This is Viewpoints for Monday, Nov. 23, 2015
Of God and country
My appreciation to The Telegraph for running a photo of Huntington Middle School conducting a Pledge of Allegiance on Wednesday. A group of about 70 students was shown and out of about 30 clearly visible students, about half were facing forward with hand over their hearts and half were not.
I would like to encourage Warner Robins parents of today's children and teens to instill love of country and respect for its flag in their children. Along with honor to God, love of country and respect for its flag are important to the survival of a nation.
— Joe Mitchell
Warner Robins
Veggie Thanksgiving
While President Obama is pardoning two turkeys for Thanksgiving, every one of us can exercise that same presidential power by choosing a nonviolent Thanksgiving observance that spares a turkey's life. And here are some good reasons:
You can brag about pardoning a turkey — like Obama.
You truly are what you eat. Who wants to be a "butterball"?
Fruits and vegetables don't have to carry government warning labels.
You won't sweat the environment and food resources devastation guilt trip.
You won't spend a sleepless night wondering how the turkey lived and died.
Your body will appreciate a holiday from saturated fat, cholesterol and hormones.
You won't have to call Poultry Hotline to keep your family out of the emergency room.
Seriously, this Thanksgiving, let's give thanks for our good fortune, health and happiness with a life-affirming, cruelty-free feast of vegetables, fruits and grains.
Our own dinner will feature a soy or wheat-based roast, mashed potatoes, stuffed squash, candied yams, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. An Internet search on "vegetarian Thanksgiving" is getting us more recipes and other useful information than we could possibly use.
— Morris Newman
Macon
Righteous anger
Amen! Where is the moral imperative for the unborn. If receiving the refugees is who we are as Americans, does that mean we are also corporately murderers of the innocent lives lost due to abortion? Where is the Christian righteous anger?
— The Very Rev. Don Hutchens
St. John's Anglican Church, Rector
Americus
Cruel joke
The evening news shared a feature story concerning mentally ill inmates in spring 2015. This program should have been a flashing red light for those who control the purse strings and families who struggle to get mental health care for family members who are placed at risk due to a lack of mental health services.
Because mentally ill people don't have political clout, their needs appear to be ignored. It seems as though the system would prefer to build more prisons to incarcerate them rather than provide hospitals and other services to take care of their needs.
Some of the horror stories we see on the evening news pertaining to gun violence may have been preventable if we could have an organized system of mental health services. There is an increased need for mental health services for young children and adults. It is unfortunate that in the 21st century we are employing measures that were used in the Dark Ages. Please contact our governor, representatives and senators concerning funding for improved mental health services.
The Georgia Crisis and Access Line is a component of the mental health program. It appears to be a farce that can be compared to a fast food drive through. The so-called "mobile unit," consists of a couple of cars with an assessor or in-take worker in each car. They drive to the residence of the person in crisis upon request of a family member or significant other with their questionnaire and assessment form. Their only concern seems to be if the person in crisis says they are a threat to themselves or others.
Even if the person has a history of mental illness or aggression and if there is a gun reported to be at the residence, all of these factors are completely ignored. A law enforcement officer may accompany the workers for their protection. Information provided by family and significant others is completely ignored.
Is this another taxpayer funded program that only needs to look good on paper? Do the workers receive input from psychologists, psychiatrists or other mental health experts during their decision making process?
When I called the Georgia Crisis Line with questions concerning its purpose and or objectives, the in-take worker refused to allow me to speak to the CEO or supervisor. She indicated that someone would call me. No one called. Think about the priority given to the following projects (tax funded): a sports stadium in the Atlanta area, "pork barrel" politics, and mental health services. It is crucial that we pay close attention to the people we place in political offices. We reap what we sow.
— Barbara D. Moore
McRae
Crime pays
Alex Rodriguez was suspended from Major League Baseball for using performance enhancing drugs and lying about it. He's one of the highest paid players in the game and now he's a television commentator for Fox during the World Series. Who said crime doesn't pay?
— Robert L. Lehane
Fort Valley
A good First Man
I wholeheartedly agree with John Brogden's letter. Hillary is for the birds. She wants to control this country and people so badly. Bill will make a good First Man because he does everything she says. I feel sorry for him and their daughter. Yes, and God help us all. My sentiments exactly.
— Bonnie Chisholm
Perry
Created as an example
It is a mystery who created God and the force that created God and so on. One of the Viewpoint writers asked the question about autism. There are several theories surrounding autism. Previously, it was one out 150 children diagnosed with autism. Presently, one out of 45 children are diagnosed with autism. The constant attention and financial costs can be overwhelming for many parents.
There was one child diagnosed with autism with a genetic makeup that could not be found anywhere in a database. This child smiled often and had eyes that would light up. Many of these children are not violent and they are loving people and perhaps they were created to be an example for others.
— Renee Lee
Macon
This story was originally published November 22, 2015 at 7:41 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Monday, Nov. 23, 2015 ."