This is Viewpoints for Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015
Why did you
kill my dog?
I am writing this letter to the person who ran over and killed my dog last Thursday about 5:30 p.m. on Dixon Road in Lizella.
I was in the yard with my dog when he got away from me. I was running after him as he was heading toward the end of our driveway. I saw your truck coming down the road and was screaming at my dog to come back. He was intrigued by something across the road because he usually responds to me calling him but this time he did not. The minute I reached the end of my driveway, he was already halfway across the road.
Why did you not slow down or stop? It killed him almost instantly and I cannot tell you how horrific it was to see my dog lying in the road with his tongue and blood pouring out of his mouth. I was in complete shock and disbelief when it happened. I thought surely you did not see us. If I had been a second quicker, I would have been in the road to and you would have run over me because I was trying to save my dog's life but I was too late.
You ran over him the minute I reached the road. Didn't you see me running trying to catch him? Did you not see me standing there at the edge of the road when you took my dog's life?
My whole family is heartbroken. If this was an accident, I understand and forgive you but why didn't you stop? There is no way you did not know it when you hit this dog. This was a very large dog. There is no way you could have not seen me in your rearview mirror crying and screaming hysterically.
If this was intentional, then I can only pray that God deals with you however he sees fit. If I could prove it was intentional, I would have you arrested for animal cruelty. Only you know who you are and what you did. All I know is that you drive a white double or extended cab newer pickup truck with a strip of chrome down the side of it. I was in shock when it happened so I really did not get a very good description of your truck. I was too busy picking my dog up off the road.
Lack of
statesmanship
I would like to address recent terrorist attacks in Paris and Beirut, and mean-spirited comments made by certain politicians, Christians and others regarding Syrian refugees. Understandably, everyone is afraid and outraged about the carnage sown by murderous organizations or individuals. However, for political "leaders," certain governors and good Christians to propose spiteful policy or actions as a resolution to terrorism is sickening to me.
The irresponsible rhetoric and statements made on various news media coverage are perfect fuel for the hate-fires burning in a terrorist's mind.
To those aforementioned officials and candidates for the presidency, I have to ask, "What kind of toxic worm has gotten into your bread?"
There is a big difference between being a politician and being a leader. And a true statesman is someone who shows worthiness to the office that he or she has been elected or appointed. President Barack Obama, Chile's Michelle Bachelet, Ecuador's Rafael Correa and Botswana's Ian Khuma are only several who qualify for true statesmanship. Some governors, current candidates and members of Congress are in a galaxy far, far away.
I recall that far less than a century ago the Jews and Ukrainians, for prime examples, were targets of political spite under the Hitler and Stalin regimes. These peoples were also regarded with disdain by many of their fellow countrymen.
Seem like yesterday?
— Clara Diane Saladin
Milledgeville
A matter
of heritage
Ross C. Hardy, writer of "Our heritage" (Sunday, Dec 20th), apparently misunderstands. We have in the United States our own heritage. It all began with our Founding Fathers, who may have considered thoughts from that 1215 Magna Carta when they drafted our own founding principles.
However, neither our "Declaration" nor our "Constitution" is not that "Great Charter of the Liberties" and I would only think Thomas Jefferson would know what thoughts he used when he drafted the Declaration of Independence.
I would also say that only those founders at the Constitutional Convention knew what drove them to write and ratify the Constitution of the United States.
Perhaps some will be comfortable living under Sharia law forced on them by others. I will not!
Perhaps some may consider burning or other desecrations of our flag freedoms under the First Amendment. I do not. Our flag is the symbol of this great country that I took an oath so many times to protect. Other heritage thoughts include the 4th of July for example.
In the United States it is a holiday while Cinco de Mayo is not.
We may be a country of immigrants but we are a country of immigrants who consider the United States, under its laws and under its heritage, the place we united Americans want to live. However, many others do not.
Those are the haters to whom I say, "get out."
— Gary McCall
Warner Robins
A reader's vote for King James Bible
In reference to "The Story of Jesus' Birth" printed on page 1D of Saturday's Telegraph, I noticed that the story was taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.
In the future, I would like to see the newspaper print the story from the Authorized King James version of the Holy Bible, which was translated out of the original tongues and with previous translations diligently compared and revised.
I believe that the King James version gives a more accurate account of the birth of Jesus.
— Bryan Combs
Byron
This story was originally published December 21, 2015 at 9:45 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015 ."