This is Viewpoints for Friday, August 26, 2016

Insult

A columnist in a national magazine recently called Roger Alies “Jabba the Hut.” We understand that Jabba is highly insulted and is thinking of taking legal action against the writer and the journal.

Distant letter

I once again take pen in hand (figuratively speaking) to ask why a letter from someone who lives in West Linn, Oregon, was printed in The Telegraph. The subject of the letter was vote suppression, in other words, politics. Each day there are numerous letters about politics submitted by readers in The Telegraph’s circulation area, which does not include West Linn, Oregon, for inclusion in the paper. Some are accepted, some rejected. So why was a letter from Oregon accepted?

I know this letter will not be printed but I can still question why a letter from Oregon was accepted.

Many thanks

My wife and I recently had an auto accident on Interstate 75 South near the Pierce Avenue exit. Our minivan was totaled. Due to having our seatbelts on, our injuries were relatively minor. We called 911 and in about five minutes the fire truck arrived. Moments later, Bibb Sheriff deputies arrived, followed by an ambulance.

We write this to praise all the people who came to help us. They were so kind and efficient in their duties. We are blessed to have this quality of public servants. Many of us take them for granted. It is our hope that they read this. We will forever be grateful for their efforts. Thank you for all you do.

Alternatives to Trump and Clinton

After Romney’s 2012 loss, the Republican Party commissioned a now infamous “autopsy report” to assess what went wrong and what changes the GOP would need to make to avoid another defeat in 2016. The report concluded that the Republicans needed to focus on immigration reform and embrace women, minorities and the LGBTQ community (among other things). Skip ahead to now, where the Republican candidate has done everything in his power to reject every one of those suggestions (with predictable results).

There are, however, two men who have adopted those policies: Govs. Gary Johnson and Bill Weld, the Libertarian candidates for president and vice president. They are fiscal conservatives who support immigration reform and are champions of civil rights for all Americans, regardless of gender, religion or ethnicity. This is a call to all frustrated Republicans: Johnson and Weld are out there, and they are what this country needs.

The answer

Elbert Neese’s August 21 (One good man?) and Carolyn Effie’s Aug. 23 (No, not one) letters highlighted the cravings of Christians for divine intervention and guidance in this election. The overwhelming majority of elected and appointed officeholders from city hall, to the statehouse, to the White House and the Supreme Court claim to be Christian.

Yet, these avowed Christians transformed our military into a sanctuary for gays to defy God. Sanctioned same-sex marriages and approved abortions on demand. They refuse to enforce laws they themselves enact. And in a nation governed by Christians, the Christian Bible has no constitutional right whereas sin does.

There’s two worlds, one physical the other spiritual with the physical world ruling. Morality nor Christianity can be legislated and the majority of Christians today are nothing more than Bibles wired for sounds.

Until that changes, America’s morals will continue a downward spiral regardless of who is elected. Elbert stated, “I pray to God that he will give us an answer soon.” The answer was given 2,016 years ago.

Time ill spent

Dr. Catherine Meeks’ column on “Black lives matter” could have been more productive had it been titled “Time ill spent” and similarly addressed. Also, the first sentence was incomplete. “We spend more time in our country finding ways in which to be polarized than we do trying to build unity.” Just read my submissions as a prime example.

No signs allowed

In his letter published on Aug 25, Frank Gadbois comments on a reader's earlier letter in which she apparently blames the Democratic Party for swiping a Trump sign from her yard. Gadbois answers her by going into his usual rant blaming the Republican Party for all the evils in the world. Then he makes a comment that seemingly comes out of nowhere to the effect that by golly there is not even one Trump sign in his neighborhood and then asks the reader if they can guess why.

My guess would be that his subdivision has protective covenants which prohibit political yard signs, as does mine.

Wise men?

It tells us in the Book of Daniel, that in the last days, “knowledge will be increased.” We see this in the advancement of medicine and electronics. But the entire 20th century was a century of learning and advancement. The electronics and satellite technology put the American people under a watchful eye. Knowledge is increasing in the 21st century at an alarming rate. Some say the electronic gadgets that are new today will soon be obsolete.

What is needed today is not so much knowledge but the wisdom to use it. Men are able to learn many new things because he is God’s creation. But man in his search for knowledge and power forgets he is mortal. So, he will soon die and go to the grave. The Bible says, “What doth it profit a man if he gain the whole world and loses his soul.” Mark 8:36.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, there came wise men from the east searching for him. Men are wise when they seek a savior who offers us eternal life. Men are wise, when they, “set their affections on things above, and not on this earth.”

This story was originally published August 25, 2016 at 9:00 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Friday, August 26, 2016."