Viewpoints

Wed
31
Jan

Letter to the Editor: Submitted by Mark Jacobson

To the Editor:

All humans need somebody to listen. Feeling connected is not just something we want. As humans, it’s a real need. So of course we feel bad when it seems nobody is there for us. Feeling unheard can create emotions  like depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and self-hatred.

See if anything on the following list speaks to you. These may be signs that you’re not broken or “mentally ill” - you just need someone who will listen.

Feeling Like You’re Worthless. Self-esteem can only be nurtured by deep connection with other people. You can’t totally create it for yourself, alone. So what happens when nobody listens to you and you don’t feel really seen or heard? Naturally, your self-esteem decreases,  and you may feel worthless.

Wed
24
Jan

Word for Word 1/24/24

Pr. James Buckhahn
Pr. James Buckhahn

Who Am I?

Hello again from Pastor Buck here at Lansing UMC.  “Who Am I” - seems to be a hot topic in our world today. I am going to address this topic by telling you who I am and how I came to that conclusion.

Let us begin. I am human, a species created separate and apart from all other creatures on this earth and yes created by God. From Genesis 1:26-27, “Then God said, “Let Us make humankind in Our image, according to Our likeness… So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”   As a human I do share some of the basic biological building blocks (i.e., DNA) with other creatures God created.   But as a human I have what no other creature has, God’s DNA. “Let Us make humankind in Our image”, this is not something biologic but on a higher order. I call it God’s DNA, others may call a soul.

Wed
03
Jan

Word for Word 1/3/24

Pastors in many denominations are heavily encouraged, or required, to participate in some sort of continuing education each year. What this looks like can vary from pastor to pastor depending on their interests, goals, what the growing edges they may want to look at. In November, I, along with Rev. Kim Gates from St. Paul and Forest Mills UMCs, had the opportunity to take a “Civil Rights Pilgrimage” on a small group tour. We started out in Nashville, traveled down to Atlanta, rode over to Birmingham and also spent time in Montgomery and Selma in Alabama before making the loop back up to Nashville.

Now, full disclosure would be admitting that the civil rights era of the 1950s and 1960s happened well before my time, so while many on the trip could remember what they heard (or didn’t hear) in the news back then, it is all history to me.

Wed
20
Dec

Letter to the Editor: Submitted by Dr. Stephen D. Regan

To the Editor:

Having spent most of my life in education as a student, teacher, coach, consultant, professor, and university dean, I am concerned about the lengthy downward achievement trend of Iowa students. Governors Harold Hughes (Democrat) and Robert D. Ray (Republican) took great pride in Iowa’s ranking as #1 in the ACT, SAT, and the Iowa Test of Educational Development, and Iowa Test of Basic Skills. The four assessments were unsurpassed among the statistical evaluations for validity and reliability.

Unfortunately,  Governor Terry Branstad and Governor Kim Reynolds disliked the Iowa State Education Association, most progressive educational endeavors, and many educational experts. Their lack of educational support is easily seen in the data.

Wed
20
Dec

Letter to the Editor: Submitted by Carl Christianson

To the Editor:

The branches of our military have long proven that working together as a team results in positive outcomes. Our Legislators often refer to our Military as “America’s Finest!”

Perhaps our Legislators should glean lessons from “America’s Finest” and earn the same title. Of course, most of our Legislators have never been to “Boot Camp”, and Law School is not an equal substitute!

I saw an inscription on a monument regarding our Vietnam Veterans, and I quote:

“We were the best America had, Brothers who fought without America’s support, Brothers who returned without America’s Welcome, Brothers who will always be the best America had.”
End of quote.

In our future elections, let’s strive to give America our best government leaders so they can be referred to as America’s Finest Lawmakers who serve at the pleasure of and for the people!

Respectfully,
Carl Christianson,
Waukon

 

Wed
20
Dec

Letter to the Editor: Submitted by Gerald Piittmann

To the Editor:

Let’s shop local.

Everyone is getting ready for Christmas. Let’s help our local businesses. We are lucky we have several new businesses, as well as our older businesses.

How many businesses have you never been in? Find out all these new businesses have to offer. I personally have been very surprised at what they have.

How many have never been at the Green House? They have nice yard and garden items. Take a look.

Go to Steel Cow and see the jewelry items that Val sells with her cow paintings; earrings, necklaces, small paintings, etc. Former Waukon people would like local artist creations. Take a look.

How many women have never gone to Sweeney’s to look for gifts for husbands and children? Toys, kitchen items, boots, shirts, winter wear. You will be surprised.

Gift cards at grocery stores, beauty shops, nail decorating, restaurants, hardware stores. Look everywhere.

Wed
20
Dec

Letter to the Editor: Submitted by Ann Hart

To the Editor:

What does liberty mean to you? The dictionary definition of liberty is the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of life, behavior, or political views.

I wonder if Moms For Liberty have ever read that definition, as their whole premise is that of oppression and restriction. They worked with Governor Reynolds and Iowa Republican legislators to restrict the books our children and youth may read in school. They were instrumental in passing laws last session that restrict the rights of LGBTQ youth and pointedly singled out transgender youth and their rights. Moms For Liberty aren’t really for liberty, they are for undermining public education and communities.

Wed
20
Dec

Letter to the Editor: Submitted by Gerald Piittmann

To the Editor:

May this Christmas season be a blessing to everyone. The holiday season is an ideal time to see all of your family. This would be a great time to discuss a lot about your family.

What do you not know about your family? Do you know great-grandparents’ names, where they came from, what nationality they are, or when they arrived in America?

Today, young people seem uninterested in the past. If our senior people do not get family history recorded today, it may very well be lost.

There are all kinds of helps and research available to use, but first you need family names, places, etc. to connect to your family. Christmas is a good time to see the older generations of people and get names of parents, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, and even where family lived and worked.

Wed
20
Dec

Letter to the Editor: Submitted by Osmund (Ozzie) Quandahl

To the Editor:

Where should I start? There is so much wrong with our country. An ex-Democrat says the Democrat Party has the mentality of gangsters. Can Trump bring us back? He is far better than the lightweights that think they can. Trump is polling great and his four years as President proved that he is reliable.

I’ve been in Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, two times in Dubuque, Waterloo, La Crosse, and I’ve watched his rally on TV. In all the rallies I attended, it was fun because all the people were so nice. The January 6 rally got out of control. I think the Dems had some very bad people planted in the crowd to start the misbehavior and then blame Trump, like what they tried with the fake dossier, bought and paid for by Hillary Clinton and the Dems. They tried to pin that on Trump and they spent millions of our tax dollars trying to pin Trump, who was totally innocent.

Yep, I agree with David Horowitz - the Dems have the mentality of gangsters.

Wed
13
Dec

Letter to the Editor: Submitted by Rev. Cathy Jurgens

To the Editor:

The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is expected to be a happy time of the year. The holidays are among us, celebrations with family and friends are in full swing, the decorations are beautiful, and Christmas music is on in nearly every public place. It’s a great time of year. Except for when it isn’t.

The truth is, Christmas isn’t a happy time for everyone. Not only does grief not take a holiday, but it seems to come roaring back even stronger at times. It can come in many forms: death of a loved one, loss of a job, loss of a dream, changes you weren’t ready for.

And seasonal depression is real, as well. It’s been dark at 5 p.m. since the middle of November, and prolonged darkness can make any troubles feel twice as heavy. It’s hard enough to feel these feelings, but to feel them when it feels like everyone around us is full of happiness and good cheer, is a lot to bear at times.

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