Viewpoints

by Dick Schilling, Editor Emeritus

by Dick Schilling, Editor Emeritus

by Pastor Samantha Houser
Zion United Church of Christ

A poem as we head into the Advent season:
In spite of war and terror, Mary gives birth to the Prince of Peace.
In spite of hunger, Mary gives birth to the Bread of Life.
In spite of lost sheep, Mary gives birth to the Good Shepherd.
In spite of hearts pregnant with hatred, Mary gives birth to LOVE.
It is not done!
It is not done!
It is not done!
The birthing is not over.
The blessings continue.
Angels wait in the wings!
-Ann Weems

To the Editor:
Readers – before driving off to big city malls, check out our small town stores. See what they have to offer, all of them. You may be surprised. If they are ignored long enough they will go away, and we really don't need any more empty storefronts.
Local dollars spent, it is said, circulate five to seven times before heading off to Washington, D.C., or wherever. Those dollars do a wonder of good. They end up in local church collection plates, pay taxes for new streets and sidewalks, contributions for 4-H projects at the County Fair, also given to fire departments and special school fund drives, and to any number of community benefits.
Where are you going to find contributions at a big city mall when your aunt who has cancer, or your cousin who was in a farm accident suddenly has need for a benefit fund raiser? Just who would you ask in a far off city for a contribution? How would one even go about it, and would they care? Think about it.

Both sides of Congress don't want to close Gitmo, and the majority of us citizens don't want it closed. Bringing the worst criminals to the USA is a big mistake. Gitmo is a very modern, up-to-date prison, it's more like a resort. There is no danger of the criminals coming to Waukon, but I'm concerned for the people where they get put. No other country will take them.
The current administration has insulted our military and US law enforcement - how sad - they need our support and prayers.
Plus, he has insulted our Congress. Had we had a balanced budget amendment and term limits, we would not be in the fix we are now. Our children will have to pay for our high living in a borrowed economy.
Keep them in Gitmo. Support our troops and law enforcement. Question - does our nation (USA) make you feel like the inmates are running the asylum.

Ozzie Quandahl
Waukon

Dear “whoever”,
Just the other day I saw you in a restaurant, but you are looking at a glowing screen. The people you were with were carrying on a conversation without you. I didn’t feel comfortable interrupting just to say “hi” to my own cousin/grandson/neighbor?
What a wonderful story about being reconnected through Facebook/ Twitter/ Google with someone you hadn’t seen since high school! You might never have communicated with them again if not for technology.
By the way, I do hope you enjoyed that lunch you were picking at while typing away.  It looked wonderful, at the very least, worthy of your attention.
My question is, how do I communicate with you now days?
Sincerely (and I do mean sincerely),

Ann A. Gallagher
"Catfish Annie"
Lansing

by Dick Schilling, Editor Emeritus

Rev. Kevin Smith
United Methodist Church, Lansing & New Albin

To the Editor:
For those of you watched the GOP debates November 10 on the Fox Business Channel, go to your computer or a friends' or your local library, as they have computers for public use. On the cross bar type in Fact Checking GOP Economic Debates authored by FactCheck.org and you can judge for yourself how honest and out of touch with reality the GOP presidential candidates might be.

Pat Ward
Waterville

To the Editor:
Presidential hopefuls should share solutions for the multitude of issues facing children. We want the candidates to address the challenges facing our children and working families – access to high-quality preschool, ensuring every child has health insurance, acknowledging a growing opportunity gap and lack of racial equity in education and other services, affordable and high quality child care; ensuring everyone can attend college without incurring insurmountable debt, and keeping our children and young adults safe from violence.