Viewpoints

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... about some miscellaneous things.

I have complained here that the mosquitoes seemed to be pestering me to a greater degree. I’ve heard the thoughts that it is a smell such as after shave that may be responsible, or clothing color. But thanks to the recent publication of this year’s Ig Noble awards by Harvard, I now think I know why I am a target. The Ig Nobel awards are for things the antithesis of the Nobel awards. One recently went to a study that showed mosquitoes are attracted to Limburger cheese. I have Limburger Cheese with crackers for Sunday evening’s meal most weeks. The smelly cheese is an acquired taste, I suppose, but I have always liked it. But I have not figured out how the mosquitoes know that.

Like it or not, another presidential election is upon us. Just a few weeks from now we will be going to the polls and casting our ballots. We are fortunate that we live in a country where we still have the freedom to vote. Many people around the world only dream about this freedom that we take for granted. I would like to encourage everyone reading this to please vote! A wise man once said “if we don’t vote we have no right to complain about who got elected.” 

To the Editor:

We should thank God we have free elections here in the U.S.A., but the lead-up to the election becomes kind of boring. I think anyone with anything between the ears knows we need a new direction.

Ever since they took the Bible and Ten Commandments out of the school and put in condoms and sex education, the devil walked in and our downhill spiral started. Put the Bible and Ten Commandments (local option) back in our schools and repeal the law forbidding priests and ministers from politics. There are 300,000 active pulpits in the U.S.A.; what a force for good they could be.

Be sure to vote November 8; but not only vote for your choice, go to work for your choice. Put up signs, wear caps and pins, talk to your friends and neighbors. Be sure to vote.

Kindest regards
and God Bless,
Osmund (Ozzie) Quandahl
Waukon

To the Editor:

When most people hear the term “domestic violence,” they may think about recent newsworthy events which include popular sport personalities or celebrities. On the other hand, it may also hit too close to home through personal experience or through a family member or close friend.

That is why the month of October is set aside to remind ourselves and others that domestic violence is present in too many homes, right here in our rural communities and neighborhoods.
When we look at a crowd of people we are not able to distinguish those who have had a life affected by violence in their home. That is because violence does not follow the size of a person’s bank account or their employment or education status. The clients we serve at Helping Services’ Domestic Abuse Resource Center show us that it often affects those we least expect.

To the Editor:

The Junior Class of Waukon High School is to be commended for selecting Terrell Baumler as its class representative on the 2016 Homecoming Court. That will be a treasured memory that all members of that class can fondly look back on over the next 30, 40, 50 years and beyond.

Ken and Gloria Krambeer
Waukon

To the Editor:

Remember to keep the Sabbath day to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all thy work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. Exodus 20:8-10 and Deuteronomy 5:12-14. There is more to this, the fourth of the Ten Commandments.

The word sabbath means rest. Remember back in the Book of Genesis, chapter 2, verse 3. Yahshua had worked for six days, and then on the seventh day He rested. He then blessed the day seven, and then He sanctified it. To bless is to make holy, bestow happiness, a gift, to guard, protect. To sanctify means to set apart, to make holy, to purify. He obeyed His own commandment. Look at a calendar, the seventh day is Saturday, not Sunday.

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that even though I frequently had to work part of the weekend, when I was employed, I was as guilty as everyone else of looking forward to weekends.

For me, this past weekend was a reminder that not all weekends will be fondly remembered.

All three of the state’s major football teams suffered losses. Iowa’s poor showing against the North Dakota team was no doubt the most surprising, Sounds as if UNI made a good showing. And ISU was supposed to lose.

And then there were the Cubs. After backing into a division title, they promptly lost three of four to a lowly Milwaukee team. Even winners are ill-advised to practice losing!

One of the many characteristics, traits, marks, qualities, peculiarities, idiosyncrasies, indications and signs that we are, as followers of Christ, as sons and daughters of God,  to develop, mature and manifest in and through our lives is that of “responsibility.”   Responsibility seems to be a major godly characteristic that is often overlooked or flat out ignored!

We see that within the word “responsibility” is the word “response.”   Response is defined in the dictionary as something SAID or DONE in answer, reply or reaction.  All of God’s Word elicits a response from us; to not respond accordingly is a type of irresponsible response! 

To the Editor:

Call me cynical but it sure seems like some of our national politics/politicians are getting nastier than ever before. I know that there’s a lot at stake and one might even argue that our nation is in a very precarious position. Our country’s place in helping keep order and economic stability in the world is a huge burden and an honor we should accept and be proud of.

Domestically, security, commerce, uncontrolled debt, uncontrolled immigration and a host of other issues make this voting cycle something every one of us should pay attention to and get involved in. It seems that so many political conversations these days contain more “blame throwing” rather than “problem solving” statements. At the polls, how many of us are more likely to vote against a “bad candidate” rather than for a “good one”?

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that there are many things I enjoy on public radio. But lots of things I don’t enjoy as well.

Wisconsin comes in clearest on my home radios, but the station is so much a house organ for leftist causes that I find it hard to listen. Even to the “entertainment” shows, which feature “jokes” at the expense of conservative candidates about nine to one. That does not surprise me, since the education establishment is the source of much of the broadcasting, and Wisconsin’s governor has not been the best friend of education financing in that state. Wisconsin Public Broadcasting has openly opposed him each of the three times he has won an election.

The Minnesota programming I get is from Rochester, and is sometimes not very strong. But I find less politicking there so listen whenever I can.