Heartbreak
The time has come to re-enact the ban on assault weapons. The NRA embarrassed itself with its outrageous plan to put an armed guard in every school. Even if that would solve the problem in the schools (which it wouldn't), it would not solve the problem in movie theaters, shopping centers, offices, etc., etc. And the cost of the NRA plan would be enormous. We don't solve our gun problem with more guns.
Our nation has endured heartbreak after heartbreak resulting from the use of assault weapons on innocents. Please let our elected representatives know that we have had enough.
WILLIAM A. DAVIS
Winston-Salem
No easy solutions
Predictably, the Journal's invitation to comment on the terrible school shooting (“Finish the Thought,” Dec. 20) produced the usual lame liberal responses: blame the NRA, the gun manufacturers, the culture of violence, assault weapons, et al. Another prospective is required.
As I watched the Winston-Salem State University Rams play on ESPN, I thought of the wonderful influence Coach Connell Maynor has had on his young men. Imagine the gall of this man, at a public university, to exhort his players to believe that “God is good all the time,” that the Almighty expects their best efforts and that they will be rewarded for their hard work. Imagine a man who expects his players to believe in God's grace and believe in themselves. I know that Big House Gaines, in the company of the Lord, smiles.
There are no easy solutions. But if more of these disaffected, sullen young punks with attitudes could fall under the influence of men like Connell Maynor, there would be less murder and mayhem.
Alas, WSSU was outscored. But not outclassed.
HARRY R. COOKE
Winston-Salem
Supporting our community
Thanks to the writer of the letter “Altruism in our community” (Dec. 19), the junior at Reagan High School who joined her friends in volunteering to “ring” for the Salvation Army. She is obviously learning the value of supporting our community by not only giving of her time and money but also writing to request donations.
Unfortunately, the point of her letter was to criticize those who walked by without donating. With hope, in hindsight, she will understand that many of us donate to other equally worthy/needy causes, are volunteers ourselves, and have perhaps dropped a large donation in one bucket rather just giving small change to each one. Showing thanks and exchanging pleasantries will serve her much better than expressing criticism.
Thanks to her and all the volunteers in our community who work to take care of those with special needs.
JAN COLLINS
Clemmons
Troublesome rationalization
Everyone is trying to make some sense out of the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., and there are plenty of opinions about why it occurred. But I’ve heard one rationalization repeated that I find it troublesome: the idea that the massacre took place because prayers have been banned from schools.
Are people really suggesting that God destroyed those children in a fit of spite or to teach us all a lesson? I'd hate to think there exists a God so monstrous.
Are they suggesting that God stood back and allowed a maniac to slaughter 20 innocents because the school they attended didn't lead them in prayer? I'd hate to think God would be that cruel or petty.
Of course, the notion is also troublesome because its premise is really not true. These people seem to forget that the only thing banned is school-led prayer. Students are free to pray on their own and plenty do. And they can also pray at home before and after school and they can pray at church. But because their teachers cannot lead them in prayer during the six hours they are in school the children deserved to die? Is this what we are being told?
I sincerely hope not, though it sounds very much like it.
MATTHEW S. SPAIGHT
Winston-Salem
Finish the Thought
Saturday, we asked readers to complete the sentence: “The holiday season is the perfect time to …”
“… curl up in front of the fire with a Nero Wolfe mystery.”
HELEN ETTERS
“… go into the Witness Protection Program.”
ANNE CHAPMAN
“... inflate toys and assemble IKEA furniture.”
JAN HUGOSSON
“… put Christ back in Christmas and schools. Teach people and students to honor Christ and have respect for human life.”
JAMES P. SELIGMAN
“… think about others and help those in need. This should be something we do all year round, and not just during the holiday season.”
KELLIENE FISHER
“… learn to meditate.”
ROBYN MIXON
“… to remember, reminisce, reflect and pray.
“Remember those not here, reminisce on the good things we have enjoyed, reflect on the many blessings we have and earnestly pray for God's guidance in the future.
“Remember those we have failed and ask their forgiveness, reminisce with those we are out of touch or angry with, reflect on how better to mend fences, when we were wrong and pray earnestly for forgiveness and the strength to be better.”
KEN HOGLUND
Pardon, but I could not receive an internet connection for the longest time.
ReplyDeleteNo problem Bob. Your 'ass' still looks cute.
Delete:)
DeleteOn Guns:
ReplyDelete“I get why the Russians might be a little spooked (over 20 million of them died in World War II). But what's our excuse?” Moore said. “Worried that the Indians from the casino may go on the warpath? Concerned that the Canadians seem to be amassing too many Tim Horton's donut shops on both sides of the border?”
“No. It's because too many white people are afraid of black people,” he said. “Period.”
Michael Moore, Infamous Film Director.
________________
You don't have to look to hard to find some liberal making a jackass out of him/herself these days.
No doubt Moore is right about white people being afraid of black people. But for the Chicken Little brigade, it’s even their own shadows, as shown by the results of an international survey:
Delete28% of Americans are afraid to walk alone in broad daylight. When it gets dark, the percentage becomes 61%.
Compare to (daytime/night time):
Germany – 3% 19%
Denmark – 9% 37%
Hong Kong – 8% 19%
Mali – 0% 12%
Serbia – 11% 25%
Palestine – 0% 25%
Spain – 15% 35%
Thailand – 15% 39%
Are the citizens of these countries actually braver than Americans, or is a certain segment of Americans in the grip of hysteria? Henny Penny, Henny Penny, the sky is falling…
What's the percentage of Africans or of African decent in those countries Rush?
DeleteHow about posting some information that is actually relevant to the point that you are trying to make for a change?
Me 1: Hmm, you would expect a sophisticated world traveler like Sir Bucky to know some geography.
DeleteMe 2: Well, you have to remember that that is all just fantasy travel.
Me 1: OIC. I'll post him a little hint then:
The Girl From Bamako
I'm guessing there are a few Africans in Mali. Lots of big, scary negroes for you there, Tim.
DeleteYes, the gorgeous girl is from the (Bambara) Bozo tribe.
DeleteMali is also home to some of the most powerful witch doctors in the world...their knowledge of mind altering substances is well above grad school level, and has been studied by a number of western pharmaceutical and toxicological experts, who still do not understand every aspect of the shaman's craft.
In his fantasy travels, Bucket would be wise to give Mali a wide berth.
It's a crying shame what's going on in Timbuktu right now.
DeleteIndeed.
DeleteUnfortunately, that is just one of many dreadful things perpetrated upon homo sapiens by the world's so-called religions. Lately, it has been Muslims, Al Qaeda in Timbuktu and the Taliban in Afghanistan.
But not so long ago, Christians took their turn in an attempt to make the Jesus myth of death and resurrection seem unique.
They spent centuries burning books, blotting out passages, bowdlerizing texts and destroying monuments to "gods" who had undergone death, atonement and resurrection centuries before the Jesus myth was created. Anyone who has studied ancient history and mythology knows their names. A partial list. There were many others:
Tammuz of Mesopotamia 1160 BC.
Iao of Nepal 622 BC.
Hesus of the Celtic Druids 834 BC.
Quezalcoatl of Mexico 587 BC.
Quirinius of Rome 506 BC.
Prometheus 547 B.C.
Thulis of Egypt 1700 BC.
Indra of Tibet 725 BC.
Alcestos of Euripides 600 BC.
Attis of Phrygia 1170 BC.
Crite of Chaldaea 1200 BC.
Bali of Orissa 725 BC.
Mithras of Persia 600 BC.
True believers, whatever they call themselves, are the perpetual enemy of humanity and enlightenment.
LTE #1 – R.J. Reynolds High School operates in six multi-story buildings, not counting temporary classrooms. To even have a shot at defending students would require a minimum of ten armed, trained police officers, and even then, the odds would be against them. Stupid is as stupid does.
ReplyDeleteRebanning “assault weapons” won’t do any good either. If I want one, there are plenty of places where I can steal one.
LTE #2 & 4 – People have been praying for thousands of years. It hasn’t worked a single time. It will soon be 2013…maybe time to think for a change.
“Are people really suggesting that God destroyed those children in a fit of spite or to teach us all a lesson? I'd hate to think there exists a God so monstrous.”
Read the Old Testament.
LTE #3 – Those of us who do 10-20 hours of volunteer work per week are just happy to see that some young people are getting involved.
Good afternoon folks!
ReplyDeleteLTE 1: Too late for the "assault gun" ban. There are too many out in circulation. Taxing the crap out of amunition may be the only alternative.
LTE 2:"... if more of these disaffected, sullen young punks with attitudes..." - strong evidence for Mr. Moore's statement concerning whites' fear of blacks. Mass murderers are mentally ill who are driven by demons known only to them. While men of Coach Maynor's stature may positively influence those who are sane but living under dire circumstances, the mentally ill can only be treated by professionals. That's neither "liberal" nor "conservative". It's reality.
LTE 3: There are many who make tremendous contributions behind the scenes and prefer anonymity.
LTE 4: It occurred because a mentally deranged individual had access to guns. Preventing teachers from leading classrooms in prosyltizing prayers had nothing to do with it. Those who think otherwise have mental issues of their own.
Finish the thought: Sleep :) There's so much to get caught up on also with 1 1/2 weeks off from work.
No true 'Possum Drop' this year.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet Rush headed up the protest not to use a live marsupial.
Liberals are always screwing up enjoyable traditions.
http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/11/13/2481006/opossum-drop-halted-in-brasstown.html
Please sit down before reading this. I don't want anyone to faint and injure themselves. It already happened to me when I realized what I was about to write. Fortunately, there was a very attractive female medical professional on hand who used mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to revive me, then tended to my minor wounds.
DeleteOK, here goes:
I agree with Bucky…(shudder)…let me say that again in bold caps…I AGREE WITH BUCKY.
There it's done, and it didn't kill me…yet.
Having been, in my extreme youth, briefly the owner of a pet opossum, I consider myself something of an expert on the little demons…I mean breed. Owning a pet opossum is NOT recommended, for several reasons:
1. They are really ugly little boogers.
2. They don't smell all that good.
3. They are not pettable, because…
4. They have very sharp teeth and are much quicker than they look.
5. They have been known to use those teeth to surgically remove a finger or two in a flash.
6. My dear little pet, Peter, only grazed my thumb, which bled for a long time.
7. Then I had to undergo a very painful series of rabies shots.
8. If anyone knows the Pope, please mention me for sainthood, because I did not kill Peter. I just took him in a strong burlap sack out to the back forty and released him into the woods.
9. He did not say "Thank you".
Some might say that I should have killed Peter and eaten him. I had a taste of opossum stew once. Anyone who would eat an opossum would probably eat their own poop and say it was good.
Many years later, I discovered that opossums almost never have rabies. Maybe I should have killed the doctor and eaten him. Mmm...long pig, as the cannibals say.
As to the "Opossum Drop", worrying about an opossum's emotional state is simply foolish. Subject an opossum to real stress and he will immediately "play possum" until the chance to escape arrives. It's a con job…he knows exactly what he's doing and you don't, because he can go from "dead" to 60 mph faster than any dragster ever built, and maintain that speed up the tallest nearby tree right to the top.
So let the boys in Brasstown have their fun. It's not like they have anything else to do. Brasstown is not Cincinnati, much less New York. And I must say I admire Opossum Drop organizer Clay Logan's restraint.
"We'll just abide by what the law says," he told the Raleigh News & Observer. "We'll have the Opossum Drop. I'm just not sure what we'll have…"
Just so it's not opossum stew.
Well, the jig is up. Our beloved fool has been posting anonymously under a number of names for some time now...
ReplyDeleteBut yesterday, having nothing better to do, I was hanging out over at my favorite place, Duckbill Mountain, when in he walked. How did I know it was him? Let's just say that you would know him too if you saw him.
Anyway, I snapped a pic and it is posted here:
BuckKnotWhat