This is Viewpoints for Monday, March 7, 2016
Just us?
Tips for the police: if you want to stop gang violence and killings, especially of young, black, innocent bystanders, simply do like the FBI did with the Black Panther Party, send some undercover gang members into the group to learn who's who and eliminate them just like the FBI did the Panthers. Now the Black Panthers were doing great things in black communities (free breakfast/health clinics/high quality education/full employment) and the FBI got rid of them. These gangs today are destroying black communities -- and we can't seem to eliminate the problem. Why? Is it because it's just us doing us?
-- Charles McGhee
Warner Robins
A few thoughts
Normally when writing, I try to have a focus. But there are several things I find confusing, frustrating or irritating. So to quote a lyric from the Metallica song "Hero of the Day," "No I'm not all me, so please excuse me while I tend to how I feel."
My job has me making multiple trips on Interstate 16 and Interstate 75. As I've traveled both interstates, there have been signs, and in some cases, a message displayed on the overpass marquee/message board saying "Slower Traffic Keep Right." Yet, I constantly have to pass people on the right. The state of the right lane, not withstanding, do motorists not grasp the fact that going slow in the left lane creates traffic and potentially dangerous situations to other motorists? And if you are more than two miles from the next car you intend to pass, it's quite rude to be in the left lane when other cars are waiting to pass.
Not wishing to steal from another writer, but Vivian Wheelan's recent letter in regards to the proposed baseball stadium made two points I think were spot on. Macon has an abysmal history of supporting things. Macon Whoopee, Macon Trax, Macon Knights, Macon Music, all come to mind. Despite the rich musical history of Macon, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame failed. Add in a crime rate so bad that it's not even safe to leave your car at a North Bibb County church parking lot, and one must wonder what was being considered when this so-called "study" was being done. Did they have their eyes closed to what's apparent to people living in Middle Georgia?
I left the GOP in the mid '90s because I realized they care more about being elected than less government. That fact was cemented as so-called "conservatives" rallied around George W. Bush whose social spending could make Bill Clinton blush. Now it seems the desire to win is once again overriding principle.
Donald Trump has been quoted in the past as a liberal on both social and economic issues, as well as anti-Second Amendment. But because he claims to have a change of heart -- and because we live in a reality TV, ignore reality society, much of the GOP including evangelicals has rallied to his side. Given how he changed his words before, who is to say it won't happen again should he be elected?
-- Dave Whitaker
Danville
Different interpretation
I have written one or two opinions concerning Dr. Bill Cummings' columns that were not printed. However in his interpretation "The end of the world" and now his "The myth of creation," he is close to saying there is no God. His remarks are disturbing to me due to the possible influence he might have on the Christian belief of others.
In his myth column he appears to make fun of God and his creation charging it off as a myth comparable to Santa. My interpretation of the Bible verses he quoted is quite different from his. Adam and Eve were without sin until God told them not to eat of the tree of life. Eating thereof and breaking God's law made them ashamed of their naked bodies and made them acknowledge right from wrong. God kicked them out of their beautiful garden and took away their free food, making them dig in the earth for their survival. Breaking God's law was the sin passed on to all generation to come.
As to precious babies given to parents, they are indeed a gift from God. However they, too, will have to work for their survival due to the sinful act of Adam and Eve breaking God's laws. In fact, breaking all or any of God's "thou shalt nots" is a sin. None of the above has anything to do with parents' love for their children nor their children's love for them, nor God's love for all.
I would like to remind Dr. Cummings of the unforgiven sin: "Whoever speaketh a word against the son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."
-- Faye W. Tanner
Macon
Out of step
I trust that Eighth District U.S. Representative Austin Scott in the morning light can see he is out of step with voters in his state. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who Scott endorsed, lost badly to Donald Trump in Georgia on Super Tuesday, and will lose to him in the Florida primary later this month. Trump is exactly what our country needs at this time and he is bringing out voters in record numbers.
Democrat Hillary Clinton is running a bifurcated race as the result of the Department of Justice sorting out allegations of her past misconduct, and of Trump gathering more votes than she ever dreamed possible on Super Tuesday. Albeit, if both antagonist catch her it will be a comfort to have our commander and chief with pardon powers as a loyal friend.
-- John G. Kelley Jr.
Macon
This story was originally published March 6, 2016 at 8:42 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Monday, March 7, 2016 ."