This is Viewpoints for Friday, May 13, 2016

Popular fellow

I was popular in the Saturday, 7 May, Viewpoints — two people mentioned my name, but not in a good way. Apparently, I need to clarify both points of contention. Hillary Clinton knowingly used an unsecured server while receiving and transmitting classified information, up to and including top secret. Merriam-Webster’s definition of treason is “the betrayal of a trust — treachery.” Clinton betrayed the United States. Computer-hacking enemies worldwide are probably disappointed she got caught since a treasure trove of secrets was free for the taking. If I did the same thing as Clinton, I would already be in prison, possibly for life. There are only two reasonable explanations for her actions: She is either arrogant in thinking she could use an unsecured server or she is stupid.

My statistics regarding the federal government needing to borrow 46-cents of every dollar we spend came from the Congressional Budget Office’s 2013 report, not something in an IRS tax booklet. Two years earlier in 2011, GOP Rep. Paul Ryan said the U.S. borrows 42 cents of each dollar it spends and half the borrowing is “from countries like China.”

So far, in all my letters, I have only made one possible error (Thomas Jefferson quote) in my research, although I did find at least one source where the quote was attributed to Jefferson. I suggest before anyone comments on another person’s letters, they spend more time conducting research. I will cite my sources from now on.

Should have known better?

Is it time for some resignations or perhaps courts-martial at West Point? A recently released photo taken on the New York campus shows a group of black female cadets in uniform holding their clenched fists in the air in what has historically been a symbol of a particular political viewpoint by some and a sign of hatred by others — both against the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Is there any reason why this action should be treated any differently than what some consider a forbidden act of hate but others consider a way to honor to their ancestors, including Hillary Clinton in her office photo as a Watergate prosecuting attorney — that being the display of the Confederate Battle Flag? Given the way that nobody wears their “big boy panties” anymore and everyone is offended by everything with which they disagree, shouldn’t the “best and brightest” of America’s future leaders have known better?

“I would not have re-tweeted the raised-fist photo because I am well aware that our culture views a black fist very differently from a white fist. I knew it was their expression of pride and unity, but I am old enough to know that it would be interpreted negatively by many white observers...”

Brenda Sue Fulton, a 1980 West Point grad who chairs the U.S. Military Academy’s Board of Visitors, Army Times, May 9.

Stifle the attacks

Like many Christians who read your paper, we are highly offended by the many assumptions Dr. Bill Cummings makes. Most Christians in your readership are not so confused, clear that Jesus was perfect and never had any sin.

No wonder Cummings can’t propose an intelligent theological question if he was taught baptism removes sin; he has no foundation on which to build. Since the Reformation in the 1500s, theologians rejected the reigning “Pharisees,” insisting on belief in scripture alone, dumping such false, man-made rules in the church. Baptism is simply an outward symbol of an inward change by the Holy Spirit in the believer’s heart.

However, Cummings is not only hampered by poor theology, he shows woefully sloppy academic rigor in his counterfeit quotes about Jesus’ baptism. The briefest review of the four accounts show that nowhere does it say Jesus was baptized for “forgiveness of sin.” Cummings omits Jesus’ response, which explains the real reason for his baptism. (Matt. 3:15, 2 Cor. 5:21)

The bottom line is that in all these articles, Cummings use of emotionally charged, pejorative terms proves his questions are specious. He is engaging in theatrics using ant-Christian innuendo to get attention.

I urge The Telegraph’s Editorial Board to stop this demagoguery and be objective and respective of your readership. If a writer offended Muslims or Jews in this way, would the board tolerate these attacks?

Ditch the bricks

First let me start off by saying that I am sure that the workers at the Public Works Department have their hands full keeping our roads and infrastructure working and intact. Kudos for their hard work. What I am writing about are the brick crosswalks that cross Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. They are constantly falling apart and Public Works does its best to patch them. Realistically speaking, they can’t win. These brick crosswalks just cannot stand up to the large logging trucks and the like that transverse MLK Jr. constantly on a daily basis. As a result, people who travel this road have to experience these pot holes. I am sure that if you were to speak to the everyday Public Works employee they would tell you the same. Keep the brick crosswalks on the other streets (they really do look nice) but ditch the bricks on MLK and do us all a favor.

Upgrade instead?

So Georgia Department of Transportation wants to provide “non-toll” dedicated roads for trucks north of Macon to haul freight toward Atlanta with safety being the main reasoning argument? We already have such a road. It’s called a “roadbed” for trains. Is that road maxed out? If so, wouldn’t an upgrade of that “road” be a better solution toward achieving safety and improving the environment by providing people traffic opportunities north-south along that corridor and reducing dependence on private autos. (This also reduces the “contribution” of the heavy hand of GDOT in the taxpayers’ pockets.)

This story was originally published May 12, 2016 at 9:00 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Friday, May 13, 2016."