Viewpoints

To the Editor:

Trump’s dangerous big lie - that the 2020 election was  rigged, stolen and fraught with voter fraud - had  deadly consequences.  For weeks before and after the election, Trump repeated the big lie. Trump supporters were enraged and followed Trump’s directives to march to the U.S. Capitol January 6. Their intentions were to break into the Capitol to stop the certification of Joe Biden as president, and threats were made to harm Vice President Mike Pence, Democratic leaders and anyone who stood in their way.

With our own eyes, we saw the rioters beat Capitol Police officers. We saw the noose this mob erected. We heard them shout, “Hang Mike Pence!” With horror, we saw the mob break  into the Capitol and the Trump flags hanging from the  balcony. Rioters wore Trump hats and Trump t-shirts, and waved Trump flags.

To the Editor:

The Battle is for Truth.

The Fight is for Life, Liberty and Justice.

The Dream (and yearning of the soul) is for Freedom. True Freedom is aligned with God. God was the originator of the American dream, as exemplified in the heart and soul of the 1620 Pilgrims who founded this country for the express purpose to have freedom to worship God.

Strong foundations are essential.

1) Our Declaration of Independence states: “We hold these truths to be self-evident that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Its author, Thomas Jefferson (our third President) also stated, “God who gave us life gave us liberty.” And “If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed.”

To the Editor:

This year, the Chinese New Year started February 12, two days before Valentine’s Day. Both events share in common the intentional connections among people and families, and the reaffirmation of love, unity, gratitude and caring.

After almost a year of COVID-19, these holidays are even more meaningful to me when I reflect on how my Northeast Iowa Community College family has served many in a fluid, uncertain and challenging environment. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. admonished, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” Allow me to share a few examples.

Many NICC colleagues and students in our health care programs are frontline essential workers. They care for those who are afflicted by the virus, those living in long-term-care facilities and those who require other health-related services. Some took on extra shifts at work when there was a shortage of staff and/or an increase in COVID-19 cases.

To the Editor:

I want to express an appreciation of our largest community influencers. I have been working in the agriculture industry my entire life. I have always respected farmers, especially their workmanship and community support.

Allamakee County is home to 997 farms that contribute to our local economy and support jobs. Farmers in our area are adaptable and willing to learn, they are mindful of their influences.

Farmers have perseverance and strong faith in the future and their ability to enhance their practices. Driving through our county it is noticeable to see the increase of no-till and cover crops.

It is an extraordinary sight when they take the next step to help out the community or neighbors. Farmers care for their animals like they do their family. They want to leave things a little better than when they found them given the chance.

To the Editor:

The election is over and I cannot express my sad feelings for our country. We will see much higher gas prices, higher electric bills, more criminals and gangsters crossing our borders. Law and order will be absent and not respected, and the military will suffer.

Public schools will produce poor citizens, Planned Parenthood will take the lives of millions of babies and you, the taxpayer, will give them 500 million dollars, that is half a billion. We won’t get term limits or a balanced budget, Christianity will be despised, our flag and famous statues will not be respected, we will not get English only in our schools. This list could go on and on.

This is a sad story, and scary, but there will be another election and there are 75,000,000 people ready to work and vote Trump. Amen.

Got Gratitude?

Is the pandemic getting you down?

Our world has been turned upside down in the past year. We have endured so much!  Some of us have lost loved ones due to the coronavirus, we fear for our own health, our financial stability is threatened, we’re unable to gather with other people the way we used to. Everyone has been affected in one way or another. So if you’re feeling exhausted and hopeless, you’re not alone.

To the Editor:

Iowa’s battle with the coronavirus pandemic is not over. Governor Reynolds’ premature rescinding of her weak mask and social distancing ordinance, done without consulting Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), may cause the estimated death of an additional 400 Iowans before Memorial Day. The rapidly spreading variant B.1.1.7 is already in Iowa. We wish we could trust her to do the right thing..

1) We do need to trust truth and science. We again now trust CDC.gov/coronavirus under Dr Walensky MD, MPH. Go there for information and a video on double masking. Wear the best mask you can and make sure your mask is tight and doesn’t leak around the edges. Dr. Osterholm’s podcasts at CIDRAP (cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/podcasts-webinars) are good general information.

To the Editor:

For months I have been watching and studying what’s been transpiring in my country and around the world, and I feel compelled to share what’s on my heart and mind.

What’s happening is not just about Trump vs. Biden or Republicans vs. Democrats or Conservatives vs. Liberals... it’s about a spiritual battle of Good vs. Evil.

One side stands for Truth and Justice, the Rule of Law and the American People. It stands for The Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. It stands for honoring the National Anthem and the American Flag. It stands for God in our government and God in our schools and, above all else, it stands for the Sovereignty of God and the Sanctity of Life.

Years ago when I visited with a parishioner he told me that a groundhog was coming onto his deck and eating the food he would set out for his cats. This bothered him so much that he prepared his shotgun; a few days later the groundhog came onto the deck and he shot at it. But he had forgotten to open the glass patio door before firing! Needless to say, the glass in his sliding door had to be replaced.

Removing obstacles (more important than a glass door) is on my mind as the season of Lent begins on Wednesday, February 17. I am thinking of ways to remove one or more of the obstacles in my heart which prevents a deeper relationship with Jesus. I was amazed by a recent national poll; it reported that a majority of US citizens stated they intend to be a different person after the COVID-19 pandemic ends. They want to lead a different life once the coronavirus subsides.

To the Editor:

I am responding to the letters to the editor in The Standard, February 3, 2020 edition.

I am, first and foremost, a believer, that Jesus Christ is my Savior, and God is my King. Secondly, I am a proud American, and a proud Iowan. And I am also one of those “deplorable” Trump loyalists. I love Donald J. Trump and what he has done for America.
President Trump is up for impeachment. What happened to “innocent until proven guilty?” What about Due Process? It was a rush job to get him impeached. Why? Whatever happened to the concept of “agreeing to disagree”? What happened to respect, integrity, unity and love?

What has happened to this country? President Trump went through four years of hate, judgment, scorn, ridicule and plots against him, and he is still standing. Could any of us have withstood that for four years? I know I couldn’t. I pray for his strength and wisdom and protection.