Prayer needed for entire community (09/23/2008)

To the editor:

I am writing to you today to express my concern about the state of our community. I am deeply saddened by what is happening. The events that have taken place over the past few weeks caused an unnecessary loss of life. My prayers go out to the families affected by this horrible act.

How easy is it for lives to change in an instant? Change. Isn't it funny how much that word has come up this year. You cannot watch the news without seeing an advertisement, by our presidential candidates, for change.

How is this change supposed to happen? By pouring more of our tax dollars into programs and policies? Maybe, but I would surmise that the programs would not be very effective. The type of change we need to bring about is a change of heart. It would not cost any of us a penny.

How do you effect change in someone's heart? The only way that I know is to ask God to intervene, by calling out to God for help. Help for the people in our community. Help for the leaders - both political and religious.

Through prayer, we can effect real change in the people we interact with every day. I am challenging everyone in this great county to pray for someone. It does not have to be a spectacular prayer. It doesn't have to be public, either. Just call out to God for his help.

We are never going to fix things by ourselves. We need to put our trust in something that can effect a true change in the hearts of our fellow citizens.

I love Jay County. I love East Central Indiana. I want my children to grow up here and have the same great experiences I had. I will promise you, if we come together and pray for each other, Jay County can put this tragic event behind and forge ahead.

Again, I am asking my fellow citizens to take just a few minutes each day and pray for each other. I pray that the next time Channel 13 sends a new crew here, it will be for a positive story.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jeremy Wasson

Redkey

Drilling debate

To the editor:

In response to Mike Snyder's article about Rep. Mike Pence's remarks at the rally for State Rep. Bill Davis (Monday, Sept. 15).

The speech was excellent and the coverage was good, but I would like to elaborate on a statement Mr. Pence said about a bill voted on Tuesday in the U.S. House of Representatives that would allow for offshore drilling - but only 50 miles or farther - and only if the states agree.

Now we know that Speaker Nancy Pelosi will surely do everything she can to keep offshore drilling out - even in that area.

Scientists have shown that the oil is within 50 miles offshore.

So the vote Tuesday was 236-189 passing because 176 Republicans and 13 Democrats voted no, and 221 Democrats and 15 Republicans voted yes.

Now the 189 Republicans and Democrats voted no because that piece of legislation was not a positive step toward new drilling. Pelosi will not allow legislation to be brought to the floor to drill within 50 miles of the shoreline.

So we can assume that the Democrats will now falsely accuse the Republicans of voting against offshore drilling, when in reality they want Pelosi to allow a bill to be entered that will allow for drilling closer to the shoreline. It can't be seen from the shoreline anyway.

By the way, as to the danger because of spillage - more oil is put into the ocean by natural seepage than what is lost due to offshore drilling.

We need a president, senators, representatives and governor who will fight against abortion, stand for high moral values, get our basically strong economy back on track, and push Congress to allow offshore drilling and look into all other alternative energy sources.

We need McCain, Pelosi, Daniels, Pence and Davis, among the other candidates standing for conservative values, to be put back into office and to elect new candidates who stand for all of those values.

And as those who chanted at the Republican National Convention, let's all shout, "Drill, baby, drill."

Thank you.

Sue McBride

Portland[[In-content Ad]]