Viewpoints

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that from Washington, D.C., through Des Moines, to our local boards of officials, it seems that more and more, everything is either black or white, my way or your way.

Sometimes, I think, that is not so much a difference of opinions, as it is a failure to define the terms of the argument. An ultra-conservative northwest Iowa congressman was soundly criticized recently for saying that he felt diversity was over emphasized, and that he favored assimilation.

As though the two things were direct opposites.

I, for one, favor both.

By Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that there is an old saying, repeated in the words of a song, to the effect that “some days are diamonds, some days are coal.” In addition to the relative value and attractiveness of the two things, I think the message also conveys that both are created in part by pressure.

I could not help but think about how that phrase might apply to Senator Al Franken, the Minnesota Democrat who says he will resign after many of his fellow party office holders put pressure on him to do so following charges of sexual misconduct.

For several weeks prior to those charges, he had a hagiography on the national best selling books list. I did not plan to buy it, so am a bit vague on the title, but it was something like “Giant (maybe lion?) of the Senate.”

And soon, he will be out of the senate.

Maybe.

The Greatest Gift

As Christmas time is here once again, many of us think of gifts. Many of us put much thought into what we’re going to give that special someone; we try to think of a gift that would bless or benefit them. The tradition of gift giving at Christmas, the celebration of the God of heaven taking on human flesh, is a small token of what God, our heavenly Father, has given to us. In a single gift, God gave everything He had so that we would have everything we need! This is the greatest message of hope there is, and it never changes. The Christmas message is a message of hope!

Jesus is God’s greatest gift. And how we love to reflect about how that gift came wrapped in swaddling clothes. It’s a story that never grows old. God sent His Son, not to give us religion, but to restore our relationship back to Himself. The receiving of God’s gift, His Son, fulfills our greatest need and longing.

To the Editor:

Democracy becomes imperiled when politicians lie in order to gain support from citizens who expect their leaders to honestly explain and justify their policies. Sadly, the President and Republicans have shamefully distorted the facts in their attempts to win support for their tax proposals that will benefit corporations and the wealthy at the expense of ordinary working Americans.

To the Editor:

The teaching of the churches is that Yahshua, or Jesus, was born December 25. This is a teaching started by the Catholic church hundreds of years ago. That and many other Catholic traditions are glibly being followed by the Protestant churches, apparently not checking out what they started from.

Such is the teaching of the present day of His birth. This celebration of His birth is not found anywhere in the Bible, and there is no record of Him ever celebrating His birthday because celebrating birthdays was of the Pagan Heathen nations. It is sun worship and was and is hated by our God, Yahweh.

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... about night noises.

The forecast was for high winds overnight the night before trash collection day, and I knew if winds blew that strongly, my smaller “garbage” container with its light load would not stand. But I figured the larger “recyclables” container, with four sacks of newspapers and magazines accumulated over two weeks, was heavy enough to make it, so I put it out.

Just one thing wrong. The wind blew the yellow lid off. Same thing happened to another resident not far away. My prostate acts like the bladder with the lady in the TV commercial, leading me to the bathroom anywhere from three to six times a night, which interrupts sleep. But I am used to that. What I am not used to is the syncopated drum beat banging of two trash container lids following the baton of the wind all night long!

A night before that, I woke to an unexpected December sound, thunder.

To the Editor:

Waukon and its surrounding community is a special place; I know, as it was my hometown for the first 18 years of my life. And for the past 46 years that I have lived elsewhere, in my heart it has always been my hometown.

Very recently I had an opportunity to experience my hometown in a new way, one I wouldn’t wish on anyone, but then again it was the perfect place to have it happen. My mom, Abigail Osterholm, died Saturday, November 18 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Her six kids, their spouses and significant others, many grandkids and even some great-grandkids spent the final six days of her life in her hospital room, surrounding her with love, compassion and even lots of humorous stories.

To the Editor:

Treat yourself. If you are only able to see one movie this year, make it “Wonder”. If you are able to see a number of movies, include “Wonder”. Be sure to take the kids and/or grandkids!!! Happy holidays.

Harold Pronga
Waukon

To the Editor:

Washington D.C. is so rotten you can almost smell the stench here in Iowa. Our tax money spent on a slush fund to settle sexual harassment claims. It looks as if that fund that has paid out tens of millions of dollars in settlements over the last 20 years comes from the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, which was sponsored by our very own Chuck Grassley.

How about the Johnson law forbidding clergy from giving their view on certain laws or they would lose their tax exemption? How about all the perks and retirement benefits they have voted for themselves? How about all the congressmen that didn’t support term limits and a balanced budget? How about when they removed or forbid the Bible, 10 Commandments or any Christian symbol? That’s when the devil walked into our schools and our country has been on a downhill slide ever since.

To the Editor:

I attended the December 7 school board meeting held at the Waterville school library  and must share a few comments and observations.  The meeting was well attended. It was much more information based than previous and presented facts needed in this critical decision. And I personally want to commend Mrs. Nordheim for her candor and professional approach to the evening.

I left with more concerns. We were advised there are no short-term or long-range plans to guide the school board in determining the future of the school district and, specifically, the Waterville building. We learned the water is fine. We learned there are no capital repairs that must be completed in the near future. What we did not learn is what is so pressing.