin and I) moved from Macomb to La Harpe and have grown to love it here. We both work away from the community but have decided to stay here because we care.
If we could do anything for our children NOW we need to show them that we do care - we will come together - and we will pray about our community. (PRAYER WORKS!).
Please pass this on to all parents in our community.
Please let them know that you too care, if you are unable to make the meeting - call or e-mail your board members and let them know that you care and will pray that the right decisions are made.
Michelle Olin
La Harpe
Dear Editor,
Most people would prefer to have adversity, short-circuited. Important lessons of life, however, can be learned during these traumatic times.
Recently, famous people corroborated this truth, Robert Schuller, pastor of the Crystal Cathedral, said he had never seen a handicapped person without some purpose!
A stroke victim unable to walk or talk for five years, was the main reason for his original drive-in church.
Pat Boone said after an accident, doctors gave his grandson the same prognosis as "some" of Terri Schaivos did. But with time, faith, and therapy, his grandson has learned to walk and talk some.
God's time, not ours, should determine the natural cessation of life.
The doctor said the ventilator was breathing for my husband. He suggested leaving it on until my daughter arrived. Instantly, after removal his life was gone - a natural death.
In my hometown, Jack, after an accident, could see but he was unable to talk. The community never questioned his value of life, but assisted his parents as loving caregivers until his natural death twenty years later.
In Florida, a man was imprisoned five years after dehydrating and starving his horse to death. Justice was served.
Also, in Florida (for the first time in America), the Supreme and Federal Courts sentenced brain damaged (but breathing) Terri Schaivo to death, without food or water with police there to enforce this!
The last 72 hours (of 13 days) Terri was gasping for air, her brother said.
Not surprising considering there was no sustenance to enable breathing. So much for dying with dignity!
Will America be known as a bastion of hope, or a culture of death!
Shirley George
Macomb