Viewpoints

To the Editor:

I attended Rep. Ashley Hinson’s town hall in Waukon August 16. I expressed concerns about the environment and poor water quality in Iowa. Hinson told us that water quality and soil health is improving.

She reviewed from her notebook of talking points the initiatives her Republican caucus is pushing, which is primarily promoting fossil fuels and less government regulation. You may recall Republicans celebrating the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the Environmental Protection Agency can no longer regulate some bodies of our nation’s waters.

“Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is no one to help.” - Psalm 22:11

I’ve been a pastor for almost 25 years and in this capacity I have accompanied many suffering people. I’ve borne witness to all kinds pain - physical, emotional and spiritual. Sometimes the sufferer will cry out to the Lord in exasperation and even anger, wondering why they feel so alone.

In June, I was in a car accident serious enough to warrant a med flight and a nine-day hospital stay. I’m grateful that I survived and that my injuries, though serious, are healing. Before this experience, I don’t think I understood just how difficult it is to be the patient. It was quite an education and I can tell you that the view from the hospital bed is very different from the one next to it. It’s the worst.

To the Editor:

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, killing 128 people every day (one person approximately every 11 minutes). For each death, another 25 people attempt suicide.

The following D.A.N.G.E.R. signs can help you identify a person who might be at risk for suicide:

D-DEPRESSION: Over half of the time, a suicidal person is experiencing depression. Clinical depression is a serious medical illness affecting mood, concentration, activity level, interests, appetite, behavior and physical health.

A-ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE INCREASES: Alcohol and drugs may seem like a good way to manage difficult feelings and situations, however, substance use usually acts to mask the underlying problem which grows worse because it’s not being addressed. Alcohol is a depressant and it reduces judgment and impulse control - a lethal combination for someone who is considering self-harm.

To the Editor:

Nearly 500,000 children headed back to public school this week. And, many of our friends and neighbors headed back to work as bus drivers, cooks, custodians and teachers.

Our public schools give our children a great education and an opportunity to succeed and achieve their full potential. We know that, especially in rural communities like ours, our public schools are the heart of our community.

Unfortunately, Gov. Kim Reynolds, State Representative Anne Osmundson and State Senator Mike Klimesh chose  to weaken our public schools by giving taxpayer money to private schools ($7,635 per student who were approved for Vouchers).

To the Editor:

First, let’s get this straight; I believe Our Lord Jesus Christ is my Savior and Savior of the world. I also believe the Devil is alive and well, and he tempts everyone - clergy, teachers, bankers, farmers, you name it. The Devil has taken a very strong hold in the U.S.A. Church attendance is down.

Sunday morning should belong to the Lord, not an option - a must, period.

Now, let’s track down the many things the Devil has promoted. In the 1960s, the Clergy was forbid from being involved in politics or they would lose the tax exemption. Then they removed the Bible and everything Christian from our schools. The Devil walked in and took over the Department of Education and they indoctrinate instead of educate; I guess they called it Sex Ed.

Last week we read the story of Glenn McCune, a reluctant hero. It is a remarkable story of heroism and willingness to sacrifice for others. As I read his story, I was reminded of the people in my life who I consider heroes: those who walked a path of holiness and wholeness. These are the individuals who put their faith, hope, charity and love into action; people who in one way or another were and are Jesus to me.

In Matthew’s gospel Jesus presented a judgment scene to his disciples, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne. … Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’” MT 25:31, 34-36

To the Editor:

August 16, I attended U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson’s town hall held at the Veterans Museum in Waukon. Hinson’s selected venue and her office’s invitation to Veterans were to give the impression that she supports Veterans. Unfortunately, Hinson’s voting record demonstrates that she actually votes against Veterans.

Examples of her voting against Veterans are the EVEST Act of 2022 and Honoring our PACT Act of 2022. Hinson cast a “no” vote to these important bills.

The EVEST Act (Ensuring Veterans’ Smooth Transition Act) automatically enrolls Veterans into the Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system when their active duty ends. This bill eliminates red tape, the waiting period for approval and any gap in Veterans having their health care needs met. Thanks to Democratic Representatives and a few Republican Representatives, EVEST Act is now law.

To the Editor:

Once we have made up our minds on a contentious issue, it is difficult for us to accept evidence that contradicts our view. On no topic today is this more apparent than Donald Trump’s role in the events leading up to January 6, 2021, and his ongoing position in our political system.

He has recently been indicted by Jack Smith, U.S. Special Counsel, and Fani Willis, Fulton County District Attorney for his actions. Trump supporters dismiss these indictments as mere political acts by Democrats and refuse to consider them with unbiased eyes.

Recently, however, an unimpeachable Republican, J. Michael Luttig, has spoken out to Judy Woodruff on the PBS News Hour (August 14th, 2023) about these issues. Luttig is a retired federal judge and a leading conservative jurist.

To the Editor:

My wife and I enjoyed seeing the production of “Rent” at Waukon’s Main Feature Theater after the Corn Days meal. The acting and the singing were great. It seems that every time Wolfpack Theater Company puts out a production, it ends up being a big hit.

My only concern is that even a great production such as “Rent” may keep some potential attenders away because of its moral content. Someone said to me after urging me to attend, “Definitely go, but you might choose not to invite your church friends.”

Perhaps a solution may be for the Wolfpack directors to see if they could obtain a high school edition of the play, which is often available, to give a more toned-down and less morally objectionable version of the play.

Meanwhile, I look forward to seeing the production of “Guys and Dolls” in November. I think that Adam Hooten and his Wolfpack team are once again working on a great upcoming show.

To the Editor:
What is “woke”? During the last political cycle, many politicians started to use the term “woke.” What does “woke” mean? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “woke” means “aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice).”
Another definition of woke is: “Woke means awakened to the needs of others. To be well informed, thoughtful, compassionate, humble and kind. Eager to make the world a better place for all people.” (AudreyLovesParis)

What is bad or wrong about being “woke”? Shouldn’t we be aware of the facts and the needs of others around us - poverty, hunger, polluted water and air, educational needs, racial injustice, and inflation, to name a few.

If we can agree on these needs, then we can try to make Iowa and the United States a better place by working toward solutions for these needs. Why is being “woke” a bad thing?