Viewpoints

To the Editor:

What a country we live in! I’m proud to be an American and always will be. But I’ve been “lukewarm,” as have been many Republicans. And I thank Biden for waking me up by pointing that out to me.

Revelation 3:15-16 states, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, I will spit you out of My mouth.” I feel that God is calling us to turn back to Him, as we have fallen into lukewarm waters.  Psalm 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.”  That is where my loyalty is, with God.

To the Editor:

On May 18, 2021, Ms. Ann Hart told us that we should be voting for only Democrats because they are the only party trying to live up to the Constitution. That could not be farther from the truth!

What the Democrat party really stands up for is big government and the erosion of individual rights and subversion of the Constitution.

They stand for requiring you and me to pay for killing unborn children. And they believe in open borders which right now means that illegal aliens from 160 different countries have entered the country since January 21, 2021.

Drug overdoses are on the increase again due to the failed policy on the southern border. They have no solution for solving the problems they created there and their latest is to blame Trump! They believe in packing the Supreme Court and have a commission currently studying how to do that.

To the Editor:

Like many Iowans, I was a “card-carrying Republican” raised in a Republican family. I left the party when it became the “trickle down” party for billionaires and corporations. No longer did this party value women, workers, or the middle class.

The once great Republican party has become that of unquestioning belief in the Big Lie that the 2020 election was fraudulent and stolen; and unwavering loyalty to Trump, the twice-impeached, two-time loser of the popular vote, who incited the January 6 attack on our nation’s capitol and on our democracy.

This was on full display this week when U.S. House Republicans voted to oust Rep. Liz Cheney from party leadership because she dared to speak the truth about the Big Lie and that of Trump undermining our  democracy by perpetuating this lie.

To the Editor:

To the parched audience at Waukon High School auditorium so long denied group gatherings, West Side Story was a cool drink of water in a July hayfield. Just to be back in the seats, hear the rustle of programs and the nervous murmur of moms and dads was a draught, soothing the soul of our community.

Set in the mean streets of New York, this retelling of Romeo and Juliet has the most gripping and lyrical music of any musical put on stage. To attempt to tell this story in Waukon took courage, vision and dedication from Waukon High staff/volunteer crew of Sarah Bieber, Louise Wild, Adam Hooten, JoAnn Sherman, Sarah Hagen and Katie O’Regan.

To the Editor:

For three days, Dr. Chuck Harding from Mission to America was guest speaker at Bible Baptist Church, Prairie du Chien, WI. Dr. Harding spends time in Washington directly involved with what is going on.

Dr. Harding talks about how sometimes the way to move forward is by first looking back. He has a website where you can learn more about him as well as obtain facts about the history of our country. That website is missiontoamerica.us.

May all Americans take some time to look back and refresh their memory of the sacrifices made for America to be a free country that is governed by the people and for the people.

Plus, I see that the House has passed Washington DC to become a state. Washington DC is a city. We are opening a can of worms. If one city can declare themselves as a state, what will stop other cities from doing the same.

To the Editor:

In his April 7 letter to the editor, the author Jeff Johnson states that “To become a true Socialist/Communist country you need to get rid of the middle class and individualism.” He implies that the Democratic Party wants the U.S. to practice Socialism/Communism and thus would get rid of the middle class and individualism.  This is not correct.

Socialism and Communism are different economic or political theories. There are some similarities, but there are major differences.  And to make it more complicated, there is Social Democracy, which is different from Socialism and Communism.

To the Editor:

Mr. Johnson in his letter to the editor (The Standard, April 7, 2021) asked who cares if President Trump made thousands of lies and misleading statements when he was President since he is no longer in office. We should all care.

Trump’s lies demeaned his office, led to public distrust in government, and continue to influence his followers today. A recent poll found that 67 percent of Republicans still view the 2020 election as invalid.

To the Editor:

Mr. Trump has been fact checked for 30,573 misleading statements. In his April 7 letter to the editor, Jeff Johnson wants to know, “who cares?”.

I do. It’s hard to believe anything Mr. Johnson writes when it doesn’t seem he respects the truth by asking that question. He seems to just want to repeat the same lies.

Hate? January 6 the United States Capitol building was stormed during a riot and violent attack. Guns, knives, pipe bombs, bear spray and more were used against the Capitol police. Five people dead. Trump flags flying and his supporters destroying property.

I appreciate Mr. Hill, Mrs. Klees, Mrs. Pratte and Ms. Hart for fact checking their statements. The truth goes a long way when it doesn’t fall on deaf ears.

I appreciate President Biden saving our natural resources from the companies that choose to profit from destroying them. I appreciate my fellow Democrats for using your right to vote to choose honesty and decency.

To the Editor:

It was inspiring to read in last week’s paper (The Standard, April 14, 2021) about how Iron Ridge Church was playing such an active part in the distribution of donated food. I would like to take this opportunity to call to mind several other ways that Iron Ridge has served this community in recent years.

The church had purchased the Main Feature Theater to be used not only for their church services, but also for the continued showing of movies. And then at Christmas time, after the parade, the church would open the doors of the theater for a free Christmas celebration with tons of sweets and treats, and Christmas songs delivered by their worship band. What a joyous place to be. I remember things like that. The people of Waukon remember things like that.

To the Editor:

Across our community, there are parents and caregivers who may be struggling with balancing the stress of daily life alongside caring for a child. Whether it is working multiple jobs trying to put food on the table, grappling with a substance use disorder, wondering where the next month’s rent will be coming from or dealing with anxiety related to the COVID-19 crisis, balancing these pressures with parenting and running a household can at times be very difficult.

Sadly, stress in its many forms can be a contributing factor to child abuse and neglect. At Northeast Iowa CASA, we see this time and time again with the children and families we serve who are involved in the foster care system. Stress is a natural byproduct of parenthood, but when those stresses are combined with anxieties over things like financials, health, employment or relationships, it can become too much for one person to handle.