Viewpoints

Awe. Awesome. Surprise. Overwhelming. The unknowable, inexpressible. Joy. Wonder.

What do these words mean to you? Old, confusing words? Something that takes your breath away. A beautiful sunset, a baby’s smile, ocean waves landing gracefully on the beach, a stranger who stops to help someone who has fallen, music that captures our attention with its beauty. Gazing at the Grand Canyon. All these things may bring, in us, a feeling of awe. They may be big things or they may be small. But we are changed by them.

The Bible abounds with awe. Glory to God in the highest! Praise the Lord! Fall on your knees in wonder. Moses at the burning bush that somehow doesn’t burn up. Water that flows from a rock. A blind man sees, a beggar is healed, an angel comes to Mary. These are all things that we can’t explain, even when they are right in front of us. Sometimes we take them for granted. We need to improve our seeing. We need to pay attention with open minds and hearts.

To the Editor:

Iowans value liberty and rights as reflected in the state’s motto “Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.” Tragically, Gov. Reynolds and her legislators have relentlessly attacked our liberty and finally succeeded in stripping away women’s reproductive rights. By the narrowest of margins, Reynolds’ four hand-picked Supreme Court Justices ruled (4-3 decision) to allow the six-week abortion ban to take effect.

In a few weeks, abortions in Iowa will not be legal after six weeks. Abortion will be a punishable crime just like in Texas and Idaho, states with similar extreme abortion laws. Women, their daughters and granddaughters have fewer rights than they did two years ago when the U.S. Supreme Court’s radical extremist justices overturned Roe, rescinding 50 years of a woman’s right to an abortion.

To the Editor:
In just a day or so, our nation will celebrate the 4th of July in flare and fanfare. It is only fitting that we mark the 248th anniversary of our nation’s founding in this manner. I still fill with pride remembering the first time I saw an original copy of America’s birth certificate, the Declaration of Independence, in Washington, D.C. Most Americans are familiar with the words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

These words along with the full contentions of the Document set in most a call for freedom from the oppressive rule of the British Empire. A fierce war for freedom ensued for seven years between the Red Coats and the colonists. Finally, peace was achieved in 1781 with the victory at Yorktown, Virginia and the Treaty of Paris in 1783.

To the Editor:
In terms of mental health, hope is particularly significant. It might be simple to lose ourselves in unfavorable emotions and ideas while we are dealing with mental health issues. We could feel hopeless, overwhelmed, and despairing. But when we cling to hope, it can be an effective remedy for healing.

To the Editor:

We have been auxiliary fair board members for years. We were working side by side with the board members under the presidents of Chad Oldenburger, Sig Ness, Erik Helgerson and Tyler Plein, a good bunch of appreciative people.

The “Stock girls,” McKayla and Bethany, are the current secretary and vice president, and those girls have been wonderful to work with also. We thank you for the positive and pleasant experience.

We handled the storage, garage sales, suspicious activity, open doors and water leaks in off-times. I helped out the girls in the office many years during the fair, and Keith helped with maintenance and improvements. He tore down the old rabbit building, hog building and 4-H stand and got rid of the debris at no cost to the fair.

To the Editor:

Remember when they said, “Don’t worry! Women’s right to abortion is established law. The Supreme Court will never overturn it.” Until they did, ending 50 years of precedent to deprive a woman control over her body. States are banning abortion causing dangerous health circumstances for pregnant women, creating a shortage of doctors, and legal chaos.

Now the right to contraception is at risk. One of the presidential candidates has said he is “looking at” contraception restrictions. Last week Senators Grassley and Ernst and 37 other U.S. Senators voted against protecting access to contraception (Right to Contraception Act,) a bill that offered national protection for contraception.

Jesus: Our Strong Bridge

To the Editor:

June 15, 2024, is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging is proud to join communities in the USA and all over the world to help raise awareness of this systemic social challenge.

As Americans, we believe in justice for all. Yet we fail to live up to this promise when we allow older members of our society to be abused or neglected. Older people are vital, contributing members of American society, and their maltreatment diminishes all of us. Just as we have confronted and addressed the social issues of child abuse and domestic violence, so too can we find solutions to address issues like elder abuse, which also threatens the well-being of our community.

Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown, and Jill came tumbling after.
But wait, there’s more!
Up Jack got and home did trot as fast as he could caper; And went to bed to mend his head with vinegar and brown paper.
Jill came in and she did grin to see his paper plaster; Mother vexed did whip her next for causing Jack’s disaster.
Now Jack did laugh, and Jill did cry, but her tears did soon abate; Then Jill did say that they should play at see-saw cross the gate.

To the Editor:

Congratulations to the Class of 2024. You may have heard a few commencement speeches already, but in a few short paragraphs I will give you one of my own.

Commencement is defined as a start or a beginning. Some changes in your life are welcome during this time, but others are more challenging. Now you can no longer expect your parents to pay for everything for you. However, even in this period of change some things remain the same - your character, for example.

I remember those in my high school who were great people to be around. Then at my five, ten, and fifteen-year high school reunions they remained the same great people. Then there were others about whom I would have to say, “well, not so much”.

The good news is that even if you find yourself in the “well, not so much” category, there is still time to change. Remember, commencement can mean a new beginning.