This is Viewpoints for Thursday, August 13, 2015
Bring on the discipline
I wrote in an opinion dated June 10, “Good for Macon’s Motivating Youth Foundation founder Roger Jackson for spanking an 8-year-old girl for misbehaving, belt or no belt” that was not published and once again, I say good for Jackson. What some call corporal punishment I call a good old caring/loving whipping.
I thank my God daily that my husband believed very strongly in discipline with and/or without a belt as did his father. He never raised his voice and most of the time only spoke once; however, on several occasions he spoke twice before disciplinary action. He never spanked our two children in front of each other, always taking them to their rooms, giving serious lip talk of explaining why the spanking, then came the belt and/or other means of punishment. After their punishment, several minutes later, they were sitting in his lap loving him. If my children’s play-guests were involved in disobedience they too received the same, and their playmates always returned.
I, on the other hand, scolded harshly with my voice reaching a screaming point at times. In my opinion, children not only need, but want discipline, giving them a feeling of parents’ protection, but also of being loved. My screaming never returned them to my lap for loving, but usually returned before bed time. My husband’s disciplinary actions were more effective using his soft but firm words before physical contact and far exceeded my loud voice without contact.
By The Telegraph’s write-up, it seems the center not only keeps children off the street, it advances their learning. Re-open the center and allow Jackson to continue his good work. Most joining the military feel it is the thing to do for their country, but could the strict military discipline bring them also a personal feeling of honor and advance self-respect?
— Faye W. Tanner
Macon
Use cans not bottles
I enjoyed an afternoon on “Rock Island” at Amerson River Park, though it was dampened by a usual site when the river is busy: bottles. Seeing people with glass bottles on the river has always perplexed me. If not in consideration of other people’s safety, do they not realize their broken bottle may be hazardous to themselves the next time they hit the river?
If they didn’t already know, glass and water do not mix. Whether it be poolside, lakeside, ocean side, or riverside. The next time they grab refreshment on the way to the water, please get cans. They’re superior in every way when on the water — less volume and weight both packing in and packing out. Not to mention that whole “I sliced my hand to the bone getting out of the tube” possibility.
— Matt Dykes
Macon
More Obama faults
This note is for anyone who gets their news from MSNBC and other liberal media. William D. Carter, like too many Americans, continues to show painful ignorance about our political situation. President Obama continues to be derelict in his No. 1 presidential duty, the safety and security of the U.S. The Iran deal has terrorists celebrating because the deal will put huge amounts of money into terrorist hands. Expect more attacks against Americans like the five military murders in Tennessee. Obama refuses to secure our border, so criminals and terrorists continue to come to the U.S. In 2013, he also allowed the release of 36,007 illegal criminals who had almost 88,000 convictions rather than deport them.
Obama is reducing the size of our military and the world knows it. He has added over $7 trillion to our $18 trillion of debt. It appears Obama is attempting to destroy our country. As for Carter’s note saying Democrats do things for the people but Republicans do things to the people, I’ll assume he is unaware of the dismal financial and criminal records of major U.S. cities run by Democrats. Thomas Jefferson said, “The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.”
— Mike Smith
Warner Robins
‘Who am I to say?’
I truly believe Pope Francis is contemplating church policies in view of the teachings of Jesus. He has already stated that Catholics have a moral obligation to take care of the unfortunate, the elderly, the sick, the poor and most of all, the children. He has initiated actions to end the animosity between Roman Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox Church. He believes we are caretakers of our environment. He is trying to reform the papal bureaucracy and its financial institution to make them more responsive to the needs of the faithful. He is appointing younger, non-European cardinals who are more attuned to the spiritual needs of parishioners.
He has just recently expressed the idea that the church should open its doors to Catholics who have remarried without receiving a church annulment. I think he is in support of allowing divorced Catholics who have remarried to receive communion. This may lead to lifting the ban on remarried Catholics to receive other Sacraments.
I do not think Pope Francis believes there is such a thing as a lesser Catholic. I wonder why Catholics who remarry are banned from receiving communion but are not excommunicated? Pope Francis has emphasized that Catholics who have remarried without receiving a church annulment still belong to the church.
It can be years, if ever, for a church tribunal to grant an annulment and declares that a marriage is null and void. It is not fair or practical for the church to demand that a Catholic remain married and not seek a divorce. What if a spouse is abusive, an alcoholic, an adulterer, or is financially irresponsible? Divorce enables embattled spouses to legally remove themselves and their children from disastrous or dangerous situations and seek better lives. This may include marrying an individual who truly provides a caring and nurturing family environment.
— Jim Costello
Perry
Joe’s strategy?
Vice President Joe Biden is considering entering the Democratic presidential primary. If so, he could become the next president, culling the “anybody but Hillary” voters in the primary and the “anybody but Donald” voters in November.
— Neal Snyder
Warner Robins
This story was originally published August 12, 2015 at 10:30 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Thursday, August 13, 2015 ."