This is Viewpoints for Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014
Changing times
I too, like C. Jack Ellis am a baby boomer, have seen a lot of changes in relation to our society as a united America. The one belief that united our founders was the conviction that religion was the moral backbone of the new republic. Practicing such religious values, people rose above their narrow self-interests becoming citizens with pride who cared about others. They were people who worked hard and together, yet independent in developing their own goals in life. My family never depended on the government to reach its goals. They knew they had to work hard. They taught obedience -- you go to school, attend church and always be respectful and courteous to elders.
Today our type of leaders ignore our laws and that has a lot to do with changes in our society. We are a different America made up of a diversity of ethnic groups and cultures that have shaped and changed American values. Individuals and different groups came to America bringing with them their set of values that were different from what was mainstream America. Instead of requiring the newcomers to conform to America values, our government and politics pushed our established values and culture to conform to theirs.
-- Faye W. Tanner
Macon
March to the beat
Old timers and newbies must have the blessing of the new Democratic party before seeking a seat at the pork barrel table. To get that blessing they must swear allegiance and be willing to march in lockstep to the cadence of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and President Barack Obama.
This requires a willingness to twist, break and ignore the nation’s laws; be able to support the killing of developing babies in the womb; capable of lying, deceiving and betraying the masses; must be able to support homosexuals openly sinning against God; have the ability to deflect blame for policy failures; understand union needs trumps the nation’s; willing to circumvent the Constitution; be able to convince people that rich people create poor people and that women and minorities would fall flat on their face if it weren’t for Democrats. Any Democrat saying otherwise and promising change are spouting Obamaisms.
The Democratic Party recently gave newbie Michelle Nunn (Martin) its blessing; suggesting her willingness to march to the cadence of Reid and Obama.
-- Travis L. Middleton
Peach County
Propaganda
Its a shame that Kelly Stefano and her letter “Morality no more” published in the Aug. 28 edition of The Telegraph was so biased I would have to question her motives. I guess Stefano never considered the approximately 15,000 rockets fired from Gaza since Israel withdrew its settlers and turned the place over to their inhabitants, who promptly killed numerous Palestinians, throwing some off buildings because they belonged to Fatah. I guess Stefano never considered the fact that Hamas had weapons in three UN schools that we know of. Similarly, I guess Stefano glossed over the fact that Hamas used the population of Gaza as human shields, hiding their weapons in hospitals, schools and residential buildings while firing mortars and rockets indiscriminately.
I’ll make an educated guess that Stefano thought those terror tunnels were just to let Hamas have holidays in Israel. I guess Stefano didn’t mention that the blockade of Gaza includes Egypt closing its border with Gaza via Rafah, or this might just tell us the blockade is not just by Israel, but also by the largest Arab country in the region. I’ll also guess that Stefano never heard of a country telephoning, dropping leaflets and even hitting a building with a “knock of the roof,” giving residents time to leave prior to taking out a command center placed in a residential building. Furthermore, I guess Stefano never heard that Hamas doesn’t let TV crews show any dead terrorist, but relishes letting TV crews show innocent killed and maimed children. By the way, did any TV network ever show a dead terrorist?
Before Stefano writes another letter to the editor the facts must be checked. Otherwise we wind up with a piece of propaganda that is embedded into a letter.
-- Gilbert Held
Macon
What to do?
I disagree with Kelly Stefano. The militarization of our police forces is necessary to counter the numerous instances of deranged killers who have barricaded themselves after going on a murderous rampage. Without the necessary equipment, the police would not be able to dislodge the killer and rescue hostages. To the best of my knowledge, Ferguson, Missouri, was not littered with dead children. There were shootings each night but they were committed by either looters or rioters. The police did not shoot anyone during the nights of rioting. Without the necessary equipment the police would not be able to protect peaceful citizens and businesses.
Stefano identifies the number of Gaza citizens who were killed. She did not list the number of Israel citizens who were wounded or the number of Israeli solders who were killed. Gaza is not an open air prison. It is an independent territory ruled by militant Muslims. Their stated goal is the destruction of Israel and the establishment of a Muslim state free of Christians and Jews. They violated all of the negotiated cease fire agreements. They have continued to launch missiles into Israel. They are supplied and supported by Iran whose leaders have vowed to wipe Israel off of the face of the earth.
I am all for resolving differences peacefully. What does Stefano think the police should do to control looters and rioters? Many small businesses were destroyed in Ferguson. Does Stefano believe the police and the owners should just stand by and let these establishments be destroyed? What does Stefano think Israel should do when it is attacked and its citizens killed?
Intelligent civilized people can work together to resolve their differences. But there is no reasoning with deranged killers. Looters will not stop until they get what they want. Religious fanatics will not stop killing until they terminate those who they consider to be non-believers. Peace loving countries must ban together to fight a common enemy. Community and religious leaders must caution against violent behavior and encourage peaceful means to obtain justice.
-- Jim Costello
Perry
Marbles
As a kid growing up in Twiggs County, my friends and I used to play marbles. I had some real pretty cat eyes and solids. Draw a big circle in the dirt, put your marbles in and take turns knocking your friends marbles out. What you knocked out was yours to keep. I lost a lot of marbles but thanks to The Telegraph I have found them. They are rolling around in Frank Gadbois’ head, I am sure of this by reading some of his letters. Frank, I want my blue-on-blue cat eye back, it cost me the price of a Moon Pie and Double Cola in a trade with my best buddy.
-- Tommy Arnold
Warner Robins
Know-it-all
Once again the smartest man in Middle Georgia has spoken about a subject he knows nothing about. I have a couple of questions Frank Gadbois about his letter “Pardoned” on Aug. 28. In it he claimed that Robins Air Force Base has a 48 percent completion rating. Is he saying that all the planes that are flying out of here are on 48 percent completed? Every plane I have seen fly out of there is 100 percent completed. Maybe he was talking about the 48 percent on-time delivery. But a man of his vast knowledge couldn’t make that kind of mistake. But let’s assume he did.
If the mechanics at Robins are so bad and our delivery rate so low, why were 40 mechanics sent from Robins to Hill Air Force Base to help get them caught up in the C-130 program? Yes, there are some bad individuals who work there just like anywhere else, but the majority who work out here understand the importance of what we do here. No other job can compare to what we do here. Maybe Gadbois should pick up a wrench and come see what’s really being done out here. Also, the rating system is based on a program that both Tinker and Hill have used for years, but is just now being brought on line at Robins. But I am sure he already knew about all that. Also why is some of Hill’s C-130’s being moved here to be worked on?
As for Boeing doing a better job, they are already here in the C-17 program in which they run jointly with the Air Force. But then again I am sure Gadbois already know that, too. Boeing has moved more C-17 work here because they can’t handle it at their other locations. But it’s good to know that he thinks they could do a better job.
Maybe Gadbois should stick to things that he knows about like jolly old England and pay less attention to the Knights of the Round Table at his local Hardee’s or McDonald’s.
-- Greg Stovall
Warner Robins
Best friends
It seems more and more people are on their soap boxes or band wagons in defining marriage and just what they think, believe or spiritually mandate their personal beliefs on the subject according to their personal views. Mostly of those views were ingrained and embedded by their parents, culture, religious doctrines or just plain prejudices. If anyone feels any marriage between two people, would affect theirs, then their marriage is not very secure, grounded, or healthy between the two feeling threatened or made uncomfortable by others nuptials.
Successful marriages are built on true and genuine friendships. Your spouse should be your best friend forever. True friends spend time together; they talk together, laugh together and cry together. True friends enjoy each other’s company while they celebrate life’s moments. True love is more than just kissing, hugging or sleeping together; its about loyalty, honesty and courtesy -- attributes that you’ll always find in a best friend. Don’t just love each other, take your marriage to the next level and become true best friends and you’ll have fun and enjoy life together.
The Constitution gives us all the right and freedom to enjoy and celebrate life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. There have been many marriages since the world began, before any organized religion existed. Two people exchanging vows marry themselves, not any public official or cleric.
No one has the right to judge anyone else’s marriage today. Just look at the number of divorces, domestic violence, spousal abuses, unfaithfulness and separations occurring among married people. Where are the outrages for this awful abuse and disrespect. Just look what they have done to the union of marriage.
-- J.M. Bass
Macon
In trouble?
First of all, let me say that I’m a “right-wing diehard.” I believe the U.S. Constitution should be protected and defended by all means possible. Let me also say that I am not in “big trouble.” David Perdue is not running against Michelle what’s-her-name. He is running against Sen. Harry Reid and President Barack Obama, both of whom have run roughshod over the Constitution and are two of the most incompetent federal office holders in the history of this nation.
It is not conservatives who espouse American values and have a pretty good knowledge of American history who are in big trouble. It is people who have no clue about the values that made this country the greatest one in the history of the world; people who want to take from the middle class and give it to the lazy; people who hate members of the opposite party so much that they will bury legislation so deep in the process it will never be brought up for a vote; people who care so much about perpetuating their own power that they ignore what is good for the country and people who refuse to secure our borders. These are the people who are in “big trouble,” and I resent people who put their selfish interests ahead of the interests of our great country.
-- Jerry Norris
Warner Robins
Inversion consequences
Although I have patronized Burger King over the other hamburger fast food establishments, I will no longer do so. It is time Americans stopped supporting large corporations that depend on us for making them millions of dollars while they pack up and move to other countries to keep from paying taxes here in the United States.
If enough of these large entities leave this country, we will have practically no tax base. That means our country’s infrastructure will collapse. Then more and more Americans will be without jobs, thrusting the middle class into the poor class. I urge all Americans to boycott Burger King restaurants and send a loud message to their greedy corporate leaders that we do not approve of their actions. Walgreens threatened the same move, but backed out of it after a large online protest started.
-- Stephen F. Beaty
Warner Robins
Serve and protect
As usual, when someone gets a death sentence from a policeman, the wackos from the right extol the police saying they were just doing their job. I don’t know anything about the kid from Missouri or Trayvon Martin in Florida other than what biased news organizations say about them, so I will not opine on their stories.
However, the news folk say whatever they want, knowing that gullible folk will take everything they say to form an opinion, whether it is based on a foundation of facts or not.
I have defended several people charged with murder and my experience taught me that rarely does anything get reported that has anything to do with what actually happened. We liberals don’t wish to suppress anything the right-wingers wish to write because we believe one day a majority of our citizens might understand two things: (1) the police are underpaid and under-trained; and, (2) because our police forces are under-trained and underpaid, hand out death sentences on a regular basis. Most police cars bear a slogan to “Serve and Protect.” Perhaps I am missing the part where killing someone without a judge or a jury either serves or protects. But that’s just what I think.
-- Jon Gary Branan
Macon
This story was originally published August 30, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014 ."