Viewpoints

To the Editor:

In recent weeks I have read two views on the planned Bible reading marathon which were both negative. Here is my positive view.

Is this merely a political move on the part of Governor Branstad? I do not know and I will not judge the man. I would like to think that this proclamation was passed out of concern for the spiritual well-being of the people of Iowa.

Both letters to the editor mentioned the phrase “separation of church and state.” The way this phrase is often used is actually taken out of context. The original intention of the Constitution authors was, I believe, for the government to keep its regulating hands off of religion. Our founding fathers did not discourage religious practice, for they were generally a very religious people themselves.

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that as is my custom, on the Sunday evening of that horrendous mass shooting in Florida, I went upstairs shortly after 8 p.m, so I could listen on my bedside radio to a few of the old time radio broadcasts aired on Wisconsin Public Radio.

One of them that Sunday was “The Halls of Ivy,” which featured Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Colman. For those-not familiar with that show from the early 1950s, it’s about the president of an Ivy League school who has to deal with school board members and wealthy donors as well as students.

What could those two events possibly have in common? Well, as I listened to the Colmans with their British accents quote one bon mot after another with references to Western European, British or early American authors, philosophers or poets, I was thankful once again for my education in western civilization, which allowed me to recognize many (but not all) of them.

To the Editor:

“Catfish Annie” was right on with her observations (June 15, 2016 edition of The Standard) about the planned bible reading marathon organized by one of the candidates for Iowa House District 56 and approved by the Board of Supervisors for June 30 through July 3. Shame on that candidate and the Board.

There is an obvious conflict with the U.S. Constitution and the separation of state and religion since this event involves a candidate for the election to the 56th District House seat. This cannot be construed as anything more than a political move and it does not smell good.

There are any number of venues in Waukon which would have served this otherwise admirable effort. However, using the courthouse property was not a good choice. This gives the atheists and the goons another reason to object to any sort of religious activity being conducted on or at a government installation.

To the Editor:

Marijuana is a highly debated topic. The perception that marijuana is harmful has been greatly reduced, especially among youth. Media coverage and legalization of retail marijuana and marijuana used for medical purposes in certain states has contributed to this view that marijuana use is “safe.”

Coalitions and staff at Helping Services for Northeast Iowa are working to educate youth and the community on marijuana and to spark conversations about healthy decision-making.

Marijuana today is not the same marijuana that was around in the 1960s and 1970s. Today’s marijuana contains much higher levels of THC, the chemical component that makes people “feel high.” But this high does not come risk-free. According to the American Psychological Society, heavy marijuana use in adolescence and early adulthood is linked to “poor school performance, higher drop-out rates, increased welfare dependence, greater unemployment, and lower life satisfaction.”

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that I am afraid my reaction to the death of Muhammad Ali was not appropriate. When I first heard the news, I thought something like, here we go again. It will be a week of all-day coverage by the national media, with 90% of commentators eulogizing him and 10% making critical comments.

To the Editor:

Waukon Burying Ground Association, a/k/a Oakland Cemetery, contains much historical information. Many people enjoy walking the cemetery. Others come from far and near to search for burials of relatives and friends.

For many years, the Board of Directors could successfully maintain the grounds using income from investments. With declining interest rates, this Board, as well as many other cemetery boards, has been forced to dip into investments, and for the last ten years has been using investment principal.  Bequests and donations have greatly diminished; in fact, virtually disappeared. However, expenses for weed control, fence and road repair, and repairs to a 30-year old mower continue to grow.

To the Editor:

It has come to my attention that the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors considered and approved a request, spear-headed by one of the State Representative candidates, allowing the use of the Allamakee County Courthouse campus for a four-day Bible marathon. This comes after Governor Branstad’s proclamation suggesting all counties have the Bible-reading event June 30-July 3.

Was there any consideration on how the decision to support such an event reflects on our County and City administration?

First, there was the decision to approve this event.  We need to understand how the event can be interpreted as the Allamakee Board of Supervisors supporting only one religion, when we have several in our county, and clouds the division between church and state.

To the Editor:

I spent a short time living in the Elon area. This Memorial Day weekend my family and I spent time in the Waterville and Waukon area. We saw some great farming operations.

As a young boy, I worked in the Waterville area. I noticed Arlyn “Butch” Fossum’s farming operation really impressed me. I was told he is a great supporter of the Waukon community.

What a beautiful area to live in and raise a family, living in the city is not living in northeast Iowa. So, people in northeast Iowa are very, very lucky and fortunate.

T.J. Kelley
Cedar Rapids

P.S. You have so many people in the area that should be recognized. It’s a beautiful drive from Waukon east on A52/Elon Road.
 

To the Editor:

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) declined to approve the initial construction permit for the hog confinement for Riecks View Farms because, according to an article reprinted in The Standard, they wanted to build the confinement buildings in a “region of porous, shallow bedrock in steep terrain overlooking two streams with naturally reproducing trout”. The amount of pigs would produce an estimated amount of manure at 5.8 million gallons in a year’s time.

Now the Reicks’ have changed their permit to a lesser amount of pigs, but on the same site. What is wrong with this picture? Who in their right mind would, in such a sensitive area, even consider their permit, let alone okay it?

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that I have been preaching that as one ages, habit is a good thing. For example, taking prescription drugs at the same time every day. In my case, that also means doing a load of laundry every Sunday, something started when that was usually my only entire day off from work.

And since Monday is the day for trash collection in my section of the city, I have made a habit of setting out the containers every Sunday afternoon.

Along about sundown Sunday, it dawned on me that Monday was the Memorial Day holiday, so the trash collectors would not be coming. But I was not going to go back out and collect the stuff, so it stayed out. And the neighbors probably concluded that the old boy has finally lost it!