December 05, 2008 11:38 pm
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ISU football will turn around soon
After reading Earl Beal’s letter to the editor concerning the condition of ISU’s football program, I thought someone with a different view should respond.
It seems to me the athletic program with its new director and the football program with its new coach have made much progress. The win/loss column does not show it yet, but it will.
The recruitment of 40 new players is a great beginning. An Eastern Michigan University football fan told me at the game we had “too many 18- and 19-year-old boys playing against their 21- and 22-year-old men, so give it some time.”
A coach cannot turn a football program around in a year. At halftime of the Southern Illinois football game, a group of their fans came up to offer emotional support and said “we were the conference doormat for a decade.” Once they were able to get a good coach, the sport blossomed at the school. There is local enthusiasm again and stadium remodeling begins this year for the Salukis.
During halftime at a couple of ISU home games, former players and coaches were introduced who had started a fundraising effort to get money to help cover the coach’s recruiting expenses. I will admit a family connection to one of the freshman players, and a friendship with another player’s family. Those connections led me to attend most of the games, most of the practices (you can do that once you retire), and a chance to meet some of the coaches.
I know we have an exceptional group running our program. I believe enthusiasm and a winning tradition will return to ISU football.
— Bob Dumas
Terre Haute
Sharing matters of opinion
To letter writer Bruce Sheets: I notice that you quoted basically known atheists. Any reason? I am sorry that you do not have the foresight to question your leaders’ decisions (particularly when they are different from the norm.) Or do you only question values different than your own?
That is what irks me — people who do not question their leaders. I have questions about decisions of all our leaders — local, state, or federal.
The editor’s “opinion” of my recent letter was that he saw no apparent Muslim ties. You, the editor and I stated our “opinions” – nothing more.
— Joe DeLorme
Clay City
Wide range of voters rejected Proposition 8
This is in response to Stephanie Salter’s Nov. 19 column concerning California’s Proposition 8:
How pleased must Jesus be? How interesting it is to see the questions that people ask themselves when they have lost a battle in the political arena and the will of the people is not their own. Unable to accept the will of the electorate, it appears one is left with nothing more than biting sarcasm to cast dispersion on those one disagrees with. Don’t let the facts or the truth get in the way. Spin is everything. Jesus was silent on the issue of homosexuality so therefore he must not have seen it as a threat? Really?
Jesus also never addressed the issues of incest, rape, flesh trafficking, evil tyrannical dictators, nuclear energy, or man-made global-warming. Are we to assume his silence on these issues means he sees none of them as a threat? Consent by silence? Really?
Did Jesus say anything that might have implications in regards to the legitimacy of the homosexual lifestyle and homosexual marriage in particular? What about Matthew chapter 19 when he addresses the issue of the permanency of marriage and the issue of divorce? In verses 4-6 of that chapter he reaffirms the institution and definition of marriage found in the book of Genesis (chapter 2).
According to the definition found there (and reaffirmed by Jesus), marriage is one man and one woman leaving their parents and by covenant becoming one flesh for life. Or what about Matthew 5:27-32? In this passage Jesus declares that adultery (any sex outside of marriage) is a sin and that further, to lust after another is on par with the same.
Widening your scope to read beyond the red letters, you will find the apostle Paul addressing this issue in Romans chapter 1. His take on the issue is that homosexuality is the natural outworking of a refusal to acknowledge, submit, and fear God for who He is.
Eventually God gives one up to the futility and depravity on one’s mind. Homosexuality is what eventually happens when a culture or people say “no!” to God. You can disagree with the Bible and think that Paul had it all wrong; that is your right and prerogative. But please don’t purport to speak where Jesus does not.
What about easy targets? Those darn Mormons and Catholics! If not for them and all their money! Imagine the power of these churches to sway the will of the American people! What’s the truth? In California, 64 percent of 30 percent of the electorate voted for Proposition 8. That accounts for 18 percent of the votes cast for the proposition. Where did the rest of the votes come from? What about 70 percent of the African American vote (which turned out in record numbers), or about the overwhelming majority of the Latino vote? Why not disparage these groups of people?
Mormons and Catholics are fair game in our politically correct culture. The truth is, these groups were just a fraction of the votes cast for the traditional marriage initiatives. By the way, since when is 60-plus percent of the electorate “squeaking by”?
Should the church have given the $36 million spent on passing Proposition 8 to other causes? Why not instead (or least as well) ask if the $38 million spent to defeat the proposition could have been better spent? How many heating bills could Brad Pitt have paid for the poor with the $100,000 he personally donated to the cause?
Not being Catholic, my guess is that the Catholic Church charities dwarf the amount given by liberal action groups for social causes and to care for the poor.
I happen to applaud those who think the traditional family model is worth standing up for. How many of our social ills are a direct result of the breakdown of the American family? You may think that homosexual couples, single parents and unmarried co-habitating couples are ideal for raising the next generation, but I strongly suspect history will prove you wrong.
I am grateful that, at least for now, a solid majority of the American populace has said “no” to the opening up of Pandora’s Box in regards to the definition of marriage. Strong, traditional families, while not always possible or plausible, remain our country’s best hope for a solid future.
By the way, you could help me out greatly by explaining the link you found between our nation’s dependence on foreign oil and the Mormon and Catholic churches’ support for the traditional family.
— Pastor David Wilson
Clark County Ill.
Why do we dump trash from cars?
I have never been able to understand why some people can be so lazy and rude as to dump their trash out their car window. They seem to have no respect for themselves or others? I just wonder what their homes look like.
Last Wednesday night after the ISU basketball game, I went to Taco Bell on Wabash. In front of me was a large SUV with a local high school’s tennis decals in the back window. They even had a player’s name on the decal.
While waiting for their food, the occupants of the vehicle found it necessary to open the passenger door and dump out empty plastic bottles and drink cups.
Why?
— Charles R. Parks
Terre Haute
An interesting research topic
But please do not debate until read in its entirety.
Now that the election is over and having read in the Tribune-Star both pro and con, I’d just like to point something out to the many voters that have voted for the first time — thank you — whoever you voted for. And also the many who have voted for years.
If I may: While I’m sure everyone is serious about their vote, maybe a person would have been more concerned about their vote if they had been more informed about past and present. As stated in a recent Sunday paper, the Candles museum had a survivor of the Holocaust who explained Henry Ford and Western capitalism in helping Adolf Hitler in WW II. Now, what I’m about to suggest is for the curious and serious voter.
This is time-consuming, but should be read in its entirety. Go to Yahoo and type: council on foreign relations. Then go to search and click.
I understand this is intense reading, but don’t despair. While the first two topics are informational, they are just the tip of the iceberg.
After being done with all that reading. I’m quite sure you will be interested in typing: trilateral commission. Happy reading.
And please, some of you out there, don’t get upset. I’m only informing anyone interested about something that may or may not be beneficial before voting again. For those of you who do read most of the info, you must be amazed at the number of presidents on both sides and their affiliation — plus you may even discover Clinton’s and McCain’s connection, to name a few.
— Bud Frederick
Terre Haute
Pizza shop delivers more than good pie
Are you looking for great tasting pizza at a reasonable price? Do you prefer to give your hard-earned money to a locally owned and operated business? Wouldn’t it be great if your local pizza joint could save you your car repair deductible? What if I told you that you could have all this and more by going to Giovanni’s Pizzeria on Wabash Avenue?
It’s true. A few weeks ago, I had parked near the restaurant and was inside hungrily waiting for my pie to bake when out of the kitchen came an employee alerting me to my car being smashed by a hit-and-run driver.
I ran out of the front door just in time to see the Giovanni’s delivery van squealing its tires in hot pursuit. After the momentary shock of seeing my car crunched (a car I had only recently purchased), I jumped in to give chase. When I caught up with the action, just a few blocks away, the driver and his passenger had fled their car: still being pursued by the owner of Giovanni’s, Mr. John Gaston. When it was all said and done, he had not only chased the car down, but pursued on foot the passenger of the car, holding him until the police arrived. It was only a matter of time before the driver was identified and taken into custody.
I don’t know how many of you are familiar with the Uninsured Motorist Insurance policies in Indiana, but no claims can be made unless the identity of the driver is discovered. By chasing him down, Mr. Gaston saved my deductible on the car repair and secured his business a repeat customer. As if the pizza wasn’t reason enough!
I’ve told this story a handful of times over the past few weeks, and each time I’m more impressed with John and his staff for taking such a risk to help someone they don’t know. Kudos to you guys.
So, if you’re looking for tasty pizza and want to give your hard-earned money to a business that contributes to the community, look no further than Wabash Avenue and 18th Street. Thanks again, guys!
— Chad A. Becker
Terre Haute
Chili benefit was a major success
Our Nov. 15 Gustafson chili benefit was a huge success, thanks to many caring friends and businesses. There are not enough words to express how blessed and thankful we are to all of you for your prayers and donations.
Many heartfelt thanks to Pastor Randy Smith, Debbie, and our WTH First Assembly of God family, Tom Balitewicz, Susan Cobb, and West Vigo High School staff, Stacey Ockerman, and West Vigo Middle School staff, Rick, Sara, and Hamilton Center staff, Bill Osbourne at Pepsi, Mike at Baesler’s, Jim Shorter at Wendy’s, Joyce Hayne, and Meadows Manor East Staff, and Scott at B&B Foods.
Special thanks to Mike and Debbie Brown, Sherry Eldred, Ann Marie Switzer, Mary Hancock, Carl and Charlotte Zellers, Dennis and Pam Clevenger, Jamie Brown, Michaela Rollings, Brandon Rollings, Pastor Adam Smith, Sarah Smith, Cheryl McCarty, Barb McCarty, Jackie Poppe, Chad and Heather Eikenberry, Mika Williams, Diana Deakins, Maggie Wood, Mary McKinney, and Debbie Richey.
God bless you all.
— Kelly Rollings and Crystal Gustafson
West Terre Haute
Thanks for help cleaning up mess
A special thank you to Laurie Tharp with Code Enforcement, Republic Services, and some nice neighbors near North 12th Street and Sixth Avenue.
On Friday, Nov. 14, Republic Services was going to pick up trash and some large items at a house I had been cleaning out. Before they arrived someone had dumped extra trash at the scene and apparently others had ripped open trash bags, emptied boxes and scattered debris all over the sidewalk, etc.
After receiving a complaint, Laurie Tharp with Code Enforcement arrived on the scene and waited for Republic Services. Laurie, along with the employee (I wish I knew his name) from Republic Services, and help from neighbors, picked up all the mess.
— Chris Winter
Terre Haute
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