Viewpoints

To the Editor:

During Memorial Day weekend I visit many cemeteries and there is always a flag on our veteran’s grave. Someone had to place the flag there. Appreciation goes out to all of the unseen volunteers.

On Memorial Day I went to the Oakland Cemetery for the program where we heard Sean Liddiard give his “Voice of Democracy” essay. Good job, Sean! Also, appreciation goes out to the ladies that presented their “Quilts of Valor” to some area veterans.

I then went to the Vets Hall for chicken dinner where I found many Boy Scouts volunteering. Many of the volunteers are the next generation and will do a great job.

It takes a lot of volunteers on Memorial Day to put up a beautiful Avenue of Flags, and the Boy Scouts helped with that also. Thanks to all who turned out to help, Veterans and all.

A senior citizen,

Ada Marie Kerndt
Waukon
 

The local Grief Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital Tuesday, June 12 at 5 p.m. in the Education Conference Room. This informal meeting is open to anyone suffering from any type of loss whether it be death, divorce, illness or some other grief. Feel free to attend and bring a friend. This grief support group now meets the second Tuesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.
 

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that I have been doing my best to keep up with the baseball team at the University of Iowa this spring, and was happy to see they qualified for the Big (whatever) tournament.

Part of what made it difficult is that baseball does not get the coverage that sports such as football, basketball and wrestling do. Crowds are smaller and fan interest isn’t high.

I think I am right in saying Iowa is the only one of the major universities in the state to still offer the sport. Conversely, all have softball for coeds. In fact, that is part of the reason why others dropped baseball, the need to keep up with Title 9 rules that both sexes have the same number of varsity sports in which to compete.

Iowa high schools still field teams and Iowa gets some, but not all by any means, of the better high school players.

To the Editor:

The failure to provide treatment and supportive community services to people with mental illness - both in the community and in hospitals - has overburdened emergency rooms, crowded state and local jails, and left untreated patients to fend for themselves on city streets.

The USA routinely fails to provide the most basic services for people with mental illness - something the country would never tolerate for patients with cancer or other physical disorders.

Mental health is a separate but unequal system. We have a wasteland of people who have died or been disabled because of inadequate care.

Although most people with mental illnesses are not violent, the USA’s dysfunctional, long-neglected mental health system is under a microscope because of mass shootings in which the perpetrators had serious psychiatric problems.

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that television news shows over the weekend and into Monday were heavily covering the official move of the embassy of the United States to the Israeli capital city of Jerusalem.

This is something which a succession of American presidents have promised since the majority of the civilized world 70 years ago established Israel as the homeland for the Jews. All have reneged under pressure from Muslims, Palestinians and Arabs in general.

So I found it ironic to listen once again, as I have for those 70 years, the words of a Gospel writer read at mass Sunday which held the promise of a Jewish homeland with its “holy city” of Jerusalem.

Those who opposed the fulfillment of that often promised move by the U.S. said they feared the Palestinians would not accept it and would riot, and would be joined by Muslims and Arabs around the world.

O​n Friday May 11th, an ecumenical gathering took place to mark the 10th anniversary of the Immigration raid at Postville.  Over 300 people attended THE SUMMONS, as it was entitled, at St. Bridget Church. An interfaith prayer service took place, including inspiring talks by many who were present during that very troubling time.  During May of 2008,  there were 389 arrests, numerous imprisonments, and the threat of mass deportation of many employees of Agriprocessors.   Many families were split up, and those left behind had feelings of abandonment and the worry of facing an uncertain future.

Attorneys and activists who helped counsel those affected by the raid were present to speak at the anniversary gathering. Ministers and clergy members of several faiths who united their congregations ten years ago to give sanctuary and aid to family members in need shared their memories.  Most memorable were the stories and testimonies of the people directly affected by the raid.

To the Editor:

I am hearing more people talk about a variety of health problems. They mention they are tired of the doctors appeasing the problem with medication and not why they are now having these problems. Smart meters are being installed and can cause a host of health problems.

In 2014, a smart meter bill was introduced in the Iowa Legislature. The bill stated that utility companies could not install a smart meter without consent; they had to remove smart meters free of charge and could not charge customers for not wanting one. This bill protected the people of Iowa. Why didn’t our legislators move this bill along?

Many other states are taking steps toward protecting their people.

Vermont legislation eliminated smart meter opt-out fees. Currently, there are bills in Montana, Missouri, New York, Maryland, South Carolina, Michigan, Oklahoma, Maine, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Massachusetts to require utility companies to offer free opt-out.

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that I have become sort of addicted to watching the presidential press briefings, and have come to the conclusion that Sarah Huckabee Sanders not only earns her government check as spokesperson, but should also get hazardous duty pay.

She faces a press corps that is almost unanimously hostile toward the president and his administration, but lately toward Sarah herself. And she is frequently confronted with things on which the president has ricocheted two or three times while forming a position.

Today’s conference was a short one, because Sarah wanted to clear time for the First Lady, who was going to talk about cyber bullying. I watched a few minutes of her talk, and then went to set out the two trash carts for next morning’s pickup.

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that say what you will about President Trump’s strengths or weaknesses, it is hard to deny that his name has the power to promote some previously little known females to national fame ... or infamy, perhaps.

First we were treated to the appearance of a porn movie performer who, through lawsuits, has become nationally known, and whose performance fees have skyrocketed as a result.

Now comes a third grade comedienne who maybe was known only to late night TV viewers. She was hired by the national press for their annual gathering and reportedly unleashed an obscenity laced and racist attack against a couple of Trump’s associates who were present. Next morning, the entire sentient world learned her name.

Next?

God’s Will

Graduation is just around the corner. It is an exciting time for all who are graduating as they contemplate what their future holds. Many will wonder, “what is God’s will for my life?”

The concept of God’s will is often shrouded in mystery but it doesn’t need to be. There are some key concepts that we need to understand when it comes to knowing God’s specific will for us.

First, God wants to be known. He has revealed himself to us primarily through the Bible. Jeremiah 9:24 says: “but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises loving kindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.” In this passage God says that He can be known and that there are specific things we are to know about Him.