This is Viewpoints for Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016
Power of the press?
2015 has not been a good year for the mainstream media folks, especially inside the D.C. beltway. They have tried mightily to persuade the public that Syrian refugees are peaceful. But when the FBI explained they can't vet them all and a man and woman killed in San Bernardino, California, their fabrication fell apart.
Early in the year the media attempted to shame us, and the Washington football team, into doing away with the team's name. But our first Americans weren't too offended, and the many high school teams using a similar moniker rebelled against this politically correct piece of nonsense.
The D.C. media's annual Second Amendment assault only brought about more gun purchases by frightened and reality-based citizens (see Syrian refugees above). Their support of gun free zones is finally being proven too stupid to survive another year.
And they have crashed and burned against a rock named Donald Trump. After lying about him, rigging polls, denigrating him, calling him a Nazi and a fascist, trying to shame him and coordinating hate campaigns against his candidacy, he stands head and shoulders above all candidates (even Clinton ) and increases his support weekly. Their inability to take down a loud, brash and amateur candidate is the media's most spectacular failure in years.
And there are more defeats: being caught lying while claiming to fact check an issue, corrupting political debates, asking "gotcha" questions to some candidates but not all, and hiding and obfuscating the damaging actions of an incompetent secretary of state.
The truth is getting out and the D.C. media doesn't know how to play defense. They continue to operate from the same, ineffective playbook, not realizing they have lost their audience. It is a fascinating study of the fall from grace as the Old Media gets brusquely pushed aside by a more honest method of reporting.
-- Bob Norcott
Byron
Only one solution
On the Viewpoints page of The Telegraph on Dec. 16, 2015, there were only three articles. One on the donald trump (I spelled his name uncapitalized on purpose) and two about Dr. Bill Cummings. It is my belief that Dr. Cummings is a Christian. Christians should have the freedom to question everything or anything. How else can we learn the truth? Further, I believe that he is accomplishing what I think he is trying to do. The articles today prove that. There are nine items of scripture mentioned in the two articles concerning Dr. Cummings showing that Jesus is God. How many other articles in Viewpoints cause people to read the Bible?
I am in my 80s so I have experienced a few years on this earth. It bothers me that so many of our young people (those under 40) seem to be unconcerned about religion. Many of those do not go to church or worship God. In my younger years churches were usually pretty full on Sunday and any other day when there were programs or services being held. Does it take a real disaster to cause people to turn to God for help? Look what happened after 9/11. For a few weeks churches were seeing large numbers of people. This indicates to me that with the conditions that exist in the world today that God is really the only alternative to solving the world's problems.
How do you really eliminate terrorists when you don't know who or where they are? I wish our younger generations would really get serious about their understanding and relationship with God. I should also say that not all young people have this attitude, some are very serious about God.
I say all of this to thank Dr. Cummings for what he is doing. To say to him please keep your columns coming and to emphasize that I believe that God is real and is the only sure answer to the world's problems.
-- Bob Rush
Macon
'Dreamer' president
The recent article "Celebrating the Paris accord" brings to mind the continuing assaults on our Constitution. First setting aside for the moment the fantasies of a delusional president consumed by specious science instead of protecting his country, let us look at history.
Both the so called "Paris Accord" and its recent companion for Iran are grandiose gestures which accomplish nothing. Neither are enforceable and both pose economic and military threats to the United States. While the administration would like to view these as "treaties" it is clear that neither will ever be ratified by the Senate. As Sen. Ted Cruz observed both will be "shredded" by the next president.
One of our earlier "dreamer" presidents, Woodrow Wilson, envisioned the League of Nations in a similar way as a means to end all wars. His "dream" lasted a scant 20 years and was rejected by his own country.
Let us hope that Obama's legacy of failures will be limited to these "fantasies" rather than the terrorist scourge he invites upon us.
-- Jonathan Howe
Gray
Know our enemy
To defeat an adversary it's essential to know and understand the adversary's history, objective, motivation, weaponry and weaknesses. A cunning adversary has convinced us he's just a figment of our imagination and the forbidden isn't sin but blessings to be enjoyed. We naively name sports teams, war machines, foods, animals, plants, towns etc. after this seemly harmless entity. "God said, I am who am while the devil mocks God by saying, I am who am not" -- Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979).
If we truly knew Satan's objective nothing would carry his name, but they do. If we truly knew Satan's motives, sin wouldn't be embraced or tolerated, but it is. If we truly knew Satan's weaponry and weaknesses he would have been driven from our lives, homes and neighborhoods by now, but he hasn't. It we truly knew Satan we would know his children, but we don't. And if we truly knew Satan's reality we would have a death grip on Jesus' hand, which we don't. Why is that?
-- Travis L. Middleton
Peach County
Wishes for Houston County
1. That we elect an African-American, Hispanic or member/citizen of any minority to our Houston County Board of Commissioners.
2. That our excellent county public libraries receive a budget that will allow the replacement of its tired and worn-out books, CDs, DVDs and magazines and newspaper selections.
3. That encroachment issues at Robins Air force Base be resolved before the next BRAC arrives.
4. That our county have a public transportation system funded by our city and county governments.
5. That our county fire departments be fully staffed by only full-time, paid, trained firefighters like the city of Warner Robins.
6. That our county libraries offer services to assist our uninsured citizens to enroll in the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid and voter registration.
7. That our new state representative and senator attend meetings in our county libraries on a regular basis to inform their constituents of what they are doing and to answer their questions.
-- Frank W. Gadbois
Warner Robins
Poll results
After reading the poll results from The Washington Post printed in The Telegraph: "Whites and Republicans are the Angriest People in America," that is utter nonsense and I find it race bating. Very clever to place the article under the one about the president bypassing Congress on gun control. To say that 77 percent get angry every day, I believe false and untrue. Just because Republicans feel the president is out of touch on economic issues doesn't mean we are angry. As an American citizen we have every right to voice our opinions. The editors at the Telegraph could help end this racial divide by printing good old fashion news not political opinions.
-- Mike Jones
Bonaire
'Good old days'
How did we ever manage all those years without Emperor Obama's leadership? The answer will never be known, but it surely would be nice if we could turn back the clock and try again. I believe now that the "good old days" were the ones before this anti-America jerk came along.
-- Walter Huckeba
Perry
Fond farewell
After 17 years in Warner Robins, my wife and I are returning to Columbus, Ohio, to be nearer family. We will miss all of you who made us feel at home here.
To all my Rebuilding Together clients, thanks for allowing me to practice on your homes and for making me a better person. Finally, insofar as this will remove me from my political power base here in Georgia, I am withdrawing my name as a write-in candidate for president of the United States and throwing my support behind Ross Perot.
-- Neal Snyder
Warner Robins
Stuffed animal blessings
For several years I have been giving away little stuffed animals with attached tag saying "... do a good deed, ... pass me to someone else ... or keep me." I have received many blessings, and often have been surprised.
First, at the hidden problems or challenges with which people are struggling. They often mask their struggles. Second, how people are willing to share and third, by incredible coincidences (spelled G-O-D) that happened. Fourth, by the continuing blessings I receive from giving away stuffed animals.
Here are some examples of recent blessings.
Before Christmas, in the Centerville Post Office while waiting for change, a lady came in with a big box. I helped her lift it to counter. (Oh, the two ladies who work at the Post Office are so nice.) I asked the lady if it was a Christmas box. She said it was for her brother with mental problems in nursing home in Pennsylvania. Her mother had been taking care of him but she had died recently. I expressed sympathy. She said she could not take him that he was big and she had cancer and could not handle him. I told her not to feel guilty for putting him in nursing home, they are staffed 24 hours a day and family is not. I told her that it was so nice of her to send her brother a package. I went to car and got a stuffed animal for her and she teared up and thanked me.
In a drug store, I chatted with a pharmacy tech and asked if she was travelling or having family in (or something like that). I think she said, my children are all scattered, etc. Then she said, besides I gave my Christmas money to my friend so she would not lose her car. I was stunned. I went to car brought her a couple of stuffed animals along with a little note. She was appreciative.
Some weeks ago, I gave stuffed animal to a lady who said, "I really needed this today, I was recently diagnosed with lung cancer."
After Christmas, in a cashier's line, I gave a gray-haired lady a little stuffed animal. She thanked me and said this was the only Christmas present she got this year. I gave her a hug. Her comment touched me.
While waiting in line at the front counter of a drug store, I chatted with lady and then noticed a photograph of her and a man. I told her it was a nice picture. It was of her husband who she lost in April. I went to car and got a green Care Bear I had been saving for someone special, put it in a bag, went inside and found her at the pharmacy cash register. The pharmacy tech stepped away to get something, so I gave her the bear. I said, I've been saving this bear for someone special, maybe your husband wanted me to give it to you." She said "I'm going to cry." She hugged and thanked me and I left.
Next day when I entered the drug store, the front cashier recognized me (no customers at the moment) and said the lady I gave the bear to yesterday came up front looking to thank you. She told the cashier, her husband used to call her "honey bear."
-- Donnie Powell
Warner Robins
This story was originally published January 8, 2016 at 8:48 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016 ."