Viewpoints

To the Editor:

Mr. Quandahl quotes the Bible, but he has never once said why he and all the other Christians voted for a man who has reportedly been charged with rape twice and proven to be a serial sexual abuser of women and girls. Not once in his letters to the editor has he ever mentioned such facts.

It also must have slipped his mind that the Democrat candidate won the popular vote. He has also never mentioned that your local politicians also voted for a reported sexual abuser. Now that the election is over, you’ll never see your local elected people at church or local functions until they need your vote again.

Would you want, as a parent, to trust the president-elect alone in a room with your wife or daughter? Where have the real Christian morals gone to? Didn’t you care just a little?

Pat Ward
Waterville
 

To the Editor:

I would like to express my appreciation to Patti Ruff and Jan Heikes for running this election year. As a young woman I look up to women who have fearlessly stepped into the male-dominated political arena.

I am proud to live in Iowa, a state that excels at socially progressive policies. However, I feel as though Iowa falls short when it comes to electing women into positions of power. I will continue to support female leaders at the local and national level, and I encourage you to do the same.

Our little girls deserve strong female role models who set a precedent for equality and respect among all people regardless of their gender, religion, sexual orientation or race. I want my future daughters to grow up in a society where their voice matters and they have the ability to achieve big, bold dreams.

Kristin Kopperud-Stinn
Waukon
 

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that after years of following the Chicago Cubs as they tried unsuccessfully to win the World Series, I missed it when it happened this year!

I have been accused of being a “fair weather” fan, and this year it was literally true! I was watching the final game on television, and was much aggrieved when the Cubs blew the lead and were tied going into the final inning. It was still tied when it started to rain, and I figured it would be an hour or so before they could resume, and then, the odds were in Cleveland’s favor, as the home team. Because they have the last “say” the home team wins a large percentage of extra-inning games.

So, I went to bed, and to sleep.

And was pleasantly surprised to learn next morning that the Cubs had won!

Chicago has a bad reputation, for its crooked political machine, and more recently for the number of murders.

To the Editor:

Today may go down as one of the darkest days in history, but let’s think about it. This election has actually enlightened us. Words like misogyny and xenophobia come immediately to mind. 

It’s a good thing because we are going to unfortunately need to use those words to describe the experience of the incoming administration.  That is, if we choose to try describing it.

And, that brings up another part of our election education; choice and choosing. How does anyone make an informed decision without good and accurate information? We have now learned that incomplete or misinformation turns into being able to buy and/or manipulate others. Of course, it helps to have more money than God.

To the Editor:

Yee Haw! The roaring west came to Waukon Thursday night (November 3)as Seven Brides for Seven Brothers stomped and sang for us in a tale as old as time... young love.

Adam Gruman was the chin forward superbly swaggering leader of the puppy pack of brothers. Katelyn Leiran was charming as the impulsive yet take charge sweetheart. Brothers Matthew Hoins, Michael Benson, Sean Liddiard, Micah Treptau, Dolan Jones and Nathan Smith were wonderfully rollicking as the love struck mountain men. Brides Erika Johnson, Kaia Johanningmeier, Carley Sweeney, Emily Kolsrud, Grace Blocker and Mattison Pladsen stole our hearts as the winsome wonderful women.

Supporting cast Heidi Dougherty, Oonagh Ahouse, Dalon Troendle and Aaron Sherman provided great character highlights.

To the Editor:

Well, finally the Christians came alive and voted 60-plus percent for Trump, only 18% for Hillary. My question is, what kind of Christians are those 18%? Do they approve of abortion, same-sex marriage, the Bible and Ten Commandments outlawed from our schools, and suing the Sisters of the Poor?

Trump should immediately reinstate the Bible and Ten Commandments back into our schools and all public offices (local option). Trump should quickly repeal the law forbidding priests and ministers from participating in politics.

The Democrats have indoctrinated young people not to work, thinking they will all vote Democratic. That is criminal.

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that this column will appear in the Nov. 9 edition, which means by now you all know who won the election. Lucky you, either way. It will be another week for me. Did the sun come out today, a la Annie?

You will also know how the Chicago Cubs came out in the World Series.

Or maybe not!

Thanks to a story on public radio Sunday morning, I learned that author W. P. Kinsella (Sp?) wrote an essay entitled The Last Pennant Before Armageddon. It says that when the Cubs finally win the World Series, the world will end the next day.

Did it? If so, disregard the first sentence of this column, because there was no “tomorrow” for Annie or anybody else.

Leftist Garrison Keillor has written a column saying that Donald Trump, if he loses, should run for governor of Iowa.

by Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg

Please meditate on Mal. 3, 2 Thes., Lk. 21. We are quickly coming to the end of the liturgical year.

Coming, as we are, to the end of things our thoughts might turn to the end of our lives on Earth and even to the end of all life on Earth.

The scriptures reverberate with the notion of apocalypse. Apocalypse does not mean horrible things like the collision of planets, comets, moons and stars. This is the Hollywood version. This is the stuff of fear mongers who plan to make mega-bucks out of manipulating our worst fears, panic and terror.

It is exactly of such as these that Jesus warns us. “Take care not to be misled. Many will come saying, ‘I am the one’ and ‘The time is at hand.’ Do not follow them. Neither must you be disturbed when you hear of wars and insurrections.”

To the Editor:

Well, as usual, Mr. Quandahl is very misinformed and misleading the public who happen to read his misleading letters.
First, Mr. Quandahl doesn’t know the first thing about the Constitution. In order for a president to take your weapons, it has to be voted on by all 50 states in a national election and ratified by all 50 states, so it would never, ever pass. So, he and the National Rifle Association are badly misinforming or lying to the American people, as the Republican party is.

As for all the Republicans who supported and voted for Trump, be proud that at least you used your constitutional right. He has reportedly been charged two times - that we know of - for spousal rape and the rape of a 13-year-old girl, and has been accused of being a serial sexual abuser. He reportedly doesn’t pay income tax, loves war but is a five-time draft dodger, and filed bankruptcy four or five times, leaving his business partners with the huge losses.

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that during three decades of writing hundreds of obituaries and seven decades of reading thousands, the phrase that the deceased “was a fan of the Chicago Cubs and the Iowa Hawkeyes” was often repeated. Once in a while there would be a Yankee or Iowa State fan, but much less often.

In all those years, not since I sat on the front porch with my barber J.B. Swain at his West Main home and listened to Cubs games on radio in the early 1940s, had the Cubs advanced to the World Series. That was accomplished the year I moved from the neighborhood to a new part of town, 1945. The Cubs lost to the Detroit Tigers.