Speak Out A 07/07/02

Christian nation

AS FAR as Judge Alfred Goodwin's opinion that it's unconstitutional to recite the Pledge of Allegiance: That's his opinion. There are millions of people who disagree. His ruling is unconstitutional to those of us who believe in God and believe that this nation was founded under God. We are a Christian nation. What are they going to do next? Are they going to change every bit of our currency and take off "In God We Trust"? If they do, then the end of the world is coming, because no Christian can be lukewarm. The lukewarm will go to hell. Either we have to be hot for God or we're atheists, pure and simple. There is no in between. I'm a Christian. I'm for God. And I say "one nation under God."

Is it the truth?

I'D LIKE to comment on judging people. A person who is being judged should stop and think if what the other person is saying is truthful. If it's the truth, he isn't judging you. He's only telling it like it is. If it isn't true, then that is judgment or undue criticism. If it's true, you have no reason to be upset because you also always have the right to change your way if you don't like what people are saying about you because of what you're doing.

Athletic hiring

LET ME see if I have this straight. SEMO is facing a budget crunch. Positions are going unfilled. People are being terminated. Employees are being asked to take voluntary time off without pay. Yet I see that a third assistant coach is being hired for the basketball team. Could it be that the athletic department is the only one that doesn't have to trim its budget? Maybe the priorities are off at SEMO.

Blame environmentalists

I'M SO tired of hearing how bad the fires are out West on the news every day. Environmentalists are the ones who brought this about. Not only are they ruining God's beautiful forests, but they are burning up young wildlife which cannot escape the tremendous heat. The heat also burns up the fallen pine cones and seeds to where they will not germinate and we won't have any trees come back. We'll have only brush instead of young timber coming back. It is just mind-boggling to think that people who are so well informed should bring something like this about. It's a sad situation.

Give him a chance

THE NEWLY elected mayor is being criticized unfairly in my opinion. The financial situation of the city is no way his fault as it was inherited from the previous city management's decisions. To berate his appearance, his former residence and every suggestion shows little compassion and decency. How about giving him and the city time and a chance to fairly settle its financial woes.

No parole for killers

I DO not believe anybody who is an adult and kills another person should ever be paroled for any reason, I don't care how good he is in prison.

Local consultants

I HAVE a suggestion for the powers that be of our fair city of Jackson. Instead of hiring these expensive consultants, I would suggest that the powers that be visit the American Legion, McDonald's or Hardee's any morning when the men meet and hash over the world affairs, including the problems we have in Jackson. They solve the world's problems every morning and review the following day. So anytime you want information, forget paying somebody $50,000. Go to the three places I've outlined. For a cup of coffee, they'll give you some commonsense answers.

Beautiful work

I WOULD like to say thank you to the family of four, a teen-age son, a daughter, mother and father, who worked so hard in the heat to landscape the area around the church sign at Grace United Methodist Church. Take a ride down Broadway and observe the beauty of the area now in bloom. You'll enjoy it. It is beautiful.