This is Viewpoints for Friday, Nov. 6, 2015
Fondly remembered
Lee Robinson of Macon passed early Wednesday morning to join his beloved wife, Irene. Lee, friend and mentor to many, served in many leadership roles throughout his life: for his country in wartime as a company commander in Vietnam, a Georgia state senator, Macon mayor, church deacon and Bible teacher and most recently leader of the local indigent legal defense office for all in need, especially former veterans, which he might have been most proud of all.
When responding to compliments and praise about these efforts, he modestly said, "I am not worthy of your compliments because I am still a work in progress." Greatness comes dressed in diverse clothing. He will be missed and fondly remembered.
— Arthur D. Brook
Macon
Best letter
In my 45 years of reading The Telegraph I have never seen a better written Viewpoints letter than that of Matt Dykes regarding "illegal" vs. legal gambling. His letter is cogent, concise and completely dead on the money. His point is so well made and backed up with such perfect citations that it simply cannot be disputed. You, sir, nailed it!
— Randal D. Duckworth
Warner Robins
Corrupt politicians
This letter concerns the now past elections in Warner Robins. I have a question for the mayor and City Council members. Is Warner Robins still a city of ethics? It may not be illegal for a sitting councilman to pay the qualifying fees for challengers to incumbent council members, but surely it is unethical to try to load up council with cronies. Just because he couldn't get council to see things his way doesn't justify him trying to back door things through deception and deceit. I'm starting to believe what my dad told be over 40 years ago. To be a politician you have to be crooked.
I truly hope not all politicians are and feel that the incumbents who were re-elected, two of whom I am proud to say I consider friends, are honest. The constitutions of the U.S. and Georgia affirm "We the People." They do not say, "the select few." I hope next year someone runs against this corrupt councilman and calls him out on his pass actions and sheds light on what he really is.
— Wayne Overhlt
Warner Robins
The responsibility of the vote
On Oct. 26, frequent writer Frank W. Gadbois alluded to the fact that a requirement to furnish real identification to vote would actually deny Democrats the right to vote. I would ask Gadbois — does he imply that poor citizens and college students are too ignorant to supply real identification, and should only be considered Democrats? I would also say to him that voting is a privilege not to be taken lightly, and anyone who cannot prove they are eligible to legally vote should not be allowed to vote. I believe the majority of the poor, the college students and even Democrats would agree.
It's getting close to election time again. I would say to all the eligible voters to take time and listen to all the candidates and weigh your own values against theirs. Exercise your personal "don't trust" policy after you make your potential selection, until perhaps, you do a little research on their backgrounds. Most importantly, don't let anyone sway your opinion after you make it. And even more important, don't cast your vote for a particular party. Cast your vote for the individual you choose.
Voting is one of the highest individual rights we have as a United States citizen. Only we can choose who we want to see in office. Vote responsibly because the future of this nation is on our shoulders.
— Gary McCall
Warner Robins
Answer to a question
To accommodate President Obama's re-election campaign in 2012, Hillary Clinton removed herself from consideration of any possible terrorist attack in Libya on the anniversary of 9/11. She "passed the buck" to an undersecretary and a "professional security team" in the State Department, with tragic results.
Sen. Marco Rubio correctly predicted that the Russian invasion of Syria in recent weeks was part of a larger strategy to make Russia a dominant force in the Middle East. Would Rubio or Clinton make a better president? I predict that we will know the answer to that exact question a year from now.
— Charlie Adams
Fort Valley
Obedience fosters discipline
Kudos to Charles Richardson for his almost bull's-eye opinion piece in last Sunday's paper about the much ballyhooed school incident in Columbia, South Carolina. First, I have to wonder if the incident had occurred in a poor school in Detroit and had both student and officer been black, would we have ever heard of it? Probably not. Next, what about the school administrators not backing up their own security officer who was summoned by them to handle something they couldn't or wouldn't handle themselves? I say they should have defended the officer to the max for the sake of discipline, lawsuit or no lawsuit.
Discipline is an absolute necessity in any successful organization and those of us who have experienced military service know and appreciate this quality. In today's world discipline can and must begin at home and Richardson was very correct in recognizing that fact and strongly encouraging parents to be responsible disciplinarians.
I graduated from Lanier High School in the 1950s where Principal A.J. Swann prowled the halls looking for malefactors to paddle, I being one. Looking back, now I really appreciate the discipline and order I learned at that fine institution. On occasion, the school found it necessary to discipline me, and I feared not their actions nearly so much as what I knew I would receive when I got home. You see, my parents considered me an extension of themselves and our family values, which were not to be publicly besmirched.
I believe there is a very strong connection between discipline and obedience as obedience fosters discipline. The Psalmist declares in Psalm 128:1, "Blessed (happy) are all who fear (respect) the Lord and who walk in obedience to him." Very good advice.
— Charles T. Wolf Jr.
Macon
Free counseling
As a regular reader of letters to the editor, I have become increasingly concerned with the mental health of several of your regular contributors. The tone, hostility, anger, bitterness and frequency of their letters would appear to be cause for alarm. Did their parents not pay enough attention to them as children? Are they crying out for attention? One writer in particular seems to delight in making inflammatory, negative and false statements, just so he can personally attack those who dare to respond.
Maybe The Telegraph should offer mental health counseling to this group of regulars as they appear to be unpaid employees of the paper. Just a thought.
— Fred Greer
Fort Valley
This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 10:12 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Friday, Nov. 6, 2015 ."