This is Viewpoints for Monday, Sept. 14, 2015

Someone cares

I said earlier that nobody seemed to care that there were no parking spaces on the Pine Street side of the Medical Center. Well, somebody does care and they now have valet parking on the Pine Street side of the hospital.

— J. Horne

Macon

Any questions?

Suppose, just suppose, a priest or minister of the gospel announced to his congregation that something had been revealed to him as scripture by God while in deep prayer. Would you, as a believer, take the passage as truth, or would you require more evidence before acceptance? That is exactly what columnist Bill Cummings asked in his recent column entitled, “Please don’t read this.” The Bible is filled with words, lines, paragraphs and chapters of scripture that demand more study. There is a bitter debate now happening in Kentucky where a county court clerk sat in jail because she cannot resolve her biblical beliefs on same-sex marriage with our constitutional law.

Jesus said, according to John 14:6, that “no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” Does that mean women and children have a pathway to the Father other than through Jesus? Does it mean every person with a belief outside Christianity is bound for some kind of eternal purgatory after this life? Does it mean those who never heard of Christ suffer the loss of a resurrection? You can bet your boots this biblical passage needs a revisit for further study, as do others.

Cummings always writes a good column and this was one of his best. His challenge to those with no questions or concerns about the many contradictions in the Bible and teachings of the church should never read his column. They should just wait for Judgment Day with a packed suitcase and a one-way ticket to Glory Land. Alternatively, a search for the truth can set us free.

Perhaps a Masoretic scribe in a dimly lighted room many years ago mis-translated another word from a faded scroll.

— John G. Kelley Jr.

Macon

Middle Georgia feminism

I have been a resident of Middle Georgia my entire life, and I love it. Georgia, specifically Macon, will always have a soft spot in my heart. However, our feminist community here is disappointing at most and at our best there is a mention of female empowerment. I know, one hears the word “feminist” and automatically pictures bra-burning rebels of yonder years. However, a little education and that perspective can change. Feminism is about equality and the empowerment of every gender and sexual identity. I believe that this is the farthest thing from most native Middle Georgia citizens.

So, I have a proposition. Add to The Telegraph and post to the website a section focusing on feminist ideals and events. One such case would be the Sister Strut, that recently took place in order to empower the black community in reference to breast cancer. Or, even do a poll to discover what the community thinks of feminism and follow that with an article explaining the movement.

— Katlynn Cross

Perry

‘Route 66’ memories

I read the sad news in The Telegraph today that one of my early “heroes,” Martin Milner, passed away last week. Those of a certain age will remember Milner as the one of stars of the TV series “Route 66.” Milner and his initial co-star, George Maharis, would travel around the country, sometimes even along the famed Route 66. Many other places far removed from the ribbon of asphalt that spanned from Chicago to California through the Southwest were hosts to the cast and crew. On two occasions, the crew detoured through Tampa, Florida.

One of the first film companies to use location shooting, the “Route 66” team featured a bowling team or two that would challenge locals to a match. Some of those locals became extras as the scenes were filmed at the old Jai Alai Fronton and, on another visit, the old Skyway Bridge across Tampa Bay. You could fill a book with the names of stars and soon-to-be stars that appeared on the show, from Alan Alda to Robert Redford and more.

I met both Milner and Maharis at the Regal Lanes in Tampa because I worked there polishing the lanes in anticipation of the arrival of the 66 team. We had no selfie-sticks or digital cameras in those days but, somewhere there is an old Brownie shot of my skinny 15-year-old self, standing next to that iconic red Corvette.

Later in the series, Maharis became quite ill with hepatitis, I believe, and was replaced by Glenn Corbett. I recall that Corbett drove his personal car, a souped-up version of the Corvair Spyder. Regardless of what Ralph Nadar said, that was a great machine.

The old Jai Alai Fronton is gone, as is the old Sky Bridge. It partially collapsed after being hit by a freighter in 1989. Now Milner has passed, too. I suppose I will visit NetFlix to see if there is a collection of the old series I can binge watch. In the meantime, I probably won’t look for the old photo of that too-thin boy. I don’t need any more reminders that I am no longer skinny.

— Bob Carnot

Warner Robins

From victim to survivor

Being a prostate cancer victim I felt obligated to write this letter. Diagnosed back in February, stage T2A, gleason score of 7 and a PSA at 5.9, it was not as bad as it could have been, but bad enough. No. 1 cancer in men and No. 2 cancer killer of men.

My motive behind this letter is to let men in Middle Georgia know that there is a viable option besides surgery and the standard radiation or seed implants. It is called proton therapy. It is offered four and a half hours down the road in Jacksonville, Florida at UF Health, which is part of the University of Florida. Not some fly-by-night outfit, but a world-class organization.

God forbid you get this diagnosis, but if you do, you need to do the research or do as I did and get your wife to do it. Now, no longer a victim, but a survivor, I would like for my e-mail dawsonirby@yahoo.com to be published and will respond to any questions anyone may have. I am not a medical professional, but having gone through proton therapy I can tell you about the procedure and what it did for me.

By the way my PSA is now 1.8 and falling.

— Gilbert D. Irby

Macon

This story was originally published September 13, 2015 at 10:20 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Monday, Sept. 14, 2015 ."