This is Viewpoints for Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016
Win-win appointment
If President Obama would like a sure thing for an appointment to the Supreme Court, he should nominate Donald Trump. The Republican establishment would be delighted to get him out of the race, and since they have already said he is a "Democratic mole" (and we know they are never wrong), the Democrats would also be happy.
It would be a "win-win" for everyone, and his appointment would be approved in record time. And having "The Donald" on the bench could certainly be no worse than another conservative.
— Charles J. Pecor
Macon
Fight from within
ISIS is a cancer in the Islamic world. As with any cancer, external treatment (for example, U.S. actions) supplements the host's (Islam) resistance. Orthodox Islamic believers, lead, by doing their share of the fighting.
— Robert M. Buck
Macon
Greatest redeemer
Valentine's Day was originally a day to honor St. Valentine, a third-century Christian martyr. Today, it is all about sending gifts to "sweethearts." The word valentine means, sweetheart, or "ones beloved." Although the Old Testament book of Ruth isn't about sweethearts, it is a story about "one beloved."
The story of Ruth, who followed her mother-in-law back to her homeland after both women become widows, surely tells of one "beloved." The Bible story tells how she cleaved unto her mother-in-law and cried: "I will not leave thee. I will lodge where thou lodgest. Thy people shall be my people. And thy God shall be my God."
Ruth's love for her mother-in-law resulted in her becoming a proselyte to her religion and, meeting a near kinsman, Boaz. Boaz later redeemed the inheritance of Naomi's dead husband, and took Ruth to be his wife. It is interesting also that Boaz and Ruth's union produced a son, Obed, who was father of King David. Jesus Christ was in the lineage of David, and was called "the Son of David." Jesus Christ become our kinsman redeemer, for he became a man like unto us, died a sinless death to redeem us unto him. But, the inheritance he bought is an eternal inheritance unto all who truly make him their "beloved."
— Dwight Poole
Hawkinsville
'Pile of hypocrisy'
Once again we have been treated to a column by Charles E. Richardson involving his "big, hulking 5,000 pound SUV" and how wonderfully safe he is in it. I reckon I too would feel safe in a tank-like vehicle. I would wager that the majority of the time he is the only one in the vehicle. Every day I see thousands of people pass through the gates of Robins Air Force Base in their "big, hulking 5,000 pound SUVs" riding solo. There are a few Prius drivers, but they are surely looked down upon by the hulk drivers.
The reason that bus service from Macon to the base has never worked is because people absolutely will not give up their luxury rides with their coffee holders, GPS, phones and other devices. This is the mind-set of us Americans: We must have the biggest most plush of everything. Never mind that we are also producing the biggest most plush amount of pollution in the world.
I drive a little Corolla and a motorcycle, but I ride my bicycle if at all possible so I can afford to be smug with my holier-than-thou attitude. At the age of 62, I often ponder what kind of world we are leaving for our children.
That is the point of this letter. Every single person in their giant vehicles claim to want to leave a better environment for their kids. Really? I say all you are leaving is a "big, hulking pile of hypocrisy."
— Randal D. Duckworth
Warner Robins
Enlightened mind
Arthur D. Brook is an old, retired engineer and businessman and Georgia Tech graduate whose knowledge of law, justice and emergency room care is negligible. He has never had a letter published advocating Obamacare for our state's 400,000 uninsured citizens. Or the 40 percent of Americans who are poor. Brook is a Republican and a fiscal conservative who has finished writing his family's history. And now thinks he knows a lot more about county trash services, property values and blight than the rest of us.
— Frank W. Gadbois
Warner Robins
Imminent attack
It seems that according to what CIA Director John Brennan told Scott Pelley, on "60 Minutes," the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) needs to be renamed the Islamic State in the United States (ISUS). His claim is that an attack on home turf is imminent. How's your powder?
— Dan Topolewski
Kathleen
This story was originally published February 20, 2016 at 4:50 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016 ."