Viewpoints

To the Editor:

What happens when it hurts too much to live? Can it really be too painful to live one more moment with emptiness, depression, and despair? Yes, for some people suicide seems like the only way out.

Not every person who contemplates killing themselves is truly interested in ending their time on earth. For many, suicidal thoughts are about escape - musing about the idea of leaving the bonds that bind them to other people, responsibilities to burdens, and the despair of what they can’t change. If they could just escape it, maybe they still could go on somehow. Not right now, but after a while. They just need to get away from it.

To the Editor:

Our team at Helping Services for Youth & Families wants to thank all of the volunteers, sponsors, and visitors that made Holiday Lights another success. Having completed its 15th year, Holiday Lights continues to be a wonderful community event that also serves as Helping Services for Youth & Families’ most important fundraiser. Helping Services for Youth & Families is a nonprofit organization with programs that promote healthier and safer families residing throughout eight counties in Northeast Iowa.

Holiday Lights brought over 4,000 cars through Pulpit Rock Campground in Decorah, hosted 1,600 visitors for the opening Walk-through event, and enlisted the help of over 300 volunteers throughout the season. If you are interested in ways to support Holiday Lights and/or Helping Services for Youth & Families, please contact us at info@helpingservices.org or 563-387-1720.

To the Editor:

As a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, I have my opinion with the Christmas Pageant presented on Sunday, December 15.

It is my belief that the pageant presented is an untrue version of the birth of Jesus Christ, written by Pastor Gentry.

Read the true version of the birth of Jesus Christ in the Gospels of Matthew Chapter 1 and 2 and Luke Chapter 2.
 
Harvey Estebo
Waukon
 

To the Editor:

Saturday, December 14 proved to be a day of unusual activity for me, and one I won’t forget.

About 7 a.m. I was admitted to the emergency room at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) here in Waukon; by 10 a.m. I was being wheeled into surgery to remove my gall bladder; and by 5 p.m. I was out of recovery and Sheryl was driving me home. Not long after, I had my feet up watching RFD TV.

I’m not writing to whine about my big day but to offer praise and thanksgiving for the wonderful facility and staff at VMH. From the time we entered the doors, until we left, we encountered nothing but kindness, caring, efficiency and professionalism. The exceptionally competent nurses, doctors, technicians and surgeons could not have been more attentive and skilled. What a blessing for me to have all that available right here, when I needed it most.

To the Editor:

In the spirit of the New Year, we suggest the following New Year’s Resolutions:
• Practice gratitude daily
• Notice needs of others
• Use kindness to help lift up a discouraged heart
• Understand that not all struggles are consequence-based
• Be an example of integrity, compassion and service to others
• Care for the innocent and those who can’t speak for themselves
• Become a child advocate as a CASA or FCRB volunteer in your community
• Visit childadvocacy.iowa.gov to apply

Iowa Court Appointed
Special Advocates (CASA) for Children
 

To the Editor:

Wow! We Iowans are going to California for a bowl game. Tons of Iowans will be going there to spend their money. Included in this bunch are hundreds of people, including the team, the band and lots of staff - all being paid for by the State of Iowa.

We are doing this in spite of the fact that just a few months ago we were scolded by the State of California because we had the temerity to not compel all sellers of health insurance companies in our state to cover sex change surgeries. Because Iowa gave that option to these companies, California also stated they would not pay for any of its State-paid employees to attend any functions in Iowa.

To the Editor:

When I learned that the City wanted to hire a City Manager, I thought, “yes,” they could use one. I think they could use some help managing the budget and cut back on wasteful spending. For example, cutting down perfectly good trees, replacing of downtown plaza, replacing street lights with “prettier” ones, roofing of the former JCPenney building they don’t own, etc., etc. etc.

Now, I read in the council minutes the City Manager (hired to help eliminate wasteful spending) and council are discussing new furniture for City offices and comfy chairs in the council chambers. Where does putting tax dollars to good use fit into that one?

Brenda A’Hearn
Waukon
 

To the Editor:

Senator Ernst has told us what she believes. During a Republican primary debate in April 2014 and again in an interview by KCCI media May 29, 2014 she said, “We have to reform Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. And the way we do that with Social Security is by looking at transitioning our younger workers onto individual plans or individual savings accounts, whether that’s tied to the market, whether it’s based on interest rates - however we want to do that, we can have that discussion.”

Ernst reminded us of her goal at a September 5, 2019 town hall where she said members of congress should discuss social security “behind closed doors.” The only reason politicians ever take actions behind closed doors is that they know the results will be massively unpopular. Raising taxes on the wealthy (who mostly escape Social Security taxation) to pay for Social Security benefits is favored in opinion polls and is a discussion that should be held in public.

For your meditation:
Isaiah 11:1-10
Matthew 3:1-2
Romans 15: 4-9

Peanuts - The little girl Lucy is saying that Christmas is a time for kindness and good will; a time to accept one another, welcome  others to our homes and into our lives. Charlie Brown responds by saying, “Why just at Christmas? Why can’t we be kind, accepting and hospitable all through the year?” Lucy looks at Charlie Brown and says, “What are you? Some kind of religious fanatic?” Well, that old religious fanatic, the Apostle Paul, was of the same mind as Charlie Brown. He saw Christian acceptance as a year round everyday quality which is an outgrowth of faith in the Christ who freely welcomes and accepts others all the time.

Thanksgiving

But one of them, seeing that he was healed, returned and, with a loud voice, gave glory to God. He fell facedown at His feet, thanking Him. And he was a Samaritan.(Luke   17:15-16)

Thankfulness is foundational to the Christian life. Thankfulness is a conscious response that comes from looking beyond our blessings to their source. As Christians, we have been forgiven, saved from death, and adopted as God’s children. There could be no better reason for a grateful heart!