Viewpoints

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that as I sat down to write this around noon on the last Monday of April, I could hear on TV the sounds of a Donald Trump rally taking place in Rhode Island. I could not see the TV screen, but what I heard would seem to only reinforce what I intended to write about. It sounded as if he had to stop several times while protesters were removed. And during those pauses his fans engaged in choreographed chants of support.

In other words, a real mob scene.

This morning, I read an op ed piece urging getting rid of the Electoral College.

Trump is upset because while he is winning the popular vote state-by-state, his opponents are “picking off” delegate support at a level greater than their popular vote draw. Trump’s cry is that this is not the democratic way to do things, and this is supposed to be a democracy.

Except it isn’t.

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that I pretty much hibernate in winter as I age, but with the first of a few nice days recently, I ventured out on a trip to Lansing and parts of eastern Allamakee County.
I think I have to start getting out more, because I saw things which surprised me, and I admit to taking my eyes off the road for longer periods than I should have.

First sighting came just a few miles east of Waukon off the Elon Road. Out of the corner of my eye across farm fields and woods devoid of any foliage, I thought I saw a huge tree nest, and sure enough, it was an eagle’s nest. I know because there was a white head showing, meaning the nest was in use. I had heard that Pool 9 (New Albin, Lansing, south to Harpers) contained the greatest number of nesting eagles of any pool along the Iowa east coast. Have eagle numbers grown to such an extent that they are often nesting inland too?

To the Editor:

During the month of April some organizations, businesses, individuals, etc. were doing things to shed light on child abuse since April is Child Abuse Awareness month. In 1996, our government deregulated and legalized a form of child abuse.

Since then, we as a nation have allowed, promoted, financed, supported, etc. this form of abuse. The government has forced it upon us, but ‘we the people’ are openly welcoming it, when we should be standing against it.

Let’s define child abuse. According to the New Lexicon Webster Dictionary, child abuse is physical, emotional or sexual harm as well as anything that brings on developmental impairment or death. Child abuse is to be dealt with by law.

To the Editor:

The other day I became curious about a petition that was presented to the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors, so I went to the Auditor’s office and picked up a copy of the petition, along with the names of people who had signed it. When I read the petition, my immediate reaction was, “You have got to be kidding.”

Who would sign that petition? Then I realized there were a lot of names. I did see the names on the top sheet, but I kept myself from looking at the others because I didn’t want to have negative thoughts of anyone, especially when I did see the names of the top sheet and they were friends of mine. I’m sure they thought it was the truth.

The statement that really caused me to wonder what is really going on here was “We have become aware that the Board is planning to divert $158,000 of our County’s road use tax dollars away from their intended use and, instead, use them at the Driftless Center project.”

To the Editor:

As professionals in the Waukon community, we would like to share some factual information regarding our property in response to Russ Martin’s letter to the editor (The Standard - April 13, 2016) and other various, false statements made about us publicly. We purchased our home in Waukon approximately two-and-a-half years ago excited about the large lot with a private driveway making it a good location to raise a family. Our future plans included adding on to the house and doing some landscaping.

To the Editor:

I must say that there was murder most hilarious committed at Waukon High School over the weekend of April 15-16. Arsenic and Old Lace mixed homicide and hoopla as our own fine young secondary students romped and mugged their way through an evening of misdirection, misappropriation and misadventure, all to the delight of an audience not quite so shocked by the cavalier demise of quite a number of unfortunates.

To the Editor:

April is Autism Awareness Month and Autism is the fastest growing epidemic in the United States. Autism rates have grown faster than scientists can keep up, let alone solve. This crisis is affecting youth today as well as the future generations; however, you can slow down this epidemic.

Most people assume that nothing simple can be done to help with this. However, the answer is right in front of most people, but let us first look at statistical facts.

To the Editor:

About two thousand years ago, a man whom everybody nowadays calls Jesus was nailed to a cross and died there. Three days and nights later, He rose from being dead. Forty days later, He ascended into Heaven and was seated by His, your and my Heavenly Father. Here is what took place that week that he was murdered.

Some time before Tuesday evening, Yahshua, better known as Jesus today, told His disciples where He wanted to eat the Passover with them. Not Easter, as Easter is the sun worship of false gods. At that last supper after sunset Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning (biblical day starts and ends at sundown, not midnight), Yahshua told His disciples He would suffer and a short time later told Judas to go.

To the Editor:

We’ve gone through March Madness, now we have mole madness.

Nobody loves northeast Iowa more than I do, especially the town of Lansing. That said, I haven’t been able to accept our overly friendly neighborhood moles.

Someone said to me last fall, “At least they are aerating the soil.” Okay fine, I get that there has to be some reason for their existence. However, what about these ankle injuries as a result of sinking into their excavations?

I thought the herd of neighborhood deer might help stomp them out, but they must have some sort of mutual understanding with the moles. Perhaps they are all just waiting to share whatever flowers made it through the winter with the deer taking the tops and agreeing to leave the bottoms for the moles.

I have heard of sticking Juicy Fruit gum (and only Juicy Fruit) into their trails so they will blow up when they eat it. Hmmmm …. really? Is there that much Juicy Fruit gum in the world?

To the Editor:

Allamakee County, Lansing, Iowa;
Really rural, some say “way out there.”
“Life at seven miles an hour,”
The speed of the water that flows by us.

I wandered into this place 38 years ago.
Falling in love with “The Driftless Area” was easy,
Staying here and loving what surrounds me, easier still.
The people make a place, the place makes the people.

Some time ago the County Court House was in Lansing.
Rumor has it, a crowd from Waukon came and stole it away.
Sounds like an old wives tale;
Hard feelings seem to linger still.

Politics are so divisive today on the national stage;
Also here at home.
To be progressive can be problematic,
Unsettling and not understandable.