This is Viewpoints for Friday, August 28, 2015
Enough
I wholeheartedly agree with Guy Weatherly’s letter. How in the world has God not already said enough is enough? I pray every day that he will cause President Obama and the other leaders to fear him as we should. Unless and until we all turn away from our wicked ways and seek his will, we will all perish.
— Teena Scarborough
Eastman
Check it
I enjoy reading Dr. Bill Cummings column on Sundays, but I want to point out an error in his recent column in which he stated that “The Catholic Church has one distinctly different (from Protestant churches) offering. It’s called the Eucharist.”
He might want to check the Episcopal prayer book in which he would read that Eucharist is a most important part of the worship form. (Though not for morning and evening prayer services).
He might also like to know that for many of us, the correct term is The Roman Catholic Church, since we Episcopalians (and some other denominations as well) recite The Nicene Creed during our worship which states “We believe in on holy Catholic (universal) and Apostolic Church.”
Not a cradle Episcopalian,
— Becky Yeatman
Warner Robins
Realistic solutions?
Charles Richardson implies that Donald Trump’s candidacy is bad for the Republican party. He claims that “The Donald” is a bombastic bore. He compares him to a Pied Piper whose message is red meat to the Republican base. He states that Trump is an over-the-top real estate developer. He compares him to a rapper. And he hopes that one of the other 16 Republican candidates will thump Trump.
What Richardson does not realize is that Trump appeals not only to the Republican base, but also to white-collar Democrats and independents. They don’t care about his bankruptcies or his three marriages. Or that he relates problem/solutions to money. What they care about is that he is not a professional politician. That he is not politically correct. That he does not back down from the press. They like the fact that he addresses the issues they care about. He may even be a throwback to a citizen government as the founders envisioned.
Professional politicians have promised to secure the border for more than 20 years. He says he will build a wall and have it patrolled by troops. He will deport illegals who have been convicted of felonies. Many believe his immigration policies are harsh and unrealistic. He wants Congress to pass legislation to prevent the babies of illegal mothers born in this country from becoming automatic citizens. He is not ashamed to identify them as anchor babies even if the press does not like the term. Not only do these babies become citizens, but we pay for their mother’s hospital bills. After they and their mothers go back home, the babies are entitled to Social Security benefits and can return to this country and request that their families join them here. To most voters this policy does not seem fair. And, they do not want to have to refer to illegals as undocumented immigrants. They are mad and they want someone to resolve the immigration problem. Most voters realize the government is not going to deport 11 million illegals. They want someone to honestly address the issues that concerns them and not treat them as unaware fools.
I am not endorsing Trump. But he is addressing issues other than immigration; foreign policy, the economy, trade agreements and the military. I, too, want someone who will truthfully address the issues that we all know have to be resolved soon. Not only does a candidate have to identify the issues but they have to propose realistic solutions that they can work with Congress to implement.
— Jim Costello
Perry
Two groups
Dr. Bill Cummings, a former priest and non-practicing Catholic, is the poster child for Catholics who choose to leave the church and become “nones.” Some in Cummings’ generation — he is almost 84 years old — are divided between two major camps: Those who saw Vatican II in the early 1960s in continuity with the church’s 2000 year tradition, and those who viewed Vatican II as a rupture in that tradition and produced a completely different church.
The first group is correct and Cummings’ group is dead wrong. Liberalism in Catholicism and Protestantism accounts for the majority of departures from the church. It is deadly. The confusion and damage inflicted on the Catholic Church by some in Cummings’ generation is incalculable and in part accounts for some of the church’s loss of membership.
While growth in the population of the church is a laudable goal, fidelity to the truths of the church are more laudable even if this means a smaller, but purer church. Mustard seeds, among the smallest of seeds, grow into the largest of bushes. Catholic history is cyclical and there is nothing new as it concerns today’s death and tomorrow’s resurrection.
Cummings is correct in asking people to question things. I recommend questioning Cummings, who not only denigrates practicing Catholics but all orthodox Christians. He arrogantly pontificates; but he’s no pontiff.
— Fr. Allan J. McDonald
Pastor
St. Joseph Catholic Church
Smarter than outsiders
It is with great interest that I read the column by Thomas Sowell in the paper. This is a wonderful column and he is to be commended for writing it. The Civil War is over. It was a sad thing. It is a part of history and we cannot change it. It is a vital part of our history. To remove the Confederate Flag is not a good idea either. To remove the carving from Stone Mountain is a disgrace to the people of Georgia. The cost of that could be used for more important things.
I agree with Sowell. I quote, “The race hustlers don’t care about the Civil War.” It is just a way to get something started. We do not need outsiders telling us what to do. We are smarter than they are.
— Jeanette Weaver
Jackson
Bill Shanks
In response to R.V. Rampy’s letter, I want to say that Bill Shanks is a great sports journalist. He loves the University of Georgia and is 100 percent a Georgia Bulldog. However, because his observations are educated, he doesn’t blindly consume the red Kool-Aid. And where is the evidence that any recruit has ever spurned UGA because he didn’t dig what Bill had to say? Coach Mark Richt is a fine representative of the university and has compiled a great record against Georgia Tech. The latter might prove less so, going forward. We’ll see. Go Jackets.
— Michael P. Harrell
Macon
What can save us?
The Lord has withheld his wrath upon us for condoning homosexuality. He did the same for the Israelites for a while, then he destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with fire from above. The Bible tells what may happen to us when we mock his word. Read the Bible to know what makes him most angry. With the recent Supreme Court decision mocking God’s establishment of marriage between one man and one woman, God may no longer withhold his wrath upon us. He may send the very same people to destroy us who destroyed Israel, which is certainly what we deserve. How ironic that we are now in the same position as Israel was centuries ago.
If the recent deal with Iran goes through, it will certainly speed up our destruction, since they openly wish to kill us all. It may destroy the entire Earth. The only thing that may save us is going back to living by God’s word, which is clear and true.
— Ballard Rutherford
Fort Valley
Just the facts
I am doubtful that this letter will ever be published, but it should be.
I’ve come to expect sensationalism, I’m disappointed and angry as hell. As if the dim-witted article wasn’t enough, there are the ever-increasing number of negative, inflammatory comments left by the poorly informed, ignorant public. The truth is that the people and families directly involved don’t need any of this right now. What’s done is done and can’t be undone. It’s a tragedy, not gossip.
From the very beginning of this tragedy, the newspaper chose to report the details in true tabloid fashion. You made sure to focus on the fact that the three men involved led alternative lifestyles. Those personal details were not necessary in reporting the story. As a trusted source of local news it is your obligation to report facts — just facts. The facts were only that murder/suicide/arson occurred. Not only did you irresponsibly share unneeded details, you named persons affected deeply by the tragedy causing undue persecution of character that only deepened the fresh pain felt by them. Great job.
I hope you are bombarded with negative feedback. The truth is that you absolutely owe the public that relies on you for factual, responsible reporting a retraction of the story and an apology for such sloppy reporting reminiscent of The National Enquirer.
— Jennifer Pina
Dublin
This story was originally published August 28, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Friday, August 28, 2015 ."