This is Viewpoints for Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017

I remember well

December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor Day, I was 12-years-old. My birthday was just a month before. My father had given me a radio for my birthday. It was my prize possession. At that time, my brother and I were going to Morgan Park Military Academy just south of Chicago. Sunday morning we were allowed to sleep late. After we had our breakfast the day was ours to play as we wished. As always, as soon as I was able, the radio came on. There were many children’s programs to listen to.

My roommate and I sat on our bunks listening to whatever when the program was interrupted. The Japanese were attacking Pearl Harbor. We did not know where Pearl Harbor was but we knew it was bad. The war in Europe was on our minds.

My first thought was to tell the housemother. That was the lady who looked after all the young boys at the school. Quickly I ran to the ladies room and knocked at her door. The door opened and I received my second shock of the day. My mother answered the door.

The night before my mother had come to the school for a special program my brother was in. I had no knowledge of her visit. The program lasted longer than expected and my mother missed the train back home. She spent the night with Mrs. Horan, the house mother. Yes, I remember Pearl Harbor.

You be the judge

The Telegraph has lost its journalism ethics. My husband brought in the Tuesday Dec. 5 paper and told me, “I am not reading the paper today because I cannot get past the front page headline.” What a horrible story to have on your front page!

Whatever the reason for this incident does not justify having a picture of the poor dog’s collar on the front page. Crawford County will receive enough comments on this issue, but The Telegraph has shown the poorest taste in journalism that I have seen/read. There was a time that journalists were held to report stories with compassion and editorial oversight. I guess that is not the case anymore.

The oath

Assume for a minute Alabama Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore wins the Alabama Senate election on Dec. 12. To be confirmed to the Senate, Moore will have to swear, in part, to the following, “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same....”

Since Moore has already said he will uphold God’s law (as revealed by the Bible and evangelical Christianity), God’s law will guide his votes/actions, and God’s law will supersede The Constitution, won’t Moore commit perjury when he takes the oath since evangelical Christianity, like any espoused religious zealotry, is an existential threat to the Constitution?

Norris’ attempt at humor

Regarding Jerry Norris’ letter (Russian SEC intervention) what a pathetic attempt at sarcasm. If I had to guess he is just plagiarizing comments from Yahoo news and twisting it into the SEC Championship game for a sad attempt at humor.

Norris is dragging our country’s political discourse into something that has nothing to do with politics. It seems to me Norris’ unimaginative rhetoric is meant to fan the flames of hate. Norris, try leaving the wit to the witty. To the editors of The Telegraph I am amused that you found his letter worthy of printing.

Garbage fee

I doubt that many will take the time to appraise, applaud, or even consider what the advance garbage bills can/will do for the “movers and shakers” of our sector. The idea of billing in advance is of course very nifty, but let’s shake off some of the dust. Google states there are 70,215 residential properties or that many (or more) receiving bills for $300 ($60 for last quarter).

I have read the entire script, and it makes about as much sense as the 2008/2012 legalese for health/tax (and whatever). If you simply multiply 70,000 by $240, you will arrive at over $16 million, that the city/county/region, can spend on non-essentials. All of that because I have my diploma! There is no mention of rebates for those who move, die, or simply apply for subsidies because their names began and end with “freebie.”

Question: Why didn’t the commission simply project this for 50 years and we wouldn’t even have the committee meet again until 2067? That sounds like a plan. “For God so loved the world that he sent not a committee.”

I will pay my bill (though I am older than 90 percent of the county — and I do have compassion for those who are most unfortunate. No one ever ran this by me — though I have supported the area for the last 35 years. In all my years (88), I cannot remember such a plan from any sector. Apologies for lengthy phrase, but someone ought to make comments. Please point out where I am wrong.

Did you know?

Did you see any moaning and groaning about the Vietnam Veterans statues going up in Warner Robins?

Did you know that it happened in recent history? Did you know that it was over only 40 years ago? Did you know that some of us were injured? Some of us lost friends and family? Did you know that none of us are afraid of statues?

This story was originally published December 6, 2017 at 9:06 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017."