This is Viewpoints for Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015. Happy Thanksgiving
Cummings' ponderings
Contrary to a recent opinion in Viewpoints by contributor Max Wood, I find the columns of Dr. William Cummings most informative and filled with wisdom. The Telegraph is commended for using the words of such an experienced biblical scholar on it's editorial page every week.
Wood could not have missed his mark more in suggesting the Telegraph was losing subscribers and advertisers by printing Dr. Cummings' ponderings of the scriptures in our holy book. Let's hope he will explore and enlighten us soon on John 14:6 wherein it is written that "no one comes to the Father (in heaven) except by me." Suffice to say that passage bars many of other religious views from entering eternity through the pearly gates.
Perhaps The Telegraph will keep Dr. Cummings on the editorial page until Gabriel blows his horn.
— John G. Kelley Jr.
Macon
Promises, planning, performance and price
Fighting blight through debris pickup and timely yard waste pickup with increased recycling by employing increased garbage/trash taxes, are all a part of the new Macon-Bibb County plan. A vital issue of this overall plan objective appears to be missing or has the old landfill "can" been subtlety kicked down the road again? What is the projected life expectancy of the existing landfill under this plan without new violations, and the estimated costs/schedule for closing the landfill and securing a replacement?
Now, as to recycling. I firmly believe in recycling proven by my having taken our and a neighbor's recycling to Seventh Street for 10 years to avoid placing plastics, paper, glass and aluminum in the garbage stream to the old landfill. Will recycling truly be available to all or to a select few as provided in the past?
— Arthur D. Brook.
Macon
Starbucks cup
There are children in this country going to bed every night hungry and not looking forward to anything much better on the following day. There are people in this country living in cardboard boxes under overpasses and bridges. There are people, citizens of the U.S., who do not have proper health care, and yet there is plenty for energy in some quarters to whoop up a holy crusade against Starbucks for taking the snowflakes off the Christmas Season cups.
Snowflakes! Snowflakes as a symbol of the birth of Christ. Remove them and you are attacking Christmas? There are no doubt flakes are involved in all of this, but they are not snowflakes, but flakes of another kind, beginning with Joshua Feuerstein, a media evangelist, who first made public this notion from whatever fantasy world he lives in, and taken up by that "huge" religious leader, Donald Trump, who called for a boycott of Starbucks based on this evidence. Nothing says Christian values like a casino!
One might suggest that opposition to Starbucks actions are based more on the fact that Howard Schultz is a supporter of progressive causes and political figures, but that sounds like a "conspiracy theory" and we already have too many of those around. (However, several of my imaginary friends assure me that the black helicopters are real.)
— Charles J. Pecor
Macon
Nourishing bonds of kinship
President Obama was right in shaming the leaders in our country who have voiced opposition to receiving Syrian refugees. Mahatma Gandhi said an eye for eye leaves the whole world blind. Similarly, the poet Audre Lorde said the master's tools will never dismantle the master's house.
Instead of succumbing to the plan of ISIS to incite fear and greater violence, we could respond like the people of the little town of Gander, Newfoundland, on the day of the 9/11 attacks. A town of 9,000 welcomed the 8,000 passengers of flights who were diverted because of the immediate airspace closure.
These townsfolk, knowing it was a passenger on the flights that hit the towers, could have closed their doors and refused these distraught travelers rest. But instead they pulled together and showed the world an incredible act of hospitality. In the process, the hearts of the townsfolk and travelers were changed and they became friends.
In 2011, they had a 10-year reunion to nourish kinship and bonds of fellowship. In such a lonely and hurting world, might we choose such an act of love and hospitality instead of the old and tired fear and hatred?
— Rev. Cassandra Howe
Macon
Always hope
They'll come to Atlanta
From not very far
To play our poor jackets
Whose team is sub-par
Our season's in shambles
Our goals are unmet
But hope springs eternal
"It ain't over yet."
— Eugene Cox Dunwody
Macon
This story was originally published November 25, 2015 at 5:39 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015. Happy Thanksgiving ."